Thanksgiving in Kumamoto

Oct 24, 2022

Thanksgiving in Kumamoto

Like many countries, Japan celebrates Thanksgiving each November. However, things are slightly different in the Land of the Rising Sun. Japan has a Labor Thanksgiving Day on November 23 each year rather than on the fourth Thursday of November, like it is in the United States. It’s a day to honor workers and, although it’s not an official public holiday, many take the day off and families typically commemorate with a Japanese meal in the evening.

With a growing number of expats in Japan, the western-style Thanksgiving with its turkey and pumpkin pie feast has begun to take off in the country in recent years. Families will purchase food and drink from local suppliers to prepare their own meal or head to a restaurant that’s offering a special Thanksgiving menu.

Kumamoto doesn’t have close to the same number of expats that you’ll find in bigger cities like Tokyo and Osaka. This means there aren’t yet many eateries serving the traditional Thanksgiving spread — but give it time! Besides, that doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate in style in a local restaurant that sells Western meals. Alternatively, you can buy your own supplies to cook a meal with all the trimmings at home.

Barron Steak House

If you can’t find (or don’t want) turkey, steak is not a bad alternative! Kumamoto has several fine steakhouses, and Barron’s is up there. Perched on the edge of Ginza Dori street on the second floor of the building, this restaurant has been providing customers with prime cuts of wagyu beef for more than 50 years. It’s a foodie favorite, but since it’s very small — with less than 15 seats in total — you’ll need to book early to enjoy this intimate fine dining experience.

Website: https://www.byfood.com/restaurant/barron-steak-house-674
Address: Utsunomiya Building 2F, 1-9-4 Shimotori, Chuo Ward, 860-0807

McDonald’s

You might not know this but McDonald’s is a big thing in Japan — up there with KFC in terms of successful American fast food imports. In fact, there are 22 McDonald’s branches in Kumamoto. Since the chain offers Halloween-, Christmas-, and Easter-themed specials, it probably won’t be long before it adds a Thanksgiving turkey burger and slice of pumpkin or pecan pie. Until then, you’ll have to remain content with mainstays such as the Big Mac or Quarter Pounder or a local special like the Terikayi Chicken Filet.

Website: https://www.mcdonalds.co.jp/en/menu/

Jeff’s World Bar

Since opening in 1998, Jeff’s World Bar has reached legendary status as the international hangout place in downtown Kumamoto. Head there any day of the week and you’ll likely meet an assortment of travelers and expats from all across the globe. It has a great atmosphere and is open until the early hours most days, when the music, alcohol, and good times flow. Early evening is a good time if you fancy a sit down and some straightforward pub grub with the option of celebrating Thanksgiving with a bit of a party afterwards.

Website: https://www.facebook.com/p/Jeffs-World-Bar-100057095334230/
Address: 1 Chome 4-3-1 Shimotori, Chuo Ward 860-0807

Matsuya

There are, of course, an abundance of Japanese restaurants specializing in the local cuisine throughout Kumamoto. These are perfect if you want a Thanksgiving celebration with an Eastern twist. Matsuya is a popular chain with expats from places such as the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, as it has an easy-to-understand menu and there are often English-speaking staff. Choose from a range of gyudon bowl and curry dishes, with set menus also available for under 1,000 yen.

Website: https://www.matsuyafoods.co.jp/english/
Address: 9-4 Shinshigai, Chuo Ward 860-0803

Thanksgiving at Home

If you want a traditional feast at home with the family or friends, you do have options. Finding a turkey may be a challenge, as local grocery stores in Kumamoto are unlikely to have any. In fact, many Japanese people are unfamiliar with turkey! If you have a Costco membership, head to Costco Wholesale Warehouse Kumamoto to see if they have any in stock. Alternatively, you can buy only from places like Amazon or a specialist meat supplier.

Finding a turkey to purchase is, of course, only half the battle: you then need to cook it. Many apartments in Kumamoto have only small ovens that won’t fit a full-size turkey. For this reason, a more convenient option may be to choose a less-traditional meat for your meal, such as ham or chicken. This is easier to find — some grocery stores will even sell you a freshly-roasted chicken, which reduces the work for you.

Some parts of the Thanksgiving meal are easier to obtain, including greens, potatoes, and yams. However, things like pumpkin pie, cranberry sauce, and stuffing may cause you as much of a headache as the turkey. You definitely won’t find these ingredients in stores, but you may get lucky online. Consider giving your meal a Japanese twist to substitute what you can’t find, such as by incorporating sake, sweet potatoes, or matcha. This will make your Thanksgiving unique and avoid making you feel like your meal is subpar!

Marcus Quigmire from Florida, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons