Conveyor Belt Cuisine: The Charm of Kaiten Sushi in Japan

Join us on the sushi train as we explore one of the more peculiar types of sushi restaurants in Japan. In this post, you’ll learn how kaiten sushi works, facts about its origins, and what to expect when you visit one of such restaurants in Tokyo or anywhere else.

Introduction to conveyor belt sushi

Kaiten sushi is an innovative dining style where sushi plates are presented to guests on a rotating conveyor belt. Also known as kaitenzushi, rotation sushi, or conveyor belt sushi, this style of serving customers is native to Japan. Besides the unique experience it offers, it’s famous for being one of the most convenient and affordable ways to eat sushi in Japan.

This fun and interactive culinary experience is available all over the country. However, most kaitenzushi restaurants don’t just serve sushi. They also offer other cooked foods with seasonal ingredients. These restaurants are popular because of their low prices, high-quality food, and family-friendly environment.

How Kaiten Sushi Works

The mechanics of a conveyor belt sushi restaurant are not as complicated as you might think. Everyone, from toddlers to adults, can enjoy their time there. Before you go, take a quick look at our brief guide in this section and learn how everything works at the restaurant.

Conveyor Belt System

The conveyor belts used in sushi restaurants are thin, narrow, and small enough to fit into dining spaces. They are made of stainless steel and use a plastic top chain that allows the belt to turn the sharp corners of the limited dining area in most rotation sushi restaurants. Most times, the restaurants have to buy the entire system from a third-party manufacturer like Tsubakimoto Chain. 

The belts carry plates of food along a circular or rectangular path, depending on the layout of the restaurant. They move past all the tables, seats, and counters in the area. Some restaurants have an additional belt that serves as a delivery system for special orders. We’ve also seen conveyor belts equipped with custom plates. The latest versions come equipped with innovations such as multi-tiered conveyors and chainless belts. Some sushi restaurants ditch the belts all together and use unique systems like miniature water canals and tracks.

Selecting Dishes

Besides sushi, these establishments also offer a wide array of other foods, including   karaage, miso soup, desserts, fruits, and edamame. There’s an abundance of seafood, such as salmon, tuna, and shrimp. Each seat typically has a nearby station where you can find condiments like wasabi, soy sauce, matcha, and ginger. The stations also contain tools like chopsticks and small dishes to put condiments.

You’re allowed to take whatever catches your fancy, so long as it’s on the plate that passes your way. Some establishments send special orders down the belt in a marked bowl. These special requests are reserved for someone in the restaurant. If what you want isn’t on the conveyor belt, feel free to place a special order of your own. How you order sushi and other items depends on the restaurant. Some assign servers that customers can reach out to when they want something. A few restaurants use a secondary conveyor belt for this purpose. 

Pricing

As you would have guessed, conveyor belt sushi restaurants have had to be clever with their pricing strategies because of their unique business model. The most common billing method is the use of color-coded plates. The different colors of the plates represent the different price points, as shown on a poster, signboard, or plate key. At the end of the meal, the customer asks for a count by pushing a button on the belt. Counting is done either manually or with the use of RFID tags on the plates. There are eateries that offer a flat fee of 100 yen for every plate, irrespective of the food it carries.

Dining Etiquette

For the good of everyone at the restaurant, it’s important to follow specific dining etiquette when eating rotation sushi. Remember the following guidelines:

1. Don’t return a plate you’ve touched back to the conveyor belt.

2. Only take food that’s open to everyone or reserved for you. Do not take someone else’s order.

3. When you arrive, remember to disinfect your hands by using the available facilities.

4. Stack used plates in a pile and place them on your side so the staff can reach them easily.

The History of Conveyor Belt Sushi 

Conveyor belt sushi is a relatively new invention. It was created in 1958 by restaurateur Yoshiaki Shiraishi. Long before his breakthrough, Shiraishi faced a staffing problem in his sushi restaurant. He couldn’t afford to hire enough workers and struggled to manage the business by himself. One day, he noticed the conveyor belts used in an Asahi brewery, and an idea formed in his mind. He believed he had found a way to serve customers quickly and efficiently without spending too much money.

Shiraishi spent the next five years developing the sushi conveyor belt. In 1958, he opened Mawaru Genroku, the first kaiten sushi restaurant in the world. It was located in Higashiosaka, Osaka, and became so successful that Shiraishi opened other branches across Japan. The restaurant’s success led to the creation of other rotation sushi spots in the country. The technology of the belt system also continued to see improvements as the decades passed.

Conveyor belt sushi saw massive booms in 1970, 1980, and late 1990s, thanks to its appearance in global exhibitions and a growing demand for affordable outdoor meals in Japan. Today, kaiten zushi is a global sushi phenomenon enjoyed in Australia and the United States. Japan now has several conveyor belt sushi chains, including Sushiro, Kappa Sushi, and Otaru Zushi.

Best Conveyor Belt Sushi Spots in Tokyo

Although kaiten sushi originated in Osaka, Tokyo is arguably the best place to enjoy the dish. The city boasts many spots that stand out for both quality and experience. Let’s take a look at some of the best ones:

1. Nemuro Hanamaru: This restaurant bases its sushi menu on a fishing village in Hokkaido known as “Nemuro.” The eatery uses authentic seafood recipes from the town with slight modern twists to match the tastes of the people in Tokyo. Nemuro Hanamaru is one of the best places to enjoy conveyor belt-style sushi, octopus, mackerel, miso soup, and seasonal crab.

2. Sushiro: Japan’s biggest conveyor belt sushi chain has a popular branch in Tokyo. The chain originated in Taizushi, a sushi restaurant in Osaka. It became famous for its freshness system and limited-time offers. The only downside to visiting this restaurant is that there’s a chance you'll meet a long line at the entrance. However, you can download the Sushiro app to see if there’s a queue at the nearby branches and make reservations. 

3. Uobei: This restaurant offers a non-revolving conveyor belt option, making it the ideal spot for people with concerns about hygiene and cleanliness. Uobei is especially popular among Japanese women. It’s also an ideal spot for family outings. Don’t miss out on their delicious wasabi and savory soy sauce.

4. Sushi Katsumidori: When it comes to menu diversity, no kaitenzushi spot can rival Sushi Katsumidori. They create and offer new menu items almost every day by sourcing quality seafood from fish farms. We highly recommend that you try their fresh squid and tuna selections.  

5. Himawari Zushi Shintoshin: This conveyor belt sushi place is one of the best places to enjoy both meat and vegan food options. It’s more of a sushi bar than an actual restaurant because of its small size and large crowd. 

What to Expect When Visiting a Kaiten Sushi Restaurant

Most conveyor belt sushi restaurants have bar seating next to the rotating system. You can also find tables for large groups. Feel free to take any of the condiments and chopsticks from the station near your seat. Some establishments offer self-served tea stations. Scoop green tea into a mug and add hot water, but feel free to order other drinks. When the conveyor starts moving, remember to take note of the dishes on each plate as they pass. Any dish that passes several times is among the least fresh dishes. Another way to get fresh dishes is to sit next to the sushi chef. Enjoy as many varieties of food as you want, but remember not to touch any plate you don’t intend to take.

Innovations in Conveyor Belt Sushi

Since its invention in the 1950s, conveyor belt sushi has seen lots of technological and culinary innovations. Common examples include the integration of touchscreens for ordering, which helps to make the experience more convenient for both parties. The original creator, Yoshiaki Shiraishi, also invented the use of robotic servers, although the system never found mass adoption. Many kaiten sushi restaurants today serve special dishes that blend traditional sushi with modern flavors and artificial sweeteners.

The Cultural Impact of Kaiten Sushi in Japan

Rotation sushi is a reflection of the values of efficiency and innovation in Japanese culture. People and businesses in the country are always looking for ways to optimize processes, save costs, and reduce operation times. By offering budget sushi, the use of conveyor belts has made sushi accessible to a broader audience.

Conclusion:

What’s not to love about rotation sushi? It’s affordable, convenient, and stimulating. Responsible for popularizing sushi globally, this dining experience is a must-try for visitors to Japan, particularly in Tokyo.

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