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2016 Japan’s No.1 Breakfast: Energy-Boosting Chazuke

Published: 2026-09-25 👁 101 views

Last updated 2026-09-25 — Japan offers a diverse array of cuisines, from ramen to traditional Japanese dishes, but one must-try is the hearty hotel breakfast. The 7th "Rakuten Travel Breakfast Festival," hosted by the Rakuten Travel lodging website, selected the top breakfast from 1,500 entries...

By MOOK Scenic Spots Editorial Department

Japan boasts a wide variety of cuisines, from ramen to traditional Japanese dishes, but one must-try is the hearty hotel breakfast. The 7th "Rakuten Travel Breakfast Festival," organized by the Rakuten Travel lodging website, selected the top breakfast from 1,500 entries through evaluations by netizens and culinary researchers based on four criteria: flavor, presentation, originality, and cooking style. The winner was named 2016’s No.1 Breakfast in Japan.

The Special Award went to the Hachimantai Fruit Smoothie Thick Omelet, a simple yet heartwarming dish. (Photo credit: Aihara Hachimantai Shokunoshuku Shikiya)

The champion of Japan’s No.1 Breakfast is the "Atsumi Onsen Mankichiya," whose winning dish features a miso soup with Yamagata beef as the main ingredient, paired with sweet taro. It comes with yinmai "Enbi" rice–brewed ginjo chazuke (rice soaked in green tea–flavored sake), themed around local culinary culture by integrating the region’s unique history and traditions. Judge Hiroyuki Sakai commented: “The taro miso is an authentic taste of the area, the Yamagata beef has a delicious texture, and the ginjo chazuke showcases the full flavor of the sake. It not only demonstrates excellent culinary skill but is also incredibly tasty.”

The Umisachi no Kaori Ginjo Chazuke also won both the No.1 Breakfast and the Local Production for Local Consumption Breakfast Awards. (Photo credit: Rakuten Travel)

The second-place breakfast, like the champion, is also a chazuke dish. However, the chef impressed the judges by serving fresh red snapper sashimi with a broth made from gills and back meat, along with bitter melon and pig’s ear stir-fried with cycad miso—a specialty of Amami Ōshima. Judge Shunroku Kanda said: “The red snapper clear broth chazuke uses an exceptionally refined dashi, resulting in a deliciously clear and smooth soup. The unique flavor of the stir-fried miso leaves a deep impression, and the bitter melon is rich in nutrients, aligning with the Japanese emphasis on health.”

The red snapper clear broth chazuke combines poetic visuals with a refreshing taste. (Photo credit: Rakuten Travel)

"Takahara Onsen Iguran" took third place with its Fried Thoroughbred Beef Sirloin Sandwich. The key to its fame is the astonishing thickness of the sirloin. The chef achieved the perfect balance between 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 from green soybeans and soy milk is very well-balanced, and the ingredient combination is both delicious and tasty—healthy and yummy.”

The thick, juicy fried steak sandwich energizes you for the whole day. (Photo credit: Rakuten Travel)

2016 Japan’s No.1 Breakfast Rankings:

Rank	Prefecture	Hotel	Winning Breakfast
1st Place	Yamagata Prefecture	Atsumi Onsen Mankichiya	Yamagata Beef Taro Miso Soup Ginjo Chazuke
2nd Place	Kagoshima Prefecture	Jōzan View Hotel	Red Snapper Clear Broth Chazuke Cycad Miso Stir-Fried Bitter Melon & Pig’s Ear
3rd Place	Okayama Prefecture	Tangyuan Hot Springs I Wulan	Fried Qianwu House Beef Fillet Sandwich Green Soybean Soy Milk Thick Soup
Special Award	Iwate Prefecture	Apari Hachimantai’s Food & Stay Shiki-kan Saidoru	3 Kinds of Hachimantai Fruit Smoothies Thick Omelet
Special Award	Miyagi Prefecture	Akita Onsen Zuiho Hotel	Shark Fin Chinese Congee Vitality Book Vegetable Golden Soup
Special Award	Yamanashi Prefecture	Ozumi Plateau Zuihatake Royal Hotel	French Toast with Homemade Jam Onsen Tamago Salad

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