Many visitors to Japan are surprised by how common counter seats are.In many countries, sitting at a counter is associated with bars or a particular kind of dining experience.In Japan, however, counter seats can be found almost everywhere — from ramen shops and sushi restaurants to izakaya and small neighborhood cafés. At first glance, it may seem that they exist simply because they save space. That is certainly part of the story. But there may be another reason. In Japan, eating alone is not usually considered unusual. Many people naturally gravitate toward the kind of seat that matches the ...
