Although breakfast is extremely important and the Japanese are masters of healthy eating, why are there no breakfast shops in Japan?
Nutrition experts all agree that breakfast is extremely important, and the busier people are and the more late they work, the greater the importance of breakfast becomes.
While we sleep, our bodies continue to expend energy. Therefore, after a long sleep of 6-8 hours, the body tends to become dehydrated and needs nourishment. Breakfast helps replenish energy and allows us to start the day more energetically.
Those who have traveled to Japan often find it puzzling that in the mornings, it's very difficult to find a restaurant on the streets. Is the lack of breakfast shops in Japan because the Japanese never eat breakfast, or don't value this meal?
Why there are no breakfast shops in Japan
You'd be mistaken to think that because the Japanese don't have a need for breakfast, there are no restaurants serving it. The answer is quite the opposite: it's because they place such great importance on breakfast. The Japanese are extremely concerned about maintaining their health and highly value the impact of diet on their well-being. For them, breakfast is the most important meal of the day.
So why are there no breakfast shops in Japan? It's due to their unique work habits. Japanese people work very late, often working overtime until late at night. Even after leaving the office, they don't go straight home but instead go to bars or attend social gatherings with bosses and colleagues – gatherings that are almost always for work-related purposes. Therefore, for most families, breakfast is the only time of day when members can sit together , enjoy a family meal, and experience the atmosphere of togetherness.
The Japanese value breakfast and often enjoy it with family at home.
Therefore, they especially value breakfast and want to create the best environment to enjoy it with their loved ones at home. Japanese housewives often wake up very early to prepare breakfast for their families. Their traditional breakfast usually consists of a fruit juice and three simple dishes: miso soup, meat, a vegetarian dish, and soy products. These are all homemade dishes, making them difficult to buy in stores.
In short, the vast majority of Japanese people cook their own breakfast at home, so there are virtually no breakfast shops in the country. Restaurants and eateries usually open at 11 am.
Besides supply and demand, high rental costs are another reason why breakfast eateries are a rarity in Japan. The country has limited space and extremely high rents, making it difficult to achieve significant profits from breakfast businesses. While quick access to working capital might be advantageous, facing expenses such as rent, utilities, labor, and other costs, actual profits are often negligible.
If you want to have breakfast in Japan but can't cook it yourself, you can go to the following places:
- Coffee shops, where they often sell "morning sets" - breakfast meals including toast, sandwiches, hot dogs, and drinks.
- Fast food restaurants: These include shops selling gyudon (beef rice bowl), soba noodles, udon noodles, and hamburgers.
- Family Restaurant: Many restaurants in the Family Restaurant chain serve breakfast.
- The restaurant is in a large hotel (smaller hotels only serve breakfast to hotel guests).
- Convenience stores: These are places where single people or those who don't have time to make breakfast can buy quick meals like bread, rice balls, and various types of pastries.
Foods you shouldn't eat for breakfast.
Unhealthy breakfast habits
Why is Japanese-style breakfast good for your health?
