Today marks the beginning of my journey from Osaka to Kobe an exciting trip filled with anticipation. I started the morning with a hearty breakfast at Nakau, one of Japan’s well-known fast-food chains specializing in donburi (rice bowls), udon, and traditional Japanese set meals.

Nakau is a popular and reliable franchise found throughout Japan, offering quick, affordable, and authentically Japanese meals in a clean, casual setting. Despite being fast food, the quality and presentation often rival that of sit-down restaurants. It’s a favorite among locals for a reason: consistency, taste, and value.

For breakfast, I ordered a traditional Japanese set meal. It arrived neatly arranged on a tray—steaming white rice, a raw egg (tamago), a bowl of comforting miso soup, and an assortment of preserved vegetables that added bursts of flavor and texture. The simplicity of the meal was striking, yet deeply satisfying. Mixing the raw egg with soy sauce and pouring it over the rice (tamago kake gohan) is a classic Japanese breakfast ritual, and it felt like an authentic way to begin the day.

The meal was both nourishing and grounding, setting a perfect tone for the journey ahead. With my appetite satisfied and my energy restored, I was ready to head to Kobe and explore what the city had to offer.