Juraku

Juraku (株式会社聚楽) is a Japanese company that operates restaurants and hotels, headquartered in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo. It was founded by Seijiro Kato, who opened the first Suda-cho Shokudo in Kanda, Tokyo on March 10, 1924. The original concept was a popular-priced Western-style eatery with a three-price system of 3, 5, and 8 sen, promoting the slogan "cheap, fast, and delicious." The chain expanded rapidly across Tokyo, and by 1938 it had become Japan's largest restaurant operator with 50 outlets, including 28 Suda-cho Shokudo branches, three food-department-store complexes, and two hot-spring inns. The company was incorporated as Juraku Co., Ltd. in 1934 and later absorbed Dainippon Shokudo Co., Ltd. in 1944. After suffering heavy damage during World War II, it rebuilt and diversified into food manufacturing, brewing, and construction, though these ventures struggled. In the postwar period, Juraku refocused on its core restaurant and hotel businesses. It opened the Juraku Tea Salon in Ueno Park in 1959, acquired the Iizaka Onsen inn Kadoya in 1962 to open Iizaka Hotel Juraku, and expanded its hotel network to include properties in Ito, Minakami, Manza, and later Kobe. In 2003, Juraku Co., Ltd. and Hotel Juraku Co., Ltd. merged to form the current Juraku Co., Ltd. Today, Juraku operates a mix of restaurants—including the historic Suda-cho Shokudo, family restaurant Juraku, Spanish tapas bar El Chateo, and Japanese izakaya Goshuin-sen—and hotels such as Ochanomizu Hotel Juraku, Iizaka Hotel Juraku, Minakami Hotel Juraku, Manza Hotel Juraku, Ito Hotel Juraku, Kobe Hotel Juraku, and Juraku Stay Niigata. The company remains privately held and continues to be a notable player in Japan's hospitality sector, blending tradition with modern operations.

Juraku traces its origins to March 10, 1924, when Seijiro Kato opened Suda-cho Shokudo in Kanda, Tokyo. The eatery adopted a three-price system of 3, 5, and 8 sen and promoted "cheap, fast, and delicious" Western-style meals, quickly gaining popularity. A branch in Kyobashi followed on November 20, 1924, and by 1925 the chain had expanded to Nihonbashi, Ginza, Ueno, Asakusa, and Kanda-Surugadai. In 1926, the Kanda-Suda-cho Shokudo headquarters opened in Kanda-Awajicho, along with six new stores. In 1931, Juraku opened the First Dining Hall of Tokyo Imperial University and a hot-spring inn in Ito, Izu. On October 10, 1934, Juraku Co., Ltd. was incorporated with capital of 1 million yen, and in the same month it opened Japan's first food-department-store, the Shinjuku Juraku, with about 800 seats. That year it also acquired the prestigious Higuchi Ryokan in Atami and opened Atami Juraku. In 1936, it opened Keisei Juraku near Ueno Station with about 1,000 seats, and in 1937, Asakusa Juraku, a lavish Momoyama-style food-department-store with about 1,000 seats. By 1938, Juraku operated 50 outlets—28 Suda-cho Shokudo, three food-department-stores, two family dormitories, 15 exclusive dining halls, and two hot-spring inns—making it Japan's largest restaurant operator. In 1939, it acquired Hanayashiki amusement park, renamed it Asakusa Rakutenchi, and operated it as a dining amusement park, though it closed shortly after and was reopened in 1941 under Shochiku-backed management. During World War II, Juraku focused on operating cafeterias for military factories. In 1944, Juraku Co., Ltd. absorbed Dainippon Shokudo Co., Ltd. and changed its name to Dainippon Shokudo Co., Ltd. The war left most of its exclusive dining halls destroyed and only five general restaurants remaining. After the war, Juraku rebuilt its restaurants and inns and diversified into food manufacturing, brewing, and construction, but these new ventures suffered under the Dodge Line and food control laws, leading to financial difficulties. The company sold real estate, including the Atami Juraku site to Fujiya Hotel, and raised about 160 million yen in 1948–1949 to restructure. In 1959, it opened the Juraku Tea Salon in Ueno Park, then Japan's largest coffee shop. In 1962, it acquired the Kadoya inn in Iizaka Onsen and opened Iizaka Hotel Juraku, and also opened Minakami Hotel Juraku. In 1964, the company renamed itself Juraku Co., Ltd. again. In 1965, Hotel Juraku Co., Ltd. was reorganized, and in 1968 it merged with Ito Hotel Juraku Co., Ltd. In 1974, Shinjuku Juraku was renovated and reopened as Juraku Eight. In 1981, Ochanomizu Hotel Juraku opened in Kanda-Awajicho. In 1986, a Japanese-style izakaya, Goshuin-sen, opened in Sendai. In 1994, the first El Chateo Spanish tapas restaurant opened in Sangenjaya. In 2003, Juraku Co., Ltd. and Hotel Juraku Co., Ltd. merged to form the current Juraku Co., Ltd. In 2010, it acquired World Dining Co., Ltd. In 2015, Juraku Stay Niigata opened. In 2021, Kobe Hotel Juraku opened in Kobe. Today, Juraku continues to operate restaurants and hotels, maintaining its heritage while adapting to modern hospitality demands.

• 2021

  Kobe Hotel Juraku opens on April 3.

• 2015

  Juraku Stay Niigata opens.

• 2010

  Acquires World Dining Co., Ltd.

• 2003

  Juraku Co., Ltd. and Hotel Juraku Co., Ltd. merge to form current Juraku Co., Ltd.

• 1994

  Opens first El Chateo Spanish tapas restaurant in Sangenjaya.

• 1986

  Opens Japanese-style izakaya Goshuin-sen in Sendai.

• 1981

  Ochanomizu Hotel Juraku opens in Kanda-Awajicho on December 2.

• 1974

  Shinjuku Juraku renovated and reopened as Juraku Eight on October 1.

• 1968

  Hotel Juraku Co., Ltd. merges with Ito Hotel Juraku Co., Ltd.

• 1964

  Renames company to Juraku Co., Ltd. again.

• 1962

  Acquires Kadoya inn in Iizaka Onsen and opens Iizaka Hotel Juraku; opens Minakami Hotel Juraku.

• 1959

  Opens Juraku Tea Salon in Ueno Park, then Japan's largest coffee shop.

• 1944

  Juraku Co., Ltd. absorbs Dainippon Shokudo Co., Ltd. and changes name to Dainippon Shokudo Co., Ltd.

• 1939

  Acquires Hanayashiki amusement park and renames it Asakusa Rakutenchi.

• 1938

  Becomes Japan's largest restaurant operator with 50 outlets.

• 1937

  Opens Asakusa Juraku, a lavish food-department-store with about 1,000 seats.

• 1936

  Opens Keisei Juraku near Ueno Station with about 1,000 seats on March 10.

• 1934

  Incorporates Juraku Co., Ltd. with 1 million yen capital on October 10; opens Japan's first food-department-store, Shinjuku Juraku.

• 1934

  Acquires Higuchi Ryokan in Atami and opens Atami Juraku.

• 1931

  Opens First Dining Hall of Tokyo Imperial University and a hot-spring inn in Ito, Izu.

• 1926

  Opens Kanda-Suda-cho Shokudo headquarters in Kanda-Awajicho and six new stores.

• 1925

  Expands to Nihonbashi, Ginza, Ueno, Asakusa, and Kanda-Surugadai.

• 1924

  Seijiro Kato opens Suda-cho Shokudo in Kanda, Tokyo on March 10.

• 1924

  First branch opens in Kyobashi on November 20, starting chain expansion.

A historic Japanese hospitality group offering affordable Western-style dining and hot-spring resort hotels, primarily in eastern Japan.

• Suda-cho Shokudo

  Historic popular-priced Western-style restaurant chain.

• Restaurant Juraku

  Family restaurant chain.

• El Chateo

  Spanish tapas bar.

• Goshuin-sen

  Japanese-style izakaya.

• Ochanomizu Hotel Juraku

  Hotel in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo.

• Iizaka Hotel Juraku

  Hot-spring hotel in Fukushima.

• Minakami Hotel Juraku

  Hot-spring hotel in Gunma.

• Manza Hotel Juraku

  Hot-spring hotel in Gunma.

• Ito Hotel Juraku

  Hot-spring hotel in Shizuoka.

• Kobe Hotel Juraku

  Hotel in Kobe, Hyogo.

• Juraku Stay Niigata

  Hotel in Niigata.

1. 1Juraku - Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2聚楽 - Wikipedia (Japanese)ja.wikipedia.org