Vegetarian Food Experiences(452)
Cherry Blossom Festival: Evening in Nakameguro 2025
Celebrate sakura season in style during this food tour in chic Nakameguro. When evening falls, the cherry blossom trees lining the river are aglow in a wash of pink—a stunning sight that’s made all the more special with tasty treats.
Osaka Cherry Blossom Food Tour 2025
Experience the fleeting beauty of cherry blossom season in Osaka. Explore a nostalgic district with your guide, tasting seasonal snacks and street foods along the way. Enjoy lunch at a local joint, and finish the tour in a beautiful sakura spot!
Kyoto Cherry Blossom Food Tour 2025
Stroll through central Kyoto, streets flanked with blooming cherry blossom trees, visiting shops and tasting local snacks as you go, and enjoy a flower-viewing picnic. Then, stop at a traditional restaurant for a meal of local Kyoto specialties.
Sakura Sweets Making & Tea Ceremony in Ikegami Plum Garden
Capture the allure of cherry blossoms in this traditional sweets making class and tea ceremony. You’ll learn to make traditional wagashi confectioneries against the stunning backdrop of Ikegami Baien, a tranquil plum blossom garden in Tokyo.
The Midnight Diners Tour: Cherry Blossom Edition (2025)
For a limited time, enjoy a special cherry blossom 2025 tour version of the popular Midnight Diners tour! See beautiful sakura trees blooming along Inokashira Park’s lake and then hit up local bars and izakaya in Tokyo’s Kichijoji neighborhood.
Private Mochi Sweets Making Class in Setagaya (Tokyo)
Make strawberry daifuku and hanami dango mochi sweets with a wagashi expert in Setagaya district’s Sangenjaya, a bustling local area with retro shops and cafes near Shibuya. Enjoy your chewy treats in your host’s traditional tatami tea room!
Sushi-Making Experience in Tokyo (Cooking Class in Asakusa)
Make authentic Japanese sushi from scratch at a cooking class in Asakusa, a historic district in Tokyo! Your expert hosts will guide you from rice to roll, teaching you about the history and culture surrounding sushi and the famed Asakusa district.
Sushi Making Class & Sake Tasting in Asakusa, Tokyo
Make sushi in Tokyo’s Asakusa district! Learn how to make temari (bite-sized sushi balls) and maki (hand-rolled sushi) with professional English-speaking hosts while learning about Japanese cooking traditions and the history of Asakusa along the way.
Osaka Food Tour (13 Delicious Dishes at 5 Hidden Eateries)
With Andy, your Japanese-Australian cultural guide and interpreter, you’ll experience Osaka like a local. Hop between food stalls and eateries, drinking and eating your way through the city’s best hidden gems.
Small Group, All-Inclusive Kyoto Night Food and Culture Tour
Experience the vibrant nightlife of Kyoto! This intimate tour takes you along the cobbled walkways of the geisha district of Gion, and along the historic streets of Pontocho, stopping for dinner and drinks at cool local restaurants and niche bars.
Engaging, Immersive Osaka Foodhood Tour (15 foods, 3 drinks)
Join this food tour in Osaka, the food capital of Japan, to dine like a local at the standing bars and gastropubs of Tenma and Kyobashi. With a small, intimate tour group, you’ll visit a local shopping street, shrine, and a retro drinking spot.
Hakata Food Tour: 7 Dishes & 4 Drinks at 4 Yatai Stalls
In this private yatai-hopping tour, enjoy dinner and drinks at up to four yatai food stalls in Nagahama and Neo-Nakasu, two distinctive yatai areas in Hakata, with a local expert foodie guide. Hotel pick-up and transportation by taxi are included!
Hakata Yatai Hopping: Fukuoka Street Food Tour
Take to Hakata’s streets and numerous yatai food stalls with a local expert and fellow food lover! Experience the various foods, from ramen and gyoza to international cuisine, and enjoy some special stalls popular with the locals.
Mochi Making Class in Tokyo
Love chewy mochi? Join this cooking class in Tokyo and learn how to make 4 versions of the beloved Japanese sweet, including ice cream mochi, strawberry daifuku, dango, and isobe mochi. Then, savor your sweets with a rejuvenating cup of matcha.
The Midnight Diners: Tokyo Experience
In the eclectic Harmonica Yokocho drinking alley, hop from bar to bar, chatting with your trilingual guide and locals, and trying creative food and drinks like horse meat shumai and tea-infused cocktails.
Harajuku Sweets & Street Food Tour With Shizuka Anderson
Join the host of Japan byFood’s Youtube channel, Shizuka Anderson, for an unforgettable tour of Harajuku! Enjoy both sweet and savory street food, purikura photos, shopping, and a meal together with drinks.
Private Ramen Tour in Tokyo by Local Ramen Expert Hiroshi
Join ramen expert Hiroshi, who comes from a family with generations in the business of ramen-making, and take a personalized tour in Tokyo, trying two different styles of ramen at two of his recommended ramen shops.
Grain Quest: Onigiri-Making and Amazake Tasting in Tokyo
In this private cooking and tasting experience in central Tokyo, you’ll learn how to make onigiri (rice balls) and take part in an amazake (fermented rice drink) tasting alongside a team of dedicated professionals.
Make Nigiri, Sushi Rolls, and Japanese Side Dishes
Learn how to make perfect sushi and side dishes with the help of professional teachers who will teach you about different ingredients and seasonings used in sushi. They will also teach you how to make the best sushi rice and broth for miso soup!
The Ultimate Osaka Night Tour
Dive into the nightlife of Osaka with a local guide, hitting the best local gastropubs and hidden bars in Japan’s vibrant food capital! Explore the backstreets of Namba, the neon-lit waterside of Dotonbori, and the party hub of Shinsaibashi.
Wasabi Farm Tour in Okutama, Tokyo
Join your guide, an Aussie journalist-turned-farmer, and discover Japan’s precious fresh wasabi, tasting the real deal for yourself. A rare treat, come and learn how one of the world’s most expensive crops is cultivated in Okutama.
Deep Backstreet Osaka Tour (With Dinner)
During this unfiltered tour of Osaka, get to know the cuisine of “Japan’s Kitchen,” trying 8 local dishes at authentic eateries with a Japanese-Australian guide. Between food stops, hear stories about Osaka’s retro area, yakuza presence, and more!
Kyoto Sake Brewery Tour in Fushimi Sake District
For over 400 years, Kyoto’s Fushimi Sake District has been producing some of Japan’s most premium sake. During this sake brewery tour, visit a sake museum, tour a historic brewery, and taste a variety of sakes with a guide.
Private Japanese Miso Making Workshop Near Tokyo Tower
Learn to make miso near Tokyo Tower! Discover Japan's star ingredient for umami in this comprehensive workshop, where you'll taste several kinds of miso, explore Japan's fermentation culture, enjoy miso soup, and make miso paste to ferment at home.
Retro Shibuya Food Tour
The bustling entertainment and nightlife hub of Shibuya can be daunting to explore alone. With an in-the-know local guide, you’ll hit four local food stops on this retro Shibuya food tour, including an iconic ramen shop and a standing bar.
Hakata Market Food Tour (Dinner): Udon, Seafood & Izakaya
Let Hakata locals lead you in this exploration of Fukuoka’s food culture. Visit the Yanagibashi Rengo Market for fresh seafood, slurp udon noodles and mingle with locals at a long-established restaurant and wrap up with a drink at an izakaya.
Vegan / Vegetarian Ramen Tour in Tokyo
Taste 2 mini bowls of Hokkaido-style ramen and 2 mini bowls of fusion ramen during this vegan food tour in Tokyo!
All-You-Can-Drink Sake Tasting in Shibuya (+30 Bottles)
Join enthusiastic sake experts for a 2-hour unlimited sake tasting in Roppongi. Explore a hand-picked selection of sake from all over Japan, enjoy unique sake appetizers, and learn the history and production processes behind each variety.
Recent Reviews from GuestsDiscover the Best Vegetarian Food Experiences
Are you a vegetarian searching for delicious and unique food experiences? Look no further! Japan, a country famed for its culinary brilliance, offers a plethora of vegetarian food options that are sure to tantalize your taste buds. From traditional dishes to innovative creations, there's something here for every vegetarian food lover. Join us as we explore some of the best vegetarian food experiences that Japan has to offer.
Traditional Vegetarian Delights
Japan’s rich culinary culture offers an array of vegetarian delights, many of which are steeped in tradition. A cornerstone of Japanese vegetarian cuisine is Shojin Ryori, a type of Buddhist cuisine developed by monks. This dining experience is not only meat-free but also free of strong flavors such as garlic and chives to maintain a pure taste. Shojin Ryori is centered around natural ingredients, seasonal vegetables, tofu, and rice, making it a wholesome and spiritual dining experience.
Another staple in Japanese vegetarian options is Tempura, which has a variety of vegetables like sweet potatoes, mushrooms, and bell peppers dipped in a light batter and fried till golden and crispy. Served with a delicate dipping sauce, vegetarian tempura provides a perfect blend of textures and flavors.
Sushi lovers can indulge in vegetarian varieties of this classic Japanese dish. Options range from simple cucumber rolls and avocado rolls to more elaborate creations featuring pickled vegetables, and even faux seafood made from plant-based ingredients.
Modern Vegetarian Innovations
Contemporary chefs in Japan are pushing the boundaries of vegetarian cuisine with innovative dishes that appeal to both locals and tourists alike. There is a burgeoning trend of using plant-based substitutes to create vegetarian-friendly versions of traditionally meat-based dishes. Popular options include vegetarian ramen, where the broth is made from vegetables or seaweed, topped with an array of fungi and vegetables.
Bento boxes have also evolved with vegetarian-friendly choices. These beautifully arranged meals offer a balanced combination of grains, proteins, and vegetables, typically including items such as grilled tofu, seasonal salads, and vegetable tempura.
Cooking Classes and Culinary Tours
For those who want to dive deeper into Japanese vegetarian cuisine, participating in a cooking class or culinary tour can be an enriching experience. Experienced chefs offer classes where you can learn to make traditional vegetarian dishes such as fresh sushi rolls, tasty tempura, or a complete Shojin Ryori meal. Culinary tours also offer a unique perspective, often guiding you through local markets where you can sample fresh produce and try out vegetarian street food.
With these varied and delicious options, Japan proves to be a perfect destination for vegetarian food enthusiasts. Whether you are indulging in traditional Japanese meals or exploring modern vegetarian innovations, your taste buds will be delighted with the incredible flavors and textures inherent in Japanese vegetarian cuisine.
Find More from Japan