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2016 Japan’s No. 1 Breakfast: Tea-soaked Rice to Energize Your Day

Published: 2026-09-25 👁 101 views
Last updated 2026-09-25 — Japan boasts a rich variety of cuisines, from ramen to traditional Japanese dishes, but one must-try is the incredibly hearty hotel breakfast. The 7th “Rakuten Travel Breakfast Festival,” organized by Rakuten Travel booking site, selected the 2016 Japan’s No. 1 breakfast from 1,500 entries based on...

By MOOK Scenic Spots Editorial Team, compiled and reported

Japan offers a diverse array of cuisines, from ramen to Japanese fare, but one essential experience is the indulgent hotel breakfast. The 7th “Rakuten Travel Breakfast Festival,” hosted by Rakuten Travel’s reservation platform, chose the 2016 Japan’s No. 1 breakfast from 1,500 submissions. The winning dish was selected by netizens and culinary experts based on four criteria: flavor, presentation, originality, and cooking style.

 

The Special Award went to the Hachimantai Fruit Smoothie Thick Omelet, a simple yet heartwarming taste. (Image source / Aihari Hachimantai no Shoku no Yado Shikiatsu)

The champion of Japan’s No. 1 Breakfast is the “Atsumi Onsen Mankichiya,” whose winning dish is a yam-based stew featuring Yamagata beef as the main ingredient, paired with sweet taro, and served with ginjo tea-soaked rice made using Yamagata rice “Enbi” and local sake as the broth. With a focus on local food culture, the dish integrates the region’s unique history and traditions, earning it the top spot. Judge Hiroyuki Sakai commented: “The taro stew is an authentic taste of the region, the Yamagata beef is deliciously tender, and the ginjo tea-soaked rice captures the full flavor of the sake. It not only showcases exceptional craftsmanship but is also incredibly tasty.”
 

The Sea Breeze Ginjo Tea-Soaked Rice also won both the No. 1 Breakfast and the Local Production for Local Consumption Breakfast Awards. (Image source / Rakuten Travel)

The runner-up breakfast, like the champion, is also a tea-soaked rice dish, but here the chef used fresh red snapper sashimi with a broth made from the fish’s gill and back meat, along with bitter melon and pig’s ear stir-fried in cycad miso—a specialty of Amami Oshima—to win over the judges. Judge Shunroku Kanda said: “The red snapper clear broth tea-soaked rice features an exquisitely prepared stock—clear, flavorful, and silky smooth. The unique flavor of the stir-fried miso leaves a lasting impression, and the bitter melon is packed with nutrients, aligning with the Japanese emphasis on healthy eating.”
 

The red snapper clear broth tea-soaked rice combines poetic visuals with a refreshing taste. (Image source / Rakuten Travel)

The third-place “Yu Tamura Onsen Ware no Ran” fried sirloin sandwich took the bronze. The standout feature of the sirloin sandwich is its impressive thickness, achieved through the chef’s perfect balance of thickness, steak doneness, and texture, paired with a green soybean soy milk thick soup for a nutrition-packed meal. Judge Takayuki Inoue remarked: “This fried steak sandwich is not only beautiful but also delicious—you’ll want to take a photo and share it on social media right away!” Judge Kanda also praised the green soybean soy milk soup: “The nutrition of green soybeans and soy milk is well balanced, and the ingredient combination is both delicious and satisfying—healthy and tasty.”
 

The thick, juicy fried sirloin sandwich brings full energy for the whole day. (Image source / Rakuten Travel)

2016 Japan’s No. 1 Breakfast Ranking:
Rank
Prefecture
Hotel
Winning Breakfast
1st Place
Yamagata Prefecture
Atsumi Onsen Mankichiya
Yamagata Beef and Taro Stew
Ginjo Tea-Soaked Rice
2nd Place
Kagoshima Prefecture
Jozankei View Hotel
Red Snapper Clear Broth Tea-Soaked Rice
Cycad Miso Stir-Fried Bitter Melon and Pig’s Ear
3rd Place
Okanawa Prefecture
Tangyuan Hot Springs Iwaran
Fried Qianwu House Beef Filet Sandwich
Thick Green Soybean Soymilk Soup
Special Award
Iwate Prefecture
Akita Hachimantai’s Eat & Stay
Seasons Hall Colorful Winter
3 Kinds of Hachimantai Smoothies
Thick Omelet
Special Award
Miyagi Prefecture
Akayu Onsen Suiryo Hotel
Shark Fin Chinese Congee
Vitality Book Vegetable Golden Soup
Special Award
Yamanashi Prefecture
Oizumi Plateau Suihachi Dake Royal Hotel
French Toast with Homemade Jam
Onsen Tamago Salad
 
 

Honeydew Melon with Ice Cream – A Must-Try Popular Japanese Dessert

 

coffee coffee beans espresso geisha coffee latte cappuccino arabica robusta pour over cold brew

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