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Vegetarian & Vegan in Japan: What to eat and avoid

2019-04-08 by Taka

Japan’s diet is largely based off of fish and seafood products, so being a vegetarian/vegan in Japan can be difficult sometimes.
But now that we have a lot of tourists from all over the world, the number of vegetarian/vegan-friendly restaurants are increasing to meet the demand.
With pre-planning and checking what and where to eat, vegetarians and vegans can fully enjoy their stay!
Here’s the vegetarian/vegan survival guide to Japan.

What to be careful

You need to avoid 出汁/Daishi as fish (usually Bonite Flake) is used to make it.
It is the foundation of Japanese cuisine and is found in everything from brought to sauces, etc. 
There are some vegetarian friendly kind of Dashi which is based on seaweed or dried mushrooms, but they are not very common.
So you need to be careful every time you see soup or sauce as Dashi is usually in them.
But don’t worry, we have a lot of rice ,vegetable, and bean products. 
Below are the recommended food for vegetarian/vegan.

Recommended food

精進料理/Shojin Ryori

It is a Zen Buddhist temple cuisine and is entirely vegan (no fish, meat, or other animal products are used).
Tofu and wild plants, and various seasonal food are used to make this beautifully decorated cuisine.

漬物 Tsukemono/Japanese pickled vegetables

There are many kinds of pickled vegetables, or Tsukemono in Japan.
Tsukemono appeared long time ago before refrigeration to preserve food.
Salt,vinegar,rice bran, sake lees, miso, and soy sauce are usually used to make Tsukemono ,and the most popular kinds are Daikon (Japanese radish. This tsukimoto is called Takuan), Cucumber, Eggplant, Carrot, and Ume plums.

蕎麦 Soba/Buckwheat noodles

Soba noodles are made from buckwheat flour and they are thin. 
Soba is served either chilled (called Zarusoba) with a dipping sauce, or in hot broth.
It often comes with onions, sesame, and wasabi.
As hot broth contains Dashi, you need to order Zarusoba.
Note that うどん (Udon/wheat noodles) is also popular, but it is usually comes in hot broth with Dashi in it.
If you would like to try Udon, you should find つけ麺 (Tsukemen/Dipping noodles) that comes with noodles and sauce aside.
As long as you avoid dipping in the sauce, it will be OK!

ラーメン Ramen 

It is probably the most popular kind of noodle in Japan.
Ramen shops are everywhere and every place has its own style so it’s really fun trying the different shops.
For vegans, it is hard to find the one to eat as almost all broths contain Dashi. However, there are some vegan friendly ramen restaurants. 
If you would like to try Ramen in Japan, check these places below.

Tokyo
Sora No Iro  (There’s one in Nagoya as well)
Afuri
OUKA

Osaka
Veggie Ramen Yuniwa

Kyoto
Engine Ramen

カレー Curry 

Japanese curry is different from Indian curry. 
Less spice is used and rice and roux come together. 
You can find vegetable curry at most curry restaurants, but it’s likely that roux was made with meat. 
Coco Ichibanya, one of the largest curry chains in Japan, offer an entirely vegan curry so this is the place to go.
For details, check the link here: Coco Ichibanya

寿司 Sushi 

It is not easy to find vegan/vegetarian sushi, but it’s possible to find some. 
At a sushi restaurant, you can order Kappamaki (seaweed rolls with cucumber) , Takuan-Maki (pickled daikon radish roll), and Inarizushi (Vinegared Rice stuffed in a fried tofu pouch. You need to check it wasn’t made with dashi).
Here are some vegan/vegetarian friendly sushi restaurants.

Tokyo
Mominoki House
Shirokanedai Suchicho

※For other places, check the link of the recommended restaurants at the end.

おにぎり Onigiri/Rice ball

Onigiri, or rice ball is made from white rice and often wrapped in 海苔 Nori/Seaweed. 
Many kinds of Onigiris are available at convenience stores and supermarkets. 
Make sure you find the ones that don’t have any fish or meat inside. 
焼きおにぎり (Yaki onigiri/Grilled rice balls with soy sauce on top) can be found at most 居酒屋 Izakaya/Japanese pub.
It usually comes with cold green onions and pickles on the side. Perfect food for vegans/vegetarians!

You could also try 赤飯おにぎり (Sekihan Onigiri/Red rice and Azuki bean balls) at a convenience store.
It used to be a sacred food and we traditionally eat it on special occasions through out the year such as birthdays, weddings ,and holidays and it is believed that the food ward off the evil spirit. 
I recommend it if you want to try something different!

豆腐 Tofu 

There are plenty of Tofu restaurants in Japan and you can enjoy delicious Tofu meals. 
But don’t assume that all Tofu restaurants offer vegetarian food. 
Most places use Dashi , so you should check before ordering. 
Below are major kinds of Tofu in Japan.

ごま豆腐 Goma Dofu 
It is sesame Tofu, made from ground sesame paste, water, and Kudzu powder (starch powder made from the root of the Kudzu plant). I has the name “Tofu/Dofu”, but actually soy is not used to produce this food.
It is a popular dish served on Shojin Ryori dish.

湯葉 Yuba 
Yuba is Tofu Skin, which comes from boiled soy milk. 
Yuba is formed on the liquid surface during the boiling of soy milk.
It can be a little expensive but has a lot of benefits on health like anti-aging and good for smooth skin.

高野豆腐 Koya Dofu 
It is freeze dried tofu, which is a very old traditional preserved food. 
It is like a sponge, and you need to soak it in the water before eating. 
When you order it at a restaurant, make sure that it is not soaked in Dashi!

湯豆腐 Yudofu 
This is probably the safest for vegans to order. 
Yudofu is boiled Tofu. Kombu kelp is usually put in the hot water with Tofu.
It is especially popular during cold winter season. 

串カツ Kushikatsu/Fried sticks  

It is a kind of fried food with varieties of food on sticks. 
At a Kushikatsu restaurant, you can order Eggplant, Mochi, Mushrooms, Asparagus, Onion, but don’t use the dipping sauce as it usually contains Dashi.

天ぷら Tempura 

There are a lot of vegetable options for tempura. 
Popular ones are, Katocha (pumpkin), Renkon (lotus), Satsumaimo (Sweet potato), Eggplant, Mushrooms, Sansai (wild mountain greens), 
Here again, watch out for the sauce as it contains Dashi.
You can sprinkle some salt instead to enjoy this Japanese food. 
At some places, tempura contains egg in the batter so you need to check before eating out at a restaurant. 

味噌 Miso 

It is made primarily from soy beans and salt and it is generally vegan and vegetarian friendly.
Miso is suitable to people on most diets and it has a number of health benefits. 
But you need to be careful about Miso soup which again contains Dashi.
So, look for miso paste which consists of fermented soy beans, salt and optional grains like wheat and rice. 

Snacks

団子 Dango

It is a Japanese dumpling and sweet, which is made from rice flour. 
It is usually offered on a skewer and has varieties of flavors like sweet soy sauce and red beans. 

餅 Mochi

Mochi is rice cake, and usually served with soy sauce or wrapped with seaweed.
It is popular throughout the year, especially during New year’s days. 

煎餅 Senbei

Senbei is rice cracker.
It’s available everywhere in Japan and there are many kinds of it.
Just make sure you don’t get one with dried fish or shrimp in it.

枝豆 Edamame 

These green, young soy beans can be found at most restaurants and convenience stores. 
It is a very popular snack at pubs and people often order it with beer or sake. 

Recommended restaurants

Tokyo 
Teikoku Hotel(Variety of Food)
Mothers Organic Restaurant (Organic Food)
Komaki Shokudo (Shojin Ryouri)
Veganic to go (Vegan Food)
Omusubi Chaya waseda ten (Organic rice balls)
Organic Vegan Lunch Kaimon Asakusa (Shojin Ryouri)
SUMI-BIO(Vegetable dishes)

Nagoya
ORIBIO Cafe Dining(Variety of Food)
Oyasai (Organic Vegetables)
Vegecafe Lotus (Vegetables and sweets )

Osaka
Sangmi (Healthy dishes) 
Paprika Shakudo Vegan(Variety of Food)
Green Earth (Healthy dishes) 
Atl (Variety of Food)

Kyoto
Ain Spot.Journey (Vegan restaurant)
Little-Heaven (Vegan restaurant)
Biotei (Fresh vegetables)
Shigetsu (Shojin Ryori)
Izusan in Daiji-in Temple (Shojin Ryori)
Dairoku-ji Ikkyu (Shojin Ryori)
Ajiro Main Shop (Shojin Ryori)

When you want to tell Japanese waiter/waitress that you are vegetarian/vegan, it is better to tell that you don’t eat any meat or fish instead of telling them that you are a vegetarian/vegan because some people don’t understand exactly what you can or cannot eat.
Here’s a sentence that might be your help.

“Watashi wa niku to sakana ga taberare masen”

Which means

“I can’t eat any meat or fish”. 

If you are not comfortable saying this, you could write the sentence on a paper and show it.

Food culture in Japan is great and if you choose the right ones, you can enjoy having meals anywhere in Japan.
Eat well and have fun visiting/staying!

See you next time
Taka

※I’m a professional composer. My songs are available here: Skyhigh 
Or, you can click on the band camp link below to listen.

*Need more info about Japan?
Give me a comment here or send me a message to
[email protected]

Filed Under: Culture Tagged With: food in japan for vegetarian, hidanotaka, hidanotaka.com, japan vegan restaurants, japan vegetarian restaurant, vegan guide to japan, vegan in japan, vegan in japan blog, vegan in japan trip, vegetarian in japan, visit japan, ヴィーガン, ベジタリアン, 日本旅行

Modern side of Japan: 3 ares to visit in Roppongi, Tokyo

2018-09-09 by Taka

Let me introduce Roppongi, where I used to live.It is one of the busiest business districts in Japan.I lived in Nogizaka area near the National Art Center.Back then, I had three kinds of jobs: English teacher, Web marketer, and Composer. I worked day and night till I pass out!Roppongi is known for nightlife and cosmopolitan atmosphere.People there never sleep and make a lot of money and party everyday.There are a lot of stores for fine clothes, so if you would like to enjoy shopping in the modern area, it is a great place to go. Here are 3 major areas to visit in Roppongi.

1.Tokyo Midtown and Roppongi Hills

Tokyo Midtown and Roppongi Hills are iconic towers of Roppongi.
A lot of people gather for shopping, eating, or joining events everyday.
Tokyo Midtown is a complex in the center of Roppongi area.
Inside, there are restaurants, shops, offices, museum, garden, etc. There’s one of the tallest buildings of Tokyo, Midtown Tower(248m) in the center. The Ritz Carlton Tokyo occupies the top floors.
Bars and cafes are open to anyone visiting the area.
There’s another tower called Roppongi Hills that is about 10 min walk away from Tokyo Midtown.
This place is also a nice place for shopping, and the view from the observation deck (on 52nd floor) is spectacular.
Best (yet the most expensive!) restaurants are around the tower and there is Toho Cinema Theater.
The headquarters of TV Asahi are located right next to it and they often hold events.

Tokyo Midtown (Open from 11:00 to 21:00)
Roppongi Hills(Open from 8:00 to 21:00)

2.Museums

There are a lot of museums in Roppongi. Some kind of event is usually taking place in each museum.The art works gathered in the area are very inspiring and the buildings of museums are carefully designed.Here are some of the best places that I recommend that you visit!

The National Art Center
(Open from 10:00 to 17:30. Closed on Tue)
Nezu Museum
(Open from 10:00 to 17:00. Closed on Mon)
Mori Art Museum
(Inside of Roppongi hills. Open from 10:00 to 22:00, until 17:00 on Tue)
Santory Museum of Art
(Open from 10:00 to 18:00, till 20:00 on Fri and Sat. Closed on Tue)
Taro Okamoto Memorial Museum
(Open from 10:00 to 18:00. Closed on Tue)


3.Night Clubs

If you like parties and music, Roppingi is one of the best places to go in Tokyo.
It has the best nightclubs and each of them is within walking distance. You can find the club that you like enjoying drinking and chatting.
Note that most clubs are very lively and loud.
If you want to spend a quiet night, you should go to Omotesandou area.

Maharaja (Open from 19:00 to 0:00, from 18:30 to 23:30 on Sun, from 19:00 to 5:00am on Fri and Sun)

MUSE (Open from 21:00 to 5:00am. Closed on Sun and Mon)

Esprit Tokyo (Open from 22:00 to 5:00am. Closed on Mon)

ODEON Tokyo (Sun: Midnight to 12:00, Mon: Closed, Tue and Wed: 20:00 to 8:00am, Thu: 20:00 to 10:00am, Fri: 20:00 to midnight, Sat: Midnight to 12:00 and 20:00 to Midnight)

V2 Tokyo (Open from 21:00 to 5:00am)


I personally think that a place like Roppongi is a really nice area to visit for tourist, especially for those who would like to enjoy the modern side of Japan, but it is not a great place for living.I mean, the rent is expensive (usually from around 200,000yen a month for a single room!), and it is kind of difficult to find real friends.People living there are mostly presidents or executives of Internet business related companies and they seem friendly but most of them are just thinking about making profits..It is the same for other big cities in the world I guess, but I prefer living with nature and good friends/people with less stress.Thanks to the advance of technology, we can get what we want wherever we are anyways, so!

Access

From Shibuya

Take Tokyo metro Ginza line bound for Asakusa and change train to Toei Oedo Line Bound for Roppongi at Aoyama-itchome.
(Time:11min  Price:280yen)

From Shinjuku

Take Toei Oedo Line Bound for Roppongi
(Time:9min Price:220yen)

From Tokyo station

Take Tokyo metro Marunouchi line bound for Shinjuku and change train to Tokyo metro Hibiya Line bound for Nakameguro at Kasumigaseki.
(Time:12min Price:170yen)

Do you prefer living in big cities or countryside?

Taka

*Need more info about Japan?
Give me a comment here or send me a message to
[email protected]

See you next time!

Filed Under: Places in Tokyo Tagged With: hidanotaka, hidanotaka.com, modern japan, roppongi, roppongi Japan, roppongi Tokyo, visit japan, what to do in tokyo, where to go in roppongi, インバウンド, ひだのたか, 六本木, 外国人, 日本旅行, 日本観光, 英語

3 places you should visit in my hometown, Kichijoji in Tokyo

2018-09-03 by Taka

This is my first post! Let me start by introducing my hometown, Kichijoji.
It is in Tokyo, and about 30 min away from Shibuya.
It is one of the most desirable places for young people in Japan because there are a beautiful park(Inokashira park), a lot of stores(especially secondhand clothes stores), and nice bars and restaurants.
It is also known for the place where artists gather.
There are a lot of concert halls and some famous manga artists/writers live in the area.
I love my hometown. Everyone there has their own style and people are energetic and creative. As a kid, I grew up playing music with my band wearing used clothes, trying to find my style. Me and my friends often spent time talking about art, films, and manga.

Although the trains are super crowded every day(Especially Inokashira line which connects Shibuya. The trains are usually packed around 8:00 and from around 18:00), Kichijoji is really worth going. Here are the areas that you don’t want to miss.

1.Inokashira Park

It is a popular spot to enjoy sakura in Spring and Autumn leaves in fall. Many people jog in the park in the morning and you often see street performers entertaining people. Inside of this large park, there’s a lake where you can rent swan pedal boats. There’s a zoo and a shrine as well(in the shrine, Benzaiten, a god of water and music is enshrined. It is open from 7:00 till 16:00). The Inokashira Park Zoo is especially popular for families. There are many kinds of birds, fishes, and other animals inside. The Zoo is open from 9:30 to 5:00, and closed on Mondays.Admission fee is 400yen for adults, 150yen for kids.

Inokashira Park(About 8 min walk away from Kichijoji Station)

2.Harmonica-Yokocho

On the north side of Kichijoji, there’s this area called Harmonica-Yokocho. Many small ,but excellent restaurants are inside.You can try different kinds of Japanese food from sushi to yakitori(skewered chicken). Most of the restaurants are open until late at night and it is a perfect place to enjoy local food and meet locals.

Harmonica-Yokocho(About 1 min walk from Kichijoji Station)

3.Secondhand stores

Kichijoji has a lot of secondhand stores.
It is really fun looking for the clothes that fit your style hopping these kinds of stores. You can find many different kinds of clothes gathered from everywhere in Tokyo. The most popular area is the street that goes to Inokashira park. Below are the places that I recommend that you take a look.

Ragtag Kichijoji
(Open from 11:00 to 20:00)

Mode Off Kichijoji
(Open from 11:00 to 21:00)

Besides those places above, there are many animal cafes like cat café, owl café, rabbit café, and more.

Cat Cafe Temari no Ouchi (Open from 10:00 to 21:00)
Owl Village in Kichijoji (Open from 12:00 to 18:00)
Rabbit Cafe, Cafe Mignon (Open from 11:30 to 19:00)

Kichijoji is close to the Famous Ghibli museum, which is located in Mitaka(just one station away). Come visit my hometown!

Access

  • From Mitaka Take Chuo train line bound for Nishi Funabashi.
    (Time:3 min Price: 140 yen)
  • From Shibuya Take Inokashira line bound for Kichijoji
    (Time:31 min Price: 200 yen)
  • From Shinjuku Take Chuo train line Rapid bound for Musashi Koganei
    (Time:15 min Price: 220 yen)

Where is your hometown btw?
Send me some messages!

Taka

※I’m a professional composer. My songs are available here: Skyhigh 
Or, you can click on the band camp link below to listen.

*Need more info about Japan?
Give me a comment here or send me a message to
[email protected]

Filed Under: Places in Tokyo Tagged With: Harmonica yokocho, hidanotaka, hidanotaka.com, hometown, Inokashira park, kichijoji, Kichijoji tokyo, Tokyo, visit japan, インバウンド, ひだのたか, 吉祥寺, 旅行, 日本旅行, 英語

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Taka/原貴浩

TakaTaka/原貴浩:Composer/Teacher
アメリカ大卒(音楽専攻) 講師歴11年、担当生徒数3,100人以上の元大手英語学校の教務主任であり作曲家。2017年六本木から高山市へ地方創生で移住。多文化共生支援団体 Family Planet Japan 代表 英検1級 TOEIC980 通訳案内士 留学アドバイザー
More about me (English): Introduction

  • Introduction
  • Blog
  • Where I live now
  • Music
  • “Family Planet Japan” Project
  • Contact/英語レッスン
  • Privacy policy

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