No. There is no such day in Japan, but for me “ yes.” I invented a day in Japan just for ME, and I call it “sushi day.” The best time to visit any conveyor belt sushi restaurant is in the morning after the fish has been completely thawed from the freezers. Most high quality sushi is never frozen, but in large rotating sushi restaurant, they are frozen then thawed out the day before.
Side note:
I used to work at a Kaiten Sushi in Chiba called 北陸富山回転寿司かいおう 千葉作草部店. I used to make sushi back in 2015. I ate more sushi behind the counter than what I actually served to the customers…. I’m not working there anymore.
After moving from Chiba Prefecture to Zushi Beach, Kanagawa Prefecture I could experience eating at many different conveyor belt sushi restaurants.
Here in Japan, these restaurants are called “Kaiten-Sushi.” If you are on a limited budget and need to eat fast I highly recommend eating at these types of sushi places. The average person is eating around 5 to 10 plates of sushi, which will cost you about (1000 yen / $10 USD). <= and this depends largely on what you order.
My recommendation:
As I mentioned before, the mornings are the best times for me to visit a conveyor belt sushi restaurant. Everything is clean, quiet, the sushi rice is also fresh and warm, and all the best cuts of fish are available. When I say morning, I mean around 11:30am… I crawl out of bed at around 10am. I jump on the BIG BIKE and ride down to my local sushi place. You have to look cool when you pull into a Kaiten Sushi.
Now that we are inside the place. We need to get hot tea first. You have to serve yourself. There are 3 ways to order: You can ask the waitstaff directly, order from a menu, and use the touch panel. Most people use the touch panel which shows a picture of the food. Enjoy as much as you can before the lunch rush comes in at around 12:30!
What to order?
I don’t need to tell you what to order, but I hope my photos inspire you to explore more of Japan.
I was surprised I haven’t known such a day. So I couldn’t help to stop laughing when I read your first sentence.
Kaiten Sushi is inexpensive and familiar to us. Especially for family, it is always a good choice.
I frequently order Mekabu Gunkan and Negitoro at a Kaiten Sushi. Do you like them?
@user_not_found Ah now I know why you are not working for a Kaiten Sushi in Chiba anymore. Because you ate more sushi more than what you served to the customers, right? Hahaha, I’m kidding, OK? Normally I prefer my meal cooked, so for sushi, there is limited items for me. My favorite is eel. Thank you for sharing your experience with us.
@Ant_Bad_Yogi Bingo! Yes. Perhaps that is one of the reasons…hahaha ; ) Another reason I think is because the usual Sunday crowd of old ladies who frequent the place saw me making their sushi. I guess they were a little …well… put off by it. They just had to grin and bear it. Shortly after I left the place, the Kaiten Sushi closed down.
@user_not_found Without you, they couldn’t continue the business! I used to work for a small Japanese restaurant in a food court, in a mall, Atlanta, GA long long time ago. I was a cashier and I made a few sushi. I also ate salmon rolls a lot too. Hahaha.
@Ant_Bad_Yogi I loved it. I used to eat all the medium and fatty tuna behind the counter. Can’t let food go to waste. Never had room for dinner after I got home.
