🔖 9 min read

When one thinks of Japanese cuisine, sushi, ramen, and mochi typically come to mind. But nestled among these culinary icons is an unexpected yet thriving tradition—pizza in Japan. What was once a foreign luxury item has become a beloved staple – not only adapted, but elevated, into something uniquely Japanese.

If you’re curating your ultimate Japan travel checklist, consider this your invitation to experience a slice of Naples through the refined lens of Japanese food culture.

 

Japan and Pizza: How it All Started

Before getting into it all, let’s start with a little history of pizza and Japan. Believe it or not, pizza’s story started long before tomato sauce and mozzarella entered the scene. Its ancient ancestor was the Greek pita, which is essentially flatbread baked on hot stones. As this simple staple travelled across Europe, it was in 17th-century Naples where it evolved into the flavourful, cheesy icon we know and love today. From the streets of Naples, pizza quickly spread across Italy and then overcame borders, thus becoming international.

Japan’s first taste of pizza came courtesy of two unlikely pioneers: Nicola Zapetti and Antonio Cancemi. After World War II, Zapetti—a former Italian-American marine—decided to make Japan his new home. Around the same time, Cancemi, a skilled navy chef trained in the kitchens of Italy, arrived aboard an Italian military vessel. Zapetti after his time in the military noted the lack of Western food options and aimed to introduce authentic Italian flavours. Cancemi, as well, leveraging his naval culinary experience, sought to establish a genuine Italian dining experience. Together, the two fired up ovens and opened some of Japan’s very first authentic Italian restaurants, a few of which are still dishing out slices today.

Back then, pizza was a rare luxury, served to foreign dignitaries and Japan’s high society. When foreign investors were finally allowed to enter the Japanese market in the 1970s, more pizza businesses opened their doors, making pizza more accessible and inexpensive to its customers. It is when the Itameshi (Italian) boom occurred in Japan in the 1980s that the fame of pizza soared. Italian cuisine was reintroduced in Japan, and many enjoyed the Italian handcrafted pizza so much that Japanese chefs wanted to learn how to make the dish.

 

Japanese Shokunin: The Art of Making Pizza

Eager not just to make pizza but to master it, Japanese chefs approached the craft with their trademark precision and dedication. Even today, every pizza shokunin (artisan) undergoes years of rigorous training to learn the nuances of ingredients, master the delicate balance of dough, sauce, and fire, and perfect every step of the process. Rather than delegating tasks, these chefs take pride in doing everything themselves, from hand-shaping the dough to adjusting the flame. Each pizza is treated as a work of art—carefully crafted with intention and respect. Beyond running their own restaurants, many of these pizza masters become sensei, passing on their knowledge to the next generation, reflecting the Japanese pursuit of mastery in every craft.

 

Enter Yoshoku: Japan’s Culinary Remix

But here’s where it gets even more interesting. Japan didn’t just master pizza how the Italians did; it made it its own! This fusion spirit is best captured in yoshoku, a style of Japanese cuisine that creatively reimagines Western dishes using local tastes and ingredients. Yoshoku gave birth to well-loved delights such as omurice (omelet rice), korokke (croquettes), and hambagu (Japanese hamburger steak). And of course, pizza didn’t escape this delicious transformation. Instead of sticking strictly to Italian tradition, Japan began topping pizzas with ingredients like mayo, sweet corn, teriyaki chicken, seaweed, and even mochi. These adaptations weren’t just gimmicks; they were genuine reflections of Japanese flavour preferences and food culture.

 

Fusion Innovations

Here are some adaptations the Japanese created to make pizza unique to this country:

Chicken Teriyaki Pizza

One of Japan’s most iconic dishes makes a crossover to the pizza world. Topped with tender teriyaki-glazed chicken, onions, sweetcorn, seaweed, parsley, and mushrooms, this fusion pie is sweet, salty, and tangy. As chicken teriyaki is a lunchtime staple in Japan, this pizza flavor can also be seen in fast food chains such as Domino’s Pizza.

Natto Pizza

Love it or fear it, natto or fermented soybeans is a staple of Japanese cuisine, and it’s found a new home on pizza. With its sticky texture and strong aroma, natto is an acquired taste which many non-natives may find doubtful to enjoy, but when paired with cheese and baked into a crispy crust, it has the potential to become oddly irresistible. A daring fast food chain that seasonally serves this is Pizza Hut.

Ikasumi Squid Ink Pizza

If you’re a seafood lover, this one’s for you. It is commonly used in pasta dishes, but seafood fans don’t mind but rather enjoy the slightly fishy flavour on their pizza. Made with squid ink blended into tomato sauce, ikasumi pizza turns jet black in colour and carries a subtle briny flavor. The visual alone is stunning, but the taste is savory, oceanic, and umami.

Mochi Pizza

Rice on pizza? Not just any rice over here!  This version uses kirimochi, a dense, chewy rice cake, as the crust. Once baked, the mochi becomes delightfully crisp on the outside yet stretchy on the inside. Often topped with cheese and seaweed or soy sauce-based ingredients, this texture-filled pizza is definitely an experience.

Tokuuma Bulgogi Pizza

Pizza Hut Japan’s fan favorite for over two decades, this Korean-inspired flavour is a bestseller for good reason. Juicy slices of sweet-salty bulgogi beef are paired with mushrooms, bell peppers, and a generous drizzle of Japanese mayo.

Sweet Potato and Bacon Pizza

Sweet and savory come together in this unexpected combo. Creamy roasted sweet potato meets the saltiness of bacon, creating a warm, comforting flavour profile, and it is sometimes finished with black sesame seeds or a drizzle of honey.

Wagyu Beef Pizza

When luxury meets comfort food, the result is Wagyu pizza. Thin slices of marbled, rich, and melt-in-your-mouth Wagyu beef are laid gently over a crisp crust, often paired with garlic soy sauce or wasabi mayo for extra depth. It’s indulgent, refined, and a standout on menus in Japan such as Pizza Strada in Tokyo.

 

Pizza Culture by Region

Pizza, especially in Japan, reflects the character and taste of the cities it calls home. From cutting-edge creations in Tokyo to hearty comfort pies in Osaka, and refined craftsmanship in Kyoto, pizza culture in Japan is anything but one-size-fits-all.  Some of the most raved-about pizzerias can be found in these areas, with chefs trained in Italy or certified by the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana (AVPN), the global authority on Neapolitan pizza.

Tokyo

Tokyo’s pizza scene blends traditional Neapolitan styles with innovative Japanese flavors. While many restaurants focus on AVPN-certified Neapolitan pizzas, chefs also create unique combinations using ingredients like yuzu zest, miso, or sushi-inspired toppings. Wood-fired pizzerias are common in areas like Nakameguro and Daikanyama. Notable spots in Tokyo include notable spots such as 400°C Pizza Tokyo for creative toppings, The Pizza Bar on 38th in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel for a high-end experience, and other remarkable pizzerias to be mentioned in this article.

One particularly popular trend is using seasonal ingredients, with menus changing quarterly to feature the freshest produce. Consumer trends in Tokyo also show a rising demand for healthier and more inclusive options, such as pizzas with gluten-free crusts or vegetable-heavy toppings.

Osaka

Osaka embraces both American-style thick-crust pizzas and Japanese fusions, served in izakayas and family restaurants. Inspired by local dishes like takoyaki and okonomiyaki, Osaka-style pizzas feature generous toppings and rich sauces. This reflects Osaka’s food culture of bold street food and comfort dishes. Nevertheless, there are still pizzerias that specialise in the traditional and authentic Italian style that the Japanese continue to love. Some of the highest-rated pizza restaurants in this area from Tabelog are Dal Brigante, Pizzeria Scugnizzo da Shigeo, and Makibi.

Kyoto

Kyoto’s pizza culture emphasises craftsmanship and local, seasonal ingredients. Chefs use thin, crisp crusts topped with Kyoto-grown herbs, miso sauces, and vegetables such as kujo negi and shiitake mushrooms. This approach embodies Kyoto’s refined culinary traditions.

A noteworthy restaurant in this area, Monk, serves East-meets-West pizzas using fresh, local ingredients sourced daily from Ohara farmers. Monk follows a five- and seven-course omakase menu, featuring dishes made in a clay-domed wood-fired oven that diners describe as a mystical experience. Here, customers dine in a dark, snug room to allow them to watch the chef as he prepares their dishes in front of them. A must-try here is their saba pizza, which takes sardine ‘za on a different level.

 

Where to Enjoy Pizza in Japan

But these restaurants are not the sole source of pizza in Japan. From Michelin-recognised pizzerias to hot slices popping out of vending machines, the country’s pizza game is as diverse as it is delicious. Here’s where you can enjoy pizzas in Japan:

Restaurants and Pizzerias

Must-visit spots in Tokyo include the favourite Pizza Studio Tamaki (PST), which is known for cooking pizza closer to the flames rather than to the sides, thus leading to smokier notes on its pizza. Here, though tomatoes and mozzarella come from Italy, most ingredients are from local farmers, with its famous dough salt from Okinawa. Recommended most is the pizza flavour Tamaki, which is a smoky Margherita with cherry tomatoes, smoked mozzarella, and fresh basil.

Another well-known restaurant in Tokyo is Savoy, which is visited for its Tuna Pizza featuring the bluefin tuna from Yamayuki, which supplies some of the best sushi restaurants in Japan. They also feature here the aforementioned Wagyu pizza, in collaboration with high-end kaiseki restaurant Ozaki Yukitaka.

Pizzeria e Trattoria da ISA in Tokyo is also one of the most renowned pizzerias in Japan, as it serves traditional pizza that closely captures that of Naples. It is headed by Hisanori Yamamoto, a consecutive three-time winner of the World Pizza Cup, thus beating Italians at their own game. A must-try in this ambient restaurant is their simple yet undeniably delicious margherita pizza.

Fast-food Chains

Domino’s and Pizza Hut are alive and well in Japan—but don’t expect just pepperoni and Hawaiian. These chains go all-in with uniquely Japanese twists: teriyaki chicken, mochi-crust, seafood medleys, matcha, and even sweet dessert pizzas topped with azuki beans or custard. Delivery menus are fully localised, making them a fun, low-effort way to taste Japan’s creativity from the comfort of your hotel or home.

Vending Machines

Only in Japan can you grab a steaming hot pizza from a vending machine 24/7. These futuristic machines, mostly found in places like Hiroshima, Tokyo, and parts of Saitama, serve up freshly heated pizzas in under five minutes. Each pie comes neatly boxed with a takeaway bag, making them perfect for late-night cravings or novelty-seeking tourists. Flavours range from classic Margherita to choices like basil shrimp or spicy sausage.

Supermarkets and Konbini

For a quick fix that doesn’t sacrifice flavor, look no further than Japan’s beloved convenience stores. 7-Eleven, Lawson, and Family Mart all offer surprisingly tasty frozen and refrigerated pizzas, often featuring regional ingredients like Hokkaido corn or soy-based sauces. You’ll also find fry-pan pizzas, other than the microwaveable ones, truly for your convenience. Supermarkets like Aeon or Seiyu also stock a variety of ready-to-heat pizzas, making it easy to snack on the go or stock up at home.

Pizza in Japan isn’t just food—it’s a fusion of craftsmanship, creativity, and culture. From Neapolitan perfection in Kyoto to wild flavor mashups in Tokyo and Osaka, Japan has taken a global favourite and made it unmistakably its own. Whether it’s a quick bite from a convenience store or a carefully crafted pie in a Michelin-recognised restaurant, the pizza experience in Japan is a window into the country’s culinary soul: respectful of tradition, yet boldly innovative. So when you’re in Japan, you don’t have to stick to the ordinary. Grab a slice, and taste how this country turned pizza into something truly unforgettable.