These Aren’t The Pizzas You’re Looking For

Posted on 03/24/2023 Last updated on 01/11/2024

Japan is a country that is filled with many of its own unique and delicious foods. From okonomiyaki, to misokatsu, to the oh-so-well-known sushi, Japan has enough native dishes to keep you satisfied and your menu diverse. Along with many international foods from neighboring countries, you are not left wanting when it comes to figuring out what is for dinner.

However, there are times when a dish from back home is what you really want. You do a quick google search and find a local pizza shop. Browsing through the menu really puts it into perspective that this really is not the same pizza you know from back home.

Being a person from the area around New York and growing up surrounded by Italian families and Italian food culture, the first time I viewed a menu for pizza in Japan was shocking. From the various toppings that I would never consider for a pizza to the extreme pricing, this was one of the strongest feelings of culture shock that I experienced in my early times in Japan.

As an American, I knew Domino’s and Pizza Hut, as they are large franchises in the United States and, in a pinch, decent pizza for the price. The pizzas that were being offered by these familiar names were wild. Corn on pizza? That is a little strange, but okay. Margherita? I know that as a drink, but the ingredients are standard pizza toppings so that seemed okay. Tuna and mayonnaise? This is where the toppings began to stray from my idea of “regular” pizza. From fish, to potatoes, to lotus root, Japan has a unique take on pizza toppings for those who are bold and want to try something new.

Pushing past the unique toppings, what hits you like a brick wall is the price of a pizza in Japan. If you went into a local pizza shop back in the United States, a large pizza may cost around $15 depending on toppings and it is a HUGE pizza. Even going into a Domino’s or Pizza Hut, you could get two of their smaller versions of a large pizza for around $20. This is still a reasonable deal.

In Japan, the cost for one large pizza exceeds both of these price points by quite a bit depending on the style. If you order certain pizzas on the menu, you could end up paying almost $40 for one large pizza. For a quick and easy meal on a night when you do not feel like cooking, this is quite the price! I could never imagine spending so much for a pizza back home, especially from a big chain pizzeria.

Photo by rontaka

Finally though, how does it taste? Well, for the chain stores Dominos, Pizza Hut, and Pizza La, it is average. It tastes exactly as what you would expect from these global pizza powerhouses. However, like back home, I always preferred the little mom and pop pizza shops on the corner. The place you would go into and get a slice and could tell they put care into what they were making.

I do like to search out these shops when I can and try their products. Of course, the pizza chefs here put that care and effort into their pizza, but it is not the same. Whether it be the toppings, the ingredients in the dough or sauce, or just the texture, it is difficult to match the essence of the pizza back home.

The verdict: if you have a real, burning craving for pizza while in Japan, the big chain stores can probably satiate that hunger. Just be prepared to pay the price. If you are someone like me, who grew up in an area that produces some of the best pizza in the world, this will almost never be worth it.

However, you can take this as an opportunity such as I have. Everything needed for pizza is easily obtainable in Japanese supermarkets. This is a chance to become your very own pizza chef and share with your friends and colleagues what you think is the best way to make a pizza!

Editor’s Note: As a connoisseur of Japanese pizza, I feel compelled to add that 1) Korean Bulgogi pizza, a staple of Domino’s, Pizza Hut and Pizza La, is great and absolutely worth it, and 2) if you can, get carry-out instead of delivery at the big chains, as they often have some good discounts and deals that offset the higher prices. Enjoy!

Photo Credits:

Top Photo: cheetah on PhotoAC

Additional photo by rontaka