We received the information below from the head of PR for Tourist Japan. https://touristjapan.com
With veganism and plant-based diets gaining popularity globally, travelers and locals in Japan are finding more suitable vegan options than ever before. Vegan Travel is becoming more recognized and is made accessible by the global vegan community.
Vegan travelers in the past have been wary to visit Japan but recently have been traveling more than ever, as vegan awareness and understanding of vegan diets have gained more attention in the region. While traditional Japanese cuisine inherently offers vegan-friendly dishes with a focus on fresh produce, soy-based dishes like edamame beans and tofu as well as many noodle and rice dishes, there is often fish (like dashi, fish stock) or egg products found within the dishes making it difficult for vegans. However, with more attention and understanding of vegan and plant-based diets many restaurants, cafes and shops in Japan are taking note of the importance of plant-based diets and welcoming vegan travelers eager to explore Japan.
Travel experts at Tourist Japan have seen a rise in vegan travel in Japan in recent years. According to Kylie Goldstein, travel writer for Tourist Japan and a long-time vegan herself, “It can be tricky to travel in a foreign country, in a different language where it can be difficult to read labels and signs indicating vegan-friendly options”. She continues to explain that, “Vegan travelers are seeking tours from all vegan cruises to lengthy group package tours focused on eco-friendly and compassionate travel. Vegan travel often requires extensive pre-trip planning and preparation to ensure that vegan-friendly options which abstain from all animal products including dairy and eggs are available”. It is with this notion in mind, that more vegan travelers are recognizing the expansion of vegan awareness in Japan.
With increased awareness and demand, more vegan-friendly establishments are appearing all over Tokyo. Wendy Werneth, the founder of The Nomadic Vegan, a site committed to empowering vegans, providing extensive vegan information and uncovering hidden vegan gems in unexpected places says, ”In the past few years, veganism has definitely become more popular in Japan. Plenty of new fully vegan or vegetarian restaurants have opened up, and mainstream restaurants are also adding vegan options to their menus”.
Places like T’s Tantan http://ts-restaurant.jp/ is one of the most popular among the vegan community, a well-known hub of vegan activity found inside the Tokyo Station serving up vegan ramen, soy meat, karaage and dumplings, and even take-home instant soup packets to enjoy vegan ramen at home or while traveling. The well-known international vegan chain Loving Hut http://lovinghut.jp/, has a Tokyo location offering a vegan lunch buffet and dinner with cuisine that is a fusion between Japanese and Taiwanese cuisine. Nagi Shokudo https://www.happycow.net/reviews/nagi-shokudo-tokyo-13435 invites vegan and non-vegan diners, serving traditional Japanese cuisine with a vegan twist in a comfortable and cozy atmosphere. There is also Hiroba http://www.crayonhouse.co.jp/shop/pages/restaurant_en.aspx, found underneath the CrayonHouse bookstore, Hiroba is an organic vegan restaurant and vegan grocery store.
Vegan hacks such as traveling with individual packets of soy sauce make it easy for vegan diners to eat street food and kindly ask the vendors to leave the sauce off the dish. Traveling with your own vegan condiments while in Japan opens the possibilities to vegan street dining. Another shared tip among vegan travelers is printing out helpful phrases in Japanese and English to clearly communicate to restaurants that they do not eat animal products. Vegan travelers can use printable cards from Just Hungry http://www.justhungry.com/japan-dining-out-cards to easily and clearly indicate dietary restrictions. Another perk for vegan travelers is that Japanese cuisine offers many soy-based dishes including soy milk, soy ice cream and soy donuts making it easy to find non-dairy alternatives.
Werneth also shares an insider tip about traditional Japanese food that happens to be vegan-friendly. “Onigiri filled with umeboshi plums or other pickled fruit and vegetables are a handy vegan snack, and they are found all over Japan in convenience stores and markets. Inarizushi (sushi rice packed inside a pocket of tofu) is another common snack found in convenience stores”.
Vegan travel involves compassion, awareness, activism, and creativity. As vegans know, it can sometimes be an uphill battle, but as more and more parts of the world understand and recognize the value of plant-based eating, the potential for expansion is endless. There is still room for improvement in Japan, but Tokyo is quickly becoming a very friendly vegan-friendly city thanks to the support of the global vegan community.