A common stereotype that comes to people’s mind when thinking about Japanese lunch is the one of the housewife preparing a boxed lunch called bentō for her husband. These bentō actually have a special expression in Japanese—aisai bentō, or “boxed lunch made with love and care by one’s wife.” An internet survey conducted by the Asahi Aoyama Happy Research Group (which we’ll call Hapiken) showed that 31.5% of men ate boxed lunches made either by themselves or their partner. Such homemade bentō aren’t just tasty, they also make for a more balanced meal than those bought at cafeterias. Since you know what you’re eating, regarding ingredients and so on, it is considered a safer choice for calorie counters than eating out.

The second-most popular lunch option was to buy a bentō at a convenience store or specialty shop, boasting 25.6%. The main reason for buying a readily-made bentō is that people don’t have the time to enjoy a proper lunch, so they buy it somewhere nearby and eat it at their workplace. Eating out at a restaurant and so on took third place with 24.8%. Judging from these results, it’s rather obvious that people feel too busy for a full lunch break, so a lot of them eat their meal at their office desks.

According to Hapiken’s survey, 58.8% of women said that they cook and eat lunch at home. The majority of them are housewives. Most of them have said to usually eat lunch by themselves, using the leftovers from dinner and whatever ingredients are in the fridge. Women working outside of their home also tend to go home for lunch, if their workplace is nearby. The answer that took second place in the ranking was that 29.9% of Japanese working women bring a bentō for lunch. Most Japanese companies offer a microwave, so people queuing up in front of it around noon is a common sight.

Traditionally, married women make boxed lunches for their children and husband from leftover ingredients. A lot of married women also say that making a bentō that both looks fancy and boasts great nutritional value is a daily task. A lot of creative and unique bentō ideas featuring popular characters or animals were born from this challenge.

The majority of both men and women bring their own homemade lunch to work. However, that does take time, so why do so many people choose to cook? Hapiken’s survey states that with 42.7%, the main reason is to save money. Eating out isn’t cheap in Japan, it usually costs between 500 and 1,000 yen. If you do that every day, it becomes quite a hefty sum. Besides, if you make your lunch at home, you can decide the ingredients yourself, ensuring that your diet is healthy and well-balanced.

Nowadays, soups and side dishes can easily be bought at any supermarket, so making your own bentō has become much easier and quicker. In the past, cooking everything from scratch took forever, but with the convenience of modern days, more and more people opt for homemade lunches again.

Of course, plenty of people also go to a café or restaurant during their lunch break. But what are the trends, in that regard? For short lunch breaks, the majority of people said that their main criterion is speed—how fast is the dish served that they ordered? If the food is served quickly, the turnover rate is also good, and the queuing time is short.

The second most popular criterion was whether a restaurant has a daily-changing menu, while nutrition and food safety ranked third. Again, a major factor when it comes to spending one’s lunch break at a restaurant is time and thus whether the lunch fits into a busy schedule.

For men, soba and udon rank first when it comes to what they order during their lunch break. Set meals take second place and ramen ranks third. The reason why soba and udon are the male worker’s favorite food is because these noodle dishes are cheap while also tasty, filling, and quickly made. Set meals, called teishoku in Japanese, come in second with the main dish accompanied by rice, soup, and various other sides for a very reasonable price. The offers usually vary daily, so that’s a big plus as well. Ramen take third place, but also are the prime answer for particularly short breaks, as a bowl of ramen is quickly served and finished.

Compared to their male colleagues, Japanese ladies’ lunch habits for restaurants are entirely different. Their top three ranking is family restaurants, Italian restaurants, and fast food stores. A lot of Japanese women don’t go to ramen or set meal restaurants by themselves, so for lunch, they also choose restaurants where they feel comfortable being alone. Family restaurants, the number-one answer, boast a rich variety regarding the menu, there usually is a drink bar, and are child-friendly as well. Whether with friends or alone, the family restaurant is a place where Japan’s women can relax.

Coming in second are Italian restaurants because their atmosphere is quiet and comfortable. Stylish menu and interior also play a role. Interestingly enough, the men’s top three was Japanese cuisine, while the women prefer Western restaurants.

For those who want to save, the amount of money spent on lunch is a big topic. Of the 58% of people saying that they eat out for lunch, 20% said that they spend “under 500 yen” on one meal. In Japan, 500 yen is one coin, so for a lot of people, the image of having “lunch for one coin” is important. Another 32.8% said that they spend between 500 and 1,000 yen and indeed, a lot of restaurants offer special lunch menus in that price range. Around Tokyo Station and Marunouchi, there are numerous office buildings and some ethnic and Chinese restaurants have food carts selling boxed lunches. It’s tasty, convenient, and quick, so a lot of workers flock to those carts during lunchtime. Tourists can save some money and get a tasty meal just as much!

The trend in Japan definitely goes towards short and quick lunch breaks. With a tight, busy schedule, nutritional value and speed are the two most important criteria when it comes to lunch choices. Sitting down and eating a meal in a calm and relaxed manner, on the other hand, seems to be a bit of a challenge.