Five Vegan Restaurants to Check Out in Tokyo! 

Vegan restaurants are taking off in Japan now that more people are embracing a plant-based lifestyle. However, while some traditional Japanese foods are meatless, these vegetarian dishes still contain animal-based products.

And since veganism is still relatively new in Japan, it can be tricky for tourists to find completely animal-product-free places to eat at. But don’t worry; we’re here to help you make that search easier. Here are five vegan restaurants in Tokyo that you should check out!

Great Lakes (Takadanobaba) 

This restaurant opened in December 2019 and became completely vegan in 2020. Great Lakes Tokyo is based on burger shops around Lake Michigan. All burgers use plant-based patties: the Superior Burger (1000 JPY single, $7 USD), its most popular and recommended; the Ontario (same price as the Superior); and Michigan (650 JPY single with cheese, 550 JPY without; $5 USD single with cheese, $4 USD without).

And you can’t skip the sides (French fries and tater tots) or desserts (milkshakes and ice cream). Great Lakes Tokyo also sells vegan craft beers to pair with the burgers. If you’re looking for a casual place to hang out, visit this vegan fast-food joint!

Address: 3-27-4 Nishi-Waseda, Shinjuku, Tokyo

Open Hours: Open Tuesdays to Sundays from 11:30 am to 7:30 pm, closed on Mondays

Ain Soph Journey (Shinjuku-Sanchome) 

Founded in 2009, Ain Soph Journey has branches in Tokyo and Kyoto. Founder Yuki Shirai wanted plant-based food to connect people to nature and themselves. Each course comes with salad and tomato soup or another side dish. For example, the Sanctuary Course (3500 JPY, $23) has soup, karaage, handmade tortillas, or the day’s dessert. And the Heavenly Pancake Course (same price) contains pancakes with fruit and soy-based ice cream.

Ain Soph Journey offers various menus for different times of day. Various drink options include herbal teas, iced coffees, cocktails, and decadent desserts such as millefeuille and tiramisu. While pricier, it’s the perfect place for a holiday meal with your friends or family.

Address: 3 Chome−8−9 Shinjuku, Shinjuku City, Tokyo

Open Hours: Mondays to Fridays, 11:30 am to 3 pm (lunch) and 6 to 9 pm (dinner); Saturdays and Sundays, 11:30 am to 4 pm (lunch) and 6 to 9 pm (dinner)

Are you looking for some fantastic snacks? Check out TokyoTreat! TokyoTreat delivers limited-edition Japanese noodles, snacks, drinks, and sweets right to your door so you can enjoy the latest treats directly from Japan!

T’s Tantan (Marunouchi) 

Also opened in 2009, T’s Tantan was inspired by Shimokawa Sato’s love for plant-based meals and a desire to eat healthier. 14 years later, this vegan restaurant has expanded to five locations: Marunouchi, Ueno, Ikebukuro, and two in Narita Airport (one currently closed).  

T’s Tantan’s most popular item is its vegan tantanmen: soupless, Japanese yuzu, white sesame, black sesame, and golden sesame, served with regular ramen or konnyaku noodles. Instead of animal-based broth, the ramen has sesame- or peanut-based broth mixed with soy milk. 

They also offer cup noodles, bento boxes, and packaged gyoza for commuting diners. Allergen information is provided. Book a table at T’s Tantan Restaurant if you want something fancier. (They also sell cakes for those with a sweet tooth.)

Address: 1-9-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

Open Hours: Open every day from 10 am to 9:30 pm

Mushroom Tokyo (Harajuku) 

Mushroom lovers, you need to stop here. This restaurant opened in 2014 and hopes to inspire “discovery, surprise, and excitement” with its dishes. One rare lunch course uses the enormous GIGA mushroom (5800 JPY, $39). Customers who come too late can order the Mushroom TKG instead (1500 JPY, $10). The restaurant also offers vegan options for courses like the mushroom plate lunch (1600 JPY, $11).

Served until April 18, Mushroom Tokyo’s dinner course includes jumbo mushroom choucroute and mushroom romanoff with strawberries. For home cooks, Mushroom Tokyo also sells Mushroom Curry pouches and has tutorials available online.

Address: 6 Chome−2−4 Jingu-mae, Shibuya City/Harajuku City, Tokyo

Open Hours: Wednesdays and Thursdays from 6 to 10 pm (dinner only); Fridays to Sundays from 11:30 am to 3:00 pm (lunch) and 6 to 10 pm (dinner); closed Mondays and Tuesdays 

Komeda Is (Tsukiji) 

We end our list at Komeda Is, the “best place to relax.” Opened in 2020, this café offers people a chance to eat vegan food and unwind in an environmentally friendly space.  

Komeda Is has many drinks, including its signature Komeda Blend, plant-based alcohol, and smoothies. It also has menu items for each meal, including rice pancakes, four types of soy-based Beppin Burger, and the plant-based Shiro Noir dessert. 

The restaurant also promotes sustainability initiatives like Mie Prefecture’s Komeda Forest, training staff in conservation activities. It upcycles garbage into furniture, decor, utensils, and merch. Finally, Komeda Is collaborates with schools to teach students how to be environmentally conscious. It’s more than a commitment; it’s a way of life.

Address: 1 Chome-13-1 Tsukiji, Chuo City, Tokyo

Open Hours: Every day from 7 am to 10 pm

Why should I visit these vegan restaurants? 

If you’ve recently switched to a plant-based diet but still crave a burger or ramen, visit one of these restaurants. With sustainable ingredients, you can eat fast food and stay true to the new vegan you.

Mushrooms in coffee? Yes, please! If you’re more adventurous, these eateries are the way to go. And if you want to play it safe, you can still enjoy simple, plant-based dishes. Going vegan has never been this exciting!

Finally, each vegan restaurant tries to reduce its carbon footprint. By repurposing waste or offering vegan alternatives to meals containing meat, they create environmentally friendly spaces, inspiring diners to do the same in their daily lives. Have you visited any of these vegan restaurants? Is there a vegan restaurant or café we should have included? Tell us in the comments below.