Japanese School Lunch

In Japan, school lunches are called kyushoku. In most public elementary schools in Japan, the teacher and students have lunch together in the classroom. They also do not pack lunches nor buy them but are served by the school. The lunch ladies prepare the lunch for everyone and the students go to the kitchen room to pick up carts racked up with pots of food. The students that are on lunch service duty for that day will then serve their teacher and fellow classmates, cafeteria style.

The lunch menu varies daily and is not just a simple plain sandwich or a bowl of rice. In fact, the nutrition and balance of diets is thought out carefully by the school and lunch ladies. Lunches will include a main dish like curry, cold noodles, beef bowl, and fish, a side dish like salad, soup, or vegetables, and fruits or desserts.

Although kyushoku lunches are reserved generally for public school children, some cafes and restaurants operate with a kyushoku-theme for those nostalgic dinners who wish look to remember the old days of elementary school. Some of these cafes and restaurants operate in Tokyo and can be found with a quick Google search and directions from your tour guide.