For foreign visitors to Japan, it can be hard to find places that can offer a tasty meal early in the morning. Here are a couple spots offering breakfast in Kumamoto that are worth a visit.

Located just off the Shimotori Arcade, Ganjin Shokudo is an Asian-style café with a variety of breakfast and lunch options. Much of the menu is vegetarian, with some items available in vegan versions upon request.

I ordered the Asa Ganjin breakfast, which includes a bowl of steaming okayu (savory rice porridge), a fried egg on top of a scallion pancake, a small salad, and my choice of tea. The okayu was excellent and is a great way to warm up on a cold winter morning.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ganjinshokudou/

Address: 5-26 Anseimachi, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto City

Hours: 9AM-7PM, open until 8PM on Friday & Saturday

Tarachine is a cozy little breakfast spot located just across the street from Kumamoto Station. The menu features a daily Japanese breakfast and a Western-style breakfast of either toast, salad, and yogurt, or french toast. Although the menu is in Japanese, Sakai-san, the owner, lived in Hawaii for a couple years and speaks excellent English.

I ordered the french toast with an ajitama (a seasoned soft-boiled egg) and a grilled sardine on the side. The french toast was cooked to perfection and came with slices of delicious cooked apple. If a sweet breakfast isn’t your thing, the Japanese breakfast is also a great way to start your day.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tarachine_asagohan/

Address: Tokunaga Saketen Bldg 2F, 2-3-24 Kasuga, Nishi-ku, Kumamoto City

Hours: 7AM-11AM, closed Sunday & Monday

Angelus is a corner bakery right in the center of downtown Kumamoto that offers a wide variety of baked goodies. Angelus specializes in Japanese classics like anpan (a bun stuffed with sweet bean jam) and karepan (a fried bun filled with Japanese curry). Angelus opens early and bakes bread fresh throughout the day.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angelus_pannoie/

Address: 5-6 Tetorihoncho, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto City

Hours: 7:30AM-7:30PM