Event details: date, time and place
The official name is the 54th Hibiya Matsumotoro Curry Charity (第54回 日比谷松本楼 カレーチャリティー), held to mark the restaurant’s 123rd year in business.
| Date | Friday 25 September 2026 |
|---|---|
| Start | 11:00 |
| Capacity | First 500 people |
| Donation | ¥123 or more |
| Venue | Hibiya Matsumotoro main restaurant 1-2 Hibiya Koen, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo |
| Finish time / payment method | Not confirmed here. Check the official PDF notice. |
Getting there
- Hibiya Station (Tokyo Metro / Toei Subway): 2 minutes on foot
- Kasumigaseki Station (Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line): 2 minutes on foot
- Yurakucho Station (JR): 5 minutes on foot
The restaurant sits inside the park itself, so follow the signs into Hibiya Park rather than looking for a street-front shop. The official announcement is on the Hibiya Matsumotoro website, and the full notice is in the official PDF (Japanese).
How the ¥123 donation works
This isn’t a bargain meal deal. You make a donation, and the restaurant serves you curry as thanks. The minimum amount follows a simple rule:
¥123 is the floor, not a fixed price. Giving more is welcome. Whether you can pay by card or cashless apps is not mentioned in the information available to us, so bringing some coins is the safe option until you have checked the PDF.
Where the money goes this year
In 2026, everything collected will be passed through Kumamoto Prefecture to the relief fund for the 2026 Kumamoto earthquake (令和8年熊本地震義援金). According to the official notice, the full amount of the donations will be combined with a ¥100,000 contribution from Hibiya Matsumotoro itself.
If you like the idea of turning a lunch into a donation, food brands run similar schemes from time to time. We covered one in GODIVA’s Buy One Share One campaign.
Why a restaurant does this every 25 September
The date is not random. It is the anniversary of the day the restaurant reopened.
| Year | What happened |
|---|---|
| 1903 | Founded in the same year Hibiya Park opened |
| 1971 | The building burned down in an arson attack |
| 25 Sep 1973 | Rebuilt and reopened; the 10-yen curry charity began as thanks for support from across Japan |
| Every year since | Held on 25 September |
| 2026 | 54th edition |
So when you queue for a plate, you are taking part in a tradition of thanks that has been repeated for more than half a century. For many Tokyo residents it has become one of the signs that autumn has arrived in Hibiya.
Tips for getting a plate
- Arrive before 11:00. In past years people have gathered well before the start, and only 500 servings are available.
- It is a weekday. 25 September 2026 is a Friday, so office workers nearby will also be in the mix around lunchtime.
- Check the PDF first. Finish time, how the queue is handled and payment details are in the official notice, not in this article.
- Make a day of it. Hibiya Park is a pleasant walk in early autumn. If you want to keep the budget low afterwards, a public bath with the Tokyo sento half-price coupon is an easy add-on.
Coming in from outside Tokyo? The Aki no Norihodai Pass for JR local trains and discounted Shinkansen tickets are worth a look before you book.
FAQ
- Q. When is the Hibiya Matsumotoro Curry Charity in 2026?
- Friday 25 September 2026, starting at 11:00.
- Q. How much do I need to donate?
- At least ¥123, matching the restaurant’s 123rd anniversary. You can give more.
- Q. How many people can get curry?
- The first 500 people.
- Q. Where does the donation go?
- Through Kumamoto Prefecture to the 2026 Kumamoto earthquake relief fund, together with ¥100,000 from Hibiya Matsumotoro.
- Q. Which station is closest?
- Hibiya Station and Kasumigaseki Station are both about 2 minutes on foot. JR Yurakucho Station is about 5 minutes.
- Q. What time does it end, and can I pay by card?
- These details are not confirmed in this article. Please check the official PDF notice on the Hibiya Matsumotoro website.
Source: Hibiya Matsumotoro official website and notice (as of 16 September 2026). Details may change, so please check the official information before visiting.