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There’re some surprising gaps in how the coronavirus pandemic is affecting life in Japan. In some ways, it’s brought big changes that mirror those in other countries, like an ongoing mask shortage, the cancellation of major events, and postponement of movies releases.
But one thing that hasn’t been nearly as affected is people’s abilities to eat in restaurants. Granted, a lot of people are voluntarily choosing to eat at home these days, but restaurants that want to stay open are allowed to do so, and not just for take-out orders, as in-restaurant dining has yet to be legally barred by the Japanese government.
However, McDonald’s Japan is now taking it upon itself to institute such changes at a number of its locations. On Monday, 1,910 of the chain’s restaurants ceased offering eat-in service and will only be providing meals to-go or via home delivery orders. The affected restaurants are located in Tokyo (350 affected restaurants) and following prefectures: Kanagawa (230), Chiba (160), Saitama (180), Kyoto (80), Osaka (240), Hyogo (150), Aichi (190), Fukuoka (90), Hokkaido (90), Ibaraki (80), Ishikawa (30) and Gifu (40).
Prior to the new policy, McDonald’s had restricted in-restaurant dining at certain branches between the hours of 8 p.m. and 5 a.m., and had also closed certain branches entirely in response to the coronavirus outbreak. While the no-eat-in rule doesn’t apply to all of the roughly 2,900 branches the chain has in Japan, it does affect the majority of them. Eat-in service is to be suspended at the branches through at least May 6, which keep customers from dining in the restaurants for the official duration of Japan’s Golden Week spring holiday.
Sources: McDonald’s, Nihon Keizai Shmbun via Jin
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© SoraNews24
20 Comments
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oldman_13
Only now it's restricting dine-in? Yikes.
Numan
Good idea! It will hurt those who tended to go there for free WiFi. I walked pass my local McDonald's the other day. The line was out the door going to buildings over. It wasn't unusually crowded even with the Samurai burgers on sale. The staff was making people wash hands and maintain social distancing as they waited.
Speed
The McDonald's by my house still has dine-in but every other table is closed off so people don't sit too close to one another. I think it's good enough.
Pukey2
I went to a shopping mall nearby. Yes, most shops were closed, but half the restaurants are still open, and people were eating in. And one of the few shops that were open included a shop selling make-up. So now people selling cosmetics are classed as essential workers.
Doug Maduro
Funny how McDonalds can BAN eat-ins but the best Abe & Crew can do is ASK.
JJ Jetplane
Noo. Where will all the teenagers go? Since schools kind of closed back in March, McDonald's and parks have been the go to spot for children and teenagers.
since1981
OMG I guess people are actually going to have to cook a meal for the family and actually sut down at the table like a family. Oh the pain!
Tom
So this means that the Big Mac in Japan will actually be even colder than it normally was by the time you take it home or have it delivered. Why Can't I get a hot burger of any kind at McDonald's in Japan. Kind of strange. Luke Warm food is terrible. Imagine getting a bowl of nurui Ramen?
Takuma7
Why just doing this now, should have done four weeks ago and in all Japan and Okinawa. Also not just McDonald's all eat in places.
Taro
Economic cost over human cost again. Zzzzzzzzz. Welcome to the land of business has more power than the government. Apparently McDonald’s isn’t worth writing home about in Japan anyways.
Luddite
The health of some will improve if nothing else.
Serrano
So now people selling cosmetics are classed as essential workers.
Have you not seen people with no make-up? Tee hee!
The health of some will improve if nothing else.
Not if they opt for MOS Burger or ramen.
LunarTuner
The most alarming part of this article is there’s 1900 Macca restaurants in Tokyo!!
LunarTuner
oops, 1990!! Holy cow...
Strangerland
Nope. "Tokyo, elsewhere in Japan":
sf2k
more like their action is in line with other McD's policy in other countries and it's just that in Japan no one hasn't bothered yet
Tom
I can't wait to take a cold Big Mac home to swee how really cold it can get. How come they do not heat food at McDonald's in Japan?
Serrano
I can't wait to take a cold Big Mac home to swee how really cold it can get. How come they do not heat food at McDonald's in Japan?
Every time I've ever eaten a McD's hot apple pie, including the last time, I burned my mouth. Them things be hot!