Vegetarian Food Experiences(446)
Tea Ceremony (Sado), Matcha, & Wagashi-Making in Tokyo
Make wagashi (traditional Japanese desserts), matcha, & enjoy a tea ceremony (sado) demonstration in Tokyo’s quaint Setagaya neighborhood. This experience includes an expert, English-speaking guide & a take-home souvenir.
Private Nerikiri Sweets Making Class in Setagaya (Tokyo)
Only two stops from Shibuya is Sangenjaya, a retro area bustling with shops and cafes in Tokyo’s Setagaya district. Learn to make nerikiri sweets with Sakura, a certified wagashi instructor, and enjoy your treats with matcha tea in her tatami room!
Osaka Festival Foods: Try Yakisoba & Karaage, Make Takoyaki
In this fun class less than 30 min by train from Osaka Castle & Osaka Station, you’ll enjoy Japanese-style fried chicken (karaage), stir-fried noodles (yakisoba) and learn to make an Osaka signature dish: octopus dumplings (takoyaki)!
Shizuoka Tea Plantation Tour w/ Tea Picking & Tasting
Learn about sustainable tea production from local farmers in Shizuoka, Japan’s green tea capital. Tour a tea plantation, pick the freshest leaves to make tea and tempura and bask in the views of Mt Fuji in this unique experience.
Japanese Fake Food Samples: Plastic Parfait Class in Fukuoka
Learn how to make your own shockingly realistic Japanese plastic food samples during this “shokuhin sanpuru” workshop in Fukuoka. Choose from different parfait “flavors” and decorate your food sample as you like, unleashing your creativity.
Private Sushi-Making Class in Tsukiji, Tokyo
Learn about sushi, wasabi, and Japanese knives from sushi chefs at an elegant restaurant in Tsukiji! Make sushi and watch how the experts make it, then taste both to see how you compare. Vegan, vegetarian and halal sushi options are also available.
Fukuoka Geisha Experience & Hakata Tour w/ Lunch
Watch a geisha performance and interact with real geisha in Hakata, Fukuoka! Visit the Kushida shrine and stroll the Kawabata retro shopping street with a guide, enjoy a traditional dance performance and lunch with tea and sweets.
Sushi Making Class Near Nishiki Market (Kyoto)
In this sushi making class near Gion and Nishiki Market, less than 10 minutes by train from Kyoto Station, savor the quintessential flavors of Kyoto. Learn to make three kinds of sushi, taste local seasonings, and indulge in dessert.
Local Tokyo Food and Drink Tour
From rowdy standing bars to traditional street food, savor the best of Japan’s culinary culture during this tour of two lesser-known Tokyo neighborhoods. Get off the beaten path and experience the city like a local with your English-speaking guide.
Izakaya Food Tour in Nagano
If you love Japanese food, alcohol, and izakaya culture, this experience is for you! Embark on an izakaya food tour in Nagano with a friendly guide. Visit two charming izakaya, enjoy food & drinks, explore hidden bars, & end in the Nagano Gondo area.
Private Japanese Tea Ceremony With a Tea Master (Okayama)
Experience a private Japanese tea ceremony with a Tea Master in Kurashiki, a charming city in Okayama. Witness a traditional tea ceremony, enjoy fresh matcha and wagashi, then make matcha yourself under the guidance of your Tea Master.
Sake Masterclass & Tasting with a Sommelier in Shibuya
Discover Japan’s National Drink in this all-you-can-drink sake tasting led by an English-speaking sake sommelier in a modern bar near Shibuya Station. Learn the history and culture of sake as you sample your choice from 60 bottles.
Ramen & Gyoza Cooking Class in a Traditional Osaka Townhouse
Step into a traditional townhouse in central Osaka for a friendly cooking class with local hosts! You’ll be learning to make two traditional Japanese dishes: a soy-sauce based ramen with pork toppings and crispy gyoza dumplings.
Tea Ceremony in a Japanese Painter's Garden – Kyoto
Enter a world of Japanese art, nature, history, culture, & tea. Join Junko Sophie Kakizaki – a respected tea ceremony master – for a small group Japanese tea ceremony at Hakusasonso Hashimoto Kansetsu Garden & Museum in Kyoto.
Wagashi: Make Nerikiri & Mochi and Enjoy Matcha in Tokyo
Make wagashi sweets with a certified instructor at her home in Tokyo. Learn the cultural significance of mochi, make fruit daifuku and hanami dango, decorate a delicate nerikiri confectionery, whisk matcha, and enjoy your sweets with tea.
Onigiri Bento Making Class in a Fukuoka Home
Delicious and adorably presented bento are a treat for the eyes and the tastebuds. During this bento making class in Fukuoka, join your cooking instructor in their home kitchen, for an onigiri (rice ball) party!
Asakusa Bar Hopping Tour (Tokyo)
Join a bar-hopping tour and experience Asakusa like a local. A local guide will show you a side of Asakusa that most visitors do not get to experience. Enjoy food and drink while seeing a unique side of one of the most famous areas of Japan.
Shimbashi Izakaya & Snack Bar Tour (Drinks, Karaoke & Games)
Delve into the authentic side of Japanese drinking culture in this evening exploration of two classic bars (an izakaya and a retro snack bar) led by a local host in Shimbashi. Expect drinks, karaoke, traditional Japanese games, and more.
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.
Nagano Sake Tasting Walking Tour
Sake lovers, this tour is made for you! Join a sake tasting & sake factory tour in Nagano. Try a range of sake, amazake, enjoy small dishes (like pickles & Nagano miso), & explore the streets of Nagano & the Zenkoji Temple area.
Wasabi Kaiseki Meal and 1 Night Stay at a Shizuoka Onsen
Taste authentic wasabi during a multi-course kaiseki in Shizuoka prefecture, Japan’s top producer of the crop. Then, spend a night at a traditional Japanese inn and luxuriate in the healing hot spring waters of Shirakabeso.
Hiroshima Hike: Mountaintop Tea Ceremony & Shrines
Embark on a nature lover's dream in Hiroshima with a breathtaking mountaintop tea ceremony & hike! Ascend Mt. Futaba, bask in the forest air, sip on matcha tea with a breathtaking city view, & explore ancient shrines with passionate guides.
Kyoto’s Kitchen: Nishiki Market Food Tour With Hiroshi
Join Hiroshi–your adventurous guide–for an private tour of Nishiki Market in Kyoto! You’ll learn about the market’s history, tour the stalls, sample foods, learn how the famed tsukemono (pickles) are made, then toast with a shot of sake.
Kimono Experience & Japanese Tea Ceremony Near Tokyo Disney
Dress in a beautiful silk kimono and experience the intricate ritual of a Japanese tea ceremony in this private experience. Sip tea with traditional Japanese confectioneries and learn cultural insights from your host at her home near Tokyo Disney.
Japanese Miso Making Experience in a Kagoshima Miso Factory
Discover all about how Japanese miso is made at a miso factory, then make your own using just soybeans and barley during this Kagoshima miso-making experience!
"Blue Zone” Okinawan Home Cooking Class
Okinawa is known as one of the world’s Blue Zones, where people live particularly long lives. Learn how to make the local cuisine that’s said to contribute to longevity, with an expert in Okinawan cooking and an award-winning local tour guide.
Vegan Shojin Ryori Buddhist Cuisine Cooking Class in Tokyo
Have you heard of shojin ryori, vegan Buddhist Japanese food? Take this casual cooking class hosted by Yuka in Setagaya, Tokyo, where you’ll transform seasonal, vegan & gluten-free ingredients into a fresh and delicious meal.
Ninomiya Ramen and Gyoza Cooking Class Near Mt. Fuji
Try your hand at making delicious ramen and gyoza in the coastal town of Ninomiya, near Mt. Fuji, Hakone and Izu. This ramen and gyoza cooking class uses all-natural ingredients.
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