Morning Set – (Breakfast)We explore the Tokai Region (Gifu) unique “Morning Set”
Explore the unique “Morning Set” – Tokai Region (Gifu)
I’ve been back in Japan for a holiday since last week.
My hometown is in the Seino area of Gifu Prefecture, and every time I return, one of the things I look forward to the most is enjoying a “Morning” (モーニング) at a local café.
From opening time until around 11 AM, ordering a single cup of coffee comes with an array of complimentary food items such as toast, eggs, and salad!
I had no idea this was a Tokai-region exclusive food culture until I moved to Tokyo!
What is the “Morning” Culture?
When you hear the word “morning,” you probably think of the time of day, but in the Tokai region, “Morning” refers to a special breakfast set served at cafés.
The best part? Unlike standard breakfast sets, Tokai cafés offer a full breakfast for the price of just one cup of coffee!
This morning, my sister took me to a charming café surrounded by nature, resembling a “forest café.” There, my 500-yen coffee came with:
☕ A cup of coffee (¥500)
🍞 Thick-cut buttered toast
🥗 A small salad
🍮 And even a dessert pudding!
While some cafés now charge over ¥500 for coffee, most places still offer a satisfying breakfast for under ¥500, making it an unbeatable deal unique to the Tokai region.
Why Did the Morning Culture Spread in Tokai?
The roots of Tokai’s Morning culture can be traced back to several key factors:
1. The High Number of Cafés
Tokai, especially Aichi, Gifu, and Mie, is known as a café hotspot.
Even on a national scale, Nagoya ranks among the top cities for coffee consumption, showing how deeply ingrained café culture is in this region.
2. The “Omake Culture” (Bonus & Extra Perks)
In Nagoya and the surrounding Tokai area, there’s a strong “Omake Culture”—the idea that buying something should come with a little extra.
For example, Nagoya specialties like kishimen (flat udon noodles) and miso katsu (miso-glazed pork cutlet) often come with additional side dishes or desserts.
This naturally extended to cafés, where “Order a coffee, and you’ll get free food!”became a common practice.
3. Cafés as Community Hubs
In Tokai, cafés aren’t just for drinking coffee—they serve as social hubs for the local community.
In my neighborhood, the local café has been around for years, and during morning hours, it’s bustling with regular customers, particularly seniors, who gather to chat and relax.
Offering a Morning Set encourages customers to stay longer, leading to higher customer retention and a sustainable business model for cafés.
Japan’s Homegrown Coffee Chains
While international chains like Starbucks have become hugely popular in Japan, domestic coffee chains still hold a strong presence.
Near my home, Nagoya-born “Komeda Coffee” and “Lamp Coffee” are widely loved.
These cafés offer a diverse food menu, cozy interiors, and a relaxing atmosphere, making them some of my personal favorites!
Since each café has its own unique Morning Set, it’s fun to explore different places and compare “Which Morning Set offers the best value?”
Final Thoughts
The Morning culture in Tokai is more than just a breakfast service—it’s a symbol of the region’s deep-rooted café culture.
It’s not only an affordable way to start the day but also a heartwarming local tradition that brings people together.
If you ever visit the Tokai region, don’t miss out on experiencing a traditional Morning Set at a local café! ✨
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