Vegan Tokyo is easier than most people expect. Almost every neighborhood has at least one good place; you just need to know where. I’ve collected everything I’ve written about Tokyo here, sorted by neighborhood. I know most of the places in the table firsthand, some from trips with my wife and others from days on my own, and anything I was only recommended and never tried is marked as such in the articles.
Vegan Tokyo by neighborhood: which one fits you?
| Neighborhood | Best for | Vegan places | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asakusa | A full day of eating around Senso-ji | Cafe Tarot (breakfast), Marugoto Vegan Dining (curry), Veganic Monkey Magic (kaiseki dinner) | Asakusa guide |
| Shimokitazawa | Flea markets, vintage shops, slow cafés | Chabuzen (curry ramen), Alicia (teishoku), Cafe Anthrop (breakfast) | Shimokitazawa guide |
| Nakameguro | A canal walk, coffee and a quiet day | Pizzeria Carlino (pizza without cheese), Alaska Zwei (dinner) | Nakameguro guide |
| Shibuya | An evening out with an izakaya feel | Masaka in the basement of Shibuya PARCO (karaage with 7 sauces) | Masaka guide |
| Harajuku | Ramen | Vegan Bistro Jangara (spicy Karabon ramen) | Jangara guide |
| Kunitachi (west Tokyo) | Cooking it yourself | Ramen cooking class at Nahoko’s home | Ramen class |
Where to start
- Only one evening in Tokyo? Go to Masaka in Shibuya, where everything is vegan and you don’t have to explain anything.
- For ramen, head to Jangara in Harajuku. The entrance is easy to miss, and the Karabon is properly spicy.
- A whole day just for food works best in Asakusa, from breakfast at Cafe Tarot to a kaiseki dinner.
- Nakameguro and Shimokitazawa are quieter, and the two combine well in one day.
- And if you would rather cook, book the ramen class with Nahoko in Kunitachi.
What to know before you go
- Classic Japanese restaurants almost always use fish-based dashi, even in dishes that look vegan, so it pays to pick vegan places on purpose. More on that in how to eat vegan in Japan.
- Natural Lawson, the best konbini chain for vegans, only exists in Tokyo and the surrounding prefectures, so stock up there before a day trip.
- Many vegan spots are small. Jangara has one small room, and Chabuzen is best with a small group and no rush.
- The neighborhoods are far apart, with Asakusa in the east and Shibuya, Nakameguro and Shimokitazawa in the west. I would plan one area per day.
- For anything I haven’t tried myself, the HappyCow Tokyo page is a good starting point.
All Tokyo guides
Vegan Ramen Broth: 2 Ingredients and the Best Umami Trick
A vegan ramen broth lesson from a Tokyo home kitchen: dried shiitake, dried tomatoes, three kinds of umami and noodles we kneaded with our feet.
Shimokitazawa Guide: Flea Markets, Vintage and 5 Vegan Spots
When and where the Shimokitazawa flea market runs, the vintage shops worth your time and 5 vegan places to eat, from someone who keeps coming back.
Nakameguro Tokyo: 8 Things to Do in One Perfect Day
Nakameguro Tokyo in one day: canal walk, Neapolitan pizza, a tiny train café and the best haircut I have had. With vegan stops, getting there and when to go.
Vegan Restaurants Tokyo Asakusa: 1 Perfect Day
A full vegan day in Asakusa, Tokyo, from breakfast at Cafe Tarot to a 10 to 14 course kaiseki dinner at Veganic Monkey Magic.
Vegan Ramen Japan: Jangara in Tokyo, Hidden in Plain Sight
Vegan ramen Japan at Jangara in Harajuku: spicy Karabon, hidden elevator entrance, great gyoza and a neighborhood worth exploring.
Izakaya Masaka: The Vegan Izakaya in Shibuya, and Now Kyoto
Masaka in Shibuya is a fully vegan izakaya: karaage with 7 sauces, gyoza and mapo tofu. Full menu with prices, plus the calmer Kyoto branch.
Practical tips for Tokyo
- Which snacks are safe at which konbini chain is in the vegan konbini guide.
- For restaurants there are the vegan Japanese phrases, from “I’m vegan” to asking for the check.
- At the supermarket it helps to know how to read Japanese food labels.
- Airport transfers and whether the pass is worth it are in the JR Pass guide, and mobile data in eSIM vs pocket WiFi.
Day trips from Tokyo
So far Nikko is day 5 of my vegan Japan itinerary, a little over two hours from Asakusa, with UNESCO shrines, old cedar forests and a big waterfall.
FAQ
Is Tokyo good for vegans?
In my experience, yes: Tokyo has more vegan and vegan-friendly places than any other city in Japan, spread across almost every neighborhood. It gets harder in small traditional restaurants, where fish-based dashi is in many dishes.
Where can I find vegan ramen in Tokyo?
At Vegan Bistro Jangara in Harajuku (spicy Karabon) and at Chabuzen in Shimokitazawa (curry ramen). If you would rather cook it yourself, you can book a class with Nahoko in Kunitachi.
Can you get vegan snacks at konbini in Tokyo?
You can. Natural Lawson has the best range, but 7-Eleven, FamilyMart and Lawson also have safe products. Look for the label 動物性原材料不使用, which means “no animal-derived ingredients”. The list by chain is in the vegan konbini guide.
Which Tokyo neighborhood is best for vegan travelers?
Asakusa for a day with as much food as possible. Shimokitazawa or Nakameguro for a quieter day with shops and cafés.