Breakfast in Japan: Ranking the Best Convenience Store Breakfast Options.

For travelers, breakfast is really the most important meal of the day because it fuels you up for a productive morning of exploration. In Japan, you do not need to pay for the hotel buffet breakfast – you can have a most delicious breakfast like a local from the convenience stores. Here are the best convenience store breakfast options in Japan:

 

1. Egg Sandwich – The Best Convenience Store Breakfast

Japan’s famous convenience store egg sandwiches. These are a must-have even if you think you do not like egg sandwiches. The deliciousness is in every element – the quality of Japanese eggs and the seasoning and mixture all balanced inside the soft Japanese white bread.

Convenience Store Breakfast
The favorite convenience store brands for egg sandwiches are Lawson and 7 Eleven. Some favor Family Mart as well. Taste all of them and find your favorite. Some sandwiches also come in a pack with tuna mayo which is another local favorite.

 

2. Onigiri

These rice triangles are a hit among locals and tourists because of their simplicity and deliciousness. It is simply seaweed wrapped around a rice ball filled with a single ingredient which is usually a cooked fish or pickled fruit or vegetable. Read more about onigiri and how to unwrap the local packaging: All About Japan’s Convenience Store Onigiri

Convenience Store Breakfast
A local favorite filling is Tuna Mayonnaise followed by Natto and Salmon. Tourists favor the more familiar Salmon Flakes. Try every flavor to discover your favorite. Note: there are some onigiri packages in which the seaweed is already on the rice so it is not crisp when you bite it. Look for this 1-2-3 packaging to really enjoy the crunch of the fresh seaweed.

 

3. Sushi Rolls

If you want a small sushi roll instead of (or aside from) the onigiri, try out the Sushi Hand Rolls which you can find with negi-toro (minced tuna), natto, pickled plum, or tuna mayonnaise. Fillings depend on the convenience store and availability at the time you go in.

Convenience Store Breakfast
Be sure to follow the opening instructions which are illustrated on the packaging. It shows you how to unroll the seaweed and roll on the rice roll all without having to touch the rice. Japanese packaging is so great!

 

4. Soba

If you want to have a very local breakfast, get the soba! These buckwheat noodles are most refreshing, especially during hot summer months. For all these breakfast items, you can get it the night before and store them in your hotel fridge. Thaw it for about 20 minutes or so and it’s ready to eat.

Convenience Store Breakfast
There are the basic soba bowls with the cold dipping sauce on the side and the garnishes of green onions and wasabi. There are also these bowls with yamaimo yam and a soft-boiled egg. For those unfamiliar with this yam, do know that it has a slimy texture so you mix the sauce, yam, and noodles all together before slurping up.

 

5. Salad/Vegetables

Salads are not just for lunch or appetizers for dinner. In Japan, salad is for breakfast. You will find a large selection of salad packs and vegetables in all convenience stores. This is a great way to get ahead of your daily fiber and vegetable intake.
 

6. Cut Fruit

Aside from your daily vegetable quota, you can also get your daily fruit quota with the cut fruit packs usually located near the refrigerated desserts. The fruit selection is usually apples and pineapples. Some convenience stores will have single bananas for sale as well.
 

7. Hard-Boiled Egg

For those looking for more protein in the mornings, get the hard-boiled eggs that come in a pack of one egg or two eggs. Japanese eggs are gorgeously and deliciously orange, and these convenience store eggs are flavorful all on their own without adding any salt.
 

8. Breads

If you want something other than rice or noodles (and there is also pasta which you can heat up in the store’s microwave), you can get fresh bread baked in brought in daily. There are the regular sliced loaves as well as sweet and savory buns.
 

9. Soup

If you want something warm to start the day, get a cup of soup in which all you have to add is hot water (and most hotels have a hot water pot in the room). Be sure to grab a big bottle of water for your room for the soup and for your daily hydration. There are miso soups as well as corn, squash, potato, and more.
 

10. Ramen

If you want more than soup, there are instant ramen bowls as well that are more quality than Cup of Noodles. In fact, convenience stores sell Ippudo branded ramen as well as udon bowls for those that want thicker noodles.
 

11. Drinkable Yogurt

Aside from regular yogurt that you eat with a spoon, try out the local-preferred drinkable yogurt which tastes exactly like regular yogurt with a thinner consistency to drink from the little container. If you can’t read Japanese, get the LG21 yogurt which is not too sweet with a nice tartness.
 

12. Coffee

Finally, you will likely need to start the day with coffee. If your hotel room or hotel does not provide complimentary coffee, you can get a tasty, bold cup from the convenience store. There are the hot cups that you order at the cash register and get from the coffee machines, there are also the hot containers of coffee both black and sweetened, and then there are the cold ice coffees in the refrigerated section.
 

Read more about Japan’s Convenience Stores & Japanese Egg Sandwiches

5 Best Convenience Store Foods in Japan
All About Japan’s Convenience Store Onigiri
The Easiest Japanese Egg Sandwich Recipe
All About the Japanese Convenience Store Egg Sandwich
 
 
 
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Originally posted October 26, 2020
Reposted September 13, 2021

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