From Osaka to Everywhere: How Mister Donut Won Over Japan

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Only 30 minutes north of central Osaka, Minoh (also spelled Mino or Mino-o) is the kind of place that makes you forget you’re near one of Japan’s largest cities. Home to Minoh Falls, a 33-meter-high waterfall in one of Japan’s oldest (and smallest) quasi-national parks, the area has long been a favorite weekend escape for Osakans. But, Minoh also carries another somewhat unexpected claim to fame: it’s the birthplace of Japan’s donut obsession. In 1971, the very first Mister Donut opened its doors here and, remarkably, has continued to serve customers ever since.

A Brief History of Donuts in Japan

Western-style fried pastries—closer to Berliners or crullers—first appeared in Japan, alongside other yoshoku or “Western-inspired foods,” after the Meiji Restoration in 1868. They were not common, however, and mostly sold in bakeries catering to foreigners in port cities like Yokohama, Kobe, and Nagasaki. For most Japanese, their sweet tooth was still more than satisfied by wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets) or castella, a sponge cake of Portuguese origin. That being said, with the rise of Western-style cafés known as kissaten in the 1920s and 1930s, donuts became more visible, occasionally appearing on menus alongside cakes, ice cream, and other desserts. 

This all changed during World War II, when luxury sweets almost completely disappeared in Japan due to war-time rationing and shortages. During the American occupation that followed, when Japan launched its new national school lunch program in the early 1950s, cooks were faced with a challenge of turning US-supplied flour into something children would actually want to eat. Taking inspiration from donuts, they created agepan—a type of fried bread dusted with sugar that was inexpensive and calorie-dense. And, by the 1960s, bakeries across Japan could reliably produce donuts, even if they were still considered a slightly exotic indulgence.

From Boston Cream to Pon de Ring: The Unlikely Story of Mister Donut

Meanwhile, Harry Winokur, the brother-in-law of William Rosenberg (the founder of Dunkin’ Donuts), was making moves of his own in the United States. After a falling out with Rosenberg, he established a rival, Boston-based company called Mister Donut in 1955. The concept was straightforward: fresh donuts, hot coffee, and friendly service. The brand quickly gained traction and, by the 1960s, there were hundreds of Mister Donut shops across the US and Canada.

In 1969, Seiichi Suzuki, founder and president of Duskin Co., Ltd., an Osaka-based cleaning company, traveled to the US to explore new business opportunities and came across Mister Donut. It was perfect timing. Japan was in the middle of its post-war economic miracle and consumer tastes were rapidly changing. In 1971, after securing exclusive rights to operate Mister Donut in Japan, Suzuki opened the country’s first Mister Donut shop in Minoh, Osaka Prefecture.

From the beginning, Suzuki emphasized localization. While the menu originally started with familiar American offerings—glazed donuts, Boston cream, and crullers—it soon introduced options designed specifically for Japanese tastes, with smaller portions and less sugar. The shop was also promoted more like a Japanese family restaurant—a kind of casual, sit-down eatery characterized by affordable prices and a welcoming atmosphere for all ages. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Mister Donut expanded rapidly across Japan, outpacing Dunkin’ Donuts, which also tried unsuccessfully to enter the Japanese market. 

Then, in 1989, something interesting happened: Dunkin’ Donuts was acquired by a British food and drinks conglomerate known as Allied-Lyons, which a year later, acquired Mister Donut. The company then converted or closed all US-based Mister Donut locations. However, shortly after the Allied-Lyons buyout, Duskin was able to secure full rights to the Mister Donut brand in Japan. Now, in full control, Duskin continued its strategy of localization, introducing now iconic original products like the Pon de Ring (or mochi donut) in 2003. 

Step Inside the Shop That Started it All

Mister Donut Shop No. 0001 is just a four-minute walk from Mino-o Station. Located in an unassuming neighborhood shopping complex, the store stands out with its bright orange-and-white exterior and nostalgic retro sign. Inside, that vintage theming continues, and the menu even features several limited-edition donuts from the shop’s original 1971 lineup. These include: home cut (a simple baked donut), honey dough, powdered, coconut, crullers, twisted donuts, and coffee rolls—a coffee flavored cinnamon roll. Around the store, there’s also a number of displays that chronicle the history of Mister Donut.

The store is open daily from 9am to 8pm.

Beyond Mister Donut

There are, of course, plenty of other donut shops in Osaka that are also worth checking out.

Hanauta Donuts: This small, independently run shop near Utsubo Park offers old-fashioned non-yeast donuts that pair perfectly with a hot cup of coffee or tea. The menu changes seasonally and a plain donut only costs 150 yen!

Kitahama Donuts: Located in the Yodoyabashi business district, this shop is known for using high-quality, locally sourced ingredients, like fresh eggs from Kyoto. Renowned for its twist donuts, Kitahama also offers ring donuts in a variety of different flavors, including sweet potato.

Cohachi: Made using soybean flour, these donuts have a light, delicate texture. They’re also made without using any eggs and milk, making them a great option for vegans!

Hiraoka Coffee: A true Osaka institution, this hole-in-the-wall coffee shop actually opened in 1921. Aside from freshly roasted coffee, Hiraoka offers handmade donuts. These are old-fashioned style, meaning they’re slightly firm or cakey and pair well with a cup of coffee.

Getting There

Minoh is a bit of a trek, but still easily accessible from central Osaka.

From Shin-Osaka Station or Umeda Station, take the Midosuji Line to Minoh-Kayano Station and transfer to the Saito Line 21 bus for Hankyu Minoh Station. You can also take the Green or Yellow Route buses for Mino-o Station, depending on time of day. By car, Minoh is about a 30-minute drive from Osaka via National Route 423.

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