20+ Best Vegetarian Food in Japan That you Will Enjoy (Vegan, Tips, ULTIMATE Guide)

Some things to keep in mind as a vegan in Japan

If you are a vegan or someone who does not eat eggs like me, then these are few of the things that you need to keep in mind when you are travelling in Japan:

• Download the Happy Cow app. This will be your best friend in finding vegetarian food near you.
• One of the biggest concerns as a vegetarian or vegan in Japan is that they use a lot of fish broth or Dashi as it is called. So for a lot of dishes like Miso soup or Ramen broth, you have to be extremely careful that it is not cooked with Dashi.
• Some restaurants will cater to your request to not use Dashi but many of the smaller restaurants won’t. So keep this in mind when you are travelling to Japan as a vegetarian.
• Convenience stores can be your best friend for finding both vegetarian and vegan food in Japan. But read all labels carefully since some ingredients may be meat based. But you do get a lot of fruits and vegetables from here too.
• Dried tuna flakes or Bonito flakes or Katsuobushi is sprinkled on a lot of dishes and you need to mention in advance that you do not want that.
• It is definitely easier to find desserts as a vegan and I have found many Japanese desserts are vegan or vegetarian by default.
• Some dishes are cooked with chicken or pork broth. Especially ramen broths.
• If you eat curry with rice, then make sure that the sauce is not made with beef or pork or chicken.
• Restaurants of the same chain may or may not have the same menu. Some branches will have vegetarian / vegan option but some will not have. It is important to do your research before you go.
• Did you know that till the 19th century, Japanese vegetarian food was very common mainly comprised of seasonal vegetables and rice? Fish was consumed rarely. It is only post the industrialisation period that meat was introduced to their daily diet. This is highly surprising since it is so difficult to imagine Japan without meat these days.
• Download the Payke app. This app is extremely useful to decipher labels for packaged stuff. It tells you what it is and even gives you the ingredient list and calorie count in most cases. Since everything is in Japanese, it helps a lot.
• Some vegetarian restaurants in Japan can have a long waiting period and in some cases, won’t entertain walk-ins. It is crucial that you use Tablecheck or Tablelog to make reservations in some places.

Learning some Japanese phrases being vegetarian in Japan

One of the best advices I received was to get a card printed in Japanese or Kanji script. This was extremely useful in smaller towns when I wanted to convey that I don’t eat meat or fish but I couldn’t because of language.

Most restaurants do try their best to accommodate you but sometimes smaller restaurants in smaller towns may not be able to. It is very important that you keep this in mind.

Some common Japanese phrases to keep in mind:

• Watashi wa bejitarian desu – I am vegetarian
• Watashi wa vīgan desu – I am vegan
• Niku, sakana tabemasen – I don’t eat meat or fish
• Dashi o tsukawanaide kudasai – No dashi-
• Tamago – Egg
• Niku – Meat
• Sakana – Fish

Vegetarian foods in Japan

These are the vegetarian dishes in Japan that I was able to try during my first trip to Japan.

Japanese Curry

I am going to start with my comfort food in Japan. This was my first proper meal in Japan and I loved it so much that I ended up having it multiple times during my trip.

Technically curry did not come to Japan till the Meiji revolution in 1800s from India. But still, it has grown to be a staple lunch for many.

I tried it at Coco Inchibanya in Akhihabara in Tokyo which was just a 15 mins walk from where I was staying for the first time. The good thing about this chain is that they do have multiple options like Spinach curry or vegetable curry for vegetarians.

And the added advantage is that while you are ordering, you have an option to choose what your sauce is made of. Instead of beef or pork it is usually made of.

This branch had the vegetarian option. But from what I understood is that not all branches will have the vegetarian or the vegan option.

They are considered as a fast food chain. But for me, it was just pure comfort one and I actually preferred the omelette one with rice and gravy. It is not that spicy like Indian ones and actually a bit sweet.

Shojin Ryori

This is the traditional Japanese Buddhist cuisine found in many temples around Japan. Since this is a cuisine developed by Zen Buddhist monks, they don’t even use pungent things and strong flavours like Garlic or onions even. Perfect for Jains.

These are usually found in a lot of Buddhist temples. Some of the famous ones like the one inside Tenryu-ji Temple’s Shigetsu need a prior reservation and you need to make it at least a week in prior. Learnt this the hard way.

They focus on grains, tofu and seasonal vegetables and are centered around the five ways of cooking: raw, simmered, grilled, fried, steamed.

Many vegan friendly restaurants in Japan also offer this and is a must try for your Vegetarian meals in Japan.

Udon or Soba Noodles

You find both of them in so many different forms around Japan. But both are vegetarian on its own. Udon is thick noodles made from wheat flour while Soba are thin noodles made of buckwheat flour with a little bit of wheat flour.

They are usually served with a broth with toppings or cold with just a dipping sauce and toppings. So when you are ordering them, make sure to tell that you want a broth without Dashi and is vegetarian.

Worst case scenario: they will give you cold noodles with just a dipping sauce. I had many versions and it is actually quite a great option for vegetarian Japanese food.

Vegan Ramen

We did talk about both types of noodles with either hot or cold option above. Ramen is typically the one where Japanese noodles are served in a hot broth with toppings.

Now before my trip to Japan, I thought that it would be extremely difficult to find vegetarian ramen in Japan.

But there are so many vegan places especially in both Tokyo and Kyoto and they serve an array of vegan ramen.

I tried so many versions with the different broth styles like Miso (mushroom based), Tantamen (spicy chilli with peanut butter), soy sauce based (not the fish sauce kind) and a coconut based one too.

They are usually topped with stuff like tofu and lots of leafy vegetables like Bok Choy and obviously Nori (seaweed) for that added flavour.

Definitely try the one from the vegan place inside TeamLabs Tokyo.

Vegan Sushi

My nephew was insistent that I try Sushi and obviously I did try the vegetarian sushi in Japan. Raw fish is currently his favorite kind of food right now.

Most sushi places in Japan will definitely have some vegetarian options and the conveyer belt ones will definitely have them. To ensure that they are not cooked in Dashi, ensure that you ask if you are not eating at an exclusive vegan place.

I tried the Avocado one, the cucumber one, the pickled radish one and the Tofu one.

I know many vegetarian Indians don’t like the smell of seaweed. But it is completely vegan and is definitely a must try when you are in Japan.

Additionally, many Konbinis do have a vegetarian sushi set. This is particularly handy when you do not want to go out for dinner after a long day and just want something simple.

Tempura

You find them all over Japan. They are usually seasonal vegetables coated in a light batter and then deep fried. Very similar to our Bhajjis.

If you are buying them from the street, then remember that they will be fried with an egg batter. But many vegetarian restaurants in Japan can give you a vegan version too.

They are usually served with Tentsuyu (a dipping sauce made of Dashi, rice wine and Soy sauce). You can skip this and ask for a vegetarian soy sauce.

They are also served on top of ramen bowls.

Sando (Egg sandwich or Fruit sandwich)

This was my daily breakfast for most days during my stay in Japan. And it is so conveniently available in most of the convenience stores.

Sando means sandwich in Japanese and is a quintessential quick breakfast option which can be picked up from most of Konbinis like Lawsons, 7-eleven or Family mart.

There are mainly two options for vegetarians. One is the Tamago (Egg salad) or the fruit sandwich.

As someone who prefers having something savoury in the morning, I definitely preferred the Egg one. But for vegans, the fruit sandwich is definitely a better option.

You get the softest milk bread from Japan filled with eggs covered in Kewpie mayonnaise. The convenience stores actually secretly contest among themselves for the best Tamago.

Lawsons was my favorite and I couldn’t find only the egg versions (with tuna) in 7-elevens since they were usually gone most days.

Fruit/ Vegetable Smoothie from Konbinis

I am not a huge fan of smoothies. But the one thing I felt was lacking as a vegetarian in Japan was that I was not getting enough fibre.

I had this from Family mart but I think every convenience store has their own version of it.

There is some prepackaged fruits or vegetables in a cup. You keep it inside a machine and in seconds, you have a smoothie.

Extremely helpful when you are really looking to hit your fibre goals. Especially the green ones.

Yuba

This was quite a revelation to me and I tried multiple variations of it when I was there.

Yuba is made of the skimmed protein you get when you boil soy milk and is actually full of protein.

This was recommended by our guide when we went to the small town of Nikko which is famous for Yuba.

I had a Yuba Soba ramen and a dessert version. Both of which were delicious and completely vegan. Since there are so many Buddhist shrines in the area.

Yakisoba

These are the fried noodles, another delicious version of the soba noodles and a very popular street food in Japan.

Even though the traditional one is made using some kind of fish sauce and includes pork bites, you can find vegan ones all over Japan.

Gyozas

This is something very similar to what we have in India: Momos. Gyozas are made of think wheat wrappers and usually vegetables or meat are wrapped inside them. Then they are pan fried and steamed to give a bit of crispiness.

The vegetarian version usually feature vegetables like cabbage, mushrooms or even tofu with some aromatics.

Again, head to vegan spots to get the ones without pork or dashi in the dipping sauce.

Mochi

Mochi are rice cakes which are extremely chewy made from glutinous rice and are eaten mostly as desserts.

I had the option to watch the pounding in person at the very viral Instagram spot Mochi Mochi and it definitely did not disappoint.

It is quite delicious too and you can find the one filled with red bean paste almost all over Japan. A popular version is the Dango which are usually served on a skewer slightly charred and filled with anko.

Kaiseki breakfast

If you are staying in a hotel, you may have an option of adding a western breakfast at an additional price.

But if you are staying in traditional inns or Ryokans in Japan, then usually a Kaiseki breakfast is included in the price.

Kaiseki is a multi course morning or dinner meal that is served in gorgeous cutlery and are usually small portions using seasonal ingredients.

I only stayed in one Ryokan in Japan in Lake Kawaguchiko and when I was checking in, they asked me what my food preferences were and at what time I would be having breakfast.

Since I am a late sleeper, I chose the last option of 9:30 AM and I told them that I don’t eat meat or fish.

Eating rice in the morning with miso soup was definitely a first for me but it is definitely an experience that you should try when you are in Japan. It also came with eggs, lots of condiments, a salad and pickled vegetables. I had told them to avoid mushrooms since I am allergic to some kinds of them.

Fish is also a common item when you order a Kaiseki breakfast.

Natto

Natto are fermented soybeans and are usually eaten as a breakfast item with rice. Truth be told, I did not like it and it definitely needs some time getting used to it.

But an excellent vegan brekfast option in Japan.

Onigiri

Another popular item found in convenience stores. It is a rice ball wrapped in Nori (seaweed). The main difference from Sushi is that it is not made of vinegared sushi rice but made using steamed rice.

The plum version is quite vegan friendly but I used to love having the egg one regularly as breakfast.

Omurice

Omurice is a Japanese dish consisting of an omelette made with fried rice (usually flavoured with ketchup) and a thin layer of scrambled eggs with a sauce.

Not vegan friendly and when you are having them, you need to make sure that the sauce is not made from beef. Many restaurants usually will have a mushroom sauce option.

Cheese

I never realised till I went to Japan about how popular cheese is in Japan. Different variations of fried cheese like mozarella balls and other variations are popular street foods in Japan.

I even saw a rainbow cheese ball. But it looked too sweet for my liking and hence I did not try it.

I did try cheesecakes from the Konbinis but did not try the Rikuro one in Osaka. It was too big to finish on my own.

Matcha

I was not someone who liked Matcha before my trip to Japan. I still don’t like the bitter kinds and I prefer my Matcha in the form of creamy lattes with a hint of sugar.

But I am definitely a convert and I had one at least once every day. If you get an option, please do consider doing a tea making ceremony when you are in Kyoto.

I did try some of the Matcha desserts and I did like them too.

Taiyaki

A very popular street food dessert snack usually shaped in the form of a fish and filled with red bean paste. I had my first one in the shape of cat near the Gotkuji temple. Apt since my name literally translates to 100 cats according to my husband.

Softies

Soft serve icecreams can be found in a lot of places around Japan and as a vegetarian, it was interesting trying the many flavours. During my time in Japan, I tried Matcha, vanilla, lavender, maple and even Wisteria which was actually my favorite one in Japan.

Castella

Castellas are sponge cakes and some of them are filled with either custard or honey. It is a Portugese import and are definitely delicious.

Wagashi

Usually when you go for tea ceremonies, they give you a piece of traditional confectionary to help with the bitterness of the Matcha. If they are filled with fruit, they are called Daifuku.

Western breakfast: Vegetarian Food Japan

You do get tired of eating Japanese all the time and at times, I used to end up eating western breakfast stuff like Eggs Benedict, the Japanese version of a pancake, French toast and so much more.

Tanghulu

These are usually fruits like strawberries and grapes in a glassy sugar syrup served on skewers.

Together & Co Dinner course

One of my favorite meals in Kyoto was the vegetarian dinner meal I had at Together & Co (Located inside Hilton Garden Inn Kyoto Karasuma). It was a South Asian inspired meal made with Japanese ingredients. It had rice, a bean curry, a pumpkin tart, pickled vegetables and yoghurt with a vegetable dish.

Definitely a must visit if you are in the area. My hotel Holiday Inn Kyoto Gojo was walking distance from here.

From what I understand, they have a different menu every night but they always have great vegetarian options.

Must Try Vegetarian Restaurants in Japan

These are few of the must try restaurants when you are in Japan:

• Akuri Ramen
• T’s Tantan
• Coco curry chain
• Together & Co
• Vegan place in Teamlabs Tokyo
• Isakaya Mazaka
• Uzu Ramen
• Oko
• Vegan Bistro Jangara
• Shigetsu
• Kyoto Engine Ramen
• Mimikou
• Kakekomi Gyoza

Conclusion: vegetarian options in Japan

Hope you found this vegetarian guide to Japan useful and it will be helpful to you while planning future Japan trips as a vegetarian.

From comforting bowls of vegetable ramen and temple-style shojin ryori to crispy tempura, onigiri, and delicious tofu-based dishes, Japan offers far more plant-based options than most travellers expect.

Understanding ingredient labels, learning a few key Japanese phrases, and researching vegetarian-friendly restaurants in advance can make all the difference. Convenience stores, local markets, and traditional eateries often have hidden vegetarian gems if you know what to look for.

Vegetarian food in Japan is not about compromise. It’s about discovering simplicity, balance, and deep flavours rooted in tradition.

Check out some of my other vegetarian posts:

• Vegetarian in Spain
• Vegetarian in France
• Vegetarian in Portugal
• Vegetarian in the USA
• Vegetarian in Belgium, Austria and Germany
• Vegetarian in Prague