Amazing Vegan Restaurant Options in Tokyo!
If you are planning on visiting or moving to Japan, one of your biggest concerns may be whether it will be easy to eat vegan while you're here.
Generally speaking, veganism is not popular in Japan, especially outside of major urban areas. And since many Japanese dishes may look vegan, but include ingredients like dashi (fish stock), it can be difficult to know whether the food you are eating is vegan-friendly.
Luckily, vegan restaurants are becoming more common in Japanese urban centers, especially Tokyo, thanks to the influx of foreign tourists. So to help you maintain your vegan diet while you are in Japan, let's look at some popular vegan restaurants in Tokyo, introduce tools you can use to find other vegan restaurants across Japan, and learn some helpful phrases you can use to ask about vegan options.
Is It Hard to Be a Vegan in Japan?
The answer to this question depends on where you are in Japan. The reality is, though, that it is generally more challenging to find vegan food in Japan compared to many other countries.
As we briefly mentioned, one of the difficulties of finding vegan food in Japan is that many common or traditional Japanese foods are made using non-vegan ingredients, even if on the surface they may seem vegan. For example, miso soup may look vegan, because it often contains seaweed and tofu, but it usually isn't because dashi is the base used to make miso soup. The stock used for noodle dishes like udon and soba is also often dashi-based, and many Japanese dishes also include eggs or dairy products.
Another point to consider is that since veganism has only recently begun to gain popularity in Japan, there may be Japanese people who do not understand the difference between vegetarian and vegan. If you ask if a dish is vegan, there is a chance the restaurant staff will think you mean vegetarian and say yes, which would result in you eating something that goes against your diet.
Asking for substitutions at restaurants in Japan is also quite rare. Usually, how a dish is listed on the menu is how it will be prepared, and asking for an ingredient to be left out or substituted for another will lead to confused looks or misunderstandings, even if you can speak Japanese. In many cases, you won't be able to request ingredient changes to make a dish vegan (though if you say that you have an allergy to that ingredient instead of saying you are vegan, you might have a slightly better chance).
Amazing Vegan Restaurants in Tokyo
・AIN SOPH.
AIN SOPH.'s main location is in Ginza, but they also have restaurants in Shinjuku and Ikebukuro in Tokyo. They also have a location in Kyoto, so if you are traveling there as well then this restaurant could be a great option for you.
AIN SOPH. is a dedicated vegan restaurant, so you'll be able to order anything off the menu. Their goal is to connect people to nature and their true essence through food, a mission that dictates every aspect of their sophisticated vegan menu. Vegan dishes with a Japanese bento style are popular, but the dessert menu, which is also very popular, includes vegan pancakes and tiramisu.
Check out their website here.
・Falafel Brothers Roppongi
Falafel Brothers, a Middle Eastern falafel restaurant that is famous for its croquettes made from chickpeas, is a restaurant where you can eat without worrying about whether the meal is vegan or not. This restaurant is popular with non-vegans as well thanks to the great flavors of everything on the menu.
Falafel Brothers is mainly a takeout restaurant, but they do have a small eat-in space available. They have locations in Roppongi, Ebisu, and Shibuya, with some small variations in menus depending on the store you visit. They also have gluten-free options if you are looking for those.
Check out their website here.
・Vegetarian Beast
In the Mejiro neighborhood of Tokyo, you'll find Vegetarian Beast, a restaurant dedicated to serving high-quality vegetarian and vegan food. The restaurant's stylish interior is designed to look like a Western restaurant or wine bar, and the menu consists primarily of Western-style dishes including vegan burgers and French fries. If you are from a country like America and looking for vegan food that tastes like home, you should check this place out.
You can eat in-store at Vegetarian Beast or order takeout.
For more info, click here.
The Best Ways to Find Vegan Restaurants in Japan
We've given you some great, dedicated vegan restaurant options, but they are not the only places in Tokyo or Japan where you can find great vegan food. While it may seem tough to find other restaurants that serve vegan food, there are resources available to help you out.
・Vegewel
Vegewel is a website dedicated to helping you search for restaurants that meet your dietary needs in Japan. You can search its database of restaurants to find vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free food options in Japan.
This website can help you find vegan restaurants all across Japan, and each restaurant details what kind of options they have available, in case you need to make requests in advance for vegetarian or vegan dishes. It's an invaluable resource if you're planning out where you will go to eat as a vegan in Japan.
Check out Vegewel here.
・HappyCow
HappyCow is a useful website and app for people with specific dietary restrictions, so if you are vegan or just looking for vegetarian or gluten-free options, this app will be able to help you out.
With HappyCow, you can search for nearby restaurants based on your location, look for restaurants in specific cities or areas, search by restaurant name, and filter options based on what kind of restaurant you are looking for, payment options available, delivery options, and more. You can also check out tons of user reviews of restaurants as well as check out the menus of many restaurants, giving you all the information you need to find a great vegan restaurant anywhere in Japan.
HappyCow has many listings in Japan and worldwide. If you do a lot of traveling, be sure to check out HappyCow!
Check out HappyCow here.
Useful Japanese Phrases for Vegans
If you're vegan and dining out in Japan, learning a few simple Japanese phrases can be helpful. While the word "vegan" is becoming more recognized, many restaurants and staff may not fully understand what it means, so it's better to ask about specific ingredients.
Here are some practical phrases to try:
-
これは動物性のものが入っていますか？
Kore wa dōbutsusei no mono ga haitteimasu ka?
Does this contain any animal products?
A general way to ask whether something includes meat, fish, dairy, eggs, or other animal-based ingredients. -
魚のだしは使っていますか？
Sakana no dashi wa tsukatteimasu ka?
Does this contain fish broth (dashi)?
Even vegetable dishes often contain dashi made from bonito or sardines. -
卵や乳製品は入っていますか？
Tamago ya nyūseihin wa haitteimasu ka?
Does this contain eggs or dairy products? -
○○抜きにできますか？
___ nuki ni dekimasu ka?
Can you make it without ___?
Example: Tamago nuki ni dekimasu ka? → Can you make it without egg? -
アレルギーがあるので、○○は食べられません。
Arerugī ga aru node, ___ wa taberaremasen.
I have an allergy, so I can't eat ___.
Sometimes, saying it's an allergy can make things clearer and more easily accepted. -
私はヴィーガンです。
Watashi wa bīgan desu.
I'm vegan.
It's a good idea to follow this up with more detailed questions about ingredients. -
私は〇〇が食べられません。
Watashi wa ___ ga taberaremasen.
I can't eat ___.
Examples:
Watashi wa niku ga taberaremasen. (I can't eat meat.)
Watashi wa gyūnyū ga taberaremasen. (I can't eat dairy.)
Watashi wa sakana ga taberaremasen. (I can't eat fish.)
Don't worry about sounding perfect. Just trying a few words shows respect and can help you get a safer, more enjoyable meal.
Tokyo Vegan Gourmet Festival 2025 Autumn
Looking for a lively event where you can sample plant-based food from all over Japan and beyond? Don't miss the Tokyo Vegan Gourmet Festival 2025 Autumn, one of the country's biggest vegan food events.
Date: Sunday, October 5, 2025
Time: 10:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Location: Kiba Park (Event Plaza area), Koto-ku, Tokyo
Admission: Free
Held twice a year, this season's event will take place at Kiba Park, a large open space just a short walk from Kiba Station. Over 80 vendors are expected to join, offering a wide variety of vegan food, including everything from Japanese bento and ramen to global favorites like burgers, falafel, and sweets.
In addition to food, you'll also find eco-friendly products, natural cosmetics, and handmade items.
For more information, click here.
Enjoy the Vegan Food Japan Has to Offer!
At first, maintaining a vegan diet in Japan may seem daunting, but it is entirely possible to eat healthy, delicious vegan food in Tokyo and across the country. The number of vegan options in Japan will only continue to increase, so look forward to eating vegan not just in Tokyo, but countrywide in the near future!
