I have taken many Indian colleagues to this restaurant, and everyone has come away from the experience very happy! It's right next to Akihabara Station in Tokyo. https://www.kamakura-komaki.com/
Thank you so much for sharing this!! It looks amazing — and I love shojin ryori too! Would you mind if I include this in tomorrow’s paid subscriber post where I share recommended spots? I’ll make sure to tag you as the one who recommended it!
You'll have to try it! No problem! Please share the link. Many of my colleagues are from India, and some of them are vegetarian. Therefore, dining at vegan restaurants other than Indian restaurants is critical to ensuring a positive experience for them when they visit Japan.
That said, it seems like almost every visitor from India has different dietary needs. One visitor, who was in town for a week, would only eat a vegan diet. We ended up at many Indian restaurants that catered to his tastes, even though he really wanted to eat Japanese food. Other visitors have been pescatarians, which made it much easier to find suitable dining options. One visitor from NCR ate chicken six days a week but not on Tuesdays. Thus, we ate soba on the Tuesday he was in town. All of the visitors from India, however, had strict rules against eating beef. Bottom line: In a pinch, vegan visitors to Japan can probably find something to eat at an Indian restaurant.
Another excellent option, although it's a bit pricey, is We Are the Farm, located just down the hill from Meguro Station (https://shops.allfarm.co.jp/wearethefarm-meguro/). I took one of my Indian visitors there, and he loved it.
Thank you so much! I totally agree — I have some Indian friends as well, and their dietary needs are all quite different too. And thank you for the We Are the Farm recommendation! The homepage link you sent looks amazing — I definitely want to try it myself.
And yes, you're absolutely right — Indian restaurants are such a reliable fallback for vegan visitors in Japan, but it's always nice to be able to offer something more local like washoku when possible. I’ll be sharing the vegan washoku guide link shortly — I hope it’ll be helpful for you and your colleagues!
Really appreciate how you highlighted both sides of the coin — Japan can feel like a ‘trap’ for unprepared vegans, yet paradise with proper planning. Your point about relying on Indian restaurants in a pinch really underscores that contrast.
Thank you for your comment! I really think that once you know where to look (and maybe keep a few Indian spots in your back pocket), the whole experience changes. If you ever plan a trip to Japan, let me know where you're heading—I’d be happy to share some vegan-friendly spots you might enjoy!
I'm so happy to hear that the article was helpful for you!
If you ever need more tips or have a specific prefecture in mind, just let me know! I'd be happy to help you find more vegan/vegetarian spots to check out!
Mikiさん、Kind of you!! Thank you so much! I’ll definitely reach out if I need help with a specific area. Your tips are super encouraging and really take the stress out of planning meals. I’m so grateful for your support!!!
So helpful! Thank you Miki... looking forward to the dining card. I'm not a vegan, but love many of the foods listed in your vegan list above. I haven't get tried Shojin Ryori, definitely something to add to the to-do list for the next trip.
Something I have messed up on past visits , has been trying to ask if a cafe has plant-based milk options (soy, almond, oat). In my very basic Japanese：すみません、アルモンド- ミルク ありますか. In the chain coffee shops (Starbucks, Tullys) it's already on the menu, so makes it easier to order. Is there a simple phrase/way of asking that is commonly used?
I'm so glad it was helpful — thank you! And yes, definitely add Shojin Ryori to your list next time — it's such a peaceful and nourishing experience.
As for asking about plant-based milk, your Japanese is already really good!
You can also say "植物性（しょくぶつせい）ミルクはありますか？ (Shokubutsusei miruku wa arimasu ka?)" which means “Do you have plant-based milk?” — but to be honest, not everyone in Japan is familiar with the term “植物性ミルク,” especially in smaller cafes.
So I think it's more effective to ask for the specific type you want. You can replace "アーモンドミルク" with "オーツミルク" (oat milk) or "豆乳" (soy milk) as needed!
Thank you so much Miki! This is a huge help - really appreciate this. I'll make a note of these phrases and use them on the next trip. This has also reminded me I need to refresh my memory on using は、が particles, eek!
I have taken many Indian colleagues to this restaurant, and everyone has come away from the experience very happy! It's right next to Akihabara Station in Tokyo. https://www.kamakura-komaki.com/
Thank you so much for sharing this!! It looks amazing — and I love shojin ryori too! Would you mind if I include this in tomorrow’s paid subscriber post where I share recommended spots? I’ll make sure to tag you as the one who recommended it!
You'll have to try it! No problem! Please share the link. Many of my colleagues are from India, and some of them are vegetarian. Therefore, dining at vegan restaurants other than Indian restaurants is critical to ensuring a positive experience for them when they visit Japan.
That said, it seems like almost every visitor from India has different dietary needs. One visitor, who was in town for a week, would only eat a vegan diet. We ended up at many Indian restaurants that catered to his tastes, even though he really wanted to eat Japanese food. Other visitors have been pescatarians, which made it much easier to find suitable dining options. One visitor from NCR ate chicken six days a week but not on Tuesdays. Thus, we ate soba on the Tuesday he was in town. All of the visitors from India, however, had strict rules against eating beef. Bottom line: In a pinch, vegan visitors to Japan can probably find something to eat at an Indian restaurant.
Another excellent option, although it's a bit pricey, is We Are the Farm, located just down the hill from Meguro Station (https://shops.allfarm.co.jp/wearethefarm-meguro/). I took one of my Indian visitors there, and he loved it.
Thank you so much! I totally agree — I have some Indian friends as well, and their dietary needs are all quite different too. And thank you for the We Are the Farm recommendation! The homepage link you sent looks amazing — I definitely want to try it myself.
And yes, you're absolutely right — Indian restaurants are such a reliable fallback for vegan visitors in Japan, but it's always nice to be able to offer something more local like washoku when possible. I’ll be sharing the vegan washoku guide link shortly — I hope it’ll be helpful for you and your colleagues!
Really appreciate how you highlighted both sides of the coin — Japan can feel like a ‘trap’ for unprepared vegans, yet paradise with proper planning. Your point about relying on Indian restaurants in a pinch really underscores that contrast.
Thank you for your comment! I really think that once you know where to look (and maybe keep a few Indian spots in your back pocket), the whole experience changes. If you ever plan a trip to Japan, let me know where you're heading—I’d be happy to share some vegan-friendly spots you might enjoy!
Thank you Miki-san, for this super helpful article! As a vegetarian, this guide feels like a gem. I'm grateful for the tips!!!
I'm so happy to hear that the article was helpful for you!
If you ever need more tips or have a specific prefecture in mind, just let me know! I'd be happy to help you find more vegan/vegetarian spots to check out!
Mikiさん、Kind of you!! Thank you so much! I’ll definitely reach out if I need help with a specific area. Your tips are super encouraging and really take the stress out of planning meals. I’m so grateful for your support!!!
So helpful! Thank you Miki... looking forward to the dining card. I'm not a vegan, but love many of the foods listed in your vegan list above. I haven't get tried Shojin Ryori, definitely something to add to the to-do list for the next trip.
Something I have messed up on past visits , has been trying to ask if a cafe has plant-based milk options (soy, almond, oat). In my very basic Japanese：すみません、アルモンド- ミルク ありますか. In the chain coffee shops (Starbucks, Tullys) it's already on the menu, so makes it easier to order. Is there a simple phrase/way of asking that is commonly used?
I'm so glad it was helpful — thank you! And yes, definitely add Shojin Ryori to your list next time — it's such a peaceful and nourishing experience.
As for asking about plant-based milk, your Japanese is already really good!
You can also say "植物性（しょくぶつせい）ミルクはありますか？ (Shokubutsusei miruku wa arimasu ka?)" which means “Do you have plant-based milk?” — but to be honest, not everyone in Japan is familiar with the term “植物性ミルク,” especially in smaller cafes.
So I think it's more effective to ask for the specific type you want. You can replace "アーモンドミルク" with "オーツミルク" (oat milk) or "豆乳" (soy milk) as needed!
Thank you so much Miki! This is a huge help - really appreciate this. I'll make a note of these phrases and use them on the next trip. This has also reminded me I need to refresh my memory on using は、が particles, eek!