U.S. dining and Japanese architectural design come together at this eye-catching new location.
Burger King has carved out a unique niche for itself in Japan, doing things differently to its competitors with all-you-can-eat deals, unusual menu items, and a vibe that’s arguably more independent and adventurous.
That sense of bold free-spiritedness is currently on display at a recently opened store in Noda City, Chiba Prefecture. Described as unconventional, the new branch has been attracting a considerable amount of attention online due to the building it’s housed in, as it looks like a traditional Japanese building.
The first thing you’ll notice about this branch is the roof, which is tiled in a way that makes it look like a traditional Japanese house. Seeing the Burger King sign on a roof like this looks totally out of the norm, creating a unique blend of Japanese tradition and fast-food Americana not commonly seen in Japan.
To a local, this is a very odd combination, because on the rare occasion that you see a big-name chain set up home in a traditional building in Japan, like this Starbucks in Kyoto, the signage and branding is also subdued to match the old-fashioned landscape.
▼ There’s no dialling down the Burger King branding here, as the sign stands loud and proud on the roof, just as it would on a regular-looking storefront.
Stepping closer reveals even more unique details, with a beautiful metallic rain chain by the front doors.
These rain chains are usually only seen on traditional homes or shrine and temple buildings.
Stepping through the front doors, however, reveals a very modern interior that makes it clear you’re in a Burger King.
As it turns out, this building used to be home to Aozora, a tempura restaurant by sushi conveyor belt restaurant chain Sushiro. When the new Burger King took over, it redid the interior and kept the Japanese-style facade, creating a unique branch.
▼ Wood and brick panelling gives the inside a very Western look.
Despite being newly opened, this was already a popular branch, with a constant flow of people coming and going through the doors when we visited. While some were clearly interested in the facade, stopping to take photos as they made their way from their cars, others were more interested in the food, especially with steak specials on the menu.
We couldn’t stop by a Burger King without trying something, so we bypassed the steak and opted for something a little more in line with the traditional vibe of the building.
▼ A Teriyaki Whopper Set…plus a Whopper Cheese Jr. to keep the U.S. fusion blend going.
Burger King burgers are known for being hefty, so staff are happy to cut them in half if you request it.
▼ The Teriyaki Whopper was delicious, giving us the salty sweet flavours of Japan.
▼ While the Jr. gave us the meaty American burger taste we’d been craving.
▼ It was a delicious meal made even more delicious by the sweet fusion style of the building.
So next time you find yourself craving a side of Japan with your Burger King burger, this humble branch has you covered. It’s nice to see the chain keeping the beauty of a traditional Japanese-style building alive, and there are plenty of other beautiful restaurant buildings we’d be happy to see the chain take up residence in too.
Store information
Burger King 16-go Noda / バーガーキング 16号野田店
Address: Chiba-ken, Noda-shi, Tsutsumine 112-6
千葉県野田市堤根112-6
Open: 9 a.m.–9 p.m. every day
Related: Burger King Japan
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