Vegetarian, Vegan and Halal Food in Tokyo

Save to My List My List

Practical guide

Eating in Tokyo as a vegetarian, vegan or Muslim traveler takes some planning, because fish stock, meat and alcohol are used in many Japanese dishes. But with the right guides, a few words of Japanese and a little checking, you can eat very well.

The hidden ingredient: dashi

Many Japanese dishes, including miso soup, noodle soups and simmered dishes, are made with dashi, a stock usually made from dried bonito fish. Food that looks vegetable-only may not be. Soy sauce contains wheat, and many sauces contain fish. Ask, or choose restaurants that clearly say they are vegetarian, vegan or halal.

For vegetarians and vegans

• Tokyo’s official restaurant guide: the Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau publishes the TOKYO Vegan & Vegetarian Restaurant Guide 2026-2027, in English, as a PDF and a digital brochure. It is the easiest place to start.
• Shojin ryori: traditional Buddhist temple cuisine, made without meat or fish.
• Vegetarian and vegan restaurants: there are more every year. Apps and websites that list vegetarian restaurants also help you find them near your hotel.
• Easy options: vegetable tempura (check the dipping sauce), cucumber rolls, inari sushi (rice in sweet tofu pockets), and plain rice balls with pickled plum.

For Muslim travelers

• Halal certification: according to the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), Japan has no central agency for halal accreditation, so certificates come from different private organizations. A halal-friendly restaurant may not have a separate halal kitchen.
• Alcohol and pork: JNTO notes that most Japanese restaurants serve alcohol, and that sake and mirin (sweet rice wine) are common in cooking. Pork and pork extracts also appear in many dishes.
• Guides for Muslim visitors: JNTO’s page for Muslim travelers lists resources such as the Japan Welcome Guide for Muslim Travelers and Halal Gourmet Japan, which help you find restaurants and prayer spaces.
• Groceries: halal-certified groceries are mostly frozen meat and spices, and most supermarkets do not stock them.

Prayer rooms and mosques

• Narita Airport: prayer rooms in Terminals 1, 2 and 3, both before and after security. Check the airport’s prayer room page for the floor.
• Haneda Airport: Terminal 2 has prayer rooms on 3F (before security) and 2F (international area, after security); Terminal 3 has them on 3F before security. There is no prayer room in Terminal 1.
• Tokyo Camii: a large mosque about 5 minutes on foot from Yoyogi-Uehara Station (Odakyu Line and Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line). It welcomes visitors and runs a free guided tour on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from 14:30.
• JNTO notes that more airports, tourist spots and Muslim-friendly hotels now offer places to pray.

Useful phrases

English	Say it
I am vegetarian.	Watashi wa bejitarian desu.
I don’t eat meat or fish.	Niku to sakana wa tabemasen.
I can’t eat pork.	Butaniku wa taberaremasen.
Does this contain fish stock?	Kore ni dashi wa haitte imasu ka?
Is this halal?	Kore wa hararu desu ka?

Showing a card written in Japanese is often easier than speaking. For more, see our Japanese phrases guide.

Convenience stores

Ingredient labels are in Japanese, so a translation app with a camera helps. Plain rice balls, fruit, nuts and salads are usually the simplest choices, but always check the label. See our convenience store guide.

FAQ