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

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.