Japan's largest McDonald's opens in Harajuku Omotesando

More space to accommodate more loiterers (nappers, kids playing games, people using whole booths as their offices, etc..)

tmarie, I don't think people in Japan go to McDonald's looking for "healthy alternatives."

Such a shame that the American peddlers of processed rubbish are allowed such a prevalence here. McDonald's is one of the most pernicious companies ever known.

Mike Hunt, hate to tell you old boy but we live in what is called free market capitalism and McDonald's is not wildly successful here due to government complacency or anything "pernicious," but rather because the company makes a darn good product that lots and lots of people want. And can afford. Put your Marx aside and lay blame (if you absolutely) must on the real ones responsible for mega Macbucks: the free Japanese consumer.

I must say that the food that I had at the McDonald's locations that I went to in Tokyo and Kawasaki during my eight-month stay in Japan were the best McDonald's I've ever tasted. The service was exemplary. I wish McDonald's in America served the ebi (shrimp) burger; that was awesome. It will be interesting to check out this flagship location the next time I'm in the Harajuku area.

I enjoy Japan's "native" restaurants and street food; I loved the small ma-and-pop restaurants there, and even the chain restaurants like Rakeru and Yayoi-ken and fast food places like Sukiya, Tenya, and MOS Burger are worth writing home about. But there's nothing wrong with having McDonald's in Japan, and the Japanese McDonald's locations that I've been to have been well-run, from the service to the presentation and quality of the food.

... 795 square meters and seats 328 ....

Okay, that's about 2 meters per butt. Should be able to squeeze them in there.

I love the decor of this new McDonalds! (Saw a video of it on the news) & also, the McCafe is a great idea.

if you would know what they put in their products you would never ever eat this ever again!!!!

mc Rubbish

"ah let them have mcdonalds ( McDonald's ). leaves me free to eat in all those wonderful back alley ramen places i know about that serve food that would blow most americans(') mind(s)."

Ho ho ho! Yeah! All the more for us! And I won't get into that wonderful healthy ramen, ha ha!

Wow, small McD's always have about 20 managers per store...wonder how many this one is going to have.

I hope they control the lines well. Nothing worse than selecting a register, finally only one person left in front of me, and three of the woman's cackling friends come up with all their coupons, and cell phone each toting 2. 5 kids that cannot make a happy meal toy choice.

Conbinis and fast food shops are bursting with unhealthy foods and they seem to do a thriving business so is it not the consumers who are to blame ? Should we have the bad quality shops torn all down and have them replaced with vegan stores ? How fast can you say 'go bankrupt'. The stomach knows what it wants.

FAST = JUNK Even if they like eating them, most people recognise that processed burgers and synthetic chips, served up in paper and plastic containers, is junk-food. McDonald's prefer the name "fast-food".

This is not just because it is manufactured and serve up as quickly as possible - it has to be eaten quickly too. It's sign of the junk-quality of Big Macs that people actually hold competitions to see who can eat one in the shortest time.

I don't understand why people like McDonald's so much. It's really overpriced for a junk food, this is the last place where I would go if I need to buy some burger. In Japan there are native fast food networks which are much better and cheaper.

In Japan there are native fast food networks which are much better and cheaper. Can you name a cheaper one? I think people go there because it is so damn cheap. Much cheaper to grab a meal there than to head to a conbini. I personally haven't been in years but I get why some people go.

tmarie, back when I lived in Japan I found that while McDonald's value menu items are hard to beat (two years ago, a hamburger was ¥100, and a cheeseburger was ¥120; I don't know how much they cost in Japan now since I've been away from Japan since August 2010), for meals there were plenty of other restaurants that offered other options at the same or similar price. I believe a Big Mac meal in Japan goes for around ¥650. There are plenty of other options for ¥650. There was a place near my internship that sold maguro-don and a bowl of soup for about that much, and the restaurant served free water and tea. I could also get a freshly-made bento box for about the same price. Gyudon and a side salad was less than ¥650. Rice and gyoza could be bought for around ¥500. The cheapest lunch in my area was a grocery store bento box, which came in many varieties and was only ¥298.

I'm starting to get hungry thinking about the food I had in Japan.

It will soon feature a new “Mac Cafe” inside where customers can order coffee made to suit their individual preferences. The cafe is to open in July, ahead of other branches, in an attempt to appeal to a more adult market than usual.

Standby for loud, annoying noise while you're trying to order your food. They've had these "McCafé's" (note the spelling, JT) in the States for a few years now and most of the process is automated. The noise? ANYTHING that requires crushed ice and/or a blender (frappuchinos, fruit smoothies, etc.) will blast your ears as the ice crushing and blending is done right next to the counter.

Embarassing. NOW note the spelling: McCafés

ah let them have mcdonalds. leaves me free to eat in all those wonderful back alley ramen places i know about that serve food that would blow most americans mind.

I thought this story would be about a huge new McMaid Cafe opening up on Harujuku. Instead, it is just more junk food. Sure to be popular but not with me.

If you do not like McDonalds, go and eat grass, vegetables etc..by the way even in INDIA they have Mc Donald's and they have a Big Mac, it is called the Maharajah Mac, only Big Mac in the world that is 100% vegetarian!!!

Blah Blah Blah. You all know you've made your rounds at your local MickeyD's. Like it or not, their formula for success is the blue print. Other companies only wish they had as much success.

Next time you have less than a 1000 yen in your pocket you know just where you'll find yourself. I can see you all now. Tray in hand, looking for counter space and place to plug in (Free Power). What's that? Oh that's your Big Mac and fries....oh and an icy cold Coke. Oh are those nuggets your dipping? Barbecue or Mustard?

My advice is stop criticizing and just be thankful that when hard times hit you or you missed the ATM that those Golden Arches are there.

Whatever your political leaning happens to be, there's no denying that McDonalds is crap.

People are only getting addicted to the high fat, sugar and salts contents of McDonalds' products. I'm sure that if people haven't eaten any junk foods in a while then they will taste like crap.

McDonalds sell unhealthy products that should never be fed to children... and yes, this can be scientifically proven...

MCDs pink slime

There's already one on the Takeshita dori.They really do not need another one.And I agree,a few yatais would be much cooler .Ugh.

"McDonald(')s is crap"

Ha ha ha that must be why McD's rules the fast food market.

I can't believe they stopped selling their American cherry shake. I told them to get that back ASAP!

Can you name a cheaper one? I think people go there because it is so damn cheap. Much cheaper to grab a meal there than to head to a conbini. I personally haven't been in years but I get why some people go. tmarie, I mean Sukiya, Yoshinoya, MosBurger. I agree that food in combini is quite expensive, but it is really cheaper to eat in Japanese fast food chains. Several weeks ago I used to eat misoshiru + gyudon + cabbage salad at Sukiya just for 320 yen for everything. And this is very healthy food. MacDonalds is nothing but a lot of FAT that is just ruining your stomach if you eat there more than a week.

I know it's bad for you but I sure do love JP McDonald's.

Mike HuntApr. 30, 2012 - 02:44PM JST Japan has some of the world's best restaurants and "street food" know to man. Such a shame that the American peddlers of processed rubbish are allowed such a prevalence here. McDonald's is one of the most pernicious companies ever known.

Not been in Japan long? Have you ever even been there?

All the McDonalds in Japan, as they are in the U.S., are franchises. However, all the franchises there, at one time, were owned by one man.

http://www.mcd-holdings.co.jp/english/company/index.html

The company has been in Japan since the 1970s, only about ten years less than it has existed in the U.S.

While I agree with you that in Japan in general and Tokyo in particular you can hardly swinging a dead cat without hitting a great restaurant, it's the Japanese themselves who embraced McDonalds and wasn't something forced on them as an act of cultural imperialism.

avantarinacMay. 01, 2012 - 03:33AM JST if you would know what they put in their products you would never ever eat this ever again!!!! mc Rubbish

The only time I've ever had food poisoning (twice) was when living in Japan.

Bring on those toughened arteries! - Yes, the Japanese McDonalds are crap, there is no denying that, but the Australian McDonalds include the Mac Cafe, which serves cakes and salads. Also, kids' happy meals are served with an apple instead of fries. Possibly, the Japanese, being so proud of their long life status, should start to arch up about the salty, sugary and high cholesterol rubbish that is served to them as food at their local Maccas!

McDonalds may be crap but they are making big $$$ and the demand continues to increase hence the need to open these large palaces of fat.... I mean fast food.

Maharajah Mac, only Big Mac in the world that is 100% vegetarian!!!

Wrong. It is made from chicken. They offer numerous veggie options though - and the veggie burger is very tasty! I just had to try it while I was there.

Australian McDonalds include the Mac Cafe, which serves cakes and salads. Also, kids' happy meals are served with an apple instead of fries.

One of the annoying thing about how far behind Japan is with things. They are catching up on the crap but still haven't caught on to the fact that places 'home' now sell 'healthy" alternatives. No apples, no decent salads (and I'm not talking fried chicken with mayo dressing crap), no 'healthy' sandwiches.... Of course, "healthy" is relative but they offer nothing here for those who want something besides fries and burgers.

The cafe's aren't bad - at least home. Decent coffee and much cheaper than places like Starbucks.

tmarie, I don't think people in Japan go to McDonald's looking for "healthy alternatives." I know I have - and since they don't offer any, haven't been in ages. Plenty of moms who go with their kids as a treat might like something better than the crap they serve. Which is one reason why McD offers healthier things in other countries.

Michhael, not everyone has the options that you've pointed out. I live in an area that has one or two Mcdonalds, starbucks (which costs an arm and a leg for a coffee and a decent sized snack), a million sushi places that would be more than a set meal... Indeed, in some places there are better options, but not all. Plus, you get your food in seconds. I'm certainly not defending the place but I can see the appeal. How many other places can you sit for hours and study or chat with friends (thinking of teenagers) or allow your kids to run around screaming while you ignore them that offers food at that price?

Mos isn't cheaper at all. No idea about Sukiya and Yoshinoya but are they really cheaper than 100 yen? The set sounds good but plenty of guys don't care about the salad and would rather order three burgers.

Hate to break it to you but gyudon at Sukiya isn't healthy. Perhaps healthier than Macs but not healthy. I shudder to think of the sodium.

Japan has some of the world's best restaurants and "street food" know to man. Such a shame that the American peddlers of processed rubbish are allowed such a prevalence here. McDonald's is one of the most pernicious companies ever known.