Shivani | Budget Travel & Veg Finds

🇯🇵 If you're vegetarian and Japan is on your list, save this!

I spent 15 days travelling through Japan and, as a vegetarian, I quickly realised that eating vegetarian isn't always as straightforward as it looks.

Here are 5 things I wish I knew before my trip:

1️⃣ "Vegetarian" isn't specific enough.

In Japan, I'd recommend clearly saying what you don't eat — meat, chicken, seafood, fish-based ingredients, dashi, etc. A dish can look completely vegetarian and still contain fish-based stock.

2️⃣ Always ask about the base.

This was probably the biggest one for me. 🍜
Tofu, noodles, vegetables, miso soup... all can look vegetarian, but the broth or seasoning may contain dashi or other animal-derived ingredients.

3️⃣ Don't rely only on finding food when you're hungry.

I found it much easier when I planned ahead. I would check what vegetarian options were available around the areas I was visiting that day, rather than looking for restaurants only when it was time to eat.

4️⃣ Always have a backup.

I'd save 2–3 vegetarian/vegan-friendly places in the same area. Because sometimes a restaurant is full, closed, requires a reservation, or simply doesn't have anything suitable that day.

5️⃣ And please... don't leave your food research until you're in Japan. 😂

Popular places can get busy, and some restaurants need reservations. A little planning beforehand saved me SO much time during the trip.

And because I spent 15 days doing exactly that research, I decided to make it useful for other vegetarian travellers too. ❤️

I've put together 55+ vegetarian & vegan-friendly restaurants across Tokyo, Takayama, Kyoto & Osaka, along with my personal Google Map with everything pinned 📍

👇 Want the map?

Comment "MAP" below and I'll send you the link. 🗺️🌱

And save this reel before your Japan trip—you'll thank me later. 😉

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