Speaking of the Shikoku region, Naoshima Island (直島) is one of the most-visited destinations. Not only can you adore the stunning scenery of the Seto Inland Sea (瀬戸内海), but it is the main venue of the well-known Setouchi Triennale, also known as the Setouchi International Art Festival. Even after the festival, many artworks are permanently displayed on the islands for those who couldn’t join the event to admire! Plus, the good news is a couple of spots on the island offer vegan and/or vegetarian food, saving you the trouble of stopping by convenience stores to get onigiris (rice balls). A couple of them even have accommodation facilities!
Near Honmaru Port in the Honmura Area, a 2-minute walk from ANDO MUSEUM, Apron Café is hidden in one of the many old houses. Here, you can enjoy food cooked from seasonal ingredients harvested locally. As you walk down the alley, the café’s cute signboard will catch your attention. The large windows let in plenty of sunlight, giving Apron Café a bright and relaxing atmosphere.
Walking into Apron Café is like visiting a friend, except there are many more dining table sets! If you visit the café with young children, there is a kids-friendly zone. The wall shelf, the sofa and the low table recreate a typical living room where the younger ones can relax and play.
The owner-chef at Apron Café is a certified dietitian. Because she knows so much about the ingredient’s nutrition, the lunch menu she creates from the ingredients she purchases is not only delicious, but will nourish your body. Moreover, the Happy Scones that she baked each morning have several flavors. They are the café’s most popular menu items. The brownie is another sweet that most customers love, albeit some find it too sweet.
While there aren’t many choices on the cafe’s menu, the chickpea curry (ひよこ豆のカレー) is suitable for vegetarians and vegans. The curry is well-seasoned, but you might need more rice to finish the large bowl of curry. If you visit Apron Café with meat-eater friends, the lunch plate won’t disappoint. Each side dish on the plate is made with love, and the vegetables are fresh!
From Honmura Port, the café is less than a 5-minute walk.
If you are taking the Town Bus, please get off at Nōkyō-mae (農協前). The restaurant is just a 2-minute walk away.
Aisunao (あいすなお)
If it is lunchtime and you happen to be at Honmura Area, then drop by Aisunao for their delicious vegan set menu Aisunao Set (あいすなおセット)! The delicious set comes with a bowl of healthy genmai rice, a couple of small vegetable and tofu dishes, and a bowl of Seto Uchi’s special miso soup made from fresh local ingredients!
For those who don’t eat too much, their genmai rice ball set (Omusubi Set, おむすびセット) includes two rice balls with a different flavor, a small side dish, and the Seto Uchi’s special miso soup that you have to try to know how it differs from the normal miso soup (^_-)-☆.
About Staying at Shimayado Aisunao
Opposite the restaurant is their guest house, Shimayado Aisunao (島宿あいすなお), which has four unique rooms. Note that if you aren’t used to sleeping on a harder surface, you might find the Japanese futon bed uncomfortable. So either choose the room with Western beds or check with the guesthouse to see if they can prepare two futons for you to sleep on (they will be softer that way).
Also, choosing the rooms on the second floor is better if you are sensitive to noise. Common areas such as toilets and shower rooms are all located on the ground floor, which can sometimes be noisy.
At Aisunao, the bedding equipment is stored in the wardrobe. When you are ready to make your bed, take the sheets out and put on the futon covers and pillowcases. If you are unsure how to make a futon bed, watch the YouTube video below!
For your breakfast the next day, you can include the rice ball set we mentioned earlier in your accommodation plan. Take the chance and experience a typical Japanese morning (=ﾟωﾟ)ﾉ.
Tip: If you stay overnight at the guesthouse, you can check in your belongings at Aisunao (restaurant) between 10 am and 5 pm. Note that this service won’t be available if the restaurant is closed for the day (i.e., most Mondays).
For more information and to book, please visit their website HERE.
Aisunao’s Business Hours and Access Information
The restaurant is open daily except Mondays and Tuesdays from 11 am to 3 pm.
The last order is taken at 2:30 pm.
If Monday or Tuesday is a public holiday, it will close the next business day.
From Honmura Port, it is less than a 5-minute walk.
If you are taking the Town Bus, please get off at Nōkyō-mae (農協前). The restaurant is just a 2-minute walk away.
Shokudou 101 (食堂101号室)
Teshima Island near Naoshima also has a restaurant serving plant-based food. Shokudou 101 is housed in a Japanese-style house surrounded by greenery and has a laid-back atmosphere. The vintage furniture, accessories, and tableware all have a refined taste, creating a space where guests can further indulge in the island’s artistic vibe.
Like most traditional houses in Japan, Shokudo 101 has a gorgeous Japanese garden that you can adore before reaching the main building. As soon as you cross the front door of Shokudo 101, the dining hall spreads in front of you. Almost the entire house has been transformed into a dining space covered by tatami mats, so the interior is so spacious that you can almost do stretching! Comfortable sofa seats are also available for those who can’t sit on the floor.
The food served at Shokudou 101 is cooked using mainly fruits and vegetables from Teshima. Each side dish on the lunch plate is carefully seasoned.
Tips: ☛ The seasonal juice and soy smoothie are delicious. ☛ Making a reservation is highly recommended. Refer to Shokudou 101’s Instagram Account for more details. ☛ A dinner course is also available for those who have made a reservation.
Shokudou 101’s Business Hours and Access Information
Shokudou 101 is open from
11:30 am to 4 pm (L. O. 3:30 pm)
6 pm to 9 pm (L.O. 8:30 pm)
The restaurant is a 30-minute walk from Karato Port (唐櫃港). You can also take a shuttle bus from the port to Karato Oka Shukaisho (唐櫃岡集会所). Shokudou 101 is a 3-minute walk from the bus stop.
Cafe Kon’nichiwa (直島カフェコンニチハ)
Very close to Honmura Port, Kon’nichiwa is a cafe with an ocean view set against the backdrop of Kagawa Prefecture. Due to its delicious menu and the stunning views from the terrace and window seats, it is one of the most popular cafes among locals and tourists. While we found it funny that Western-style furniture is placed above the tatami mats, the dining space is cozy. Additionally, you will love Cafe Kon’nichiwa if you are passionate about handicrafts. Artwork made by handicraft artists living in Kagawa and Okayama Prefectures is lined up on the shelf!
For vegans, the vegan curry is always on the menu. Plant-based milk, such as oak milk, is available if you fancy a cup of coffee or a chai latte. If you are a vegetarian, there are more options on the menu. It is also possible to ask them to exclude seafood/meat from some dishes to make them vegetarian.
There might also be a few vegan/vegetarian baked goods that you can have for a relaxing afternoon tea or takeaway.
The Staff who offer prompt service is friendly.
Tip: You can ask for extra rice. The curry portion is generous, and you will most likely have some curry left after finishing the rice.
Cafe Kon’nichiwa’s Business Hours and Access Information
Cafe Kon’nichiwa is open from 10 am to 5 pm from Tuesday to Sunday.
The cafe is a 2-minute walk from Honmura Port.
Other Vegan/Vegetarian-Friendly Restaurants and Cafés on Naoshima
A souvenir and specialty coffee shop one block away from Naoshima Public Bath I Love Yu (直島銭湯「I♥︎湯」), that serves coffee with alternative milk and a few vegan sweets. The coffee here is one of the best on the island.
A small coffee shop two blocks away from ANDO MUSEUM. It offers incredibly brewed coffee and alternative milk options. Its chai tea/latte is also a must-try.
The shop is housed in a traditional house, but its interior looks like a cafe you would find in Western countries.
The shop owner is lovely, very attentive, and kind. She speaks some English and is not afraid to chat with her customers!
Baked goods, such as muffins, are also sold here. But note they contain dairy and eggs. That said, check with the staff again upon arrival as things can change over time (^_-)-☆.
The dining facilities at Benesse House Museum either have one vegan/vegetarian light meal option on the menu or can cater to different diet requirements with reservations.
Refer to HERE for the menus and more details about each restaurant/cafe.
A gelato shop in the Honmura Area near the port that offers a few vegan sorbet flavors. The specialty gelato shop makes everything from scratch in-house using ingredients, including pasteurized milk and fresh cream, carefully selected by the owner. Eating the homemade gelato here is almost like eating fresh fruits.
The gelato flavors at Naoshima Gelato are mostly seasonal because fresh fruits and even vegetables harvested locally are used. Even roasted sweet potato is on the menu!
Its vegan lemon sorbet is made using the pesticide-free lemons harvested from the islands on the Seto Inland Sea. It is the best flavor to get in summer to feel refreshed.
In addition to gelato, the shop also sells nicely brewed coffee, Naoshima Apple Cake (直島リンゴケーキ), and a few other sweets.
If you need coffee in the Honmura Area (本村エリア), head to Francoile. It is a family-owned coffee roastery that brews amazing coffee. Plant-based milk is available if you don’t drink milk.
You will be surprised by the choices for coffees and how well they explain them in English.
If you aren’t a vegan/vegetarian, the homemade cakes are nice.
Francoile also has a guesthouse. It is a great option if you don’t want to spend too much on accommodation. The rooms are spacious and clean.
The couple of run Francoile offers impeccable service!
If you love visiting art galleries and enjoying contemporary artworks, then you have to visit Setouchi International Art Festival’s main venue, Naoshima. And if you are a fan of the famous Japanese architect – Andō Tadao (安藤忠雄), a trip to Naoshima is a pilgrimage for you. 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!
Click the photo for more information about the attractions on Naoshima!
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