Cafes Surpass Izakaya to Become #1 Nationwide: Restaurant Opening Data Reveals Shift from 'Places to Eat' to 'Places to Spend Time'

Review Inc. (Chuo-ku, Osaka City; Representative Director: Shigeo Fujimoto) analyzed 14,314 restaurant opening data nationwide. By genre, 'Cafes and Coffee Shops' ranked first with 1,301 openings. Furthermore, the 'Confectionery and Sweets' genre recorded 582 openings, surpassing the 525 openings of 'Ramen'. In recent years, the popularity of items like fresh donuts, acai bowls, Dubai chocolate, and Korean sweets has continued, and visits specifically for cafes and sweets are expanding. Additionally, restaurants are increasingly serving not just as places to eat, but also as 'places to spend time' for socializing with friends, engaging in 'oshi-katsu' (fan activities), working, or studying. Against this backdrop, the value sought from restaurants may be shifting from 'what to eat' to 'where to spend time'. This release analyzes the opening trends of cafes and sweets establishments based on nationwide restaurant opening data by genre. Cafes and Coffee Shops Rank #1 Nationwide, Just One Opening Ahead of Izakaya An analysis of 14,314 restaurants opened nationwide between July and September 2025 by genre showed that 'Cafes and Coffee Shops' were the most numerous at 1,301, followed by 'Izakaya (Japanese-style pubs)' at 1,300. 'Bars' (899), 'Confectionery and Sweets' (582), and 'Ramen' (525) also ranked high, indicating that openings are progressing across diverse business types. 'Cafes and Coffee Shops' surpassed 'Izakaya' by a mere one opening, becoming the genre with the highest number of openings nationwide. Until now, business types like izakaya have shown a strong presence in restaurant openings, but this time, cafes and coffee shops have taken the top spot. Changes in the roles and usage scenarios demanded of restaurants may be starting to appear in opening trends. Cafes Are No Longer Just 'Places to Drink Coffee' The increase in the cafe business type can also be attributed to a change in consumers' purposes for visiting. Traditionally, cafes were used as places to enjoy coffee and light meals. However, in recent years, they are being used for a variety of purposes, such as: Places to work or study Places to spend long hours with friends Places to enjoy 'oshi-katsu' (fan activities) Places to spend time with pets Places to enjoy posting on social media Furthermore, there is an increase in stores that offer space and experience as value, not just food and drink, such as Korean-style cafes or cafes where you can enjoy work and reading. This result may indicate that cafes are gaining support not just as simple restaurants, but as 'places to spend time'. 'Confectionery and Sweets' Surpasses 'Ramen' Another notable point in this ranking is that 'Confectionery and Sweets' surpassed 'Ramen'. Confectionery and Sweets had 582 openings, and Ramen had 525, placing Confectionery and Sweets in 4th and Ramen in 5th. While ramen remains a highly popular genre, the burden of opening and operating costs, such as rising raw material, utility, and labor costs, is also increasing. On the other hand, the sweets business type is relatively easy to open on a small scale and is well-suited to takeout demand, suggesting it may be a genre with relatively low barriers to entry. Sweets as a Vessel for 'Affordable Luxury' Consumption In recent years, products that gain popularity through social media, such as fresh donuts, acai bowls, Dubai chocolate, and Korean sweets, have been appearing one after another. The common point of these products is that they allow people to 'enjoy a little special feeling in their daily lives'. Even as prices continue to rise, there is a persistent demand for products that offer value such as: Can be enjoyed for a few hundred to a thousand yen Makes you want to take a picture Serves as a reward for oneself From this result, we can see a growing interest not just in 'eating out to get full', but in 'consumption to lift one's mood'. The Spread of 'Spending Time Consumption' Reflected in Restaurant Openings This data reveals a change in the very value that consumers seek in the restaurant market. In the past, practical values such as being able to eat cheaply, being served quickly, and being able to fill up were emphasized when eating out. On the other hand, in recent years, there has been a growing need to spend time in a comfortable space, enjoy photogenic products, cherish time with friends and family, and find places to enjoy 'oshi-katsu' and hobbies. Restaurants are places where people gather and new consumption is born. Therefore, restaurant opening data can reflect changes in consumer values, showing 'what will be demanded in the future'. This result may indicate that restaurants are beginning to transform from mere places to eat into places to enjoy time and experiences themselves. We believe that restaurant opening data is not just about the increase or decrease in the number of stores, but data that reflects people's lives, values, and social changes. We hope this report will serve as an opportunity for everyone involved in the industry to think about future market changes, regional potential, and business development. Survey Target Data: July 2025 – September 2025 Target Region: Nationwide Target Business Type: Restaurants Number of Surveys: 14,314 (openings from July to September 2025) Survey Method: Calculated from data independently cleansed and aggregated by Review Inc. based on opening information from local governments nationwide. About the Data: Since the format and method of disclosure differ by administrative body, information from paper, PDF, Excel, etc., was independently converted into a database. Duplicate data was excluded, and the data was aggregated as opening data. Analysis Date: Analysis and aggregation were completed on May 29, 2026. [Original Survey] Changes in 'Places to Open Stores' Seen from the Ranking of 14,314 Restaurant Openings Nationwide: Influenced by Semiconductor Investment and Tourism Demand? National Restaurant Opening Ranking Report ver7 ◾️About YOROZU DATA The data used in this release is provided on the data platform 'YOROZU DATA' offered by Review Inc. YOROZU DATA is a platform that collects and organizes nationwide store and corporate information using a unique 'IT x Human' method, supporting data provision for decision-making in sales, marketing, product planning, etc. While many data services are based on subscription contracts or expensive package sales, YOROZU DATA is designed with free account registration and the premise of 'using the necessary data, when needed, in the necessary amount'. About YOROZU DATA 'Making business easier, making life more enjoyable' Review will continue to challenge all possibilities, create new business opportunities for many companies through its data services, and contribute to the revitalization of the local economy. With the philosophy of 'making the impossible possible', we will solve all kinds of challenges with the power of data, together with approximately 6,000 partners nationwide.