Japan’s major cities witness wave of new restaurants, cafés and food fairs

A new Italian restaurant, Irico, opened in April 2026 in Fukuoka’s Six‑bonmatsu district. The venue, run by the Ancora Gatto deli, highlights locally sourced vegetables and a house‑made thick pasta called “Pichi”.

Throughout the first half of 2026, Fukuoka saw a surge of sweets and café openings, including the Mini‑yön croissant shop in Tenjin, Gelato Pique café in Solaria Plaza, the candy‑making shop Papa Bubure, bakery‑café “Coffee & Bread Futatsu” in Shirokane, and specialty cafés such as Enma, 33cake, OYATUYA, Fuglen Keyaki‑Dori, Mitsuko‑bose (shaved‑ice) and others.

In Kawagoe, Maruhira department store launched a “Shizuoka Local Fair” from June 24‑30, offering regional specialties like eel‑pie, Hamamatsu eel, Shirasu chips, black soybeans, and woven textiles.

Tokyo’s Komagome will welcome a new patisserie, “Okashi‑ya Shukuepi”, on September 10 2026. Led by patissier Ikumi Tezuka, who has taught over 10,000 students, the shop will sell French‑style baked goods after a successful crowdfunding campaign that raised ¥2.07 million.