Vegan
No animal products at all — and in Japan that means watching the broth.
What vegan means in Japan
Vegan (完全菜食 / kanzen saishoku) means no animal products of any kind. That part is universal. What surprises first-time visitors is how often animal products hide in food that looks plant-based.
The biggest culprit is dashi — a stock made from katsuobushi (dried bonito / fish flakes) and sometimes niboshi (dried sardines). Dashi is the backbone of Japanese cooking: it's in miso soup, simmered vegetables, tofu dishes, tamagoyaki, many sauces, and even the dipping sauce for soba. A bowl of "just vegetables" can easily be cooked in fish stock.
How to eat well anyway
The good news: Japan has a deep vegan tradition through 精進料理 (shojin ryori), the Buddhist temple cuisine that uses kombu (kelp) and shiitake for dashi instead of fish. Tokyo also has a fast-growing scene of dedicated vegan ramen, cafes and izakaya, many with English menus and a clear vegan mark.
Use the filter on this site to find venues we've confirmed accommodate vegans, then double-check your specific dishes with the phrases below.
What to watch for in Japan
- Dashi (fish stock) — in miso soup, simmered dishes, soba/udon broth, many sauces
- Katsuobushi (bonito flakes) sprinkled on top of vegetables and tofu
- Egg in tempura batter, mayonnaise, and ramen toppings
- Honey and gelatin in desserts; lard or chicken stock in ramen broth
Useful phrases
私はヴィーガンです。肉・魚・卵・乳製品は食べられません。
Watashi wa vīgan desu. Niku, sakana, tamago, nyūseihin wa taberaremasen.
I'm vegan. I can't eat meat, fish, eggs or dairy.
出汁に魚やかつおは使っていますか？
Dashi ni sakana ya katsuo wa tsukatte imasu ka?
Is there fish or bonito in the dashi (stock)?
野菜だけで作れますか？
Yasai dake de tsukuremasu ka?
Could you make it with vegetables only?
