When I arrived in Japan, I was happy when I learned that there was a McDonald’s inside the grocery nearby the university. However, it closed down after a year. It was one of the only few Western style fast food restaurant in the small city of Obihiro aside from Lotteria and Mos Burger. So if I want to eat a McDonald’s meal, I have to walk more or use my bicycle.

In 1971, a businessman named Den Fujita opened the very first McDonald’s outlet in Japan, in Tokyo’s fashionable Ginza district. Over the years, the burger chain grew to more than 3,000 outlets nationwide and became one of the most recognized and trusted brands among Japanese consumers.

What’s attractive to the Japanese version of McDonald’s is their excellent product quality. The actual burgers will really look similar to the photos of the product presented on their menu. Servings are not oversized as compared to those of other countries especially USA. And they are more healthy since they contain less fat and salt.

Another is that the Japanese McDonald’s are usually offering unique menus that can only be bought in Japan. I have tried a few of them like the Sakura Burger, New York Burger etc…