予約制(よやくせい)

予約制(よやくせい) says that a place or service is available only to people who have booked ahead. The suffix 制(せい) turns 予約(よやく) (reservation) into the name of a system, so the word describes the establishment's policy, not any one booking.

Usage

• As a predicate: このレストランは予約制(よやくせい)です
• Adopting the policy: 予約制(よやくせい)になる (to go over to appointments), 予約制(よやくせい)を導入(どうにゅう)する (to introduce the system)
• 完全(かんぜん)予約制(よやくせい) means no walk-ins at all; 一部(いちぶ)予約制(よやくせい) means some capacity is held back for them

USAGE (where you meet it):
Clinics, 美容院(びよういん) (hair salons), small restaurants, and popular exhibitions at 美術館(びじゅつかん). Note that 病院(びょういん) (hospital) and 美容院(びよういん) (salon) differ by one mora, and both commonly carry this notice.

Similar words

先着順(せんちゃくじゅん) (first-come, first-served) and 抽選(ちゅうせん) (lottery) are the alternatives when demand outstrips places.