#Japan #Tokyo #Café #Synchro Food #Restaurant Ranking

Overview of the Survey

A recently conducted survey by Synchro Food Co., Ltd. (Headquartered in Shibuya, Tokyo; CEO: Toshin Okubo; Tokyo Stock Exchange: 3963) revealed a significant change in consumer preferences regarding restaurant types for 2025. Known for providing comprehensive services for restaurant openings and operations through their platform 'Restaurant.com', they compiled data from new members registered on their site. The survey targeted 18,753 entities for restaurant type preferences and 17,433 for budget distribution over the course of one year, spanning from January 1 to December 31, 2025.

Key Findings

• - The most sought-after restaurant type has shifted from 'izakaya' (Japanese-style pub) to 'cafés'. This change possibly reflects alterations in consumer demand for partying and dining options.
• - While demand for takeout options like bento boxes has stabilized compared to the peak during the pandemic, it's still noteworthy.
• - Budget expectations among prospective restaurant owners are polarized, likely influenced by rising living costs.

Shift in Restaurant Preferences

For over a decade, izakayas held the top spot in this ranking, but the 2025 results mark a historic change, with cafés now leading the list. Notably, the survey further highlighted that although the second, third, and fourth places remained occupied by 'bars', 'karaoke/pubs/snacks', and 'ramen', there was a rise in 'Asian cuisine' overtaking 'Japanese cuisine' to emerge at the sixth position. On the contrary, demand for prepared foods like 'bento’ and 'delis’ plummeted, ranking lower than in prior years.

The potential reasons behind this shift seem to stem from changes in consumer behavior, including a decline in interest in izakaya settings amid the increasing number of non-drinkers and the evolving preferences of diners. Additionally, as the pandemic subsided, the previously rising popularity of takeout options has also started to fall.

Trends in Restaurant Type Demand

Examining the data over the past decade, the percentage of respondents wishing to establish a café has steadily risen from 15.4% in 2015 to 20.4% in 2025, signaling a continual inclination. Conversely, izakayas saw a decline from 27.5% to 20.2%, marking the first time cafés have taken the lead as the preferred type of restaurant. Notably, bars have increased their demand significantly from 14.1% in 2015 to 18.9% in 2025, indicating an upward trend in late-night dining options.

On the other hand, ramen restaurants showed a decrease, dropping from 8.1% in 2015 to 5.2% in 2024, then slightly bouncing back to 5.8% in 2025. The demand for prepared meals experienced a sharp decline from its peak during Covid-19, shrinking to 1.5% in 2025 from a peak of 3.4% in 2022, suggesting a normalization away from takeout services.

Budget Trends for New Restaurants

The survey further investigated the distribution of budget expectations revealed notable patterns. The percentage of aspiring restaurateurs who plan to invest less than 5 million yen has diminished by 2.2 points to 44.1%. In contrast, those intending to allocate between 15 million and 20 million yen, as well as those planning to invest more than 20 million yen, have seen slight increases.

This data underlines an emerging trend where some individuals are looking at higher investment opportunities while others aim for budget-friendly openings, reflecting a bifurcation in the mindset towards restaurant investments. Additionally, attributed to the continuous escalation in material costs and construction expenses, the budget necessary for similar-sized establishments is anticipated to increase.

Conclusion

The survey by Synchro Food Co., Ltd. not only mapped changing consumer preferences in the restaurant industry but also emphasized a polarization in investment approaches among prospective owners. As society recovers from the pandemic, understanding these shifts is critical for businesses looking to enter the dynamically evolving food and beverage landscape.

For Citation: Please credit Synchro Food Co., Ltd. for this research on restaurant industry trends.

About Synchro Food Co., Ltd.

Synchro Food operates with a vision of spreading happiness derived from diverse dining experiences throughout Japan and globally. They strive to support restaurant management by leveraging technology to offer various essential services from personnel and supplies to information—all efficiently and simply.

Contact Information

For inquiries, please reach out to Synchro Food Public Relations, Imanishi and Oki at:
Phone: 03-5768-9522
Email: [email protected]