Results 1 to 23 of 23

Thread: Vegan Japan

  1. #1
    exec
    Guest

    Default Vegan Japan

    I am wondering if there is any vegan here staying in Japan?

  2. #2
    puffin's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    Cambridgeshire
    Posts
    1,193

    Default Re: Anyone in Japan?

    Not me but i wish i was. Hope to be able to afford to go in the near future.

  3. #3
    seitan
    Guest

    Default Re: Anyone in Japan?

    i have vegan friends in japan, tokyo mainly.

  4. #4
    mango woman
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Denver, CO, USA
    Posts
    530

    Default Re: Anyone in Japan?

    I'll be staying in Nagasaki starting on September 16th!!!! wooooooooooooooooooo

    I'll be there for about a year.

    If there's anyone out there that is into biking, I'm bringing my gorgeous Bianchi and plan to be biking around and whatnot. It'd be awesome to have a vegan friend while I'm there.

    Also, any advice, websites, info, stories, etc...anything you'd care to share is greatly appreciated and thoroughly welcomed!

  5. #5

    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Japan
    Posts
    12

    Default Re: Anyone in Japan?

    I'm a vegan in Kyoto!

  6. #6
    exec
    Guest

    Default Re: Anyone in Japan?

    I'm a vegan in Osaka by the way.

  7. #7
    mango woman
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Denver, CO, USA
    Posts
    530

    Default Re: Anyone in Japan?

    Hey vegans in Japan, any advice on being vegan there? I plan to cook most of my own food [vegetables and rice mainly, and tea.. some fruit.. and whatever other random things I happen to find] and don't expect much in packaged foods over there, but I'm not really disappointed either.

    Any advice?

  8. #8
    Rice Dream Digital Ghost's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Smashing in a cold room
    Posts
    165

    Default Re: Anyone in Japan?

    I have spent a lot of time in Japan but have to admit I'm not sure how helpful I can really be....sorry.

    I haven't ever been to any restaurants and mainly eat raw food.

    I buy vegan ice cream from Natural House sometimes - the branch I go to is more in a residential area but they have others........
    http://www.naturalhouse.co.jp/shops/
    The day breaks and everything is new.

  9. #9
    exec
    Guest

    Default Re: Anyone in Japan?

    I take nattou frequently. It is some kind of fermented soy and smells like garbage when I first encountered with it. After some tries, I got along with it, cheap source of protein.

    Do take the trouble of reading through the ingredients though, sometimes, something you won't expect to be in there would be in there.

  10. #10
    Cookie Monster RachelJune's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Location
    Leeds, UK
    Posts
    327

    Default Re: Anyone in Japan?

    I'll be visiting Tokyo, Kyoto and possibly Mount Fuji, with a (non-vegan) friend next June

    I'm wondering how much trouble I'm going to have finding food, as we'll most likely be staying in cheapy hostels, so obviously no self-catering opportunities. Aside from that, I'm also interested in staying in some temple lodgings - I'm assuming most will be vegan friendly?

    I really can't wait to go (it's a dream come true!) but I'm so aprehensive about the food issue. I've been told even things which should be vegan tend to be cooked in meat stock or lard I'll be there for around 10-14 days, so I don't want to have to starve/drive my friend crazy. I also want to find places where she would enjoy eating too, so I can avoid getting dragged into a MacDonalds or the like!!!

    Also, just wondering if I'm allowed to take my own little emergency food supply, like nuts, cereal bars, etc?

    Someone please HELP!
    "Born on the same planet, Covered by the same skies..."

  11. #11
    ♥♥♥ Tigerlily's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Location
    Atlantic Canada
    Posts
    3,920

    Default Re: Anyone in Japan?

    I want to live in Japan someday and I've done a little bit of research. First of all, there ARE other vegans living in Japan. Some are non-Japanese from other countries and some are Japanese themselves. There's a vegetarian society over there and Happycow.com has listings for vegetarian restaurants. In the Buddhist temples, vegan food is often served and I believe the public is welcome to come in for a meal (with a fee, either monetary or volunteering at the temple, I'm not 100% sure).

    Although once a upon a time, the traditional Japanese diet relied heavily on rice, vegetables, and tofu with only a little bit of fish, things have changed. They've started eating more Western-style meals with lots of more meat.

    RachelJune, I'm pretty sure you'd be allowed to bring in your own food into Japan. It would be rude to bring your own food in a restaurant, though.
    Peace, love, and happiness.

  12. #12

    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Framingham, MA
    Posts
    99

    Default Re: Anyone in Japan?

    My husband has been to Japan many times, I've only been to Tokyo and suburbs. I brought lots of Luna bars with me, LOL. But I found grocery stores with imported Trader Joe's food!! Just peel aside the translation sticker and voila! Otherwise I bought cheap simple onigiri at convenience stores, along with fruit, soba noodles, & silken tofu. When it came down to choosing between McD's versus local fare where I was not sure of ingredients, we'd choose local and I'd just do my best with my dozen Japanese words.

  13. #13
    mango woman
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Denver, CO, USA
    Posts
    530

    Default Re: Anyone in Japan?

    Hey everyone, I know I've posted a few times around here about Japan and being vegan in Japan.. and whether there are vegans IN Japan.. etc etc..

    I'm in Nagasaki now. I've been here about two months now. I'm going to be in Tokyo in March for a Beck [!!!!!] concert and I will probably stop by somewhere else near by at that time. Toward the beginning of August I'll be climbing Mt. Fuji.

    If there are any vegans out there, please get ahold of me!!! I haven't met a single vegetarian, and no one really understands what I mean when I say I am vegan. I'd really like to meet some vegans here..

    I've been cooking all my own food which is entirely okay with me, but I can't help but wonder if there are little vegan options out there somewhere..


    also, another random question regarding those of you who live in Japan. Where the heck can I find some lemongrass??? Thailand is so much closer to Japan than America.. how can I not find it here?!!!

    I hope to hear from some of you

    Drop me an email..

  14. #14
    Rice Dream Digital Ghost's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Smashing in a cold room
    Posts
    165

    Default Re: Anyone in Japan?

    Lemongrass in Japanese is レモングラス

    For Thai stuff in Tokyo I normally go to this store

    http://www.asia-superstore.com/

    The nearest station is Higashishinjuku.

    I find that some places have a better spice selection than others but have seen lemon grass sold fresh before.

    Have you tried the China town area in Nagasaki?
    The day breaks and everything is new.

  15. #15
    mango woman
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Denver, CO, USA
    Posts
    530

    Default Re: Anyone in Japan?

    Oh yay a reply!!


    I think I went to China town here in Nagasaki once when I had first gotten here, but that's all a blur now.. I was overwhelmed by all the new things to look at. I will try there again soon. Hmm..


    Thanks again for the reply. There have got to be vegans somewhere in Japan, right? I'm trying not to lose hope!

  16. #16
    Rice Dream Digital Ghost's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Smashing in a cold room
    Posts
    165

    Default Re: Anyone in Japan?

    There are vegans about in Japan - they just seem to be a bit more of a rarity than in other countries.

    In October there were 2 vegetarian festivals in Japan and I know that at the Tokyo one there were quite a lot of vegans.


    Things I have recently found and liked are -

    Vegan Japanese ice cream
    http://www.kracie.co.jp/products/ice/soy.html

    also Neri Goma ねりごま which is basically sesame paste - very much like tahini but cheaper and easier to find.
    The day breaks and everything is new.

  17. #17

    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    London, ON
    Posts
    2

    Default Re: Anyone in Japan?

    I went to Japan this last August and I do know it's hard for us vegans to go to a restaurant especially with non-vegan friends. I find that it's pretty much the same deal here in Canada.

    On the positive note, my uncle has lived in Kyoto for almost 20 years and he's been a vegan the whole time!

  18. #18
    vegan-japan
    Guest

    Default Re: Anyone in Japan?

    We are here ... !

    If you need reliable uptodate info on vegan food resources in Japan, see: Vege-Navi.jp.

    We have also started up a vegan blog farm, see: Vegan Voices in Japan.

  19. #19

    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Location
    Chiang Mai Thailand
    Posts
    28

    Default Re: Anyone in Japan?

    I went to university in Osaka but now I live in Thailand.

  20. #20
    Nikorusama
    Guest

    Default Re: Anyone in Japan?

    This thread has given me hope. It has been my boyfriend and i's life long dream to live in Japan and now that I have turned vegan I started to worry about it but thanks to this thread I feel re-assured that it is possible!

  21. #21
    Draíochta Blueberries's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Barcelona
    Posts
    2,042

    Default

    Quote Nikorusama View Post
    This thread has given me hope. It has been my boyfriend and i's life long dream to live in Japan and now that I have turned vegan I started to worry about it but thanks to this thread I feel re-assured that it is possible!
    I've been to Japan, only on a short trip not to live and I found lots of vegan options in Tokyo .
    Houmous atá ann!

  22. #22

    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Location
    Hokkaido, Japan
    Posts
    1

    Default Re: Anyone in Japan?

    Quote Nikorusama View Post
    This thread has given me hope. It has been my boyfriend and i's life long dream to live in Japan and now that I have turned vegan I started to worry about it but thanks to this thread I feel re-assured that it is possible!
    I'm glad you're not deterred. I'm a vegan living in Hokkaido Prefecture and although being vegan here is very difficult (particularly outside of the Osaka/Kyoto and Tokyo areas) it's not impossible. If you live more in the inaka (rural areas), as I sort of do, you'll have to be pretty flexible and creative with ingredients and you'll have to cook a lot, but it's worth it. The produce here is fantastic. Also learning Japanese is essential, as you'd be astonished at the things you expect to be vegan that have milk products, pork, or fish lurking in them. If anybody would like any specific advice or anything I'd be happy to help!

  23. #23
    VEGE-NAVI.JP
    Guest

    Default Re: Vegan Japan

    Quote exec View Post
    I am wondering if there is any vegan here staying in Japan?
    Hi! Plese use thie site

    http://vege-navi.jp/?tokyo_vege_map&l=2
    (I made)
    supported PC, smart phone & Future Phones .

Similar Threads

  1. Veganism in Japan
    By TorchdBallerina in forum LOCAL FORUMS AND TRAVELING
    Replies: 56
    Last Post: Feb 14th, 2013, 01:29 AM
  2. Vegan cuisine is now booming in Japan
    By Korn in forum LOCAL FORUMS AND TRAVELING
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: Jan 10th, 2008, 05:14 AM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •