Thanksgiving in Hiroshima

Oct 24, 2022

Thanksgiving in Hiroshima

Thanksgiving is a well-known annual celebration in countries such as the United States where families traditionally gather together to have a turkey feast followed by a slice of pumpkin pie. Japan has its own Thanksgiving traditions, also in November, but the Japanese version is a Labor Thanksgiving Day (Kinro Kansha No Hi) rather than a religious-oriented festival. Furthermore, Japan celebrates each 23rd of November rather than the fourth Thursday of this month.

With a growing number of western expats in many Japanese cities including Hiroshima, the American-style Thanksgiving celebrations have become a bigger thing in recent years. Many families combine the two celebrations, or even have two Thanksgiving days. A local tradition in Hiroshima has developed where many people will spend a couple of hours earlier in the day visiting the city’s peace memorials commemorating the World War Two atomic bombings. This is followed in the evening with a family feast. If you’re looking to find a restaurant in Hiroshima serving up a good old festive dinner, or would simply like to source the necessary ingredients to make your own, here’s all the information you need.

Molly Malone’s

Without a doubt the go-to place for expats looking for a traditional Thanksgiving feed over the years has been Molly Malone’s. It’s a vibrant Irish bar in the city center that opened in the early 21st century and puts on a wealth of live music and many parties. Molly Malone’s usually has its Thanksgiving offer for 2-3 nights across late November where you can book a table and feast on turkey, ham, mashed or roast potatoes, a mix of veg covered in delicious gravy, followed by a mouth-watering slice of pumpkin or pecan pie. It costs around 1,800 yen per person. Because of the popularity of the offer, early booking is strongly advised.

Website: https://www.mollymalones.jp/

Mozaik

For a fine dining experience, you can book up a table at the Mozaik that is one of four restaurants at Hiroshima’s classy Hilton Hotel. This restaurant serves up quality western dining, including a Thanksgiving turkey buffet for four days only running from the 23rd-26th of November. Guests can choose to enjoy the stylist interior décor or seat themselves on the open terrace overlooking the mountains. Costs are 6,000 yen for adults and 3,000 yen for children.

Website: https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/hijshhi-hilton-hiroshima/dining/

3Tree

Located in the central Naka ward, 3Tree has a menu that includes a mix of American, Italian, Mexican and Hawaiian cuisine. While it doesn’t currently have a tailored Thanksgiving menu, it does make for a great night out for homesick expats at this important time of year. Although there is no turkey, you can fill yourself up on American-style roast chicken or pork rib American steak. Prices are reasonable too, coming in at under 1,500 yen per dish.

Website: http://3tree-hiroshima.com/

KFC

KFC has become something of a culinary hub for expats across Japan when festive occasions roll around. Already renowned for its seasonal Christmas and Halloween menus, it’s proving a popular choice for those who want something a little more simple and convenient at Thanksgiving. If you don’t mind swapping roast turkey for fried chicken, you can find some great family meal deals including cookies and cheesecake for dessert offerings to remind you of Uncle Sam.

Website: https://www.kfc.co.jp/ (in Japanese)

Thanksgiving Supplies

Is a home-cooked family meal more your style? Then you can try the following to source all of the essential ingredients you need for the perfect festive feast:

Horizon Farms: for a range of meat, dairy, vegetables and baked goods
The Meat Guy: festive meats plus fruit and vegetables
Costco: deals on a variety of groceries
Seijo Ishii: perfect for sides and sauces

Deb Nystrom, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons