Vegan Food Guide for Japan Local & Street Food

Find plant-based local specialties, learn key phrases, and get tips for vegan dining.

Local Foods

Cities

Filtered results are based on automated analysis of common food data. This is for general guidance only. Ingredient variations, preparation methods, cross-contamination risks, and data accuracy can differ significantly. Always verify all information directly with vendors before consumption, especially for allergies or strict dietary needs. See full disclaimers for filtered results.

While many Thai dishes can be made vegan, fish sauce and shrimp paste are very common. Be specific about excluding all animal products.

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Essential Phrases

I am vegan

私はビーガンです

Watashi wa bīgan desu

Indicates vegan diet preference

No animal products, including fish, eggs, or dairy

魚、卵、乳製品を含む動物性食品は食べません

Sakana, tamago, nyūseihin o fukumu dōbutsu-sei shokuhin wa tabemasen

Specifies no animal products whatsoever

Watch Out For

Dashi (fish-based stock)
Honey (in sweets)
Gelatin (in desserts)
Mirin (may contain fish products)

Safe Options

Shōjin ryōri (Buddhist temple cuisine - specify vegan)
Kappa maki (cucumber rolls - specify no dashi)
Inari sushi (without dashi)
Umeboshi onigiri (pickled plum rice balls - check ingredients)

Important Notice

Pure vegan food is challenging to find in traditional Japanese restaurants as dashi (fish stock) is fundamental to most dishes. Seek out specialized vegan restaurants in major cities or Buddhist temple cuisine (shōjin ryōri) for authentic vegan Japanese food.

Show This to Your Server

私はビーガンです。肉、魚、魚介類、卵、乳製品、はちみつ、だし、かつお節、煮干し、するめなど、一切の動物性食品を食べることができません。野菜、豆腐、海藻、穀物のみの料理をお願いします。

I am vegan. I cannot eat any animal products including meat, fish, seafood, eggs, dairy, honey, dashi, bonito flakes, dried sardines, or dried squid. I request dishes containing only vegetables, tofu, seaweed, and grains. Thank you for your understanding.