Sukiya Temporarily Closes Nearly 2,000 Outlets for Deep Cleaning After Pest Incidents

Japan’s largest beef bowl fast-food chain, Sukiya, has temporarily shuttered almost all of its approximately 2,000 domestic outlets from March 31 to April 4, 2025. This decision comes in the wake of two separate incidents where customers discovered pests in their meals, a rat in a bowl of miso soup at a western Japan location in January and a bug in a suburban Tokyo outlet on March 28.

In response to these health and safety concerns, Sukiya has initiated a comprehensive deep cleaning and pest control campaign across its stores. The company has issued public apologies and reassured customers that it is taking immediate steps to prevent any recurrence of such incidents. Notably, outlets situated within shopping centers will remain open during this period.

Sukiya, which also operates around 650 locations overseas in regions including China, Southeast Asia, and Latin America, reiterated its commitment to maintaining strict hygiene standards and restoring consumer confidence amid these unsettling development.