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Want to start your day with a familiar meal during your trip to Japan? Here are 10 suggestions of places that might help. They’re where to go if you want to breakfast on pastries, sandwiches or a full-on bacon and egg extravaganza.
What Is a Traditional Japanese Breakfast?
While some breakfasts in Japan might look familiar, other dishes can be a very different experience from what many Western travellers are used to. For example,
Egg on Rice: This is a simple breakfast, but what might make many Western eaters nervous is that the egg can be raw. This is common in Japan but not something we’re used to.
Natto on Rice: Natto are fermented soy beans – they’re a bit of an acquired taste and texture.
Fish, rice and soup: This might be the type of breakfast you find in a ryokan. It includes rice, miso soup, grilled fish, and pickled or simmered vegetables. Other common elements include nori (seaweed sheets), a raw or poached egg, natto (fermented soybeans), and tsukemono (pickles). It’s healthy, savoury, and protein-rich, but it won’t sit quite right with everyone, and it might not be great if you’re in a hurry.
So, if none of those appeal, where else can you go?
Try a Morning Service
Okay, if you’re looking for something a bit more authentically Japanese, but not too far away from your norms, this could be your option.
‘Morning Service’ is the name for a typical Japanese coffee shop breakfast consisting of a boiled egg, mashed egg or a red bean paste served with a slice of thick toast (it’s not quite the same bread as you might be used to, but not far off) with a spread like jam, butter, or condensed soy milk.
One place famous for its ‘morning service’ is the Komedo Coffee chain, which you’ll find in most of the main cities in Japan – and the best thing about their ‘morning service’ is it’s technically free. If you order a drink from the associated list, you can also order the morning service before 11 am. Side dishes are also available at an additional cost.
Find the Komedo Menu here. They offer an allergy search service on their website.
Grab Some Pastries
There are numerous pastry chains in Japan where you can grab something like a croissant or a muffin to start your day.
1. Vie de France
I’m not usually a fan of sweet food in the morning, but this place lured me in with a pain au chocolat in Tottori, and it was really good, although super flaky, so watch the mess!
They offer sweet and savoury options including filled croissants, pizza-style topped breads and sweet pastries. On the day I write this, their new offerings include a salted caramel and a lemon cheesecake croissant that sound so good I’m tempted to get on a plane! Some locations have a small eat-in area where you can also grab a coffee or tea in the morning.
They also do morning sets of a croissant, drinks and a side for around 600 yen.
They also list allergen information, although it is in Japanese, so you will need to translate this.
2. Andersen
This bakery offers European-style baked goods you might be familiar with, such as muffins and croissants, alongside local Japanese cakes and breads like Setouchi Lemon Steamed Cake or Bean Bread stuffed with Hokkaido Kidney beans. Expect to pay around 450 yen for a muffin, but many other pastries are 300 yen or less.
It could be a good option if some of your group want to stick with the familiar while others want to try something more Japanese. They offer takeout, but many stores also have a dine-in area.
They also list allergen information, but you will need to translate it from Japanese.
3. Paul
You might already be familiar with this international chain as they have branches in the UK and the US. If not, Paul started in Northern France, but in 1989, they opened their first international franchise store in Nagoya, Japan. They’re now going strong with stores in seven different prefectures and 13 stores in Tokyo alone.
They make their croissants, palmiers and pain au chocolat in Japan from French dough. Expect to pay around 500 yen for a pastry.
I can’t find allergy information clearly listed on their website.
The three bakeries above are chains, as that means you’ll find them wherever in Japan you’re visiting, but when it comes to bread and pastries, you don’t need to stick to chains. There are numerous excellent independent bakeries in Japan that offer amazing croissants and other breakfast staples. Check out what’s around your hotel by searching for a bakery on Google Maps – you might find a hidden gem. You’ll also usually find at least one bakery-style store in big stations and the food halls of department stores.
Go For a Sandwich
The obvious place to pick up a sandwich for breakfast in Japan is your local convenience store – like 7-Eleven, Family Mart or Lawson. If you’re staying in a hotel that has a fridge – many of them do – you can pick this up the night before and have it ready to eat in bed while you plan your day (this is my own personal morning routine). Or, if you want to go out for a breakfast sandwich, have a look at…
1. Caffe Veloce
Their morning sandwich options include fillings like Melty Cheese & Ham, Melty Cheese & Tuna and a Kaiser Sandwich filled with Scrambled Eggs & Smoked Bacon with Truffle Mayonnaise, starting at around 330 yen for a sandwich or 590 yen for a set.
They are one of the chains that have the allergy information in English. Find it here.
2. Dotour
This coffee chain also offers morning sandwiches, including Ham and Egg Salad, Pastrami Pork and Potato or a Croque Monsieur as part of their set morning menu (available until 10.30 am) that comes with a drink. Expect to pay around 500 yen for the set. They also serve thick slabs of Japanese toast.
Find the morning set menu here.
Their allergy information can be found here.
3. Tully’s Coffee
Come for the coffee, stay for the toast sets, very cute egg sandwiches, Croque Monsieur and even hot dogs in the morning hours. If you have a split group that wants both savoury and sweet options, you can also pick up pastries. Expect to pay around 400 yen for a food item.
If you’re looking for allergy information, it’s located here. You will need to translate it.
Cooked Breakfasts
If you prefer to start your day with something more substantial, the following chains offer more hearty breakfasts of the egg, bacon and sausage variety.
1. Denny’s Japan
Unlike its U.S. counterpart, Japanese Denny’s has adapted to local tastes but still offers Western-style breakfast sets. These may include scrambled or fried eggs, sausage or bacon with a very Japanese touch of some lettuce on the side.
You then choose your ‘bread’, which might be toast, but they also offer French toast and pancakes. The set also comes with a drink. If you want to make things a bit more Japanese, the option to add rice, miso soup and natto is available. These start at 715 yen.
They also have lighter options for those who can’t eat quite that much in the morning – these start at 300-400 yen. Breakfast at Denny’s runs until 11 am.
Here’s where to go if you need to check the allergy information
2. Jonathan’s
Breakfast at this family restaurant runs from 6.00 am to 10.30 am and offers breakfast sets that can include everything from boiled eggs with thick toast to a tandoori chicken and Mexican pilaf plate! Breakfast sets start at around 550 yen. They also have pancakes, yogurt and breakfast sandwiches.
If you would like to try a more traditional Japanese breakfast, and the rest of the family doesn’t, this could be your chance as they also offer Japanese breakfast sets containing grilled salmon, rice, miso soup and vegetables for around 990 yen – a side of natto to finish it off is 100 yen!
Here’s where to go if you need to check the allergy information.
RELATED READ: If you’ve not heard the term family restaurants before, read our guide to this handy dining option for families and larger groups.
3. Royal Host
Royal Host offers hearty breakfast sets including toast, eggs, sausage, hash browns, pancakes, and even yogurt on the side.
It’s a bit more expensive than some of the other restaurants – a full set of eggs, bacon, potatoes, bread, orange juice and coffee could cost you around 1300 yen. If you want something simple like pancakes, though, expect to pay around 600 yen.
The breakfast options are available from branch opening (times vary) until 10.30 am.
Find the full breakfast menu here.
Here’s where to go if you need to check the allergy information.
While traditional Japanese breakfasts offer a cultural experience, it’s nice to know you don’t have to go without your morning coffee, toast, or croissant. These chains make it easy to start your day with something familiar before heading off to explore. If you’re also a bit wary of what you’re going to eat in the evening, as you don’t like fish, don’t fret – there are a lot of fish-free food options in Japan. Read our guide on this next.