During the 1980s and '90s, it was common for young people to eat out after midnight. But the numbers of customers are decreasing after midnight.

Good, it means sobriety could be infecting this archipelago after all.

There could be many reasons for this. Costs. Location. Distance. Availability of transportation after midnight. Working hours. Good places to eat.

I'm sure there may be more.

ArtistAtLarge: I'm sure there may be more.

Streaming and social media ...

Less income to spend on eating out may also be a factor.

The main reason (at least for me) is that there is a convenience store (or two) on every corner. It is easier to pick up something on the way home, turn on the TV, and eat. More comfortable.

They had no crowds at night. I think the number one reason is they no longer find enough cheap staff to cover the night shift.

sobriety

???

The main reason (at least for me) is that there is a convenience store (or two) on every corner.

They were there in the 80's already. But it's true that now in Kansai, you can sit down and use toilets in many kombinis, they even make half-decent coffee so when you miss your train, it's easy and cheap to stay there, you no longer look for a famires.

@coskuri There were a few in the 80s, but they were few and far between. There was only one in my neighborhood in Shinjuku from about 1982 or so (I was only 2 years old, but I heard it from the guy who ran it when I was older). The konbini came in and replaced mom and pop variety shops called names like 山中雑貨屋 or 田中雑貨店. But they are mostly all gone now. In the 90s, konbini really worked on developing boxed lunches after 7/11 came in with very tasty ones. After 2000, mom stopped making lunch and we had konbini onigiri and spaghetti. Just my personal experience.

But the numbers of customers are decreasing after midnight.

the numbers of customers are decreasing period. The population is dropping fast.

Manga kissa are probably a more attractive option to kill time until the first train.