Conscious Cuban

Last year I went on a solo trip to Japan and as a vegan I was a little concerned. Japanese cuisine is very seafood and meat-heavy so I had no idea if I would find vegan options in Japan.

Luckily, the internet showed me an unexpected side of Japan. During my extensive researched I found that big cities like Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka are booming with plant-based alternatives. On my week-long trip I sampled different Japanese dishes made vegan like takoyaki, karaage, and plenty of ramen! And every coffee shop I went to had soy, oat, or almond milk options.

However, vegan food in Japan is far from being the norm so you won’t have as much luck finding vegan options at non-vegan places. My recommendation is to stick to plant-based restaurants especially if you don’t know the language. There are sneaky animal products like fish sauce in a lot foods and snacks so beware at places like 7/11. There are not many options there but the flavored soy milks and fruit smoothies were great for a snack on-the-go.

Another tip is to use the Google translate camera feature for live translation, this helped so much when looking an ingredients. The HappyCow app is always very handy for finding vegan options nearby.

TL;DR You won’t starve if you’re going to bigger cities and sticking to vegan restaurants or options that are labeled vegan!

Now let’s get the vegan restaurants I’ve visited during my trip to Japan.

Vegan food in Kyoto:

I spent the most time in Kyoto and the vegan scene there seems to be thriving despite a few vegan restaurants closing. The biggest issue was deciding where to go!

Nijiya Vegan Izakaya

This is the best vegan food I’ve had in my entire trip. Nijiya is a very small izakaya – I’m talking 6 seats max so be prepared to wait. I waited in the rain for about 30 minutes and it was so worth it! I had the regular course meal and every dish was so delicious, perfectly seasoned, and the ingredients were so fresh. The tofu was incredible and the portions may look small but I was more than satisfied by the end. Do yourself a favor and stop by Nijiya for amazing vegan food in Kyoto!

The photos only show a portion of the entire meal, there were way more dishes.

Gion Soy Milk Ramen

This is another small vegan restaurants and as the name suggests it specializes in soy milk ramen! I ordered the basic soy milk ramen or Ramen Hana which came with mushrooms, veggies, and tofu. This ramen was quite light, refreshing, and so flavorful. All the food is gluten-free, which I didn’t know at the time, so the noodles were a bit thin. The broth was also not as creamy as I was expecting but again, the food was very tasty and I wouldn’t mind going back either!

Kyoto Engine Ramen

If you want creamy, indulgent, food-coma-indusing vegan ramen, Kyoto Engine Ramen is the place to go. They’re not a vegan restaurant however they proudly advertise their vegan ramen on their menu making it a great place for group visits. I ordered the zesty vegan ramen which came loaded with green onions, thick chewy noodles, and a spicy creamy base. This is one of the best ramens I’ve eaten in my life, it was so flavorful and delicious. I can’t wait to go back soon! They also offer gluten free options for vegans.

CHOICE

Choice is another vegan and gluten-free restaurant, I swear I didn’t plan this as I have no issue with gluten! I ordered a vegan egg sandwich breakfast set which came with a soup and a salad. Choice is on the healthier side so the food was lightly seasoned but I still enjoyed it a lot. The “egg” was made out of tofu and it resembled an egg salad. Surprisingly I really liked the soup which was very thick and tasted like butter and corn, very odd but very good.

Mumokuteki Cafe

I went to Mumokuteki Cafe on a Sunday night so it was almost empty except for two other tables. I enjoyed the quiet setting after an unsuccessful trip to Don Quijote (it was very overwhelming!). I ordered one of the sets that came with fried chunks of soy meat and an assortment of fresh and pickled veggies. I can’t tell you what the side dishes were but I enjoyed them a lot, they were slighly seasoned and paired very well with the fried entree.

(This is) Nature Cafe

This vegan cafe is located inside of a shopping mall off the main street in Kyoto. Thankfully it’s not hard to find. I went there for their Instagramable matcha ice cream cone decorated with mochi flowers. I liked the matcha ice cream a lot but the mochi decorations, not so much. Next time I’d get the regular ice cream. They also have cookies and other desserts to go which would make great souvenirs.

Vegan food in Osaka

I spent less than 24 hours in Osaka (don’t worry, I’ll be back!) so I only had time to try these two spots but there are many I still have saved so come back here in a couple of months!

OKO – Fun Okonomiyaki Bar

You have to stop by OKO when visiting Osaka, it’s a laid back bar with graffiti painted walls and a big personality. You order when arrive and wait for your number to be called. I unfortunately did not order Okonomiyaki because you can only get a set and it was too much for me (cons of traveling alone!). I ordered the takoyaki instead which another popular Japanese dish. These were so fun to eat. The side salad it came with was so zesty and refreshing while the fried rice was flavorful. I was so full and happy after I left!

Pivot Base

This vegan restaurant has a full menu of Japanese staples so if there’s a dish you’ve been wanting to try as a vegan, chances are they have it here. I ordered a curry rice set with a fried soy cutlet. The food was rich in flavor and delicious. I’m not a huge fan of Japanese curry but I had a weird craving for it and this hit the spot. I’m definitely going back when I’m in Osaka again!

WATCH MY KYOTO & OSAKA VEGAN VLOG

Vegan food in Tokyo

I spent only 48 hours in Tokyo which I regretted tremendously until I remembered I was going back this year. Tokyo has the most options for vegans but they tend to be spread out so planning ahead is needed.

Vegan Izakaya Masaka

This vegan izakaya was top of my list for Tokyo and I’m so glad I went. It’s a small restaurant so be prepared for crowds and wait time. Since it was just me, I didn’t have to wait for a table this time (perks of traveling solo). I ordered the dumplings and karaage which is a famous Japanese fried chicken. The dumplings were some of the best I’ve ever had and the vegan chicken was so crispy, flavorful and juicy. It’s definitely a must for any vegan in Tokyo.

Pizza Marumo

Eating pizza in Japan was not on my bucket list but it was one of the few places near my hostel that had vegan options. I was surprised they offered vegan cheese which is rare in most pizzerias. I had to order to-go because it was more than hour-wait, apparently is very famous. This was a pretty solid pizza. I loved the dough and I was impressed with the vegan cheese. A great choice if you’re craving pizza.

Ippudo Lumine Est Shinjuku

This is another non-vegan restaurant famous for its vegan offering. Everyone raves about the vegan ramen here so I had to try it. This restaurant was a bit harder to find, it’s on the 8th floor of a massive shopping mall. Thankfully a Google review saved me from wandering around. The broth was very aromatic and creamy, the noodles were a bit thinner than Kyoto Engine Ramen but still had a nice chewiness to them. What surprised me the most was the tonkatsu, it was delicious and meaty! I loved this ramen and wish to go back.

Ain Soph Ginza

I debated whether to include this vegan restaurant. I wasn’t impressed with it but I didn’t hate the food either. Maybe it was the dish I ordered which was the soy cutlet with brown rice and a side salad. The food here was very healthy with organic ingredients which was reflected on the price. It was good but nothing WOWed me. I love this photo though, the natural light was on my side. I wished I had ordered the fluffy pancakes so I may go back for that.

Mabre Vegan

Let’s end on a sweet note. Mabre Vegan is a small bakery with cakes, tarts, sandwiches, and other pastries. This place was such a delight. I ordered the strawberry tart and it was perfectly sweet and so light it melted in my mouth. I could’ve eaten like 5 of those. They also had a vegan egg sandwich that I wished I had ordered. If you love dessert and sweets, you have to go to Mabre Vegan. I know I’m going back.

That’s all I have for Japan for now. If you’re hungry for more, join me and Rose from CheapLazyVegan on our vegan in Japan tour happening this May (2026)!

We’re visiting Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka for the ultimate vegan tour for first-time visitors. Check the full itinerary and inclusions HERE!