How do you say "preparing, not open yet" in Japanese?

Name: Lights On, Staff Inside, Door Unlocked. This Little Sign Still Means Go Away.
Uploaded: 2026-07-29T18:03:10Z
Duration: 58 s
Description: Learn to say 準備中 (junbi-chū) — preparing, not open yet. A 30-second Japanese lesson for travelers from Kōfuku.

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Lights On, Staff Inside, Door Unlocked. This Little Sign Still Means Go Away.

To say preparing, not open yet in Japanese, say 準備中 (junbi-chū).

You can see them moving around in there. The plate hanging on the door says otherwise.

準備中 junbi-chū preparing, not open yet

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In this video

準備中です。五時からです。 junbi-chū desu. goji kara desu. We are getting ready. We open at five.
はい、営業中です。どうぞ。 hai, eigyō-chū desu. dōzo. Yes, we are open. Come on in.

Kanji in this phrase

準備中: じゅんびちゅう
営業中: えいぎょうちゅう
本日休業: ほんじつきゅうぎょう
五時: ごじ

Why this phrase

Small restaurants in Japan close between lunch and dinner and hang out 準備中, preparing. It does not mean closed for good, it means come back at five. The plate flips to 営業中 when they open, and 本日休業 is the one that means do not wait at all.