Last reviewed: · Prices are approximate and for orientation only.
Eating vegetarian or vegan in Japan is very doable in big cities and more challenging in the countryside. The biggest hurdle is dashi — stock made from bonito (fish) flakes — which appears in soups, sauces, noodle broths and many dishes that look meat-free.
Watch out for hidden animal products
- Dashi (fish stock) in miso soup, udon and soba broth, tempura dipping sauce, simmered vegetables, okonomiyaki batter and more.
- Bonito flakes (katsuobushi) sprinkled on tofu, salads and takoyaki.
- Lard or meat stock in ramen broths, gyoza and fried rice.
- Egg in noodles, tempura batter and many sweets; gelatin in some desserts.
Good options
- Shōjin ryōri: Buddhist temple cuisine, traditionally free of meat, fish, and often onion and garlic. Try it at temples in Kyoto, Koyasan and Kamakura.
- Vegan ramen: dedicated shops in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, and vegan options at some chains.
- Sushi: kappa maki (cucumber), natto maki, avocado rolls and inari (tofu pockets — but check the sauce).
- Indian, Nepali and Thai restaurants are common and usually have clearly vegetarian dishes.
- Convenience stores: onigiri with umeboshi (plum) or kombu, plain rice balls, fruit, nuts, salads (check dressings), edamame and soy milk. See our convenience store food guide.
- CoCo Ichibanya curry chain has offered a vegetarian menu in Japan.
Useful phrases
| English | Japanese |
|---|---|
| I'm vegetarian. | Watashi wa bejitarian desu. (私はベジタリアンです) |
| I can't eat meat or fish. | Niku to sakana ga taberaremasen. (肉と魚が食べられません) |
| Does this contain dashi (fish stock)? | Kore ni dashi wa haitte imasu ka? (これにだしは入っていますか) |
| No egg, please. | Tamago nashi de onegaishimasu. (卵なしでお願いします) |
Showing a pre-written card in Japanese is more reliable than speaking, especially for allergies.
Food allergies
Japanese law requires packaged foods to label certain major allergens — including wheat, buckwheat (soba), egg, milk, peanuts, shrimp, crab and walnuts — plus a recommended list of others. Labels are in Japanese; translation apps with camera mode help. Restaurants are not covered by the same labelling rules.
- Buckwheat (soba) allergy: noodle shops often cook soba and udon in the same water.
- Shellfish and fish are everywhere, including in dashi and fish sauce.
- Soy and wheat are in soy sauce — gluten-free tamari exists but is uncommon in restaurants.
- Carry two epinephrine auto-injectors if prescribed and check medicine import rules.
- Ryokan and kaiseki restaurants need allergy information when you book.
Tools that help
Restaurant search sites and apps let you filter for vegetarian or vegan places; HappyCow is a popular community directory. Look for the "Vegan" or "Vegetarian" labels some restaurants display, and for halal-certified places, which avoid pork and alcohol (but may serve other meat).
Frequently asked questions
Is it hard to be vegetarian in Japan?
In big cities it's manageable with planning; in rural areas it's harder. The main issue is dashi fish stock, which is used in many dishes that look vegetarian.
What can vegans eat at Japanese convenience stores?
Plain or umeboshi onigiri, some kombu onigiri, fruit, nuts, edamame, soy milk and some salads (check dressings). Labels are in Japanese, so a translation app helps.
Official sources & further reading
Rules, prices and schedules change. Confirm details here before you travel: