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:
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Buy your Official JR Pass and Regional Pass!
Stay connected in Japan with Pocket Wifi!
Arrive in style and convenience with Meet & Greet service!
Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links. With no additional cost to you, your bookings earn me a commission if you click on the links via my website – Thank you!
Originally posted October 26, 2020
Reposted September 13, 2021
Sign up for my newsletter on the sidebar for blog updates and my travel insider tips! And, check out my vlogs on YouTube!
The History of Pizza By-The-Slice There’s nothing like that first slice of pizza when you…
Western Influence, Japanese Popularity. Today, the katsu sando can be found everywhere in Japan, from…
Japan’s Love for Bread & Perfection. While rice and noodles may be diet staples, the…
The Origins and Evolution of Grilled Cheese. Grilled cheese is one of the most loved…
All About the Best Beef in the World. Wagyu straightforwardly translates to “Japanese cow”. Read…
Winter Favorite Since the Beginning of Time. Not quite the beginning of time, but definitely…