YAYOI-KEN Japan Guide for Tourists: Teishoku Meals, Rice Refill Robots & Dashi Chazuke

Quick Facts

What it is

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 Asia, Australia, and the United States. Rooted in the traditional Japanese dining philosophy of Ichiju Sansai ("One Soup, Three Dishes"), it serves well-balanced meal trays featuring freshly cooked main proteins, seasoned side dishes, warm miso soup, and fluffy steamed rice. YAYOI-KEN is especially famous among travelers for its unlimited free white rice refills dispensed by high-tech automated "Rice Refill Robots," complimentary savory dashi broth pots, and free pickled sesame greens (tsukemono). With intuitive multilingual ticket kiosks and welcoming table seating, it offers an authentic, hearty window into everyday Japanese food culture.

How to order

Dining at YAYOI-KEN combines automated kiosk ticketing with sit-down table service:

1. Step up to the ticket vending machine at the door: Touch the screen to switch the interface to English, Chinese, or Korean.
2. Choose your meal and rice option: Browse through categories like Grilled Fish, Meat, Sukiyaki, and Donburi. When selecting a set meal, choose between Standard White Rice (Shiromai) or Pressed Barley Rice (Mochimugi-gohan). (Note: If you choose barley rice, your first bowl is barley, but subsequent free refills are white rice).
3. Pay at the kiosk and take your tickets: Insert cash or choose your cashless payment method (credit card, transit IC card, or QR code app). Take your printed meal tickets.
4. Take an open seat and hand tickets to staff: Sit down at an open table. A server will greet you, bring cold water, and collect your meal ticket.
5. Receive your meal at your table: Staff will deliver your complete balanced teishoku tray directly to your table.
6. Use the "Rice Refill Robot" for free refills: If you ordered a standard set meal and finish your white rice, walk over to the central Okawari-dokoro station:
   • Place your empty rice bowl under the dispenser.
   • Press your desired portion button: One Bite (Hitokuchi, 50g), Small (Komori, 100g), Regular (Namimori, 150g), or Medium (Chumori, 200g).
   • The robot will instantly drop a steaming, fluffy portion of rice into your bowl!
7. Make free "Dashi Chazuke" to finish: Grab the thermal teapot at the refill station, pour hot golden dashi fish broth over your rice, and top with the crunchy sesame pickles (tsukemono) from your table caddy for a traditional Japanese comfort finish.
8. Leave directly when done: Because you paid upfront at the door (and tipping is never practiced in Japan), simply stand up and walk out when finished!

What to order first

All signature dishes below are verified on the YAYOI-KEN Official Website and row reference data (prices tax-included as of September 16, 2026):

• *Ginger Pork Set Meal (Shogayaki Teishoku)*: Thinly sliced pork sautéed with sweet onions in a savory ginger soy sauce glaze; priced from the ¥700s range tax-included (as of September 16, 2026).
• *Grilled Salted Mackerel Set (Saba no Shioyaki Teishoku)*: Crispy-skinned, juicy grilled mackerel served with grated daikon and lemon; starting from the ¥900s range (as of September 16, 2026).
• *Japanese Fried Chicken Set (Karaage Teishoku)*: Golden fried chicken marinated in garlic and ginger, served with savory dipping salt (starting from the ¥800s range as of September 16, 2026).
• Sukiyaki Set & Mix Toji Set: Simmered beef, tofu, and udon in sweet soy broth with a raw egg for dipping, or breaded cutlets and shrimp simmered in egg (around ¥1,000–¥1,200 as of September 16, 2026).
• Complimentary Dashi Chazuke (Soup & Pickles): Free golden dashi broth from the station pot combined with tabletop crunchy sesame greens (Kizami Goma Tsukemono).

Payment & practical info

Accepted payment methods and in-store amenities across YAYOI-KEN branches:

• Accepted Payment Methods: Ticket machines accept cash, major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, JCB, American Express, Diners Club, UnionPay), transit IC cards (Suica, PASMO, etc.), electronic money (iD, QUICPay, Rakuten Edy, nanaco, WAON), and QR code apps (PayPay, Rakuten Pay, d-barai, au PAY, Merpay, LINE Pay, Alipay, WeChat Pay).
• Free Rice Refill Rules: White rice refills via the automated robot are 100% free and unlimited with any standard teishoku set meal. (Note: Rice bowls / donburi orders do not include free rice refills).
• Tax-Free Status: Not eligible for tax-free shopping (restaurant dining services are excluded from tax exemption).
• Wi-Fi & Power Outlets: Varies by location; power outlets are generally not provided at dining tables.

Good to know / Common mistakes

• Waiting for a check after eating: Because you order and pay at the entrance ticket machine before sitting down, you do not need to ask for a bill or stop at a register—you simply walk out when you are done eating.
• Missing the free Dashi Chazuke: Don't leave without trying this traditional finish: take a small portion of rice from the robot, pour hot dashi broth from the silver station pot, and add the free crunchy green pickles from your table jar.
• Assuming Donburi bowls get free refills: The unlimited free rice refill perk applies to Teishoku set meals; single rice bowls (donburi) do not include free rice refills.
• Tipping staff: Tipping is never accepted in Japan.

Sources

• YAYOI-KEN Official Website: https://www.yayoiken.com/ (Verified: 2026-09-16)
• YAYOI-KEN Official Store Locator: https://www.yayoiken.com/store_search/ (Verified: 2026-09-16)
• YAYOI-KEN Official Rice Refill Service Information: https://www.yayoiken.com/contents/news/okawari.html (Verified: 2026-09-16)