Japan opened the first McDonald's restaurant outside North America in 1971.
The first Japanese McDonald's opened in Tokyo's Ginza district in July 1971. The venture was created through a partnership involving McDonald's and Den Fujita, who helped adapt the brand for the Japanese market while retaining its recognizable name, restaurant design, and core identity.
This opening followed McDonald's first international move into Canada in 1967. Japan was a major step because it demonstrated that the brand could operate across a different language, food culture, and retail environment.
Australia, Germany, and France became important McDonald's markets later, but they were not the first outside North America. The Tokyo opening is therefore the key date in this particular expansion milestone.