Japan
Modern infrastructure meets ancient ritual — vegan navigation is possible but demands attention
Modern tourist infrastructure; supermarkets reliable; shojin ryori tradition; dining requires awareness
Japan is ranked #16 in VTG's 2026 country rankings. Tokyo ranks #12 among global cities — but dashi stock made with bonito (fish) flakes hides in almost every soup, noodle broth, and simmered dish. Ask for shojin ryori for reliably vegan Buddhist temple cuisine. Convenience stores stock onigiri and snacks — always check the label.
What's Hiding in the Kitchen
The invisible backbone of Japanese cooking. Present in miso soup, ramen, udon, soba broths, simmered vegetables, even rice seasonings. "Vegetable" dishes are frequently cooked in dashi — it's the water they swim in.
Used as toppings and finishing ingredients — often added tableside or just before serving, invisible until it's too late. Can appear on dishes you'd never expect.
Ramen toppings often include soft-boiled eggs; Western-influenced cafes and bakeries regularly use butter and cream. Less pervasive than dashi but worth checking.
Say This in the Restaurant
What Actually Works
Shojin Ryori
Buddhist temple cuisine — vegan by tradition for 1,400 years. Seek out temples in Kyoto and Nara offering multi-course meals. Zero guesswork. Pure flavour.
Convenience Stores
7-Eleven, Lawson, FamilyMart. Edamame, fruit, nuts, increasingly vegan-labelled snacks. Onigiri varies widely — many contain fish or mayo, treat as high risk unless the label confirms otherwise.
Depachika
Department store basement food halls. Magnificent prepared foods, fresh produce, pickles, tofu. Self-catering in Japan is genuinely one of life's pleasures.
Specialist Restaurants
Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto all have growing dedicated vegan scenes. Look for 完全菜食 (kanzen saishoku), ビーガン, ヴィーガン, or プラントベース — all used interchangeably on menus and Instagram. HappyCow lists are unusually reliable here.
Where It Gets Harder
Japan is genuinely easy in major cities. It becomes something else entirely when you leave them.