Skylark to Introduce Ghost Restaurants

Aug 15, 2026 | News On Japan

TOKYO - Skylark Holdings is preparing to introduce "ghost restaurants" that operate without dining areas and specialize in delivery and takeout as Japan moves toward lowering the consumption tax rate on food.

The restaurant group plans to establish facilities devoted solely to preparing meals for delivery and takeout, without providing space for customers to eat on-site.

From April next year, the consumption tax rate on food consumed inside restaurants is expected to remain at 10%, while the rate applied to delivery and other food consumed off-premises is expected to be reduced from 8% to 1%.

Skylark expects the tax change to encourage more people to eat meals at home and plans to develop new products and restaurant formats based on changing consumer needs rather than limiting offerings to existing brands such as Gusto.

The broader restaurant industry is also accelerating efforts to respond to an expected shift in demand toward food consumed at home.

Source: FNN

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