The Shinjuku birthplace of the cloud-soft 'Heavenly Vegan Pancakes' that draw queues from vegans and non-vegans alike, with gluten-free options on the same menu.
Can I eat here?
✓ Diets our editors confirmed in person· English menu / support
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Vegetarian
私はベジタリアンで、肉と魚は食べません。
Watashi wa bejitarian de, niku to sakana wa tabemasen.
I'm vegetarian — I don't eat meat or fish.
この料理に肉や魚のだしは入っていますか？Does this dish contain meat or fish stock?
Shinjuku Q Building, 3-8-9 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0022
Nearest station
Shinjuku-Sanchome Stn (C5), 1 min
Cuisine
Vegan cafe & sweets
Price
¥¥¥
English menu / support
✓
Signature
Heavenly Vegan Pancakes
AIN SOPH. Journey is the Shinjuku-Sanchome flagship where the chain's now-famous Heavenly Vegan Pancakes were born — a plate substantial enough to double as a full meal, made without egg or butter and finished with soy-based whipped cream and seasonal fruit in place of dairy. The kitchen goes further than "vegetarian-friendly": every dish here, savory and sweet, is fully plant-based, with no meat, fish, dairy, or egg anywhere on the menu, which spares diners the usual Japanese-restaurant guessing game over bonito dashi hiding in a broth or sauce.
Tucked one minute from Shinjuku-Sanchome Station's Exit C5, the dining room trades Shinjuku's neon churn for a calmer, rustic-leaning interior — wood tones and soft lighting that make it easy to forget you're in Shinjuku at all. Beyond the pancakes, look for the vegetable paella and the Genovese pasta, a basil sauce over rice noodles that doubles as the kitchen's gluten-free pasta option, and the chocolate gateau to close; a gluten-free diner and a dairy-free diner can order from the same menu side by side without a special request.
A few practical notes: reservations are genuinely worth making, especially for weekend lunch, and the restaurant takes bookings up to three days ahead via TableCheck or phone — walk-in seating is limited when the room fills. The English menu is thorough and the staff are used to explaining ingredients to overseas guests, and credit cards are accepted, so there's no need to carry cash specifically for this stop. Lunch runs roughly 11:30–16:00 and dinner 18:00–21:30, with slightly extended weekend hours — worth double-checking on the day, since Tokyo restaurants shift service times seasonally.
✓ Last verified Jul 2026
Hours and details can change — please confirm before you visit.
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