#3 Opening an F&B store in Japan: Licenses and the "heart" of the restaurant

The store is taking shape, but to open your doors to customers, you need to clear the hurdle of licenses and equip the "heart" of the restaurant – the kitchen. Let's explore the procedures and tips for efficient equipment purchasing.

Bui Thanh Tam

02/18/2025

Opening an F&B store in Japan: Licenses and the "heart" of the restaurant — Banh Mi Xin Chao food court stall at Aeon Mall Kitatoda. Photo: Quy Dang

Obtaining operating licenses

To operate, a store needs two main types of licenses: a food sanitation license and a fire prevention license.

Japan is a country that values qualifications. To be eligible, we first need to take an exam to obtain a Food Sanitation Manager certificate for the person in charge of the store. This exam is quite simple, involving a one-day class followed by a multiple-choice test. The same goes for the fire prevention exam, although it's slightly more difficult. Both classes need to be booked at least a month in advance as they are often full.

Specimen Japanese certificates: Food Sanitation Supervisor (left) and Fire Prevention Manager (right). Source: Gemini

Finally, schedule an inspection with the local authorities to have your store checked and approved for operation. To avoid mistakes, it's crucial that your construction company is legitimate and experienced from the start.

Preparing the equipment - the heart of the restaurant

For me, the kitchen is the heart of a restaurant. This heart must have enough capacity to "pump blood" to serve the entire establishment. This is one of the most basic and hardest-to-fix mistakes new restaurant owners make.

Absolutely do not sacrifice kitchen space for more tables and chairs. If the kitchen can't handle a full house, customers will just leave unsatisfied.

3D rendering of the kitchen area at Banh Mi Xin Chao Ofuna store, designed and executed directly by the BMXC franchise team. Source: BTK

A standard kitchen needs complete tools, storage space, preparation areas, a serving station, and scientifically designed sinks. Important appliances like refrigerators, freezers, ice makers, etc., must be chosen correctly in terms of type, capacity, and compatibility with the store's electricity and gas supply.

Depending on your budget, you can buy used equipment to reduce costs. However, selecting good-quality used machines that will last long and avoid breakdowns is an art that requires knowledge and experience.

Doing F&B in Japan is complicated; one wrong step can cost you money and time. But don't worry, franchise with BMXC, and Banh Mi Xin Chao will handle it for you: delicious, quality, affordable, fast, convenient, and safe.