This post was originally published on A Globe Well Travelled in 2019. The content has been revised and updated with fresh information.
I was concerned about how difficult it would be to find vegetarian food in Japan.
You can probably guess that it’s not the most veggie-friendly destination. The country is internationally known for using raw fish in sushi, and most other Japanese meals prominently feature beef, pork, or seafood as one of the main ingredients.
I eat Japanese food reasonably often in Sydney, but the restaurants here are likely to cater for the 1 in 10 Australians who are vegetarian by offering some meat-free options on their menu. In Japan, this isn’t usually the case as vegetarianism just isn’t as common.
Luckily there are vegetarian options in Japan, especially around the locations of Buddhist communities. Most of the restaurant food in Japanese restaurants is also made to order, which makes it fairly easy to request that a meal be made without meat.
My husband and I both love Japanese food, and as vegetarians we successfully managed to find some meat-free meal options throughout Japan. Here’s my suggestions on what to eat in Japan if you’re a vegetarian!
Quick summary:
Travelling Japan as a vegetarian is easier than you might expect. From temple-based Shojin Ryori to veggie sushi, noodles and cooking classes, this guide covers what to eat, where to find it, and how to enjoy Japanese food without compromising your diet.
Recommended tours & experiences:
🍜 Vegan & Gluten Free Udon Cooking Class (Tokyo) – Learn to make wheat-free, vegan udon noodles from scratch in Nippori
🍣 Modern Vegetarian Sushi Cooking Class (Osaka) – Hands-on class making colourful plant-based sushi with a local chef
🍱 Shigetsu Shojin Ryori Meal (Kyoto) – Traditional Buddhist vegetarian cuisine served inside a peaceful Arashiyama temple
Vegetarian udon noodles in Japan
Udon noodle soup is incredibly tasty! You can have it served hot or cold. It’s basically a broth with boiled udon noodles (a thick and chewy noodle made from wheat flour) and other extras such as shredded seaweed, tofu, or green onions. We had the above udon noodle soup at a local restaurant near Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Museum, but you can find this dish all over Japan.
🍜 If you want a deeper (and very vegetarian-friendly) food experience, consider taking a Tokyo – Vegan & Gluten Free Udon Noodle Cooking Class. You’ll learn every step of the process, from mixing and rolling to cutting the noodles, and leave with a recipe booklet so you can recreate the dish at home.
This hands-on class is led by a local chef and teaches you how to make traditional udon completely without wheat or animal products — something that’s surprisingly hard to find in Japan. It’s a fantastic option for vegans, gluten-free travellers, or anyone who loves understanding the food they eat.
Vegetarian soba noodles in Japan
Soba noodles are thin noodles usually made from buckwheat flour. They are easy to find at many Japanese restaurants. We had some Yakisoba (fried soba noodles) at a ramen restaurant in Hiroshima, which was served as a stir fry with sauce and bean sprouts. A side of edamame beans and a cup of sake made this the perfect Japanese dish! Simple and delicious.
Vegetarian gyoza in Japan
These Japanese fried dumplings are typically filled with meat, but vegetarian gyoza do exist. We visited Gyoza ChaoChao in Kyoto which had a dedicated vegetarian menu. The dumplings were so good that we went back to the restaurant on a different day for another helping! We also had some delicious vegan gyoza at Falafel Brothers in Tokyo.
Vegetarian sushi in Japan
While most sushi restaurants focus on fish, there are usually a couple of vegetarian choices on the menu. I went to Standing Sushi Bar in Shinjuku. Most of the menu featured fresh fish, but I managed to find at least four vegetarian options including cucumber rolls, avocado rolls, egg omelette and green onion. Plus I got to watch the chef prepare my sushi order in front of me! Entertaining, and delicious.
🍣 If you want to go a step further than just ordering off a menu, I also love the idea of learning how vegetarian sushi is made yourself. A great option is the Osaka: Modern Vegetarian Sushi Cooking Class — a fun, hands-on experience where you’ll learn to make colourful hosomaki, futomaki and nigiri using fresh plant-based ingredients.
The class also includes a traditional miso soup with handmade tofu meatballs, and plenty of cultural insight into how sushi evolved over time. It’s beginner-friendly, interactive, and a fantastic way for vegetarians to experience sushi beyond what’s typically available in restaurants.
Vegetarian tofu dishes in Japan
Tofu is a popular dish in Japan, especially in the areas where there are Buddhist communities. We had an amazing meal of Shojin Ryori (Japanese Buddhist vegetarian cuisine) at Shigetsu in Kyoto, which included multiple tofu dishes cooked a variety of ways. It was fairly pricey, but it was truly a special way to experience a traditional Japanese Buddhist meal.
We also went to Sorano – a specialised tofu restaurant in Tokyo. This place was a little fancier than the restaurants we usually eat at, but the food was really good!
Shojin Ryori (Japanese Buddhist vegetarian cuisine)
One of the most memorable vegetarian meals I had in Japan was Shojin Ryori, the traditional plant-based cuisine eaten by Buddhist monks. This style of cooking is completely meat- and fish-free, focusing instead on tofu, seasonal vegetables, rice and subtle flavours designed to be nourishing rather than indulgent.
🍱 The best place to experience this is Shigetsu, located inside the grounds of Tenryu-ji Temple in Arashiyama. The set meal includes multiple small dishes showcasing tofu prepared in different ways, delicate vegetable sides, soup and rice — all beautifully presented.
It’s more expensive than a typical Japanese lunch, but this is very much an experience rather than just a meal. If you’re vegetarian (or simply curious), Shojin Ryori at Shigetsu is one of the most authentic and satisfying food experiences you can have in Kyoto — and an ideal way to take a break from the more touristy spots in Arashiyama.
Tip: Shigetsu is popular and has limited seating, so booking ahead is strongly recommended — especially in peak seasons like cherry blossom and autumn foliage.
Vegetarian okonomiyaki in Japan
Okonomiyaki is a kind of savoury pancake filled with cabbage and soba noodles that is cooked on a flat grill. The pancake is topped with a special sauce that tastes somewhat like teriyaki, and it can also have other toppings like green onion, egg, or other sauces.
Generally Okonomiyaki has pork or shrimp, but it’s easy to order it without the meat, and it still tastes 100% delicious! We had Okonomiyaki at Okonomimura in Hiroshima.
Vegetarian Japanese curry
Japanese curry is a little different to other Asian curries as the sauce is really thick – almost like a gravy. We found the above vegetarian Japanese curry from Ko-So Cafe in Tokyo, and I also found an amazing green curry at Musubi Cafe in Kyoto. I also had a truly delightful vegan spinach curry at Kawaguchiko Craft Park cafe restaurant at Mt Fuji!
Just note that Japanese curries do usually come with meat. Be careful to double check that the one you are ordering is vegetarian – I ordered one in Nara when the English menu didn’t mention any meat, but it had beef mixed in to the sauce! I was devastated because it looked like it would have been a great dish otherwise.
Tips for finding vegetarian food in Japan:
Source food from 7-Eleven
One last tip: 7-Eleven is your friend! This convenience store chain is not particularly good in Australia (unless you have a hankering for some Tim Tams or a slushie), but in Japan, it’s totally awesome and cheap. The stores are more like mini-supermarkets that stock loads of pre-made meals and snacks, many of them vegetarian. There were a few times when we ended up having a 7-Eleven lunch/dinner on our trip!
Download the Happy Cow app
Happy Cow is truly a lifesaver in Japan! I’ve used this app a handful of times on my previous travels, but my husband and I were using it almost daily on this trip. There were many times when we opened the app to find nearby vegetarian options – it’s definitely worth installing on your smartphone before you go.
To make using HappyCow (and Google Maps) on the go easier, having a Japan eSIM set up before you arrive means you can search for vegetarian-friendly restaurants without relying on patchy Wi-Fi.
Learn some local phrases
Something that I found useful in Japan (in fact, I always find it useful when I travel as a vegetarian!) is to learn some local phrases. ‘O niku nashi’ (no meat) was generally understood by the locals when I was ordering off menus. I also tried ‘Bejitarian‘ (vegetarian) a few times but for some reason this didn’t work as well. I think the word vegetarian means something slightly different to the Japanese, so it’s best to clarify that you don’t eat any meat or fish.
Be wary of hidden ingredients
I will also point out is that there are some ingredients that are common in Japanese meals, such as oyster sauce, fish stock, and fish flakes that may still be used in a vegetarian meal. I tend to be less fussy about these ingredients when I’m travelling as it makes ordering easier, but if you are vegan or have food allergies, you might find it more tricky to avoid.
If in doubt, stick to sweets!
I know it’s not the most nutritional option, but it’s certainly an easy way to avoid eating meat! There are no shortage of options to buy sweet food in Japan, so if you can find a place that sells desserts, that may be a good (and tasty) choice.
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