The Ultimate Vegetarian Guide to Japan  

As a country famous for Kobe beef, takoyaki octopus balls and fresh sashimi, you’d be forgiven for thinking that vegetarian food is hard to come by in Japan. Thankfully, this is a misconception! Nowadays there are a wealth of veggie-friendly restaurants and dishes out there to discover – so you can indulge in lots of delicious Japanese vegetarian food without it feeling like you’re missing out.

Having said that, vegetarianism is not as common or well understood in Japan as in some western countries. That’s where this guide comes in! We’ll share several top tips for being vegetarian in Japan, as well as links to our veggie restaurant guides for different cities. Plus, we’ll go over 15 mouth-watering meat-free dishes to look out for during your stay!

The simple answer to this is yes! In Japan, vegetarian food is definitely available. However, it might not always be easy to find. This is especially true if you’re traveling outside of big cities such as Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. 

The good news is that many common Japanese ingredients, such as tofu and seaweed, are vegetarian. Plus, almost all desserts are veggie-friendly. So, with a little forward planning, it’s perfectly possible to avoid eating meat and fish while you're in Japan.

More and more Japanese restaurants are catering to people with dietary requirements and at byFood, we’ve got a directory of vegetarian and vegetarian-friendly restaurants in Japan for you to browse. If you want to get a bit more hands-on, check out our vegetarian food experiences. From cooking classes to food tours and authentic tea ceremonies, there’s an option for everyone!

Are you vegan? Be sure to check out our Japan vegan guide to help you stick to a plant-based diet on your trip! We also have a guide to being keto in Japan for those on a low-carb diet.

Know where you’re heading on your trip? We’ve put together a series of vegetarian guides to different Japanese cities to help you find the best places to dine out while you’re there. If you’re looking for vegetarian food in Tokyo, you’re in luck. We’ve got a comprehensive list of amazing vegetarian restaurants in Tokyo, plus a handy vegan guide to Japan’s capital.

One of the best tips for finding vegetarian food in Japan is to plan in advance. Restaurants often won’t make substitutions without prior notice, so it’s preferable to search for vegetarian restaurants in your destination. That way you won’t have to worry about meat or fish turning up in your meal without warning! 

If you’re hoping to stay at a traditional ryokan inn, contact them in advance of your stay and they may be able to provide vegetarian meals for you.

Make the planning process easy by browsing byFood’s collection of vegetarian and vegetarian-friendly restaurants.

Nouka no Daidokoro Shinjuku Sanchome is a farm-to-table buffet style restaurant just minutes from Shinjuku Sanchome Station. They source their vegetables from over 600 farmers from across Japan and offer an expansive salad bar for guests to peruse the bounty of fresh ingredients. 

Their main dishes are just as delicious, with vegetable fritters and soy meat hamburg steak being some of the highlights. The restaurant also has a non-vegetarian menu if you’re traveling with non-vegetarian friends or family.

Reserve Nouka no Daidokoro Shinjuku Sanchome

If you’re heading to an omnivorous restaurant, the language barrier can make it difficult to explain to the servers what you can and can’t eat. As such, memorizing a few phrases in Japanese can be a huge help.

For example:

Is this vegetarian? これはベジタリアンですか？ (Kore wa bejitairan desu ka?)

However, you might find that the staff doesn't have a clear understanding of what vegetarian means. If that’s the case, you can say:

I don’t eat meat or fish. 私は肉と魚が食べられません。(Watashi wa niku to sakana ga taberaremasen.)

To ask whether a particular dish contains a non-vegetarian ingredient, you can ask:

Does this contain meat? これは肉が入っていますか？(Kore wa niku ga haitteimasu ka?)

Does this contain fish? これは魚が入っていますか？ (Kore wa sakana ga haitteimasu ka?)

For more Japanese phrases, check out the Must Know Japanese Restaurant Phrases.

Besides meat and fish, there are a couple of hidden non-vegetarian ingredients to be wary of when dining out in Japan. 

For instance, dashi soup stock is used in almost all kinds of broth, and usually contains katsuobushi fish flakes (pictured above) or other fish-based ingredients. It is possible to find versions made with just kombu seaweed, but this is rare.

Katsuobushi is used to season lots of other dishes besides soup – including ones that look vegetarian – so it’s best to ask if you’re unsure. Alternatively, stick to vegetarian restaurants where you know you’re safe!

In many countries, convenience store food can leave a lot to be desired. However, in Japan you can find some real treats at the konbini. This includes plenty of veggie-friendly items, such as mochi rice cakes and onigiri rice balls filled with seaweed.

That’s in addition to the usual chips, cookies, nuts and other snacks. Natural Lawson in particular has a wealth of good options for hungry vegetarians and vegans!

Staying at self-catering accommodations can take away much of the stress about finding places to eat, as you won’t need to dine out for every meal. Supermarkets have all kinds of delicious local vegetables to try, plus rice, noodles, seasoning, and everything else you need to make authentic Japanese dishes. 

Not sure where to begin? Sign up for a vegetarian cooking class to get all the insider knowledge!

Not all washoku (traditional Japanese cuisine) is vegetarian, but you can rest assured that everything you cook in this washoku home cooking class in Tokyo is vegetarian-friendly. Your host, Tomokita, is excited to adapt the menu to your dietary preferences. 

The dishes are subject to change to take full advantage of seasonal ingredients, but some delicious dishes you might make include miso soup, tofu steak and vegetable tempura. 

Book Customizable Vegetarian Washoku Home Cooking Class (Tokyo)

One of Japan’s most popular foods, tempura always has plenty of vegetable options to choose from. Depending on the season, you can enjoy crispy sweet potato, eggplant, green beans, kabocha (pumpkin) and others deep-fried to perfection.

Find out more: Best Tempura Restaurants in Tokyo

Shojin ryori is traditional Japanese Buddhist cuisine that’s strictly vegetarian, and a must for plant-based travelers. Often found in temple restaurants, it features a series of beautifully presented dishes highlighting local vegetables and tofu.

Find out more: Where to Try Shojin Ryori in Tokyo

Shojin Ryori Daigo has been serving traditional shojin ryori in Tokyo since 1950, and to say that it has racked up an impressive list of accolades would be an understatement. A 15-year streak holding two Michelin stars and a Michelin Green Star in 2025 are just some of the awards the restaurant has collected over the years. 

Each visit is a new experience, as the menu changes frequently to take advantage of fresh seasonal produce. All the dishes revolve around vegetables and tofu, and there is no meat in sight. 

Reserve Shojin Ryori Daigo

This classic Japanese side dish consists of grilled eggplant cut into slices and coated with a delicious, rich miso glaze.

Eggplants are a great meat substitute! For more ways to cook with nasu, check out our Japanese Eggplant Recipes.

Soba noodles are made from buckwheat, giving them their characteristic nutty flavor and dark brown color. They are frequently served in a hot broth, but this may contain dashi if you’re not in a vegetarian restaurant. Zaru soba, on the other hand, is served cold with a dipping sauce on the side – which you can avoid in favor of soy sauce.

Learn from a classically trained chef as you discover the art of preparing soba noodles. Use traditional tools to knead and roll the soba dough before cutting it into perfect buckwheat noodles.

You’ll also enjoy kakiage (vegetable fritter) tempura, expertly fried by your host, alongside your soba. The class can accommodate vegetarian modifications, so be sure to inform the host upon booking. 

Book Handmade Buckwheat Soba Noodle & Kakiage Tempura Class

Looking for restaurants serving buckwheat noodles? Explore some of the best soba restaurants in Tokyo. 

Just like in the west, lots of sushi in Japan is vegetarian. Look out for treats such as kappa maki (cucumber rolls), takuan maki (pickled daikon rolls) and inarizushi (rice stuffed inside deep-fried tofu pockets).

The central theme behind the Michelin-starred restaurant Udatsu Sushi is “art x sushi.” From the special vinegar blend used to make their rice to the unique herbs that season the sushi, each individual component comes together to create a work of art. 

While vegetarian sushi can be found on many restaurant menus, it’s much harder to find a fully vegetarian omakase course. Udatsu Sushi is ready to fill that gap with its mouthwatering 18-course vegetarian omakase sushi course using fresh, seasonal ingredients.

Reserve Udatsu Sushi

Want to try making sushi at home? Follow our Easy Vegan Sushi Recipes.

Triangular onigiri rice balls are a quintessential Japanese snack, and several of them are vegetarian. Keep an eye out for ones filled with kombu seaweed, umeboshi (pickled plum), and natto (fermented soybeans).

Tofu is an integral part of the Japanese diet, and you’ll be amazed at the variety of ways you can enjoy it. From deep-fried aburaage tofu to dengaku tofu coated with a sweet miso sauce, you’ll never look at this ingredient the same way again!

Step into the home of a friendly Japanese grandmother to learn how to prepare 10 vegetarian dishes incorporating tofu. Combine soy sauce, miso, vinegar and other ingredients to make the dressings that help bring these dishes to life.

You’ll also learn how to beautifully present your creations in different styles, from bento boxes to lacquer plates. When your dishes are complete, enjoy your meal while chatting with your host about her decades of cooking experience.  

Book Cooking Japanese Tofu Vegetarian & Vegan Home Recipes

As long as you avoid broth made with fish stock, ramen noodles can be a cheap, flavorful and filling vegetarian meal when in Japan. Keep an eye out for options marked as veggie on the menu, which are often loaded with tofu and fresh vegetables.

Take the guesswork out of finding vegetarian ramen with this Tokyo ramen tour, where you’ll enjoy four mini bowls of vegetarian (and vegan) ramen. You’ll start at a Shibuya ramen joint famous for its Hokkaido-style ramen. Options include miso, shio (salt) and shoyu (soy sauce), and you can choose to make your ramen entirely vegan.  

You’ll also get to try a modern rendition of vegetarian ramen and fusion ramen that incorporates creative flavors on this journey through Tokyo’s ramen culture.

Book Vegan / Vegetarian Ramen Tour in Tokyo

Try our vegan ramen recipe to make a tasty and healthy bowl of ramen at home!

Udon noodles are thicker and chewier than ramen, and like soba can be served in a hot broth or cold with a dipping sauce. Steer clear of fish stock and you can tuck into a hearty and soul-warming meat-free dish.

These bite-sized gyoza dumplings are a cheap and cheerful snack often found in restaurants and izakaya pubs. Vegetarian versions generally contain a mix of cabbage, onions, mushroom and carrots, and are perfect for dipping into soy sauce.

Gyoza and ramen go hand in hand, often being served together at restaurants throughout Japan. So, it’s only natural that you would learn to make both of these iconic dishes during this vegan cooking class in Tokyo.

Make a delicious vegan miso ramen and craft gyoza that taste delightfully lighter than their meat filled counterparts. The best part? You’ll get to take the recipes home with you, ensuring you can enjoy vegan gyoza and ramen wherever you are.   

Book Vegan Ramen and Gyoza Cooking Class

Okonomiyaki is a kind of savory pancake made with a batter of flour, eggs and cabbage  grilled on a hot plate. You can find vegetarian versions featuring a range of different vegetables and topped with extras such as cheese, mayonnaise and seaweed flakes.

Although most donburi rice bowls contain some form of meat or seafood, vegetarian versions exist too. For instance, tamagodon is topped with fluffy steamed eggs, tofudon comes with cubes of marinated tofu, and aburafudon features deep-fried wheat gluten.

Moving on to traditional Japanese sweets, although taiyaki cakes are shaped like fish, they’re 100% vegetarian! Crisp and chewy, these treats are a cross between a cake and a waffle. Typically filled with sweet red bean paste, they taste best when hot off the grill!

Wonderfully chewy and stretchy, mochi rice cakes are made from pounded steamed rice and often stuffed with sweet bean paste. You can find all kinds of delicious varieties, from sticky sakura mochi to strawberry daifuku mochi, each made with entirely plant-based ingredients.

Dive into the world of Japanese sweets as you make five delicious mochi dishes using plant-based ingredients in this Tokyo cooking class. Strawberry daifuku mochi, ice cream mochi and warabi mochi are just some of the creations you’ll master. 

Upon request, they can provide an alternative for ice cream, making the class vegetarian and vegan-friendly. 

Book Mochi Making Class in Tokyo

More like works of art than food, wagashi sweets are an unmissable Japanese treat. Traditionally made with only plant-based ingredients such as bean paste, they’re beautifully crafted in the shape of flowers and other stunning seasonal designs. For a truly authentic experience, enjoy them with a cup of matcha tea!

Wagashi are beautiful works of edible art, and a great way to experience a part of Japanese culture that's vegetarian-friendly! Join a Wagashi Making Class during your trip to Japan to learn all about this sweet tradition.

Hopefully, this guide has shown you that vegetarian food is neither a rarity nor a compromise in Japan. All it takes is a bit of planning! There is a wealth of veggie dishes and restaurants to discover, and the industry is only growing. 

Trust us when we say you’ll definitely be able to enjoy some mouth-wateringly delicious and authentic Japanese vegetarian food during your trip! Anyone else getting hungry?