When Japan is forming a norm of ‘Being a Single is Marvellous’, an innovative dining style was developed – A SOLO-DINING
When a Japanese government report showed that the percentage of single families will go over 30% overall in the next generation, there are more restaurants that have started to change their facilities in order to fit-in the trend.
Then, what is the innovative style of Solo-Dining restaurants and coffee shops in Japan?
Perhaps you have heard about ichiran (一蘭). It is a well-known raman restaurant in Japan and is expanding aggressively to the global market. However, you may be surprised that actually Ichiran is the pioneer of Solo-dining. The reason why they do it is because they want customers to concentrate on their delicious noodle eating.
For your information, eat-alone in Japanese is Ohitorigurume (おひとりグルメ) or Ohitorisamaseki (お一人様席）or, a more native word is Bottiseki (ぼっち席), both of them mean Solo-dining.
Yakiniku (焼肉) ‘like‘
This is a solo grilling fast-food restaurant where the customers who visit the restaurant are 90% single.
In the restaurant, customers can order and enjoy solo-grilling on different parts of beef, chicken or pork meats with different tastes of sources. Since it is a fast-food restaurant, customers should not have an over expectation regardless of the freshness of the meat but one thing to be sure is, customers can get a good deal from the set menu!
Now they have over 20 branches spreading out just in Tokyo and also, they have their franchisors globally expanding. Perhaps it is a good insight for you if you are thinking of getting a share in the Solo-dining market.
Ootoya (大戸屋)
It is located at Odakyū Machida east exit of Tokyo, that one was well fitted into the norm of solo-dining and doubling their single seats by 19. In order to give customers privacy and let them concentrate on their foods, the restaurant has adjusted their counter table to let customers avoid eye-contact with the opposite customer. Also, they provide phone recharge service, that is quite considerate though.
I have heard that many ladies like this branch restaurant and they often visit. Perhaps there will be a plus to guys if someone wants to meet some beauties there?
Hitorisyabusyabu (ひとりしゃぶしゃぶ）
This is a hot pot restaurant who mixed their food train-delivery idea into Kaiten-sushi（回転寿司) which a fresh meat train via a conveyor belt that has set in front of customer, customer will just pick the ordered food there.
See their seating plan the following. They have branches in Tokyo (Shinjuku), Kobe and Okinawa.
Ueshima kōhīten, Toranomon-ten (上島珈琲店, 虎ノ門店)
The coffee shop is located in Minato-ku, Tokyo. It has 64 non-smoking seats that are divided into 3 zones of Working, Private and Light. Their seats are arranged side-by-side with phone charger provided; the design of the seating allows customers to enjoy privacy by avoiding eye-contact with other customers. If you sit in the coffee shop, you are also supposed to keep your voice down, so that everybody can enjoy a quiet coffee break together.
The seating is quite cozy, isn’t it?
Hitokara (ヒトカラ) in Japan
Among of those solo services, solo-karaoke is also a hit one in Japan, Japanese call it Hitokara (ヒトカラ), that means SOLO. In Tokyo, there is a karaoke shop named 1 Kara, it is the first karaoke box that provides a single room service for customers who come alone for karaoke.
They claim that all of their sound equipment is at professional level; headphones, an adjustable high-quality mic with condenser and mixer for background music, etc.. If you are good at singing or you want to try the equipment, this place is for you!
They have a lady’s zone to allow clients to enjoy privacy, according to them, the room is with auto-locked door security.
Look at the room design, it is perfectly to give customers a refresh, isn’t it?
Wrab up:
The feature of eat-alone restaurants is adjusted their service to enable customers to avoid eye-contact with the opposite sitting customer, some with phone charging service as well. More people eating alone, living alone, etc. single activities in Japan is a growing trend and that is their unique living culture.
This article was first published on 12.20.2020