Wagyu Yakiniku Maruchu — Restaurant in Nara

Maybe a good choice for the local, but not the best choice for a solo tripper who can't understand Japanese.

I was traveling alone in Japan and arrived at around 9 PM. Before coming, I checked their official website and saw a 3,000 yen set menu posted on Rakuten. The photo showed not only three kinds of meat but also some side dishes, and compared to other yakiniku restaurants, it looked like a good value, so I decided to visit.

When I ordered the set menu, the staff didn’t mention that the price had increased or explain what exactly was included. Halfway through the meal, I looked through the touch panel and found out that the set is 3,800 yen, 800 yen more than online. When I asked, the staff simply said the price had gone up.

In addition, I initially misunderstood “の飲み放題が付けることができます” (due to my translator), thinking it was included in the set. Later I realized it was an optional add-on, which was my own mistake—but it wasn’t clearly explained in advance either.

Also, when I arrived, no water was offered or refilled unless asked. During my previous visit at other Japanese restaurants, serving and refilling water proactively is usually standard, even for solo diners arriving late.

Although part of the confusion was my fault and the staffs tried hard to explain with translator when I asked, the website had outdated pricing (luckily updated now), and the photos could be misleading, especially for international visitors.

I eventually paid 3800 yen. The 800 yen doesn't really matter but the feelings matter, especially when we're living in a...

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