The Izakaya Is Full, the Lights Are On, and They Just Turned You Away at the Door.

Why this phrase

「貸切」means the whole place has been rented out by one group, so a rejection at the door is not a foreigner refusal, it is a private party in progress. The same word is also the tourist's friend. Standing at the door you can ask 「ここは貸切ですか」 and know in one second whether to wait or walk on, and when you are the one with a group, a restaurant, a karaoke box or a small event space can usually be booked 貸切 for your party if you arrange it ahead. Set every scene in restaurants, private dining rooms, karaoke boxes and event spaces. Do not use any bath, onsen, hot spring or ryokan imagery. One word, two very different doors.