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That's just a cultural difference on the expectation of service. Europe is more towards the "I'll summon you when needed". The US it's expected they'll check in on you and to some extent that you'll wait until they check in to ask for something.

The US has bars and parks and coffee shops too. Plenty of places to just go and be

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And Japan has both. Either you don't have time to look at the menu before they show up taking your order or people shout "SUMIMASEN!" over the whole restaurant.

Eh, so far in my experience nobody's been shouting across the restaurant or hole-in-the-wall place; normally it's a hand wave or signal, or often a button or bell.

Maybe I haven't been going to exciting places...

And as for taking my order before reading the menu, depends how fast you can decypher the translation of whatever app you use :) (assuming a non-Japanese speaker)

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