Tokyo Outings
Harajuku, Shibuya, Omotesando, Yebisu & Roppongi
Omotesando (表参道)
Brown Rice Cafe ($$, Macrobiotic, Organic, 🌱)
Wed-Mon: 11:30-18:00 (last order: 17:00).
One minute’s walk from Omotesando
Station, Exit 1. Take the first left into a small alleyway, and it will be
on your right.
〒150-0001 東京都渋谷区神宮前5-1-8 1F
5-1-8 jingumae, Shibuya-ku Tokyo 150-0001
Google Maps, website, HappyCow
03-5778-5416
Delicious,
healthy, beautifully presented macrobiotic meals.
Moderately expensive, but excellent
value given the food, interior and location.
Olu Olu Café ($$, Hawaiian, 🌱)
Closed
temporarily (hopefully!). Please check Google Maps or call before visiting (the friendly
owners speak fluent English).
12 minutes’ walk from Sangejaya
Station on the Tokyu Den-en-toshi Line, two stops southwest of Shibuya
Station. It’s also on the Tokyu Setagaya Line.
〒154-0001 東京都世田谷区池尻1丁目11−1
1 Chome-11-1 Ikejiri, Setagaya, Tokyo 154-0001
Google Maps, Facebook, HappyCow
03-3795-6060 (staff speak English).
Great
Hawaiian food at surprisingly low prices, served in a relaxed and welcoming
store by vegan hosts.
A little bit off the tourist route,
but well worth the trip on the subway.
Shibuya (渋谷)
Lotus Cafe ($$, Fusion, 🌱)
Tue-Sun: 11:00-22:00; closed Mon.
Five minutes’ walk uphill from Shibuya Station, South Exit. It can be very difficult to find without Google Maps.
〒150-0032東京都渋谷区鶯谷町15-10
15-10 Uguisudanicho, Shibuya City, Tokyo 150-0032
Website, Instagram, Google Maps, HappyCow
Good,
big, Japanese meal for a reasonable price.
Crowded, run-down interior.
Izakaya Masaka ($$, Japanese, Pub, 🌱)
12:00-22:00
Six minutes’ walk northwest from Shibuya Station, Exit A3b
Shibuya Parco Building, B1 Floor food court.
(It’s difficult to find even within the food court, so I suggest showing the
Japanese name to someone and asking for help.)
〒150-0042 東京都渋谷区宇田川町15−1
15-1 Udagawacho, Shibuya City, Tokyo 150-0042
Google Maps, Instagram , HappyCow
Inexpensive;
vegan version of an izakaya (traditional Japanese pub).
Limited tables and often long waits
to enter.
Falafel Brothers Shibuya Parco ($$, Falafel, 🌱, ファラフェルブラザーズ)
Mon-Thu: 11:30-21:00; Fri-Sun: 11:30-22:00.
Last order: 30 minutes before closing.
東京都渋谷区宇田川町15-1
7F
7F 15-1, Udagawa-cho,Shibuya,Tokyo
03-6459-2844
Great
falafel and other vegan options.
The Roppongi
store has a wider menu, although
the main (falafel) offerings are the same at both.
Google Maps, website, HappyCow,
Facebook
Kuumba Du Falafel ($$, Middle Eastern, 🌱)
Wed-Sat: 11:30-14:30, 17:00-20:30; Sun: 11:30-18:00; closed Mon,
Tue.
Fifteen minutes’ walk west (uphill) from Shibuya Station, Exit 3
〒150-0045 東京都渋谷区神泉町23−1
ME Building.1F 23-1 Shinsen-chou, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 151-0045
Google Maps, Facebook
, HappyCow,
Website
Large,
inexpensive meal sets with great falafel.
Long walk uphill; little seating in
or near the café; unfriendly staff.
Ebisu (恵比寿)
Hemp Café Tokyo ($$$, Raw, Hemp, 🌱)
Tue-Sun: 11:30-15:00, 18:00-22:00; closed Mon.
Google Maps, website, HappyCow
〒150-0011 東京都渋谷区東3-17-14-8F
3-17-14-8F, Higashi, Shibuya-ku, Japan 150-0011
Healthy
food, with the addition of Hemp.
Small, expensive portions (but
reasonable value for money).
Ko-So Café ($$, Western, Fusion, 🌱)
Thu-Tue: 11:00-20:30; closed Wednesday.
Three minutes’ north of Ebisu
Station, West Exit. Follow the road around to the right and under
the overhead train tracks. Then take the second left, and Ko-So is on the
ground floor of the third building on the right and is well-signposted in green
(and in English).
(Ko-So is actually on the east side
of the train tracks, but due to the layout of the roads it’s faster to get
there from the West Exit).
〒150-0011, 東3-25-3 ライオンズプラザ恵比寿
3-25-3 Higashi | Lions Plaza Ebisu 1F, Shibuya 150-0011, Tokyo
Google Maps, Facebook , HappyCow, Website
Excellent
value; gluten free options.
Naka-Meguro (恵比寿)
Ballon Tokyo ($$, Falafel, Ice Cream, 🌱)
Mon-Fri: 11:30-17:30 (LO: 17:00); Sat, Sun: 10:00-17:30.
Please check their Instagram (see below) for updates and irregular closing
times.
5 minutes’ walk from Nakameguro
Station, which is one stop southwest of Ebisu Station on the Hibiya Line
and two stops south of Shibuya Station on the Tōkyū Tōyoko Line which connects
Tokyo and Yokohama.
〒153-0061 東京都目黒区中目黒3丁目2−19 ラミアール中目黒
〒153-0061 Tōkyō-to, Meguro City, Nakameguro,
3-chōme−2−19 Ramiaru, Nakameguro 153-0061
Instagram, Google Maps, website, HappyCow
Falafel
and Ice Cream make an unusual but palatable combination, especially during
summer.
It’s a convenient stop on the way to Yokohama, and close to the famous Meguro
River cherry blossom promenade.
Roppongi (六本木)
Falafel Brothers Roppongi (ファラフェルブラザーズ, $, Takeout Only, 🌱)
Mon-Thu: 08:30-21:30; Fri, Sat: 08:30-22:00; Sun: 9:30-20:30 (last
order: 30 minutes before closing).
3 minutes’ walk southeast of Roppongi
Station, Exit 3.
〒106-0032
東京都港区六本木5丁目1−11
1F, 5 Chome-1-11 Roppongi, Minato City, Tokyo 106-0032
03-6459-2844
Great
falafel and other vegan options.
This is the original branch of Falafel Brothers (see other stores above). For many years they served top notch vegan falafel, mostly to foreigners out and about in Roppongi, from what was little more than a hole in the wall. But in October 2022 the store moved into a space next door and was re-named The Brothers Corner, although it’s currently still better known as Falafel Brothers. In this new store they have further expanded their menu to include vegan quiches, hot pressed sandwiches, and single slice pizza.
Akihabara (秋葉原), Ueno (上野) & Asakusa (浅草)
Komaki Shokudou Kamakura Fushikian ($$, Japanese, こまきしょくどう 鎌倉不識庵, 🌱)
Mon: 9:00-19:30; Tue-Fri: 11:00-14:30,
17:00-19:30; Sat, Sun: 11:00-19:30.
Inside the Chabara Building (grocery
store) underneath the Yamanote Line tracks just north of Akihabara Station.
Walk out the main exit of JR Akihabara
Station into a large courtyard. On your right you should see the Yamanote Line
tracks running north-south, and steps leading up to a raised walkway to the
left. Walk north, just to the right of the raised (Yamanote Line) railway
tracks, cross one road, and the Chabara store will be on your right underneath
the train tracks.
〒101-0022 東京都千代田区神田練塀町8-2 CHABARA内
Chiyoda-ku, Neribeicho, 8-2 Kanda 101-0022
Google Maps, HappyCow, Facebook, website (Japanese only)
Shojin-ryori
(Buddhist temple cuisine) is healthy, and not easy to find in central Tokyo.
Not as good as most shojin ryori
served in temples; expensive; rules about minimum purchases.
Taiwan Shokudo ($, Taiwanese, 🥛)
Temporarily closed; Please
call first or check their Facebook page before visiting.
Previous
hours: Mon-Sat: 11:00-22:30.
Three
minutes’ walk southwest (towards the river) of Ryōgoku Station on the JR
Chūō-Sōbu Line (from Akihabara Station).
Eleven minutes’ walk northeast (and across the river) from Higashi-Nihombashi
Station on the Asakusa Line (from Asakusa Station).
A pleasant half-hour walk south along (and across) the Sumida River.
〒130-0026 東京都墨田区両国1丁目14−6
1 Chome-14-6 Ryōgoku, Sumida City, Tokyo 130-0026
Limited menu.
Ueno (上野)
Nezu no Ya ($$, Japanese, Macrobiotic, 🌱, 根津の谷)
11:30-16:30 (last order: 15:30)
Please check the calendar at the bottom of the website. Days that the restaurant is open are
shown with a red square containing the Kanji 根 (currently Tuesdays,
Fridays and Saturdays).
Ten minutes’ walk north of Ueno Park (Bentendo Temple); fifteen
minutes from Starbucks in the centre of the park.
Beside Nezu Station on the Chiyoda (subway) Line (from Tokyo
Station).
〒113-0031 東京都 文京区根津1丁目1-14
1-1-14 Nezu, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo
Google Maps, HappyCow, website
Tokyo’s best
value macrobiotic restaurant.
Irregular (but reliably posted)
opening hours.
The attached organic shop sells animal products.
Vege Herb Saga ($$, Indian, ヴェジハーブサーガ, 🥛)
11:15-14:30, 17:15-22:30
Hours can be irregular; it sometimes closes for long periods of
time when the staff return to India. If closed, I recommend the nearby Veg
Kitchen (see below).
Two minutes’ walk southeast of Okachimachi Station, South Exit 2
(for the JR Yamanote and Keihen/Tohoku lines) and one minute’s walk west of Naka-Okachimachi
Station, Exit 2 (for the Hibiya subway line).
〒110-0005 東京都台東区上野5丁目22-1 地下1階 東鈴ビル
5-22-1, Ueno, Taito-ku, Tokyo
Google Maps, website, Facebook, HappyCow
03-5818-4154
Delicious,
authentic Indian food, including South Indian cuisine.
Veg Kitchen ($$, Indian, ベジキッチン, 🥛)
11:00-14:30, 17:00-22:00
A few minutes’ walk east of Naka-Okachimachi Station (for
the Hibiya subway line) and Okachimachi Station (for the JR Yamanote and
Keihen/Tohoku lines).
〒110-0016 東京都台東区台東3丁目44−8
3 Chome-44-8 Taito, Taitō, Tokyo 110-0016
03-5817-8165
Facebook (menu
updated daily), Google Maps,
HappyCow
The décor
and dining experience are ‘better’ (or at least more predictable) than at
Veggie Herb Saga.
Open every day.
Food is not as authentic (or, in my opinion,
as good) as at Veggie Herb Saga.
Unlike
Veggie Herb Saga, the Veg Kitchen serves alcohol.
Momo are a Tibetan specialty, but here they come with an Indian twist. |
Asakusa (浅草)
Vegan Cafe PQ's ($, Fusion, 🌱)
Wed-Fri: 11:00-18:00; Sat, Sun: 10:00-18:00; closed Mon, Tue.
10-15 minutes’ walk north of Asakusa Station (depending on
which line) or Senso-ji Temple.
4 Chome-38-7 Asakusa, Taitō, Tokyo 111-0032
Google Maps, Instagram, HappyCow
07-3154-8285 (staff speak English)
Great
cause supporting marginalised people.
But you don’t need to have any political background to appreciate their honest good food. PQ’s offers a set menu of pasta, curry and bagels, with meals starting from ¥1,000. They also serve good drinks, making this a great place to hang out after visiting Asakusa.
Marugoto Vegan Dining Asakusa ($$, Western, Fusion, 🌱, ササヤカフェ)
Tue-Thu: 11:30-15:00;
Fri-Sun: 11:30-17:00; closed Mon.
Please check their Facebook
page for irregular opening
times.
Four
minutes’ walk north-east (along the river) from Asakusa Station, Exit 5.
〒111-0033 東京都台東区花川戸1丁目3−3
1 Chome-3-3 Hanakawado, Taito City, Tokyo 111-0033, Japan
Facebook, Google Maps, website, HappyCow
Comfort food beside
Asakusa Station.
Small portions of expensive food.
Sasaya Café ($$, Japanese, Indian, Fusion, ササヤカフェ, 🌱)
8:30-18:00
Fifteen minutes’ walk from the Tokyo Skytree, Tokyo Skytree Station,
Kinshicho Station, Honjo-Azumabashi Station and Oshiage Station.
〒130-0003, 1丁目-1-10 横川 墨田区 東京都
1-1-10 Yokokawa, Sumida, Tokyo
Google Maps, HappyCow, website
Great
Japanese/Indian/Western fusion food.
Close to Skytree and Asakusa.
Tempeh curry set. |
Sasaya is one of Tokyo’s best cafes: It serves delicious, large meals, with hearty sets going for around ¥1,000-¥1,500. Like Gopinatha, it serves Indian-inspired dishes with a Japanese twist. I recommend Sasaya’s Tempeh cutlets and South Indian sambar (shown in the photo above); the two complement each other surprisingly well. Its interior is warm and spacious, and it overlooks a small park which follows a stream almost all the way to the Tokyo Skytree. If you don’t take my advice to go up Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building instead of the Skytree, then I recommend coming here while you wait for your turn to queue up, or (if you get the Fast Ticket) any time before or after your visit there.
But it’s worth considering coming here even if you don’t go to the Skytree, especially if you have PC work (or reading) to get done, as it’s only one stop on the Asakusa Line (¥180) and a pleasant ten-minute walk from Asakusa Station. Despite being so close to the Skytree, most of Sasaya’s clientele are local Japanese, many of whom come to bring their children to the park outside. The menu is vegan, but the attached shop sells honey.
Ginza & Chiyoda
Ginza (銀座)
Komeda Is ($$, Western, Coffee Shop, 🌱)
7:00-22:00
Three minutes’ walk southeast of Higashi-ginza Station on the Toei
Asakusa and Hibiya (subway) Lines.
Seven minutes’ walk southeast of Ginza Station on the Ginza and Marunouchi
(subway) Lines.
〒104-0045 東京都中央区築地1丁目13-1
4 Chome-12-1 Ginza, Chuo City, Tokyo 104-0061
Google Maps, Instagram, HappyCow, website (Japanese only)
Fully
vegan coffee shop.
Large, inexpensive meals in Ginza.
Unhealthy.
There’s nothing
special about a sandwich, salad and fries, but there is something special about
a fully vegan coffee shop in Ginza that sells it for ¥1,300. |
Ain Soph Ginza ($$, Japanese, 🌱)
Mon, Tue, Sun: 11:30-16:00; Wed-Sat: 11:30-20:00.
Reservations are strongly
recommended.
Beside Higashi-Ginza Station, Exit A7 on the Hibiya (subway)
Line and the Toei Asakusa (subway) Line.
Seven minutes’ walk from Ginza Station and the Ginza shopping district.
〒104-0061 東京都中央区銀座4丁目12-1
4 Chome-12-1 Ginza, Chuo City, Tokyo 104-0061
Google Maps, website, Facebook, HappyCow
One of
Tokyo’s best Japanese meals.
Great price given the location.
Despite that, it’s still expensive.
Welcome to Ginza.
At ¥3,400, Ain Soph
isn’t the cheapest meal around, but it’s excellent value for such quality food
in Tokyo’s most famous shopping district. |
Chiyoda (千代田)
Food Inside Tokyo Station
T’s Tantan ($, Japanese Noodles, T's たんたん 東京駅京葉ストリート店, 🌱)
10:00-21:30
Located along Keiyo Food (underground) “Street”, inside the Japan
Rail ticket gates of Tokyo Station, but not inside the shinkansen
ticket gates. If arriving by subway, it’s necessary to leave the subway system
and enter the JR (Japan Railway) system by any one of its ticket gates (which
is free with a Japan Rail Pass). If you arrive by shinkansen (the high-speed
train) then leave the shinkansen gates but not the final JR gates.
From within the JR ticket gates, follow signs to the Keio Line, and
then to the Keio (underground) “Street”. Walk down Keio Street almost to the
end. Starbucks will be on your left. T’s Tantan is well signposted (in green)
on your right, shortly after Starbucks, just before the end of the ‘street’.
There is usually a long queue, but it moves fast.
If you don’t have a rail pass or a JR ticket, you’ll need to either
buy a platform ticket (¥140, valid for two hours and available from the
counter) or use your Pasmo/Suica card at the automated ticket gates.
Google Maps, Facebook, HappyCow, website (some English)
directions
(probably won’t work inside Tokyo Station without GPS)
Great
Japanese food, inexpensive, with fast and efficient service.
Tokyo’s most famous vegan restaurant, popular even among non-vegetarians.
Inexpensive take-outs available.
This is fast food, so it’s
important to eat and move on reasonably quickly.
2Foods ($, Japanese, Western, Donuts, 🌱)
11:00-21:00
Yaesu Underground Shopping Street/Mall (also called Yaechika
Shopping Mall/Street), B1
Follow signs to the Yaesu North Entrance (of Tokyo Station). 2foods
is on the right just before the ticket gates (or the left if coming out from
the ticket gates).
Google Maps, HappyCow, website
directions
(probably won’t work inside Tokyo Station without GPS)
Surprisingly
realistic versions of traditional Japanese and Western animal-based foods.
They might be too realistic.
It can be difficult to find.
Shinjuku, Nakano & Koenji
Shinjuku is the home of the sarariiman (salaryman, or male office workers), although the Japanese business world is now slowly becoming more open to women. Nakano is home to Japan's largest mall selling manga (comic book) and other related paraphernalia, and also the city's best Japanese-Indian food and its only vegan pub. Koenji is the home of the underground music and cultural scene, and features a lot of used clothing stores. All have some good vegan restaurants.Shinjuku (新宿)
Ain Soph Journey ($$, Western, Fusion, 🌱)
Mon-Fri: 11:30-15:00, 18:00-20:00; Sat, Sun & holidays: 11:30-16:00;
18:00-20:00.
Last order is always one hour before closing.
Beside Shinjuku-sanchome
Station,
Exit C5, one stop from Shinjuku Station on the JR Shinjuku Line or the
Marunouchi (subway) Line.
If coming from elsewhere it’s also on the Fukutoshin (subway) Line.
〒160-0022 東京都新宿区新宿3丁目8−9 新宿Qビル1F
Shinjuku Sanchome, 8-9 Shinjuku Q Building, 1F
Google Maps, HappyCow,
website, (mostly
Japanese), Twitter
Excellent
healthy food.
Reliable hours.
Mon-Fri: 11:30-15:00, 18:00-20:00; Sat, Sun & holidays: 11:30-16:00;
18:00-20:00.
Last order is always one hour before closing.
Beside Shinjuku-sanchome
Station,
Exit C5, one stop from Shinjuku Station on the JR Shinjuku Line or the
Marunouchi (subway) Line.
If coming from elsewhere it’s also on the Fukutoshin (subway) Line.
〒160-0022 東京都新宿区新宿3丁目8−9 新宿Qビル1F
Shinjuku Sanchome, 8-9 Shinjuku Q Building, 1F
Google Maps, HappyCow,
website, (mostly
Japanese), Twitter
Excellent
healthy food.
Reliable hours.
SOJO Esperanto-Vegana Kafejo ($, Fusion, 🌱)
Wed-Fri 17:00-21:00; Sat-Sun: 15:00-21:00; closed Mon-Tue.
Five minutes’ walk north of Waseda
Station, Exit 1 on the Tokyo Metro Tozai Line.
From Shinjuku, take the JR Yamanote (loop) Line or JR Shonan-Shinjuku Line or
Saikyo Line north to Takadanobaba Station, and then change to the Tozai
(subway) Line east towards NishFunabashi. Waseda Station is the first stop.
111 Wasedatsurumakicho, Shinjuku, Tokyo 162-0041
03-6302-1639 (owner speaks English and Japanese if you can’t speak
the preferred Esperanto)
Google Maps, Facebook, HappyCow
Japan
Today newspaper article.
Hearty,
inexpensive meal sets.
A chance to learn about Esperanto from a friendly, multi-lingual owner.
A short trip on the subway from
Shinjuku’s attractions, but well worth the trip.
Nakano (中野)
This small ward, officially called Nakano City in English, is famous for its manga centre (below) but is also worth visiting for a cluster of vegan and vegetarian restaurants, especially since it’s so easily accessible from Shinjuku.Gopinatha ($, Vegetarian, Indian/Japanese Fusion, 🥛 , やさい食堂 ゴピナータ)
Wed-Fri: 12:10-14:30, 18:00-20:00; closed Sat-Tue.
Five minutes’ walk east of Nakano
Station, a few small blocks north of the railway line. Take the North Exit, and then use Google Maps (directions
link below) as it’s located in a small alleyway and somewhat difficult to find
otherwise.
〒164-0001 東京都中野区中野5丁目17−10
Nakano 5-Chome, 17-10
Google Maps, Facebook, HappyCow, website
Excellent
value meal sets, including both Indian and Japanese fusion food.
Difficult to find without Google
Maps.
Gopinatha serves Japan’s best Japanese Indian fusion food. This is no easy feat, because Indian cuisine is based on aromatic spices, while the elegance of Japanese cooking lies in its simplicity, and how its delicate preparation brings out natural flavours. While fans of authentic Indian food may be more satisfied at Veggie Herb Saga (or the neighbouring Veg Kitchen) in Ueno, fans of Japanese and Indian food are likely to enjoy Gopinathas more, as the talented chef here somehow captures the essence of both cuisines. I especially like their Pakoras and the aromatic tomato sauce which comes with them. It’s also great value, with satisfying set meals starting at around ¥1,000.
Sasaya Café (in Asakusa, near the Tokyo Skytree) also serves great Indian Japanese fusion food. Overall Gopinatha’s menu is more Indian and Sasaya’s is more Japanese, but both are very good.
Gopinatha only allows take-out meals and ‘single diners’, so customers are not allowed to sit or talk with anyone else. While some cafes and restaurants are set up to encourage solo diners (including the famous Soup Stock Tokyo chain), this is the only eatery I know of with this rule in Japan.
Korinbo ($, Taiwanese, 🥚, やさい食堂 ゴピナータ)
Mon-Fri: 11:30-14:30, 17:00-20:00; Sat: 11:30-14:00, 17:00-20:00;
closed Sun.
Inside Nakano Broadway shopping mall (see above), five minutes’
walk from Nakano Station on the JR
Chuo Line from Shinjuku Station or Tokyo Station.
Take the North Exit of Nakano Station and follow these directions
to Nakano Broadway (above): Walk north through the courtyard (along a covered
walkway) to the narrow, busy Nakano Sun Mall. Walk north through Nakano Sun
Mall for 230 metres and you will reach the entrance to the Nakano Broadway
mall. Then walk through the mall until the far (north) end, and take the stairs to the second floor (not the
escalator, which goes straight to the third floor). Korinbo is there in the
north-west corner, with a large sign above in Japanese and a small sign by the
door which reads ‘Korinbo’ in English. It can be a little difficult to find; on
the second floor show the Japanese name (above) to any staff and they will
point you in the right direction.
〒164-0001 Tōkyō-to, Nakano City,
Nakano, 5-chōme−52−15 中野ブロードウェイ 2F
Nakano Broadway, 2F, 5-52-15
directions
(but GPS probably won’t work inside the mall)
Excellent
value, authentic, friendly owner.
Oriental vegetarian (no onion or
garlic).
The food is simple (but good).
Update this restaurant (or tell me if it was hard to find or suggest clearer directions).
Koenji (高円寺)
Koenji is the centre of Japan’s alternative (underground) culture and is home to many live houses (pubs which host live bands) and used clothing and record stores, mostly on the south side of Koenji Station. Despite being so close to the hub of Shinjuku, Koenji escaped most of building boom during the 1980s bubble, so it preserves an older Tokyo vibe, with smaller houses and restaurants, in stark contrast to the usual skyscrapers which dominate Shinjuku (and almost everywhere else in Tokyo). This led to cheaper rents, which encouraged artists and musicians, who over the decades have given Koenji its unique character.Meu Nota ($, Macrobiotic, Fusion, 🌱)
Wed-Sun: 12:00-17:00; closed Mon-Tue.
Please check this calendar on their
website for monthly opening hours. They also sometimes post irregular
closing times to their Facebook page.
Last order: half an hour before closing time.
Five minutes’ walk southwest of Kōenji Station, South Exit.
〒166-0003 東京都杉並区高円寺南3丁目45−11
Koenji South 3-Chome, 45-11
Google Maps, website, Facebook, HappyCow
03-5929-9422
Variety
of delicious vegan fusion cuisine in a cosy atmosphere.
Reservations required for dinner.
Key
Price
$ = inexpensive (< ¥1,000)
$$ = midrange (¥1,000-¥2,000)
$$$ = expensive (>¥5,000)
Veg Status
For practical reasons I categorise restaurants by the ‘worst’ ingredients used.🌱 = fully vegan restaurant.
🥛 = uses dairy, but not egg or meat.
General Advice for Being Vegan in Tokyo
Use HappyCow
HappyCow (Android App) is great for finding nearby restaurants. I recommend keeping it set to vegan, as these restaurants are generally the best (even for vegetarians or inspiring vegetarians). As a nation Japanese are probably the most honest in the world, and it's rare to find vegan restaurants serving animal products, but of course it's always a good idea to keep an idea out for animal ingredients, especially fish products, because occasionally foreign travellers misunderstand that a restaurant is vegan (especially tofu and/or vegetable-based restaurants) and then add them to HappyCow.However, I suggest two cautions with HappyCow. Firstly, take reviews with a grain of salt. In Japan standards of food (and everything) are very high, and portions are very small. So almost every restaurant has had a few foreign diners turn up hungry having just arrived in Japan -- or having been travelling rural Japan where there are no vegan restaurants) and be so delighted with their meal that they consider it the best of their life, go back to their room and write it a glowing review. Likewise, many restaurants have had a foreign tourist horrified by the 'Japanese' (small) size of the meal and go and write a bitter review on how they spent ¥2,000 on what was like a snack.
HappyCow is much more useful in Tokyo than in Kyoto. Here's why: in Tokyo most restaurants serve either macrobiotic food, falafel, or Indian food, and while I have a few favourites (like Vege Herb Saga and the Loving Hut) there are few-standouts, while Tokyo's tourist attractions are very widely spread out, so I suggest planning your day around attractions and eating at whatever restaurants you can find nearby on HappyCow.
Kyoto, by comparison, has a huge range of vegan restaurants, from 'cheap & cheerful' tourist traps to high-end shojin ryori (vegan Buddhist) cuisine. Also, the city is much smaller, so with careful planning (which I do for my readers in my guidebook) it's possible to go visit your chosen tourist attractions (which are mostly on a few well-trodden temple hopping paths) and restaurants, wherever you decide to eat. It's therefore very important to choose your Kyoto restaurants carefully. While HappyCow is certainly invaluable, the downside is that most reviews are written by people who are not familiar with Japanese cuisine and only dine at a small number of restaurants, so comparing restaurants by their HappyCow reviews can be misleading.