Traveling to Japan as a vegan?

You’ve finally made up your mind, gathered all your courage, and booked those flights to Japan — despite hearing how difficult it is for vegans! Now what?
Some travelers expect to plan their entire trip around restaurants, while others brace themselves to survive on tofu and plain rice. But with proper preparation, you won’t have to do either.

With over 8 years of living as a vegan in Japan and 3 years working in tourism planning vegan trips, I’ve seen it all. I’ve learned exactly what works and what doesn’t when it comes to enjoying Japan as a vegan, and tested most vegan-friendly restaurants in Tokyo and Kyoto. Here are my tips.

Food Culture and Veganism in Japan

Let’s start with the obvious: if you haven’t heard it already, Japan is not exactly vegan-friendly. There are very few foods that are vegan by default, and the word vegan is not widely understood.
Unlike in other countries, you can’t just walk into any restaurant and piece together a meal from sides, or ask for simple modifications. In Japan, it’s best to stick to places with clearly marked vegan options or fully vegan restaurants.

Modifications are rarely made (Japan has lots of unspoken rules around food). Chefs take pride in their dishes and don’t like to serve something that might not taste the way they intend. The exception is at smaller, privately owned restaurants, where the chef can make decisions on the spot.

Historically, meat consumption was banned in Japan until the Meiji Era (1868–1912) and only became common after that. Today, though, you can’t walk 100 meters in a busy district without passing a steakhouse, sushi shop, or ramen stand.

The real issue for vegans is fish stock (katsuo dashi), which forms the base of countless Japanese dishes — including vegetable and tofu dishes, as well as soups like miso soup and udon/soba broth.

For example, Shojin Ryori — the traditional Buddhist temple cuisine — should be entirely plant-based, made with tofu, seasonal vegetables, and mountain ingredients. But here’s the catch: many restaurants still add katsuo dashi. If you plan to try Shojin Ryori, either in a restaurant or during a temple stay, check in advance whether a fully vegan version is available. Luckily, dashi can be made vegan with kombu (seaweed) and shiitake mushrooms instead.

Other surprising foods that look vegan but usually aren’t include:

• Inari sushi — often contains fish stock in the seasoning

• Bread — most types contain milk, eggs, or shortening; baguettes are usually the safest bet

• French fries — sometimes fried in animal fat

Best rule of thumb: don’t assume anything is vegan unless it’s a clearly labeled vegan dish or from a vegan restaurant. Otherwise, there’s a 99% chance it isn’t.

Finding Vegan Restaurants

By now you see why mainstream restaurants aren’t the easiest choice for vegans. Let’s talk about how to actually find vegan-friendly places. Having a plan is essential to avoid frustration and make the most of your trip.

Two common questions:

• Do I need to reserve restaurants in advance?
  Some travelers claim they got by without any reservations, and yes, it’s possible. But certain must-visit gems do require reservations, and others may be fully booked when you arrive. If there’s a restaurant you really want to try, make a reservation. On the other hand, many ramen shops (vegan or not) don’t take reservations.

• What if I prefer to be spontaneous?
  In major cities, you can wing it — but you risk missing out on highlights. A restaurant you want to try might be closed, fully booked, or between meal services (many cafes close between lunch and dinner, and last orders are often 30–60 minutes before closing). Without planning, you may also miss the chance to try a variety of different dishes.
  A little planning ensures you get the best local flavors and don’t end up hungry.

Where to look for vegan restaurants:

• HappyCow
  If you’ve traveled around Asia, you probably know the HappyCow app/website. It’s a great tool since you can filter for fully vegan or vegetarian places. But don’t rely on it exclusively. Information can be outdated — opening times, or even whether a restaurant is still in business. I once traveled across town to a tofu restaurant I saw on HappyCow, only to find out they had no vegan options at all and never did – turns out the person who posted was not aware of the dashi and thought tofu = vegan food.

• Google Maps
  Typing “vegan” into Google Maps can bring up restaurants that mention it somewhere in the description. It’s not always accurate, but it’s handy for quick inspiration.

• Social Media
  Follow vegan food accounts for Japan travel tips. I often share my finds on Instagram at @vege_li_tokyo. Just be cautious with influencers who only visited Japan briefly — I’ve seen plenty of misleading posts recommending products that weren’t actually vegan.

Must-try vegan restaurants

Here are my top recommendations for eating out vegan in Tokyo and Kyoto.

Tokyo

• Vegan Sushi Tokyo – reservations required. A fully vegan sushi restaurant in Shibuya. They recreate popular sushi pieces (like tuna and “shrimp”) using only plant-based ingredients.

• Tokyo Vegan Ramen Center – More than just ramen. Opened in summer 2025, this stylish spot blends Japanese aesthetics with high-quality vegan dishes.

• Hemp Café – Mexican–Korean fusion dishes featuring hemp-based superfoods.

• Te cor gentil bakery – A 100% vegan bakery and patisserie offering a wide variety of breads, pastries, sweets, and some savory items. Don’t miss their pistachio croissant!

• Komeda Is. – An all-vegan branch of Komeda Coffee. Their menu includes soy-meat burgers, pancakes, pasta, and breakfast items.

Kyoto

• Mumokuteki Café – My all-time favorite. Cozy café serving Japanese-style vegan meal sets in a welcoming atmosphere.

• Uzu Ramen – reservations required. Premium vegan ramen served in a uniquely artistic interior.

✨ These and many more super tasty vegan food options are featured in my Vegan Japan Travel Guide & Itinerary – so you can eat stress-free while exploring Japan.

Other vegan-friendly options: Chains

Fortunately, in recent years, several major food chains in Japan have started offering plant-based dishes.

• Coco Ichibanya – Probably the most popular option, this Japanese curry chain can be found almost everywhere in the country. Ordering vegan here takes a little attention: choose the vege curry base and then add toppings like vegetable mix, spinach, or corn. There isn’t a strong protein option, but it’s still a reliable and filling meal, especially in rural areas where vegan choices are limited.

• Soup Stock Tokyo – Despite the name, this chain is not limited to Tokyo. Their soups and curries are marked with a green leaf symbol if they’re vegan-friendly. A comforting and easy option when you’re on the go.

• Starbucks – A pleasant surprise in recent years, Starbucks Japan has introduced plant-based items marked clearly with a “Plant-based” label. Their sugar donut is vegan, and depending on the season, you may also find savory options (like soy-meat wraps) and sweets (like soy-cheese bagels or lemon cake).

• Mos Burger & Doutor – Both chains offer a plant-based soy-meat burger.

• Denny’s – Also has a soy-meat burger patty on the menu.

If everything else fails, try Italian or Middle Eastern
If you find yourself in an area without any vegan-friendly restaurants, Italian is usually a safe bet. Most places will have Pizza Marinara, a simple tomato-based pasta, or vegetable side dishes like fritters. Italian restaurants also tend to be more flexible about customizing dishes. Just double-check that the dough or sauce doesn’t contain hidden animal ingredients.

Another fallback option is Middle Eastern cuisine. Dishes like falafel, hummus, and other plant-based plates are commonly available. Personally, I love the food at Ta-im in Tokyo.

Convenience stores

Convenience stores in Japan are still lagging behind when it comes to vegan options. Occasionally, Family Mart launches plant-based product lines, but they’re usually limited to Tokyo and disappear quickly.

Otherwise, you can reliably grab:

• Plain rice onigiri

• Nuts, edamame, or sweet potato sticks

• Traditional Japanese sweets

• Chips, Oreos, bananas

• Smoothies and soy milk

Natural Lawson stores in the Tokyo area sometimes carry extra imported vegan snacks.

For a reference list of vegan-friendly convenience store products (though some info is outdated and certain items are discontinued), check: Is It Vegan Japan – Food on the Go.

💡 Extra tip for budget travelers or rural areas: Stock up on ready-made vegan curry or soup pouches from larger supermarkets, then buy microwave rice packs at a convenience store. Heat them up at your hotel (check heating instructions!) and you’ve got a simple, filling meal.

Coffee and plant milks

Plant-based milk options are becoming more common, but they’re not yet everywhere. Soy is the most widespread, while oat and almond are mostly found in modern or international cafés (often with a small surcharge).

Chains like Blue Bottle Coffee, Verve Coffee, and %Arabica serve good-quality lattes with plant milk.

Don’t sleep on the sweets
The good news: many traditional Japanese sweets are vegan by default! Treat yourself to daifuku, dango, or monaka.

Hotels and breakfast

Hotels in Japan are still catching up with vegan trends. Even in Tokyo, many hotels and traditional ryokans don’t yet cater to vegans. Even if you get a buffet breakfast, unless it is a high-end hotel, you might find yourself filling your plate with plain vegetables, rice, and fruit only.

It’s always worth emailing hotels and ryokans ahead to ask if they can prepare something for you.

Some popular vegan-friendly stays include:

• Mount View Hakone – offers vegan options for guests

• Vegan Minshuku Sanbiki Neko, Kyoto – fully vegan guesthouse

Find more info on must-try Japanese dishes, sweets, and restaurants in my full travel guide & itinerary.

And if you’d like personalized support planning your vegan trip, the Japan by Locals team (with vegan trip advisors) is ready to help. Reach out for a customized experience.

Suggested article:

The Best Vegan Cooking Classes in Japan