If you are planning a trip to Japan, Tokyo must be one of the cities that you are thinking of visiting. And why wouldn’t you? There are a lot of things to do in Japan’s beautiful capital, from fun-filled activities such as going to the tops of Tokyo Tower and Sky Tree to enjoy the view of the metropolis, to finding peace and serenity by visiting its numerous shrines and temples, such as Honmon-ji or Asakusa-jinja. But to do all these, you first need to be properly energized. And what better way to do that than through food? While Tokyo has a ton of great restaurants serving flavorful lunches and dinners, we hear less often about the most important meal of the day: breakfast! Yet, Tokyo has a lot of hidden gems when it comes to morning meals, whether it be a traditional Japanese breakfast, or a continental one, perhaps even a mix of both. However, it can sometimes be tricky to find the right place if you are an early bird who would like to venture out into the city as soon as possible. The reason behind this is that most of the cafés in Tokyo tend to open at around 10 in the morning, thus making it a bit challenging to find one that is open earlier than that. Well, fear not, this article will come in handy, as it will list all the best places in town to get a delicious early meal. And to top it off, here is a bonus: if planning isn’t your thing or if you would rather enjoy having breakfast while sightseeing, let me announce to you that Arigato Travel also offers breakfast tours. Two of such are our renowned:
Tsukiji Breakfast Tour – where you will have the pleasure of learning more about the history of the area while tasting flavorful local food
Breakfast Ramen Tour – where you will have the privilege of eating succulent ramen for breakfast, without a care in the world.
Canadian Breakfast – Photo Credit: TASTE THE WORLD
Taste of the World
Our first stop is the amazing café/restaurant called “Taste of the World.” As its name suggests, this wonderful café makes our childhood dreams come true by combining two of the most wondrous things imaginable:
- Making it possible to eat breakfast all day
- Travel all around the world without moving an inch or spending a dime on travel expenses
Indeed, the whole concept of this restaurant is to make its customers tour the world and discover new cultures through gastronomy. Every two months, their special menu is replaced with another country’s traditional early meal. For instance, from the 2nd of October to the 2nd of December 2024, Taste of the World was celebrating Croatian culture. From the 4th of December 2024 until the 2nd of February 2025, Canadian culture is put in the spotlight. Let your palate be served with a warm plate consisting of a Breakfast Poutine, Blueberry Pancakes, and Peameal Bacon. If you wish for something warmer, do not hesitate to order the traditional Pea soup. Afterwards, sweeten your mouth with a Pouding chômeur (pudding of the unemployed – humorous and delectable, what more can we ask for?) and pair it with a hot cup of Maple Cafe Latte.
On the other hand, they also have regular menus which comprise British, American, and Taiwanese breakfasts with Churros from Spain as a dessert. To top it off, the café favors authenticity and quality by renewing their dishes rather than making large amounts of food. Original and eco-friendly, it’s the perfect place for the perfect breakfast.
Opening hours:
- 7:30-17:00 from Monday to Friday
- 7:00-20:00 on the weekend
Location: Jingumae, Shibuya; Kichijoji Honmachi, Musashino-shi; Ginza, Chuo; Shinjuku
Website: https://www.taste-the-world.jp/
Slices of toast with salad and a hard-boiled egg served with coffee – Photo Credit: Café de Paris Kanou Shoji Co., Ltd.
Café de Paris
If you are in search of a cozy coffee shop with a stylish retro ambiance and exuding a sense of serenity, Café de Paris is the place for you. Through its elegant Showa-era decor, this gorgeous café not only offers a relaxing space for its customers to unwind but also provides a wide selection of unique kissaten dishes, each more appetizing than the one before. While their star item is the Napolitan spaghetti, a Japanese itameshi (fusion cuisine that combines Japanese and Italian cookery), their morning sets do not pale in comparison. Indeed, if you come before 11:00, you can choose between three breakfast sets:
A set (¥750): consists of bread toasts with jam and butter, a bowl of salad, and a boiled egg, served with tea or coffee
B set (¥830): comprises mixed sandwiches and a small bowl of salad, served with tea or coffee
C set (¥850): includes a premium cheese toast, yogurt, and slices of banana, served with tea or coffee
Beyond these sets, they also have a variety of delectable cakes for those who have a sweet tooth and an even larger selection of drinks. Located only a minute away from the west exit of Ikebukuro Station, this chic little coffee shop awaits you.
Opening hours: 8:00-23:00 from Monday to Sunday
Location: El Cruce, 1 Chome-23-1 Nishiikebukuro, Toshima City, Tokyo 171-0021
Website: https://kanou.co.jp/ikebukuronishi
Toast with bacon, sunny-side up, and salad – Photo Credit: 上島珈琲店 Ueshima Coffee House
Ueshima Coffee House
Ueshima Coffee House is a well-established company in Japan, known principally for its coffee. While it is true that we often associate Japan with green tea and only rarely with coffee, this renowned establishment has been producing the latter since 1933. Hence, it isn’t surprising to read that their shop not only offers morning meals, but also a plethora of drinks, including coffee in its various and creative forms. As for the morning sets, the shop favors a continental style of breakfast with a myriad of choices such as toasts, sandwiches, croque-monsieurs, salads, and granolas with fruits and yogurt. Ueshima Coffee House is a true heavenly haven for any caffeine aficionado and food lover.
Opening hours: 7:00-21:00 from Monday to Friday (closed on weekends)
Location: 〒100-0004 Tokyo, Chiyoda City, Ōtemachi, 1 Chome−9−5 Otemachi Financial City North Tower, １階
Website: https://www.ueshima-coffee-ten.jp/menu/morning/
Eggs ‘n Things Party set Menu – Photo Credit: Eggs ‘n Things
Eggs ‘n Things
Since opening in 1974 in Hawaii, Eggs ‘n Things has become a popular chain around the world, including Japan. Similar to Hawaiian culture, the colorful food and cheerful ambiance that exude from the restaurant have attracted many tourists and locals alike. It is an all-day breakfast, meaning that you can come at any time and savor the plethora of dishes that the restaurant offers. From savory to sweet, believe me when I say that they have it all. The food at Eggs ‘n Things is not only delectable and mouth-watering, but it also represents an expression of art. The restaurant takes pride and utmost care in the presentation of their dishes, so that the outside can truthfully represent how flavorful the inside is.
Opening hours: 8:00-22:30 from Monday to Sunday
Location: 4 Chome-30-2 Jingumae, Shibuya, Tokyo 150-0001
Website: https://www.eggsnthingsjapan.com/harajuku/
Morning Miso Ramen – Photo Credit: Tsunagi
Morning ramen
Yes, you have read it right. There is such a thing as an asa (morning) ramen, aka eating ramen for breakfast. It is said that the culture of eating ramen in the morning debuted in Fujieda city, in Shizuoka Prefecture, during the Taisho Period, which lasted from 1912 to 1926. The story goes as follows:
Because Shizuoka was (and still is) known for its massive green tea production, a lot of its residents worked in the plantations. To harvest quality tea, workers were obliged to get up early and start their labor even before sunrise. In other words, it meant that their timetables were incompatible with the opening hours of local shops and restaurants. To counter this problem, a ramen shop called Marunaka Ramen decided to open its doors in 1919 and cater to the workers’ hectic schedule. Progressively, the idea gained traction, and many other ramen restaurants followed suit.
Nowadays, the practice has spread all across Japan, and interestingly, peaked again during the pandemic. Indeed, because of the late-night operating restrictions that the Japanese Government had established back in 2020, many restaurateurs cleverly chose to open earlier rather than lose hours.
Black sesame Tantanmen – Photo Credit: Tsunagi
Where to eat asa ramen in Tokyo?
There are a lot of different ones, but why not try Tsunagi? This is a ramen shop, located in Ebisu, which opens as early as 7:00 in the morning and specializes in miso-based broths. The soup they make uses a blend of six different types of carefully selected miso, such as Sensai miso and aged black miso, in addition to eight kinds of flavors. But more importantly, they use domestic products and take extreme care in the making of their broth, that is to say, simmering the soup for about 15 hours.
Besides the variety of regular dishes that they offer, each coming month is greeted with a special dish, ranging from chilly spicy curry ramen to black sesame tantanmen. Other than the regular heavy bowls, be assured that they also provide lighter versions.
Opening hours:
- Morning menu: 7:00-10:00 (closed on Tuesdays)
- Regular hours: 11:00-23:00
Location: 1 Chome-4-1 Ebisu, Shibuya, Tokyo 150-0013
Website: https://tsunagi-ramen.com/
Seasonal Japanese and Western small bowls – Photo Credit: Ginza Breakfast Lab
Ginza Choushoku Lab
Last but not least, this particular restaurant offers a truly one-of-a-kind type of experience and breakfast. Located on the second floor of the Hotel Musse Meitetsu, Ginza Choushoku (breakfast) Lab distinguishes itself by introducing the first meal of the day in the format of a buffet. Indeed, each customer is given a tray divided into 9 squares in which he places small handcrafted bowls and fills them with the ingredients of his choice. So to speak, he is given the opportunity to experiment, mix and match the fillings as per his will, just like you would in a real lab. Not only can you personalize your breakfast according to your tastes, but you can also create a colorful platter worthy of being Instagrammable. Additionally, you also get to have shabu-shabu soup stock, cooked rice, eggs, and various toppings. Moreover, each dish is minutely prepared by a chef who has mastered Japanese and Western cuisine alike. Thus, offering you the possibility to fuse both cultures into your platter. To top it off, the menu is seasonally replaced, in other words, you get the chance to try something new per season.
Opening hours:
- Breakfast: 7:00-11:00 / 50 minutes per seat
- lunch: 11:15-14:30 (on weekends, closes at 15:00) / 50 minutes per seat
Location: 〒104-0061 Tokyo, Chuo City, Ginza, 7 Chome−12−9 ホテルミュッセ銀座 名鉄2階
Website: https://choshoku.neu-inc.tokyo/
Breakfast ingredients – Photo Credit: Ginza Breakfast Lab
Breakfast, aka an explosion of creativity
While it is true that the capital of Japan overflows with activities to do and places to see, we must not forget that it is also a sacred haven for foodies. Nonetheless, we often put aside the morning meal to favor restaurants that serve lunch or dinner items. In our minds, we are wired to think that as we get ready to explore the town, we must just quickly eat breakfast to gain some energy for the day. We do not think much of it. However, Japan and Tokyo, in particular, abound with hidden gems, places where creativity and food intermingle to create ingenious breakfast items. Not only is it the most important meal of the day, but as we have seen throughout the list above, it allows you to travel, discover new cultures, and let your palate acquire new tastes. The above list is only a piece of the puzzle; there are plenty more for you to explore. But if you don’t know where to start and need a hand, it is my pleasure to remind you that Arigato Travel offers a breakfast tour in Tsukiji, as well as a breakfast ramen tour.
Featured Photo Credit: Ginza Breakfast Lab
