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Japanese Restaurants in Europe by Country: 2025 Hiring Data

Europe's count is flat at about 19,200, but France fell 1,290 while the UK rose 560 in the same two years chef sponsorship closed. Country table plus what each move means for hiring.

Updated September 27, 2026 WashokuJob

MAFF counts about 19,200 Japanese restaurants in Europe in 2025, flat against 19,400 in 2023. That headline hides the sharpest swings in the whole survey: France fell 1,290 (28%) and Russia and Italy also shrank, while the UK gained 560 (44%), the Netherlands 370 and Germany 290. The UK's growth is the one to watch, because it happened in the same two years that new chef sponsorship from Japan effectively closed, which means it was staffed from people already in the country.

This page is for a head office planner, group HR or researcher comparing European markets before an opening, expansion or hire. It covers MAFF's country-by-country count for Europe and what the shift means for staffing. The global total and the world's top ten countries are on our overview of the MAFF survey and are not repeated here. Visa routes, pay and candidates for each market are on that country's own hiring guide, linked below.

On this page

  1. Europe in the 2025 count
  2. What MAFF counts as Europe
  3. Flat total, big moves underneath
  4. What each mover means for hiring
  5. The full country table
  6. How far to trust country swings
  7. What it means for your hiring plan

1. Europe in the 2025 count

MAFF counts about 19,200 Japanese restaurants in Europe, against about 19,400 in 2023, and describes the region as flat. Europe holds about 11% of the world total of about 181,000. The regional series ran from about 6,700 in 2013 to 19,400 in 2023, so 2025 is the first time the European count has not risen.

2. What MAFF counts as Europe

MAFF's Europe is wide. The regional series is labelled "Europe (including Russia)", and the 2025 country table places Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, the Caucasus and Central Asian states such as Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan in the European list. Turkey is counted in the Middle East instead; see our Middle East and Africa data article. For Ukraine, MAFF repeats the 2021 figure because a survey was not possible.

3. Flat total, big moves underneath

The European rows in MAFF's table add up to a net change of only −220. Behind that small number, some countries gained or lost more than a quarter of their restaurants.

Largest fallsChangeLargest gainsChange
France−1,290 (−28%)United Kingdom+560 (+44%)
Russia−670 (−21%)Netherlands+370 (+31%)
Italy−300 (−12%)Germany+290 (+24%)
Sweden−220 (−42%)Switzerland, Spain+110 each

Falls in France, Russia, Italy and Sweden total 2,480 restaurants; gains in the UK, the Netherlands and Germany alone total 1,220. The weight of Europe's Japanese restaurant market has shifted toward the UK, the Netherlands and Germany, and away from France and Italy. France is still the largest market in the region with 3,390 restaurants, but its lead over the UK has narrowed from nearly four to one in 2023 to under two to one in 2025.

4. What each mover means for hiring

Market2025 (change)What is different hereGuide
United Kingdom1,820 (+560)Chef sponsorship (SOC 5434) has been effectively closed to new applicants since 22 July 2025, so this growth was staffed locally or through the Youth Mobility SchemeUK hiring after 2025
Netherlands1,550 (+370)Growing fast with a workable specialty-cook route still openNetherlands guide
Germany1,510 (+290)Dedicated specialty cook route, capped at two cooks per site (section 11(2) BeschV)Germany guide
France3,390 (−1,290)Still the region's largest market despite the fall; worth a local advertisement before recruiting from JapanFrance guide

For the Youth Mobility Scheme in operational detail, see our YMS guide for restaurants.

5. The full country table

MAFF lists only markets with 10 or more restaurants and rounds to the nearest ten. We keep this table to markets with 50 or more restaurants in 2025; below that, rounding makes a percentage change unreliable.

Market20232025Change
France4,6803,390−1,290
Russia3,1902,520−670
Italy2,4602,160−300
United Kingdom1,2601,820+560
Netherlands1,1801,550+370
Germany1,2201,510+290
Poland870890+20
Spain700810+110
Switzerland270380+110
Czech Republic300330+30
Kyrgyzstan50320+270
Sweden530310−220
Denmark270290+20
Belarus50230+180
Norway300220−80
Portugal170220+50
Finland210200−10
Romania110180+70
Belgium150170+20
Ukraine (2021 figure repeated)1401400
Lithuania80140+60
Luxembourg1401400
Estonia100130+30
Ireland90120+30
Latvia90110+20
Cyprus80100+20

A further 15 markets with 10 to 90 restaurants each (Austria, Bulgaria, Greece, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Armenia, Moldova, Georgia, Serbia, Iceland, Azerbaijan, Albania, Uzbekistan, Slovenia, plus Tajikistan newly listed) total about 640 restaurants in 2025. Montenegro appeared in 2023 with 10 restaurants and is absent in 2025, meaning it fell below MAFF's threshold or was not reported.

6. How far to trust country swings

MAFF gives reasons only at regional level, and none for Europe beyond calling it flat. The count relies on local sources (websites, directories, guidebooks, Japanese restaurant associations, the local Japanese community, or the embassy), so a change of source can move one country's number sharply, and only two data points exist for any country: MAFF did not publish country figures before 2023. Treat a single comparison as a data point, not a trend, especially for markets under 100 restaurants.

7. What it means for your hiring plan

MAFF publishes this survey every two years; the 2025 edition was released 28 November 2025, so the next is expected around November 2027. UK visa rules and salary thresholds are reviewed at least annually; check our UK guide before relying on the 22 July 2025 cut-off still applying unchanged. Next check of this page: November 2027, or sooner if a linked country guide's rules change.

Frequently asked questions

How many Japanese restaurants are in Europe in 2025?

About 19,200, according to MAFF's 2025 survey, almost unchanged from about 19,400 in 2023. The flat total hides large moves: France fell 1,290 (28%) while the UK rose 560 (44%).

Why did the UK gain restaurants right when chef sponsorship closed?

We cannot fully explain it from MAFF's data, but the timing means the growth was staffed without new sponsorship from Japan: from people already in the UK, or through the Youth Mobility Scheme. See our UK hiring guide.

Is Russia part of MAFF's "Europe" figure?

Yes. MAFF's regional series is labelled "Europe (including Russia)" and its country table also places Belarus, Ukraine and several Central Asian states in the European list. Turkey is counted in the Middle East instead.

Where in Europe is it easiest to sponsor a chef directly from Japan right now?

Germany and the Netherlands both have workable routes and grew by a quarter or more between 2023 and 2025. The UK's route for new chef sponsorship has been effectively closed since 22 July 2025.

Should we read France's 28% fall as a market in decline?

Treat it carefully. Country figures exist for only two points, 2023 and 2025, so one comparison is not a trend. France is still Europe's largest Japanese restaurant market by a wide margin, and the fall may mean experienced staff are easier to find locally, which is worth testing before recruiting from Japan.

General information, not investment, legal or immigration advice. Restaurant counts are MAFF's rounded figures as published; totals and groupings are our own calculations from those figures.

Sources

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