If you are passionate about contemporary arts, Tamano City in Okayama is probably on your itinerary. Why? Because Uno Port, where you can take a ferry to Japan’s infamous art island, Naoshima (直島), is in Tamano. While the city doesn’t have many tourist attractions, the Setouchi International Art Festival has positively impacted the rural city. The number of vegan and/or vegetarian-friendly cafes and restaurants is one of them!
The Vegan/Vegetarian-Friendly Spots in Tamano City
- Kokoka Book Cafe & Bar &Taiyaki (ココカ古書店 Book cafe & Bar &Taiyaki)
- The taiyaki is gluten-free.
- Osaka-ya (大阪屋食堂)
- Other Vegan/Vegetarian-Friendly Spots in Tamano City
Kokoka Book Cafe & Bar &Taiyaki (ココカ古書店 Book cafe & Bar &Taiyaki)
A stylish cafe can be hard to find once you go outside of Japan’s big cities. But that isn’t the cafe in Tamano. Kokoka has a fashionable interior that would make you think you have traveled to one of the cafes in Tokyo. As its name suggests, Kokoka is a cafe selling second-hand books. While nothing on the shelf is new, the books are in great condition. Thus, the atmosphere created by these previously-loved books is warm and inviting.
Kokoka Book Cafe & Bar is opened by the Miyamotos (宮本夫妻) who met each other in Canada. The couple spent five years traveling around the world and eventually settled in Tamano after being enchanted by the beauty of the Seto Inland Sea. Because the couple have traveled around the world, they aim to create a place where locals and travelers can meet. Thus, they started Guesthouse Machicado and Kokoka Book Cafe & Bar. The Miyamotos believe that reading books allows you to come into contact with new values and different ways of thinking, just like traveling.
Although many books on the shelf are in Japanese, there should also be a couple in English. The genre of the books is wide, you will surely find something interesting, especially if you read Japanese. Once you do, you can enjoy reading with a cup of coffee or chai!
The vegan and gluten-free taiyaki is another selling point of Kokoka Book Cafe & Bar. Black sesame seeds are kneaded into one side of the rice flour dough, giving it a rich flavor. The chewy dough goes perfectly with the smooth, lightly sweet bean paste. In summer, let the Ice Monaka (アイスモナカ) cool you down. The sea bream-shaped wafer filled with homemade bean paste and ice cream is the perfect snack on a hot day. Vegan salted vanilla ice cream is also available!
Furthermore, Kokoka Book Cafe & Bar offers amazing vegan ramen. It opens until 11 pm, so if you get back to Uno Port after regular dinner hours, you won’t have to worry about not being able to find plant-based food.
Kokoka Book Cafe & Bar &Taiyaki’s Business Hours and Access Information
- Kokoka Book Cafe & Bar is open from
- 4 pm to 11 pm on Monday, Thursdays, and Fridays
- 2 pm to 11 pm on weekends
- The cafe is a 4-minute walk from JR Uno Station (宇野駅) and a 6-minute walk to Uno Port.
Osaka-ya (大阪屋食堂)
Because the accommodations on Naoshima aren’t cheap, basing near Uno Port is a more economical option. After a long day on the artistic island, stop by Osaka-ya for dinner. The pricing here is very reasonable for what you get, making it one of the top-ranked teishoku restaurants in Okayama.
As the founder was from Osaka, the restaurant was named Osaka-ya. The long-established restaurant has continued to be loved by the locals since 1948. In addition to the teishoku, noodle dishes and rice bowls were added to the menu based on customer requests. Because Tamano City is the gateway to the Setouchi Triennale and Naoshima, many international tourists visit Osaka-ya to fill their stomachs. So, an English menu is available to make ordering easier. When the owner’s second daughter is around, you can chat with her in English.
The Stir-fried Vegetables Set Meal (野菜炒め定食) at this small set meal (teishoku, 定食) restaurant near Uno Port and Uno Station can be made vegan. Apart from a big plate of stir-fried vegetables, the set menu has three other side dishes, including chilled tofu, pickles, and miso soup (not vegan).
While in Japanese only, HERE is Osaka-ya’s menu.
Besides the food, the creative illustrations of customers’ faces and food on one side of the wall are another charm of Osaka-ya. They were drawn by the owner’s oldest daughter and also serve as the restaurant’s menu. Unfortunately, they are not for sale, but you are most welcome to take a photo of these unique drawings!
Osaka-ya’s Business Hours and Access Information
- Osaka-ya is open from Monday to Saturday, excluding public holidays.
- Lunch: 11:30 am to 2 pm
- Dinner: 4:30 pm to 8 pm
- The restaurant is a 5-minute walk from JR Uno Station (宇野駅) and a Uno Port.
Tip: It is best to avoid normal lunch/dinner time to avoid queuing.
Other Vegan/Vegetarian-Friendly Spots in Tamano City
- VOGA
- A small Italian restaurant very close to JR Uno Station that offers a few vegetarian pizzas and appetizers.
- While it is more expensive to dine at VOGA than at its peers, the quality of the food is excellent, and it is made with love and dedication. If you sit at the counter seats, your food is made in front of you.
- The pizza dough tastes great after baking, crispy on the outside but still chewy and tasty, and has the nice scent of wheat.
- The service is good and the atmosphere is cozy.
- Note that a seating fee is charged.
- Uno Port INN (ウノポートイン)
- A small lodge is meters away from Uno Port. It has a cafe called UPINN Cafe, which has a couple of vegan/vegetarian options on the menu. Note that the vegan options are limited to muffins and salads.
- Refer to HERE for UPINN Cafe’s menu.
- Uno Port INN was renovated from a Japanese inn built in the 1980s and opened in 2016. In addition to the traditional-style rooms, Western-style rooms are also available for those who don’t want to sleep on futon beds.
- The friendly staff speaks good English, so that communication won’t be a problem.
- A small lodge is meters away from Uno Port. It has a cafe called UPINN Cafe, which has a couple of vegan/vegetarian options on the menu. Note that the vegan options are limited to muffins and salads.
What to Do in Tamano City
Tamano City in Okayama Prefecture is a great place to visit for outdoor activity enthusiasts as well as any art connoisseurs. From the gigantic “smiley rock” at the top of the mountain to the large fish sculpture made of items washed ashore, the artistic spirits of the Tamano citizens can be observed throughout the city! Moreover, the city’s mountains act as an idyllic lookouts toward the renowned sunsets over the Seto Inland Sea (=ﾟωﾟ)ﾉ.
For more information, refer to our article on Tamano!
Explore the Main Venue of the Setouchi International Art Festival: Naoshima
If you love visiting art galleries and enjoying contemporary artworks, then you have to visit Setouchi International Art Festival’s main venue, Naoshima.
The island just a ferry ride away from Inujima has many more interesting artworks awaiting your visit.
And if you are a fan of the famous Japanese architect – Andō Tadao (安藤忠雄), then it will be a pilgrimage trip for you once you set foot on Naoshima. Not only is there an ANDO MUSEUM, but many museums were also designed by this architecture master!
To find out more about this island with fantastic artworks, please refer to our article on Naoshima!
