{"id":9633,"date":"2015-07-03T10:57:41","date_gmt":"2015-07-03T09:57:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.insidejapantours.com\/?p=9633"},"modified":"2024-08-22T11:21:42","modified_gmt":"2024-08-22T10:21:42","slug":"being-vegetarian-in-japan-a-survival-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/2015\/07\/03\/being-vegetarian-in-japan-a-survival-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Being vegetarian in Japan: A survival guide"},"content":{"rendered":"<h4>Like this post? Help us by sharing it!<\/h4><ul class=\"wpfai-list\"><li class=\"wpfai-list-item facebook\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F9633&amp;t=\" title=\"Facebook\" class=\"wpfai-facebook wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-facebook fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item twitter\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/share?text=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F9633\" title=\"Twitter\" class=\"wpfai-twitter wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-twitter fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item pinterest\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F9633&amp;description=&amp;media=\" title=\"Pinterest\" class=\"wpfai-pinterest wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-pinterest fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item linkedin\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F9633&amp;title=\" title=\"Linked In\" class=\"wpfai-linkedin wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-linkedin fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item envelope\">\r\n      <a href=\"mailto:?subject=&amp;body=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F9633%20-%20\" title=\"E-Mail\" class=\"wpfai-envelope wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-envelope fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item stumbleupon\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.stumbleupon.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F9633\" title=\"Stumble Upon\" class=\"wpfai-stumbleupon wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-stumbleupon fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item reddit\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.reddit.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F9633\" title=\"Reddit\" class=\"wpfai-reddit wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-reddit fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><\/ul><p>It may be one of the most advanced countries in the world, but being a vegetarian in Japan is far from simple.<\/p>\n<p>As we become increasingly concerned about our health and the environment, more and more of us are ditching meat and fish in favour of vegetarianism and veganism. Restaurants in the Western world are used to catering to every allergy, preference, intolerance, religious requirement and dietary whim \u2013 from no red meat to gluten-free, lactose-free, low carb, low fat, low sodium, kosher, halal, pescetarian and more.<\/p>\n<p>Not so in Japan. Whilst it is relatively easy to avoid dairy and meat, it is decidedly more difficult to be a full vegetarian or vegan due to the ubiquity of fish in the Japanese diet. In fact, it is so rare in Japan that you will find many restaurants that do not offer any vegetarian dishes at all, and will respond to a request for \u201cno fish\u201d with bemusement. (Case in point: I heard one street food seller tell a vegetarian friend of mine that \u201cwe don\u2019t have any vegetarian food\u2026 but meat is also good!\u201d).<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/2018\/04\/10\/5-top-tips-vegans-japan\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">5 top tips for vegans in Japan<\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>But this doesn\u2019t have to ruin your holiday! Being vegetarian in Japan is not impossible. Japanese cuisine is fabulous and a highlight of any trip to Japan \u2013 and there are ways to get around the limitations if you know how.<\/p>\n<p>So what do you need to know?<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><em>Dashi<\/em> \u51fa\u6c41: the silent assassin<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>If you\u2019re a strict vegetarian visiting Japan, <em>dashi<\/em> is your enemy. Whilst the term <em>dashi <\/em>simply refers to a general type of soup or cooking stock, in practice this nearly always means fish stock \u2013 and it forms the base of many Japanese meals that otherwise appear to be vegetarian.<\/p>\n<p><em>Dashi<\/em> is commonly made by boiling <em>konbu<\/em> (edible kelp) and <em>kezurikatsuo<\/em> (dried tuna shavings), then straining the resulting liquid. Many vegetarians decide that, to avoid hassle during their time in Japan, they will make an exception to their regimen and allow <em>dashi<\/em> in their diet. Strict vegetarians, however, will need to make restaurants aware that they cannot eat <em>dashi<\/em>.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_9640\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-9640\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/4096b59fd1e36081dcfe19d4559b850d69a5f9d1_607x400.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-9640 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/4096b59fd1e36081dcfe19d4559b850d69a5f9d1_607x400-300x198.jpg\" alt=\"Watch out for dried bonito flakes - they're everywhere! (photo: foodista.com)\" width=\"300\" height=\"198\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/4096b59fd1e36081dcfe19d4559b850d69a5f9d1_607x400-300x198.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/4096b59fd1e36081dcfe19d4559b850d69a5f9d1_607x400-390x257.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/4096b59fd1e36081dcfe19d4559b850d69a5f9d1_607x400-510x336.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/4096b59fd1e36081dcfe19d4559b850d69a5f9d1_607x400.jpg 607w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-9640\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Watch out for dried bonito flakes &#8211; they&#8217;re everywhere! (photo: foodista.com)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><em>Extra tip: The same goes for dried bonito flakes (<span class=\"st\">\u9c39\u7bc0)<\/span>, which are used as a topping for a variety of meals.<\/em><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Be specific<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Although the Japanese use the word \u201cvegetarian\u201d (or, more accurately, \u201cbejitarian\u201d), you will find that its meaning is rather looser than you might expect. It is not at all unusual for restaurants to offer vegetarian customers shellfish or meals including fish-based products like <em>dashi<\/em> or bonito flakes as a substitute. This means that you need to be very specific when ordering food to avoid misunderstanding!<\/p>\n<p>Our list of helpful phrases below will help you make your dietary requirements known.<\/p>\n<p><em>Extra tip: Try to communicate your dietary requirements to the restaurant staff before sitting down. Some restaurants may not be able to cater to your needs (special requests are not the done thing in Japan, so it&#8217;s not as simple as asking to have one ingredient left out), so it\u2019ll save you getting all settled in before having to move.<\/em><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_9635\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-9635\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/DSC00845.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-9635\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/DSC00845.jpg\" alt=\"An IJT tour group enjoying kaiseki cuisine at a tradional inn\" width=\"800\" height=\"532\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/DSC00845.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/DSC00845-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/DSC00845-720x479.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/DSC00845-390x259.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/DSC00845-780x519.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/DSC00845-510x339.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-9635\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">An IJT tour group enjoying <i>kaiseki<\/i> cuisine at a tradional inn<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Stay at <em>ryokan<\/em> inns<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>One of the best places to try Japanese haute cuisine (called <em>kaiseki<\/em>) is at a traditional Japanese inn, or <em>ryokan<\/em>. For more information on <em>ryokan<\/em> and why everybody should stay in one, see my recent blog post <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/2015\/02\/02\/why-you-havent-been-to-japan-until-youve-stayed-in-a-ryokan\/\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Food is one of the main attractions of a Japanese-style inn, where guests are served a set menu of several courses, each consisting of many different small dishes intricately prepared and beautifully presented. It is nothing short of art.<\/p>\n<p>Due to the care and planning that goes into each meal, it is usually not possible to make requests and alterations at the table. However, contact the inn ahead of your stay with your dietary requirements, and they will provide you with delicious, hassle-free vegetarian meals throughout your stay.<\/p>\n<p><em>Extra tip: If you are an InsideJapan Tours customer, we will advise all your accommodation of your dietary needs in advance.<\/em><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/2018\/01\/02\/ryokan\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Insider&#8217;s guide to staying at a\u00a0<em>ryokan<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<figure id=\"attachment_9641\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-9641\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-9641\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/RK-Breakfast-73.jpg\" alt=\"Breakfast at the Ryokan Kurashiki, one of our favourite traditional inns.\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/RK-Breakfast-73.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/RK-Breakfast-73-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/RK-Breakfast-73-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/RK-Breakfast-73-390x293.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/RK-Breakfast-73-780x585.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/RK-Breakfast-73-510x383.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-9641\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Breakfast at the Ryokan Kurashiki, one of our favourite traditional inns.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Vegetarian foods to try in Japan<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><strong><em>Shojin ryori<\/em> <\/strong>\u2013 Traditional Buddhist food, called <em>shojin ryori<\/em>, is delicious, elaborate, varied, and strictly vegetarian. It is served as a matter of course at <em>shukubo<\/em> (temple lodgings), so book a stay if you get a chance. It\u2019s a fantastic experience whether you\u2019re vegetarian or not!<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_9637\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-9637\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/Ichijoin-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-9637\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/Ichijoin-1.jpg\" alt=\"Shojin ryori served at a temple lodging in Mount Koya.\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/Ichijoin-1.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/Ichijoin-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/Ichijoin-1-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/Ichijoin-1-390x293.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/Ichijoin-1-780x585.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/Ichijoin-1-510x383.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-9637\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><i>Shojin ryori<\/i> served at a temple lodging in Mount Koya.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Conveyor-belt sushi<\/strong> \u2013 Not all sushi is fish: there are lots of dishes made using vegetables only. Visiting a conveyor-belt sushi establishment means that you can inspect each dish before you eat, ensuring that there are no nasty surprises waiting in store.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/newsletter\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-32186 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/Newsletter_SignUp_Banner-6.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"1280\" height=\"256\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Okonomiyaki<\/em><\/strong> &#8211; Always a favourite with foreign visitors to Japan, <em>okonomiyaki<\/em> is a type of cabbage-based (or noodle-based) pancake cooked on a hotplate and slathered in delicious sauce. As <em>okonomiyaki<\/em> is always made-to-order, it&#8217;s always possible to request no meat or fish. Be careful to specify no bonito flakes (<span class=\"st\">\u9c39\u7bc0<\/span>), as these are usually used as a topping on <em>okonomiyaki<\/em>.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_9634\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-9634\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/1010803.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-9634\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/1010803.jpg\" alt=\"Okonomiyaki in action\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/1010803.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/1010803-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/1010803-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/1010803-390x293.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/1010803-780x585.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/1010803-510x383.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-9634\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Okonomiyaki in action<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Tofu<\/strong> \u2013 Even if you think you\u2019re not a fan of tofu at home, leave your prejudices behind and give it a go in Japan. There are so many different types and dishes that you\u2019re sure to find something you like. We recommend the restaurants around Nanzen-ji and Tenryu-ji temples in Kyoto for some really high-quality options.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Zaru soba<\/strong><\/em> \u2013 A firm favourite amongst veggies and carnivores alike,<em> zaru soba<\/em> is a summer dish consisting of chilled buckwheat noodles dipped in <em>tsuyu<\/em> sauce. It\u2019s a great vegetarian option \u2013 but make sure that the sauce is not made using <em>dashi<\/em>, which is sometimes the case.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_9638\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-9638\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/Kawakamian-Restaurant.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-9638\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/Kawakamian-Restaurant.jpg\" alt=\"Zaru soba in Karuizawa\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/Kawakamian-Restaurant.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/Kawakamian-Restaurant-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/Kawakamian-Restaurant-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/Kawakamian-Restaurant-390x293.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/Kawakamian-Restaurant-780x585.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/Kawakamian-Restaurant-510x383.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-9638\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><i>Zaru soba<\/i> in Karuizawa (ignore the prawn.)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Tempura<\/strong> \u2013 Most foreigners are familiar with tempura: lightly battered fried vegetables and shrimp. Since tempura is usually cooked to order, it is often easy to request that no meat or fish be included.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Japanese curry (AKA <em>kare raisu<\/em>)<\/strong> \u2013 Japanese curry is quite different to Indian or Thai versions, and resembles a mildly spicy stew. Most curry houses have at least one vegetarian option.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Ramen<\/strong><\/em> \u2013 <em>Ramen<\/em> is a much-loved Japanese dish of noodles served in broth, and comes in all shapes, sizes, flavours and combinations. Vegetarian <em>ramen<\/em> is widely available, but be careful to ensure that the broth has not been made using <em>dashi<\/em> and is not served topped with bonito flakes.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_9636\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-9636\" style=\"width: 200px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/DSC01352_ScreenSharpen.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-9636 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/DSC01352_ScreenSharpen-200x300.jpg\" alt=\"Slurping ramen the Japanese way.\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/DSC01352_ScreenSharpen-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/DSC01352_ScreenSharpen-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/DSC01352_ScreenSharpen-720x1080.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/DSC01352_ScreenSharpen-390x585.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/DSC01352_ScreenSharpen-780x1170.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/DSC01352_ScreenSharpen-510x765.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/DSC01352_ScreenSharpen.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-9636\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Slurping <i>ramen<\/i> the Japanese way.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong><em>Kushiage<\/em> <\/strong>\u2013 <em>Kushiage<\/em> are fried things on sticks that are often found in <em>izakaya<\/em> restaurants (Japanese pubs serving tapas-style food). Ask for just vegetables and you\u2019ll have a feast of shiitake mushrooms, green peppers and aubergine!<\/p>\n<p><em>Extra tip: Finally, if in doubt, you can always head to one of Japan\u2019s vast numbers of Indian or Italian restaurants, most of which will have a good range of vegetarian options.<\/em><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Survival Japanese for vegetarians<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Print the following text on a card and carry it with you to show to restaurants in Japan. This should help you avoid unnecessary confusion and have a stress-free experience dining in Japan!<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>\u95a2\u4fc2\u8005\u5404\u4f4d<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">\u79c1\u306f\u30d9\u30b8\u30c6\u30ea\u30a2\u30f3\u3067\u3059\u304b\u3089\u8089\u3068\u9b5a\u3068\u9b5a\u88fd\u54c1\u304c\u98df\u3079\u3089\u308c\u307e\u305b\u3093\u3002\u6599\u7406\u304b\u3089\u9664\u3044\u3066\u9802\u304d\u307e\u3059\u69d8\u304a\u9858\u3044\u81f4\u3057\u307e\u3059<\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Translation: <em>To whom it may concern: I am a strict vegetarian. Therefore I do not eat any meat, fish or fish products. Please make sure that my food does not include any of these items.<\/em><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Some more useful phrases:<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><em>Watashi wa bejitarian desu. <\/em>(I am a vegetarian.)<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>\u308f\u305f\u3057\u306f\u30d9\u30b8\u30c6\u30ea\u30a2\u30f3\u3067\u3059\u3002<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><em>Niku ga haitte imasu ka? <\/em>(Does this contain meat?)<\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">\u3053\u306e\u6599\u7406\u306f\u8089\u304c\u5165\u3063\u3066\u3044\u307e\u3059\u304b\uff1f<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em>Tamago to cheezu ga taberaremasu. <\/em>(I can eat eggs &amp; cheese.)<\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">\u5375\u3068\u30c1\u30fc\u30ba\u304c\u98df\u3079\u3089\u308c\u307e\u3059\u3002<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em>Niku to sakana wa taberaremasen. <\/em>(I can\u2019t eat meat or fish.)<\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">\u8089\u3068\u9b5a\u306f\u98df\u3079\u3089\u308c\u307e\u305b\u3093\u3002<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em>Dashi to katsuobushi wa taberaremasen. <\/em>(I can&#8217;t eat <em>dashi <\/em>or bonito fish flakes.)<\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">\u51fa\u6c41\u3068\u9c39\u7bc0\u306f\u98df\u3079\u3089\u308c\u307e\u305b\u3093\u3002<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>And lastly&#8230;<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>At InsideJapan Tours we like to go the extra mile for our customers, so all our vegetarian and vegan customers are provided with an up-to-date booklet of restaurant recommendations &#8211; including opening times and contact details &#8211; to help them during your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/\">trip in Japan<\/a>. We can also make restaurant bookings and will advise hotels and <em>ryokan <\/em>of your dietary requirements in advance.<\/p>\n<h4>Like this post? Help us by sharing it!<\/h4><ul class=\"wpfai-list\"><li class=\"wpfai-list-item facebook\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F9633&amp;t=\" title=\"Facebook\" class=\"wpfai-facebook wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-facebook fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item twitter\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/share?text=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F9633\" title=\"Twitter\" class=\"wpfai-twitter wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-twitter fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item pinterest\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F9633&amp;description=&amp;media=\" title=\"Pinterest\" class=\"wpfai-pinterest wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-pinterest fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item linkedin\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F9633&amp;title=\" title=\"Linked In\" class=\"wpfai-linkedin wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-linkedin fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item envelope\">\r\n      <a href=\"mailto:?subject=&amp;body=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F9633%20-%20\" title=\"E-Mail\" class=\"wpfai-envelope wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-envelope fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item stumbleupon\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.stumbleupon.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F9633\" title=\"Stumble Upon\" class=\"wpfai-stumbleupon wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-stumbleupon fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item reddit\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.reddit.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F9633\" title=\"Reddit\" class=\"wpfai-reddit wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-reddit fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><\/ul>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Like this post? Help us by sharing it! It may be one of the most advanced countries in the world, but being a vegetarian in Japan is far from simple. As we become increasingly concerned about our health and the environment, more and more of us are ditching meat and fish in favour of vegetarianism [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":54,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_sitemap_exclude":false,"_sitemap_priority":"","_sitemap_frequency":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2366],"tags":[2243,2373,2515,2541,2542],"class_list":["post-9633","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-japanese-food-and-drink","tag-travel-advice-2","tag-eating-out","tag-japanese-restaurants","tag-vegetarian","tag-vegan"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9633","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/54"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9633"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9633\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":34059,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9633\/revisions\/34059"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9633"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9633"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9633"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}