Japan’s Mister Donut chain (Misdo) is a popular place for sweet treats, decadent desserts and sublime limited edition donuts and colourful, chewy collaborations – it is the no.1 donut in Japan!
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Disregard Dunkin Donuts and clear out the Krispy Kreme because Mister Donut in Japan is the top of the donut shops and Japan’s number 1 donut shop!
There are over 1,000 branches of Mister Donut (JP) in Japan as of November 2024 with new ones opening up across Japan and overseas all the time.
From marvellous matcha creations to popular Pokémon Mister Donuts and more, here is our guide to the cult of Mister Donut in Japan.
This article was originally published on 14 April 2024.
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Why is Japan’s Mister Donut so popular?
Although Mister Donut was originally founded in the USA in the 1950s (and subsequently superseded by Dunkin’ Donuts). However, whilst its popularity in Japan may have waned, it has gone on to become one of the most popular donut shops and cafes in Japan.
For instance, in 2024, there are currently around 30 Krispy Kreme Japan stores compared to over a thousand Mister Donut JPs.
So why is Mister Donut so popular in Japan? Most of their stores are in high footfall locations like train stations, Metro stations and popular shopping areas and malls like Ginza – their Pon De Ring donut is also very iconic in shape and taste.
As well as low prices and colourful creation, Mister Donut Japan is famous for its limited edition donuts like cherry blossom bites, Themed Pokémon donuts or their delicious collaborations (‘Misdo Meets…’) with the likes of famous pastry chef Toshi Yoroizuka or celebrated tea room Gion Tsujiri.
It has been so well received in fact that here has been an annual “Misdo Meets Gion Tsujiri” for almost a decade now, with different flavours every and combinations every time.
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History of Mister Donut Japan
Misdo / Mister Donut Japan celebrates its 55th anniversary in Japan in 2025 – now that is a lot of donuts / doughnuts over the years!
Mister Donut Japan began in 1970 when a partnership was formed with the original American Mister Donut company. The first Mister Donut JP store opened in 1971 in Minoh and rapid expansion ensued with the 200th store in Japan opening just 7 years later in Akabane.
Fast forward to the 2020s and now queues line out of the door as hungry Mister Donut devotees wait patiently to try new limited edition donuts like the patisserie donuts inspired by Pierre Herme.
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Mister Donut Japan locations and worldwide
Mister Donut is opening new locations in Japan all the time – at the time of writing the newest store was number 1,016 and opened on 11 April 2024 in Kawasaki City.
Mister Donut Japan can be found in all the major Japanese cities and prefectures including Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya and more – popular stores include Ginza Six and inside JR Kyoto Station.
Mister Donut is not only big in Japan – it has branches in other countries such as Thailand, Australia, Taiwan and Singapore.
We’ve also noticed lots of country exclusive Mister Donut creations – like for instance in late 2024 we visited Taiwan and discovered Mister Donut Taiwan had created Bugcat Capoo donuts, which is Taiwan’s most popular home-grown cartoon cat character.
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Mister Donut Japan prices
Mister Japan Donut Prices are very affordable and this is what makes them so popular and Japan’s number 1 donut – prices vary (and the limited edition Mister Donut JP/ Misdo) prices are more expensive.
For the classic Miso Old Fashioned style original donuts (often partially topped in chocolate, strawberry or matcha coating).
Expect to pay around 160 Yen per donut (around £0.80 or $1 USD). Standard Pon de ring donuts also cost around 150 Yen to 170 Yen depending on the flavouring and add-ons.
Special limited edition collaborations cost more – for example, the Misdo Toshi Yoroizuka patisserie donuts we were so fond of cost 250 Yen to 280 Yen.
All in all, this is very much ‘affordable luxury’ and part of the reason why Mister Donut is Japan’s most popular donut chain.
Popular flavours and products
The classicdonut types are:
- The standard ring donuts (often available in different flavours)
- Pon de Ring mochi style donuts (delicious!)
- Old Fashioned donuts (deep fried to give them a more crunchy / cracked texture)
- French Cruller cream filled donuts
- Donut pops (small round donut balls – a bit like Tim Hortons TimBits)
Popular donut flavours are chocolate, strawberry and matcha green tea. During cherry blossom season, they have sakura inspired limited edition donuts.
It isn’t just donuts either – you can get a whole range of hot and cold drinks, and some stores even do pizza, pasta, dim sum or hot dogs. Donuts and dogs sound like a good night out in Japan to us!
Mister Donut Japan collaborations
When we first stumbled upon Mister Donut in Japan, we were drawn to the shops by the long queues outside of the doors during cherry blossom season.
Naturally curious, we went over to see what all the fuss was about – it turned out a new collaboration with the famous pastry chef Toshi Yoroizuka had just arrived in the stores.
For the first few days, we scoured several stores trying to taste one of these hyped snacks but they’d sold out.
Luckily after a few days, the fuss died down and we got to try the decadent donuts. The Misdo Toshi Yoroizuka Noix de Coco with roasted coconut sprinkled on top of white chocolate glaze with a centre of salted caramel was delicious – take our ‘dough’ now!
In February 2024, they launched a sublime sakura range, showing the several stages of cherry blossom bloom, as depicted by donut toppings.
For instance, the Sakura Mochitto Doughnut Maizakura (costing around 180 Yen) has a flaky pink exterior to represent the falling cherry blossom leaves).
So no matter when you visit a branch, you never know what you might discover at the donut counter!
Mister Donut Japan Pokémon
Gotta Catch Em All! Perhaps the most famous Mister Donut Japan creation in recent years, the Japan Pokémon series launched in 2023 and continues today in 2024 with new releases and limited edition Pokémon donuts. We wonder how they ‘poke’ holes through the middle?
We recently revisited Japan in late 2024 and were lucky enough to finally get our hands on some Pokemon Mister Donut limited edition desserts. On weekends, families were queuing out the door for them and they usually sold out by lunch; but it is a bit quieter early on weekdays.
We tried the bright yellow Pikachu donut filled full of cream with caramel custard flavored chocolate (319 Yen) and a Pon De Ring Diglett donut complete with churros center – both were delicious.
Miso Pikachu and Psyduck donuts proved so popular that they sold out every time as soon as the Poké-donuts were restocked.
Jigglypuff Poké-donuts are also a thing – although alas these special Pokémon donuts are usually only available during certain times of the year.
Gachapon toys
Such is the cult of and popularity of Mister Donut in Japan, you can even buy their own branded donut toy rings. Their range of gachapon toys are widely available across many gachapon stores in Japan.
And it isn’t just Mister Donut getting into gachapons – most Japanese chain restaurants have some form of gachapon toy collection such as Kura Sushi, Saizeriya, Coco Ichibanya, Denny’s, Gindaco and Mos Burger.
Other things to know and facts about Misdo
- Mister Donut opening times vary in Japan but stores seem to be open between early morning and late evening – for instance, the R Kyoto Station branch is open from 7.30am to 10pm daily and the Tokyo Ginza 9 branch is open from 9am to 9pm.
- We haven’t tried this yet but there is a Mister Donut pie range including a 36 spice curry pie and shrimp gratin pie.
- In late 2023, they launched a limited edition Japanese curry donuts in two flavours – Curry & Egg donut and Mentaiko Potato & Egg. This follows on from their Beef Stew and Potato donut released earlier that year. Definitely food for thought!
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