Restaurant Scams in Nara

Overpriced "Traditional" Kaiseki Set Menu Upsell

Restaurants on the main tourist path between Nara Park and Kintetsu Nara Station aggressively promote fixed kaiseki or bento set menus advertised on A-frame signs at prices that seem reasonable. Once seated, staff explain that the advertised set is "no longer available today" and guide visitors to a premium replacement at two to three times the price. Declining is met with social pressure and the suggestion that regular menu items have a minimum spend requirement.