McDonald's in Japan: Differences and Curiosities

Today the focus is on one of the largest fast-food hamburger chains in the world, McDonald's (マクドナルド), and specifically how it operates in Japan. The article covers its origin, history, snacks, cultural differences, and a few curiosities that often surprise first-time visitors.

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History of McDonald's in Japan

The first McDonald's in the world was opened in 1940 by brothers Dick and Mac McDonald in San Bernardino, California. Its marketing concept was the Speedee Service System, a factory-style approach to burger production combined with self-service. Speed became part of the brand's DNA from the start.

In 1967, Den Fujita was so impressed by the popularity and efficiency of the McDonald's chain that he decided to bring the concept to Japan. He negotiated the franchise agreement with the US headquarters and is often credited as the father of McDonald's in Japan. The brand quickly established itself, partly because it adapted early to the Japanese palate.

In July 1971, the first Japanese McDonald's opened inside a department store in Ginza, Tokyo, and it was also the first McDonald's branch in all of Asia. From the start, the menu included two products that did not exist in the West: the Teriyaki McBurger and Chicken Tatsuta. The idea of extending the standard menu with local items later became a signature of McDonald's Japan.

Fujita is also remembered for a controversial remark from that era. In talks promoting the chain in the 1970s, he repeated the claim that the Japanese were "yellow" because they ate only fish and rice, and argued they should eat more hamburgers and fries. The statement reflected a Westernizing, biologically framed marketing logic that was common in postwar Japan but is now widely recognized as a racist stereotype. It is preserved here as a historical quotation, not as a description of the chain's current values.

After many years and many local menu inventions, McDonald's became a great success in Japan, offering a quick, familiar option for people looking for something to eat on the go. Today, Japan is the chain's second-largest market after the United States, with over 3,000 restaurants.

Marketing Campaign

The marketing campaigns used in Japan are similar to those in other countries, but what really sets Japan apart is the sheer range of sandwich varieties and ingredients on offer.

Japan is known for releasing snacks with diverse and unusual flavors to break the routine. Seasonal hamburgers, breakfast items, a wide range of drinks and teas, and short-lived limited products have all become part of the local playbook.

McDonald's is popular in Japan for its service and speed. Another practical detail is that many branches offer phone-charging points. More than one visitor has ended up at McDonald's specifically to charge a phone and grab a snack at the same time.

Beyond standard ads and appearances in films and anime, McDonald's Japan has also run its own animation campaigns:

McDonald's Japan animated commercial

McDonald's in Japan is also notably affordable: a set with a Big Mac or another main item costs around 680 yen. For context, with about 500 yen you can already eat at many casual spots in Japan, such as a bowl of soba or gyudon, and the value of a McDonald's meal against an average hourly wage is one of the reasons the chain remains popular locally.

Special Menus at McDonald's in Japan

Most of the ingredients used in McDonald's Japan are imported from various countries, and the chain has also been responsible for several unusual inventions: chocolate fries, avocado burgers, potato and bacon pies, and giant combos with four layers of beef, among others. Some of the most talked-about items include:

• Chicken Tatsuta with wasabi and tartar sauce;
• Mega Potato — equivalent to two large fries;
• McNuggets with wasabi or plum (ume) sauce;
• Karaage — chicken with tomato and basil powder;
• Seasonal snacks with sakura (cherry blossom) flavor;
• Snacks served on black bread;
• Hawaiian Burger;
• Gracoro Burger — a creamy croquette with white sauce, shrimp and pasta;
• Chocolate pie in a triangle shape;
• Grilled fish burger;
• Anko Pies — pies filled with sweet red bean paste;
• Fries seasoned with sakura;
• Shakachiki — crunchy breaded chicken with onion and garlic sauce, cheddar cheese or pepper.

Pies at McDonald's in Japan

As mentioned above, McDonald's Japan regularly releases different seasonal pies. In winter there is usually a chocolate pie, in summer a strawberry pie, and there is also a savory potato and bacon pie. They are generally named after the main ingredient followed by the word "pie" in English.

These are just some of the many items that have appeared on the McDonald's Japan menu over the years. The full list is much longer, and the picks above focus on the ones that tend to spark the most conversation.

How Much Does McDonald's Cost in Japan?

McDonald's in Japan has a reputation for being good value compared with many other countries. A single hamburger costs around 200 yen, while a Big Mac set with fries and a drink costs around 680 yen. Prices may have shifted since these figures were first published, so it is worth checking the latest menu on arrival.

One useful comparison: with about one hour of work at minimum wage in Japan, you can roughly afford two McDonald's sets. That ratio is one of the reasons McDonald's is treated as everyday fast food in Japan, rather than a special-occasion meal.

Prices and menu items can vary by region. Drinks range from around 100 yen to 250 yen depending on size, and the abbreviations [S], [M] and [L] are used for small, medium and large.

Curiosities About McDonald's in Japan

Since 2006 there have been attempts to extend opening hours, and the number of 24-hour branches grew for several years. More recently, however, profitability issues and the difficulty of hiring crew members have pushed many branches to stop operating around the clock, so 24-hour service is no longer the default.

Several companies have offered free Wi-Fi hotspots since the second half of the 2000s to attract customers, and some branches are equipped with power outlets for charging devices.

Since 2018, McDonald's Japan has been running a "Toy Recycling Project" that collects toys from Happy Sets across the country and recycles them into trays used in the restaurants.

McDonald's Vocabulary in Japanese

For readers who want to navigate a McDonald's menu in Japanese without getting lost, here is a list of useful words and phrases. On a mobile device, you may need to swipe the table sideways to see it fully.

Japanese	Romaji	English
いらっしゃいませ	irasshaimase	Welcome
ご注文は	go-chuumon wa	What would you like?
お飲み物はいかがですか	o-nomimono wa ikaga desu ka	Something to drink?
ビッグマック	biggumakku	Big Mac
セット	setto	Combo / set
サイズ	saizu	Size
ハンバーガー	hanbāgā	Hamburger
チーズバーガー	chīzubāgā	Cheeseburger
てりやきマックバーガー	teriyaki makkubāgā	Teriyaki McBurger
フィレオフィッシュ	fireofisshu	Filet-O-Fish
マックシェイク	makkusheiku	McShake
メガマック	megamakku	Mega Mac

When you order a burger, the staff will usually ask if you would like the setto (combo) and which drink you want. You pay, wait for your order number to appear on the screen, and pick it up at the counter. The whole flow is straightforward.

List of McDonald's Snacks in Japan

The earlier list of snacks only scratched the surface. Below is a longer, more complete list of over 40 Japan-exclusive or Japan-popular items, with a short description of what each one contains.

• American Funky BBQ Beef — 2 beef patties, cheddar cheese, 2 strips of grilled bacon, lettuce, pickles, barbecue sauce, mustard.
• American Funky BBQ Chicken — chicken patty, cheddar cheese, lettuce, pickles, barbecue sauce, mustard.
• Bacon and Lettuce Burger — beef patty, bacon, lettuce, cheese, yellow mustard sauce.
• Bacon and Potato Pie — pie crust filled with white cream sauce, potato, chopped bacon and onion.
• Beverly Hills Burger — 1/4-pound beef patty, lettuce, onion, avocado sauce, Caesar dressing.
• Broadway Burger — bacon, lettuce, peppers, cream cheese sauce, patty, mustard sauce.
• California Burger — patty, red wine sauce, tomato, lettuce, bacon, Monterey Jack cheese, buns topped with grated cheese.
• Carbonara Chicken — creamy sauce with black pepper and cheese, chicken, pepper buns, scrambled eggs, bacon, mozzarella.
• Cheese Aussie Deli: Japan Edition — thinly sliced pastrami, cheese, lettuce.
• Cheese Fondue Chicken — buns with grated cheese, chicken steak, lettuce, bacon.
• Cheese Katsu Burger — sesame buns, shredded cabbage, cheese cutlet, brown sauce, sweet lemon sauce.
• Cheese Tsukimi Burger — sesame buns, 2 slices of bacon, fried egg, aurora sauce (ketchup and mayo), cheddar cheese, chicken patty.
• Chicken Salsa Burger — tomato, red/yellow/green bell pepper, onion, salsa sauce, jalapeño cheese sauce, chicken patty, lettuce.
• Chicken Tatsuta — buns, chicken patty, shredded cabbage, sauce.
• Chicken Tatsuta with wasabi and tartar sauce — chicken patty with ginger and soy sauce, wasabi tartar sauce, original steamed buns, lettuce.
• Demi-glace and Cheese Gratin Korokke Burger — buns, cheddar cheese, demi-glace sauce, finely chopped onion, cabbage, mayo, gratin croquette.
• Diner Double Beef — double beef patty.
• Diner Honey Mustard — honey mustard sauce, bacon, cheddar cheese, lettuce, special buns, chicken.
• Double Beef Salsa Burger — tomato, bell peppers, onion, salsa sauce, jalapeño cheese sauce, 2 beef patties, cheese, lettuce.
• German Sausage Chicken — lemon-flavored chicken patty, bologna sausage, rye bread, dill mustard, pickled cabbage, mozzarella.
• Grand Canyon Burger — sesame buns, meatloaf, cheddar cheese, mozzarella, egg, steak sauce, onion sauce, lettuce, middle bun.
• Hawaiian Burger — sauce, patty, egg, bacon, cheese, lettuce, buns topped with grated cheese.
• Hot and Groovy Beef — white cheddar cheese, tartar sauce, lettuce.
• Hot and Groovy Chicken — garlic-flavored chicken patty, cheddar cheese, salsa, jalapeño sauce.
• Hot Gold Masala: Japan Edition — chicken, tomato, curry sauce, buns, lettuce.
• Idaho Burger — potato patty, beef patty, onion-flavored bread, bacon, cheese, mustard and black pepper sauce.
• Kit Kat and Strawberry McFlurry — Kit Kat pieces, strawberry sauce, cream.
• Las Vegas Burger — patty, sliced beef, onion, cream cheese sauce.
• Le Gran Sausage: Japan Edition — ciabatta, pepper sausage, meat puff pastry, mustard.
• Le Gran Tomato: Japan Edition — ciabatta, beef patty, butter sauce, tomato.
• Manhattan Burger — mozzarella, lettuce, onion, sour cream sauce, pastrami, beef patty.
• McDonald's Mega Potato — potato, salt.
• McDonald's Salad Marinade Wrap — tortilla, tomato, pepper and onion marinade sauce, cheese.
• McDonald's Shaka Shaka Chicken — chicken shaken in the bag with the included seasoning powder before eating.
• McPork Double — buns, 2 pork patties, lettuce.
• Mega Beef Mac — sesame buns, 4 beef patties, pickles, cheese, lettuce, middle bun.
• Mega McMuffin — buns, fried eggs, 2 patties, cheese, ketchup.
• Mega Sausage — bread, mustard sauce, ketchup, sausage.
• Mega Tamago — sesame buns, fried eggs, middle bun, mustard and black pepper sauce, cheese, lettuce, bacon.
• Mega Teriyaki Burger — 2 pork patties, 2 sesame buns, 1 middle bun, lettuce, cheese, teriyaki sauce.
• Miami Burger — shredded lettuce, tomato sauce, taco meat, buns, cheese, meat dough.
• Mild Gold Masala: Japan Edition — chicken, curry sauce, buns, lettuce, mayonnaise, cheese.
• New York Burger — beef patty, Monterey Jack cheese, bacon, tomato, lettuce, mustard seed sauce, whole-wheat bread.
• Sakura Teritama Burger — pork patty, fried egg, sakura-flavored buns, mayo with sakura daikon.
• Sesame Ebi Filet-O Sesame Buns — sesame buns, shrimp cutlet, lettuce, cheese, Thousand Island sauce.
• Shrimp Salsa Burger — tomato, bell peppers, onion, salsa sauce, jalapeño cheese sauce, shrimp patty, lettuce.
• Texas Burger — barbecue mustard, meatloaf, 3-layer buns, fried onion, cheese, bacon.
• Ume (sour plum) McNugget Sauce — ume-flavored nugget dip.
• Wasabi McNugget Sauce — wasabi-flavored nugget dip.
• Texas Burger 2 — 3 sesame buns, beef patty, beans, mustard seed, onion, bacon, cheese.

Of the items above, which would you actually queue up to try on a trip to Japan — and which sounds like something you would skip on the menu?