“A 4 A.M. Journey for the Perfect Breakfast”

“Dashi-maki” is a traditional Japanese rolled omelet. “Dashi” refers to a broth typically made from bonito flakes and seaweed.

One day, I came across a YouTube video introducing a restaurant called Yawaragi (家和らぎ). This restaurant serves a special breakfast set that includes Dashi-maki, a cup of miso soup, Japanese pickles, and slices of fresh fish. However, this menu is only available in the early morning—from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. Some people even start lining up in front of the restaurant before it opens.

If I wanted to eat there, I’d have to wake up at 4:00 a.m. to catch the first train, since the restaurant is in Shinsaibashi, Osaka, and it takes about 40 minutes to get there from my apartment. I thought, “That’s way too early for me.”

Then I had an idea.

I was planning to visit EXPO 2025 in Osaka on Thursday, May 29th. I thought, “If I stay at a hotel in Shinsaibashi after the EXPO, I can visit the restaurant the next morning.” So I decided to book a hotel nearby to make it easier to get there early.

To save money, I chose a capsule hotel—a dormitory-style accommodation where each guest has a private capsule, like a cocoon. It cost only 3,500 yen per night, including access to a spa, towels, and pajamas. A great deal!

On the morning after the EXPO, I woke up at 5:10 a.m. and left the hotel at 5:45. When I arrived at the restaurant at 5:55, there were already more than 10 people in line. At 6:05, I finally got inside. We had to take off our shoes, which actually made me feel more relaxed. I sat at the counter.

I ordered the Dashi-maki set with ikura (salmon roe) and a glass of orange juice. The salty ikura paired perfectly with the rice. From the very first bite, my appetite grew. I finished my first bowl of rice quickly and asked the staff:

“Could I get a refill of rice?”

They brought me another bowl for just 100 yen. The rice was cooked in a traditional clay pot called a donabe, which made it softer and fresher than regular rice from a rice cooker. It was absolutely delicious.

I left the restaurant completely satisfied with the meal.