Finding an early morning feast in Japan can be a bit tricky unless you fancy hitting up Lawson, 7-Eleven, or FamilyMart. But don't worry, I've got you covered! Here are a few breakfast spots from my recent Japan trip that are worth waking up for—well, almost all of them...
Kyoto Gion Omusubiya Sankaku [京都ぎをん おむすび屋 さんかく]
Address: 533 Gionmachi Minamigawa, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, 605-0074, Japan
Opening hours: Tuesday – Sunday (8:00am – 3:00pm)
Onigiri or Musubi: Is There a Difference?
Essentially, both terms refer to rice balls, but the name you use depends on where you are in Japan. In Western Japan, they’re called onigiri, while in Eastern Japan, musubi is more common.
We visited a delightful onigiri shop called Omusubiya Sankaku. The “O” at the beginning adds a touch of politeness, and the suffix “-ya” at the end means “shop.” So, Omusubiya is a polite way of saying “musubi shop.”
This cozy little spot prides itself on making everything from scratch. They craft each rice ball fresh to order, right before your eyes. The English menu was a lifesaver, but it made choosing difficult because everything looked so tempting!
We loved it so much that on our last day in Kyoto, I couldn’t resist grabbing eight musubi to enjoy back at our hotel before heading to Nagoya.
Rice balls are a simple pleasure, but the variety of fillings makes it a whole different ball game (see what I did there😉).
Onigiri = a hearty meal in the palm of your hand.
Maruki Bakery [まるき製パン所]
Address: Japan, 〒600-8356 Kyoto, Shimogyo Ward, Kitamonzencho, 740
Opening hours: Tuesday – Saturday (6:30am – 8:00pm), Sunday (6:30am – 2:00pm), Monday (closed)
Maruki Bakery, a traditional Japanese bakery established in 1947, is a hidden gem nestled on an unassuming residential street in the heart of Kyoto.
There’s no fancy menu here—just the good stuff made the old-fashioned way. Maruki Bakery is renowned for its koppe pan, especially the Katsu Cutlet Roll (a thick slice of ham cutlet), Anpan Roll (filled with homemade red bean paste), and Ham Roll (boneless ham).
We couldn’t resist trying the Cutlet Roll, Croquette Roll, Teriyaki Chicken Roll, and two Anpan Rolls. The best part? This delicious feast only set me back AUD $11. As my friend would say, “cheap as chips.”
The bread is fresh, flavorful, and incredibly reasonably priced. Whether you’re stopping by for breakfast or lunch, Maruki Bakery is definitely worth a visit for a taste of tradition in Kyoto.
Bucyo Coffee
Address: Japan, 〒450-0003 Aichi, Nagoya, Nakamura Ward, Meiekiminami, 1 Chome−10−9 山善ビル 1F
Opening hours: Monday – Sunday (7:15am – 5:00pm)
Just a 9-minute walk from our accommodation, we found Bucyo Cafe, where we indulged in a Nagoya breakfast specialty: Ogura Toast.
So, what exactly is Ogura Toast? It’s a thick slice of fluffy shokupan topped with sweet ogura jam, made from azuki beans.
We tried the Ogura and Kinako Butter Toast. While the Mr. thoroughly enjoyed it, it wasn’t quite to my taste. Instead, I opted for the Isobeyaki Toast—a unique creation where the toast is dipped in soy sauce, with a filling of seaweed and mozzarella cheese. It was absolutely delicious, and the cheese pull was perfection.
One thing I liked about Bucyo Cafe is that it opens super early, a rarity in Japan. It’s the perfect spot to kick-start your day.
Gotemba Bakery Yamaguchiya [パン工房山ロ屋]
Address: 721-16 Hagiwara, Gotemba, Shizuoka 412-0042, Japan
Opening hours: Tuesday – Saturday (9:00am – 6:00pm), Sunday – Monday (closed)
Trying a fruit sandwich has been on my food bucket list for a while, and I finally got my chance at Gotemba Bakery Yamaguchiya. This charming bakery offers a limited number of fruit sandwiches daily, made with seasonal fruits, their signature bread, and fresh cream.
For my Fruit Sandwich Adventure, I chose the pineapple fruit sando. It was exactly as I’d imagined—a delightful balance of perfectly ripe pineapple and soft bread. While it’s not something I’d crave every week, it’s definitely a treat I’d enjoy from time to time.
We also sampled a few other items they had on offer, and we couldn’t fault a single one. Each was crafted with fresh, high-quality ingredients, and the little miss couldn’t get enough.
If you’re planning a trip to Gotemba or visiting the Gotemba Premium Outlets, don’t miss the chance to stop by this lovely bakery along the way.
Amano-Ya at Yamanaka-Ko #3 [天野屋山中湖三号店]
Address: 3213 Hirano, Yamanakako, Minamitsuru District, Yamanashi 401-0502, Japan
Opening hours: Thursday – Monday (7:00am – 9:30am, 11:00am – 2:30pm), Tuesday – Wednesday (closed)
If you're looking for breakfast with a view, Amano-Ya at Yamanaka-Ko #3 is the spot. Not only do you get to enjoy some seriously tasty food, but you also get a front-row seat to Lake Yamanaka and, if Fujisan isn’t feeling shy, a peek at the iconic mountain herself.
This place is run by a local vegetable farmer, so you know the ingredients are fresher than fresh—like, "just plucked this morning" fresh.
Now, let’s talk about the food. Deer meat is the star of the show here, and they’ve got it in all sorts of dishes.
Here’s what we dug into:
Farmer’s Raw Egg Set Meal – A no-frills breakfast with rice, a raw egg (trust me, it’s delicious), miso soup, a whole bunch of obanzai (side dishes), and a salad. Simple, but it hits the spot.
Roast Deer Bowl with Salad and Miso Soup – I’m a sucker for venison, and this did not disappoint. The meat was so fresh and perfectly cooked that it didn’t have that gamey taste some people avoid.
Croffle with Banana and Fresh Cream – This one was for the little one, and let’s just say it disappeared off her plate pretty quickly!
We loved the food so much we came back for breakfast two days in a row and ordered the same dishes. Plus, it’s hard to beat a meal with Fujisan casually chilling in the background.
Next time we’re in Yamanashi Prefecture, you better believe we’ll be back at Amano-Ya at Yamanaka-Ko #3 for round two (or three…).
Centre the Bakery [セントル ザ ベーカリー 銀座店]
Address: Japan, 〒104-0061 Tokyo, Chuo City, Ginza, 1 Chome−2−1 紺屋ビル 1F 東京高速道路
Opening hours: Monday – Sunday (10:00am – 7:00pm)
Centre the Bakery is known for its unique toast experience that promises fun for both adults and kids. The idea is simple but intriguing: you get to choose your bread—Japanese (Hokkaido), North American, or British. I went with the Japanese and British bread, paired it with three types of butter (the French butter was “c'était très bon”), and we also tried the French Toast, Tonkatsu Sandwich, and Croque Monsieur.
The little one had a blast picking her own toaster and toasting her bread. She even tried to sneak in a second toaster—cheeky as ever!
But here's where things went a bit off course. I really wanted to love this place—I mean, who doesn’t love a good toast adventure? Unfortunately, the experience didn’t quite live up to the hype. We ended up waiting an unusually long time in the queue for brunch, even though there were clearly empty tables that hadn’t been cleaned up. The staff seemed a bit scattered, which didn’t help the situation.
As for the food, the French toast was a bit of a letdown—too eggy for my taste, which made it less enjoyable. And with a bill that totaled over AUD $100 (when the yen was still strong in 2023), it felt like a steep price to pay for what was essentially fancy bread.
That said, don’t let my experience deter you if this spot has been on your must-try list. It could still be worth a visit, especially if you’re a toast enthusiast. But honestly, Japan has so many other incredible food spots that might offer more bang for your buck.
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