Independent guides for visitors to Japan
Japan’s everyday stores,
made simple.
Find out what to order, how to pay, and what to know before you walk in. Practical English guides to the chains you'll see across Japan.
Explore the guides
67 guides
Caffe Veloce
Caffe Veloce, founded in 1986 and operated by C-United Co., Ltd., is one of Japan's most reliable urban self-service café chains with roughly 170 locations across Tokyo and major…
Cafe & SweetsDoutor Coffee Farm
Doutor Coffee Farm / Doutor Coffee Store, operated by Doutor Coffee Co., Ltd. (part of Doutor Nichires Holdings), is an opulent, full-service specialty coffee lounge and modern…
Cafe & SweetsDoutor Coffee Shop
Doutor Coffee Shop, founded in Harajuku, Tokyo in 1980 and operated by Doutor Coffee Co., Ltd., is Japan's undisputed national champion of casual coffee culture with more than…
Cafe & SweetsExcelsior Caffe
Excelsior Caffe, operated by Doutor Coffee Co., Ltd. (part of Doutor Nichires Holdings), is an upscale Italian-style espresso bar chain with over 110 locations centered in prime…
Cafe & SweetsKomeda Okagean
Komeda Nagomi Kissa Okagean, operated by Komeda Co., Ltd. (Komeda Holdings Co., Ltd.), is the Japanese-style sister salon of Japan's legendary Komeda's Coffee chain. Infused with…
Cafe & SweetsKomeda's Coffee
Komeda's Coffee, operated by Komeda Co., Ltd. (Komeda Holdings Co., Ltd.), is a beloved Nagoya-born full-service Japanese kissaten (traditional café) chain with over 1,000…
Cafe & SweetsMister Donut (Misdo)
Mister Donut—affectionately called "Misdo" across Japan and operated by Duskin Co., Ltd.—is Japan's most beloved donut and casual café chain, with roughly 1,000 locations across…
Cafe & SweetsPRONTO
PRONTO, operated by Pronto Corporation (part of the Suntory Group), is Japan's most famous dual-personality dining chain with roughly 250 to 300 locations nationwide, situated…
Cafe & SweetsSaint Marc Cafe
Saint Marc Cafe, operated by Saint Marc Holdings Co., Ltd., is one of Japan's most ubiquitous and inviting bakery café chains with roughly 300 to 350 locations nationwide. It is…
Convenience7-Eleven
7-Eleven Japan, operated by Seven-Eleven Japan Co., Ltd. (part of Seven & i Holdings Co., Ltd.), is Japan's largest convenience store network with more than 21,000 locations…
ConvenienceFamilyMart
FamilyMart, operated by FamilyMart Co., Ltd. (an ITOCHU Group company), is one of Japan's "Big Three" convenience store chains with roughly 16,300 stores across all 47…
ConvenienceLawson
Lawson, operated by Lawson, Inc. (part of the Mitsubishi Corporation and KDDI group), is one of Japan's major 24-hour convenience store chains with over 14,000 locations across…
ConvenienceLawson Store 100
Lawson Store 100, operated by Lawson Store 100, Inc. (a wholly owned subsidiary of Lawson, Inc.), is recognizable by its bright green storefront and completely distinct concept…
Family DiningBakery Restaurant Saint Marc
Bakery Restaurant Saint Marc, operated by Saint Marc Holdings Co., Ltd., is the flagship full-service dining concept that gave birth to Japan's famous Saint Marc Cafe chain.…
Family DiningBikkuri Donkey
Bikkuri Donkey, founded in Morioka, Iwate and developed in Hokkaido by Aleph Inc., is one of Japan's most distinctive and nostalgic themed hamburger steak chains with roughly 340…
Family DiningCapricciosa
Founded in 1978 in Tokyo's Shibuya district, Capricciosa (operated by WDI Corporation / WDI JAPAN) is one of Japan's pioneering casual Southern Italian trattoria chains with over…
Family DiningCOCO'S
COCO'S, operated by Cocos Japan Co., Ltd. (part of the Zensho Group), is one of Japan's most recognizable family restaurant (famiresu) chains with roughly 500 locations across all…
Family DiningDenny's
Denny's Japan, operated by Seven & i Food Systems Co., Ltd. (the parent group behind 7-Eleven Japan), is vastly different from its American namesake. Rather than a greasy-spoon…
Family DiningGusto
Gusto, operated by Skylark Restaurants Co., Ltd. (a core brand of Skylark Holdings Co., Ltd.), is Japan's largest family restaurant (famiresu) chain with over 1,200 locations…
Family DiningKushiya Monogatari
Kushiya Monogatari, operated by Fujio Food System Co., Ltd. (part of Fujio Food Group Inc.), is Japan's most popular experiential all-you-can-eat kushikatsu (deep-fried skewer)…
Family DiningMaido Ookini Shokudo
Maido Ookini Shokudo, operated by Fujio Food System Co., Ltd. (part of Fujio Food Group Inc.), is Japan's most recognizable nationwide chain of traditional Japanese…
Family DiningOotoya
Ootoya (Ootoya Gohan Dokoro), operated by Ootoya Co., Ltd. (part of Ootoya Holdings Co., Ltd. / the Colowide Group), is a beloved Japanese teishoku (set meal) chain with over 300…
Family DiningRoyal Host
Royal Host, operated by Royal Food Services Co., Ltd. (part of Royal Holdings Co., Ltd.), is Japan's premier upscale family restaurant (hospitality restaurant) chain with roughly…
Family DiningSaizeriya
Saizeriya, operated by Saizeriya Co., Ltd., is Japan's most famous budget-friendly Italian family restaurant chain with over 1,000 locations nationwide across commercial complexes…
Family DiningYAYOI-KEN
YAYOI-KEN (often written Yayoi-ken), operated by Plenus Co., Ltd., is Japan's premier everyday teishoku restaurant chain with roughly 360 locations nationwide and branches across…
Fast Food & GrillCoCo Ichibanya
Curry House CoCo Ichibanya, affectionately known as "CoCoICHI" and operated by Ichibanya Co., Ltd. (part of the House Foods Group), is Japan's largest and most famous Japanese…
Fast Food & GrillGyoza no Ohsho
Gyoza no Ohsho (meaning "King of Gyoza"), founded in Shijo Omiya, Kyoto in 1967 and operated by Ohsho Food Service Corp., is Japan's undisputed national champion of casual Chinese…
Fast Food & GrillIkinari! Steak
Ikinari! Steak, operated by Pepper Food Service Co., Ltd., is Japan's most famous fast-casual steakhouse chain with over 180 locations nationwide. Built around the revolutionary…
Fast Food & GrillMatsunoya
Matsunoya, operated by Matsuya Foods Holdings Co., Ltd. (the company behind Matsuya beef bowls), is Japan's premier budget-friendly tonkatsu (deep-fried breaded pork cutlet)…
Fast Food & GrillMos Burger
Founded in Narimasu, Tokyo in 1972, Mos Burger (standing for Mountain, Ocean, Sun and operated by MOS Food Services, Inc.) is Japan's beloved homegrown hamburger chain with over…
Fast Food & GrillSoup Stock Tokyo
Soup Stock Tokyo, operated by Soup Stock Tokyo Co., Ltd. (part of the Smiles Group), is a beloved Japanese fast-casual dining chain built around the innovative concept of "Soup to…
Fast Food & GrillTendon Tenya
Tendon Tenya, operated by Royal Food Services Co., Ltd. (the casual dining division of Royal Holdings), is Japan's premier tempura and tendon (tempura rice bowl) restaurant chain…
Fast Food & GrillTonkatsu Shinjuku Saboten
Founded in 1966 in Tokyo's bustling Shinjuku district, Tonkatsu Shinjuku Saboten (operated by Green House Foods Co., Ltd.) is one of Japan's most historic and widespread tonkatsu…
Fast Food & GrillTonkatsu Wako
Founded in 1958 in Kawasaki, Tonkatsu Wako (operated by Wako Commercial Co., Ltd. / Wako Group) is one of the most respected pillars of Japanese tonkatsu culture with more than…
Fast Food & GrillTsukiji Gindaco
Tsukiji Gindaco, founded in 1997 and operated by HotLand Co., Ltd., is Japan's undisputed #1 takoyaki (octopus ball) specialty chain with roughly 500 stores nationwide. It is…
Fast Food & GrillYakiniku Gyu-Kaku
Yakiniku Gyu-Kaku, operated by REINS International Inc. (part of the Colowide Group), is Japan's largest and most famous yakiniku barbecue chain with over 600 restaurants…
Fast Food & GrillYakiniku Like
Yakiniku Like, operated by Yakiniku Like Co., Ltd. (part of the Dining Innovation Group), is an innovative Japanese fast-casual barbecue chain that revolutionized Japanese dining…
Gyudon & Fast FoodMatsuya
Matsuya, operated by Matsuya Foods Co., Ltd. (Matsuya Foods Holdings Co., Ltd.), is one of Japan's big three gyudon fast-food chains with over 1,000 locations nationwide. Unlike…
Gyudon & Fast FoodSukiya
Sukiya, operated by Sukiya Co., Ltd. (part of Zensho Holdings Co., Ltd.), is Japan's largest gyudon (beef bowl) restaurant chain with over 1,900 locations across all 47…
Gyudon & Fast FoodYoshinoya
Founded in 1899, Yoshinoya (operated by Yoshinoya Co., Ltd., part of Yoshinoya Holdings Co., Ltd.) is Japan's original gyudon (beef bowl) chain, famous for its motto "Tasty,…
HotelAPA Hotel
APA Hotel, operated by APA Hotel Co., Ltd. (part of the APA Group), is one of Japan's largest urban and business hotel chains, with hundreds of properties situated within walking…
NoodlesHanamaru Udon
Hanamaru Udon, founded in Takamatsu, Kagawa Prefecture in 2001 and operated by Hanamaru Co., Ltd. (part of the Yoshinoya Holdings Group), is one of Japan's big two Sanuki udon…
NoodlesMarugame Seimen
Marugame Seimen, operated by Toridoll Holdings Corporation, is Japan's most famous Sanuki udon noodle chain with over 800 stores across all 47 prefectures. Every single restaurant…
NoodlesNadai Fuji Soba
Nadai Fuji Soba, founded in 1966 and operated by the Daitan Group, is the ultimate cultural fixture of Tokyo train station life with over 100 locations across the capital.…
NoodlesNakau
Nakau, founded in Osaka in 1969 and operated by Nakau Co., Ltd. (part of Zensho Holdings), is one of Japan's big fast-casual dining chains with roughly 450 locations nationwide.…
NoodlesRinger Hut
Ringer Hut, founded in Nagasaki in 1974 and operated by Ringer Hut Co., Ltd., is Japan's undisputed leader in Nagasaki regional cuisine with roughly 600 stores nationwide. It is…
Pubs & BarsHUB British Pub
HUB (HUB British Pub), operated by HUB Co., Ltd., is Japan's most famous British-style pub chain with over 100 locations situated outside major train stations and nightlife hubs.…
Pubs & BarsKushikatsu Tanaka
Kushikatsu Tanaka, operated by Kushikatsu Tanaka Co., Ltd. (part of Kushikatsu Tanaka Holdings), is Japan's most famous nationwide kushikatsu izakaya chain with more than 300…
Pubs & BarsTorikizoku
Torikizoku, operated by Torikizoku Co., Ltd. (part of Eternal Hospitality Group Co., Ltd.), is Japan's most famous budget-friendly yakitori (grilled chicken skewer) izakaya chain…
Pubs & BarsYEBISU BAR
YEBISU BAR, operated by Sapporo Lion Co., Ltd. (part of Sapporo Holdings), is a sophisticated Japanese modern beer dining chain dedicated entirely to Japan's premier luxury beer…
RamenHidakaya
Hidakaya (Netsuretsu Chuka Shokudo Hidakaya), operated by Hiday Hidaka Corp., is the reigning king of budget Japanese-Chinese casual dining in Greater Tokyo, with over 440…
RamenIchiran
Ichiran, operated by Ichiran Co., Ltd., is Hakata's world-famous pork-bone (tonkotsu) ramen specialty chain with over 80 locations across Japan and restaurants in New York, Hong…
RamenIppudo
Ippudo, founded in Daimyo, Fukuoka in 1985 and operated by Chikaranomoto Holdings Co., Ltd., is the global pioneer of Hakata tonkotsu ramen with over 130 stores in Japan and more…
RamenTenkaippin (Tenichi)
Tenkaippin (affectionately nicknamed "Tenichi"), founded by Tsutomu Kimura as a humble Kyoto street cart in 1971, is one of Japan's most cult-favorite ramen institutions with…
Rental CarToyota Rent a Car
Toyota Rent a Car, operated by Toyota Motor Corporation and regional Toyota Rent a Lease companies, is Japan's largest car rental network with roughly 1,200 branches across all 47…
Retail & ShoppingBic Camera
Bic Camera, operated by BicCamera Inc., is one of Japan's leading urban electronics and duty-free retail chains, with multi-story megastores outside major rail terminals and…
Retail & ShoppingDAISO
DAISO, operated by Daiso Industries Co., Ltd. (Daiso-Sangyo), is Japan's most ubiquitous 100-yen variety store chain with over 3,800 locations across all 47 prefectures and a…
Retail & ShoppingDon Quijote (Donki)
Don Quijote (commonly known as "Donki" and operated by Don Quijote Co., Ltd., part of Pan Pacific International Holdings Corporation / PPIH) is Japan's famous "King of the…
Retail & ShoppingMatsumoto Kiyoshi
Matsumoto Kiyoshi (operated by Matsumoto Kiyoshi Co., Ltd., part of MatsukiyoCocokara & Co.) is one of Japan's most recognizable drugstore chains, famous for its yellow-and-blue…
Retail & ShoppingMUJI (Mujirushi Ryohin)
MUJI (Mujirushi Ryohin, meaning "No-Brand Quality Goods"), operated by Ryohin Keikaku Co., Ltd., is Japan's premier minimalist lifestyle brand with over 600 stores nationwide and…
Retail & ShoppingNitori
Nitori, operated by Nitori Co., Ltd. (part of Nitori Holdings Co., Ltd.), is Japan's largest home furnishings, lifestyle goods, and interior retail chain with over 800 stores…
Retail & ShoppingYodobashi Camera
Yodobashi Camera, operated by Yodobashi Camera Co., Ltd., is one of Japan's most iconic mega-retailers, operating 24 colossal multi-story stores directly connected to major train…
ServicesKaikatsu CLUB
Kaikatsu CLUB, operated by Kaikatsu Frontier Inc. (part of the AOKI Holdings Group), is Japan's largest 24-hour manga and internet café chain with over 500 locations across all 47…
ServicesQB HOUSE
QB HOUSE, operated by QB Net Holdings Co., Ltd., is Japan's signature express haircut-only salon chain, operating more than 550 stores nationwide (over 600 locations listed on its…
SushiHama-Sushi
Hama-Sushi, operated by Hama-Sushi Co., Ltd. (part of Zensho Holdings Co., Ltd.), is one of Japan's largest and most technologically advanced sushi chains with over 600 locations…
SushiKura Sushi
Kura Sushi, operated by Kura Sushi, Inc. ("Muten Kura Sushi"), is one of Japan's leading conveyor belt sushi chains with over 540 locations across all 47 prefectures, famous for…
SushiSushiro
Sushiro, operated by Akindo Sushiro Co., Ltd. (a subsidiary of Food & Life Companies Ltd.), is Japan's largest kaitenzushi (conveyor belt sushi) chain with over 640 restaurants…
No matches. Try a brand name or a broader term like “sushi”.