The Best Guide to Kyoto’s Vegan-Friendly Restaurants

Kyoto, a prefecture filled with world heritage sites and historical and cultural streets and buildings, is one of the top tourist destinations in the world. Besides the elegant traditional buildings and amazing scenery, many are unaware that a vegan-friendly restaurant is actually not that hard to come by, especially around Kyoto Station. What is more incredible is that the vegan/vegetarian food served in the below restaurants and cafes is just as good and tasty as the meat/seafood dishes, if not better!

The Vegan/Vegetarian-Friendly Restaurants in Kyoto Prefecture

Tip: We have also included a list of Vegetarian/Vegan-Friendly Hotels in Kyoto at the end of the article!

The Vegan Restaurants Around Kyoto Station

The Vegan-Friendly Spots in Shijō

The Vegan-Friendly Restaurants Around Kawaramachi in Kyoto

Where to Find the Vegan-Friendly Restaurants Around Gion

The Vegan-Friendly Restaurants Around Nijō Castle

Kousagisha (光兎舎)

Although not as famous as Kinkaku-ji, the Higashiyama Jisho-ji, commonly known as the Silver Pavilion, is a popular tourist attraction in Kyoto. If the temple or Philosopher’s Path is on your itinerary, you can have lunch at Kousagisha. You can enjoy a vegan lunch with plenty of pesticide-free and reduced-pesticide vegetables harvested in northern Kyoto Prefecture. Each dish on the lunch plate is beautifully presented and tasty. Together, you will consume over 10 types of vegetables. While many ingredients unique to Japanese cuisine are used, the resulting side dishes on the plate are multinational.

Probably because the ground floor is an art gallery, the building that houses a vegan cafe has a stylish, contemporary appearance. As there is no obvious sign advertising the cafe, even many locals would walk past it without knowing there is a restaurant inside the building. The cafe has a woody, natural atmosphere, with a large solid wooden table in the center. Counter seats are also available. From the window, you can see the word “Dai (大)” during the Gozan no Okuribi (五山送り火) on August 16.

If you like hale (hale~晴~) in Kawaramachi, you will definitely like Kousagisha. The owner-chef, Katō-san (加藤祐基), used to work there. You can expect a lunch that is more appetizing and incredible at Kousagisha. As you walk into the cafe, the staff will warmly welcome you. Their service is exceptional.

Kousagisha’s Business Hours and Access Information

Natural Food Village (ナチュラルフード ビレッジ)

Along the train line to Mt. Hiei and Kurama, Natural Food Village is the oldest vegan restaurant in Kyoto, opened in 2001. The restaurant that uses organic ingredients and natural seasonings has an incredible multinational menu, and the space beyond the door is like a different country. Its interior is decorated with many items representing different cultures the owner learned during his 4-year backpacking trip. Rather than a multi-national ambiance, Natural Food Village is a spot where patriotism is almost non-existent.

The best thing about dining at Natural Food Village is that you can hardly guess the taste of the food in front of you. Especially the small dishes of the Gozen set, you will likely be pleasantly surprised by the taste and texture due to how the food looked and presented.

Live music might be on when you visit too!

Natural Food Village’s Business Hours and Access Information

‘apelila (アペリラ)

Because butter and eggs are traditionally the key ingredients in baking, finding vegan bread is one of the hardest things for vegans or vegetarians who don’t eat eggs. Fortunately, there is a vegan bakery in Kyoto. In addition to freshly baked breads and pastries, it also serves light meals in its cafe space.

Takahashi-san (高橋さん) is the owner baker at ‘apelila. Her journey to opening a vegan bakery started with homemade yeast. She was enchanted by yeast and treated it like a god’s blessing. As the taste and appearance of baked goods change depending on the weather (or god’s mood, as she puts it), yeast is a miracle created by nature for Takahashi-san. Whenever she eats something containing yeast, she feels thankful. The yeast that she made is now used to even make soup!

Although Takahashi-san isn’t a vegan, ingredients derived from animals aren’t used for bread-making because she wants people to know how delicious yeast is. The basic ingredients used in her bakery are whole wheat flour milled in-house from the Katsura area in Kyoto, yeast, salt, water, sugar, and oil. While nothing fancy is used, you will be amazed by the bread’s taste and texture. ‘apelila is the place to realize how fluffy and chewy the bread can be without using butter and eggs!

Apart from the toast that Takahashi-san hopes all customers will try, different types of bread and other types of baked goods (such as cookies and waffles) are also on the shelves.

Tip: Be there early for a full range of mouthwatering vegan baked goods.

‘apelila’s Business Hours and Access Information

Kanga-an (閑臥庵)

Ramen TowZen (京都下鴨豆乳ラーメン専門店豆禅)

Tofu Restaurant Seigen-in (西源院)

Like Tenryu-ji Temple in Arashiyama, Ryōan-ji Temple has a spot where pilgrims can go for vegan food. Seigen-in in Ryōan-ji’s precinct is a hidden gem Shōjin Ryōri restaurant. While it isn’t cheap to have lunch there, the entire dining experience justifies the price tag.

Before arriving at the restaurant, you are welcomed by its well-maintained garden. During the plum blossom season, the garden is extra colorful with the small white flowers on the sticks. The traditional tatami-mat-covered room in a temple is the best setting to enjoy the infamous Shōjin Ryōri (monk cuisine). No matter where you sit, the garden is in front of you to admire. Seigen-in is literally one of the best spots to enjoy traditional Japanese cuisine at a slow pace.

The restaurant has two menu items, Nanakusa Yu-tofu Hot Pot (七草湯豆腐) for 1,800 yen and Shōjin Ryōri (精進料理) for 3,800 yen. If you want to experience the restaurant’s dining atmosphere but don’t want to spend too much, order the Nanakusa Yutofu. While you will only get a simple tofu hot pot, the homemade vegan sauce and condiments go well with boiled tofu and the seven vegetables in the pot. Remember to order a bowl of rice on the side if you order the hot pot only!

Of course, to enjoy what Seigen-in can offer, go with the Shōjin Ryōri. The portion of each dish in the seven-course meal isn’t big. However, each is well-presented and has its uniqueness. Together, they fill you up!

Tofu Restaurant Seigen-in’s Business Hours and Access Information

Vegan Restaurant LITTLE-HEAVEN（ヴィーガンレストラン　リトルヘブン）

Vegan Restaurant LITTLE-HEAVEN’s Business Hours and Access Information

The Vegan-Friendly Restaurant in Arashiyama

The Vegan-Friendly Restaurants in Uji

VeganLife SoiSoi (ヴィーガンライフソイソイ)

vegan cafe CLOUD8（ヴィーガンカフェクラウドエイト）

Leaving Kyoto City and heading towards Wakasa Bay (若狭湾), there is a vegan cafe nestled in the mountains of Maizuru City in Kyoto Prefecture.

Unlike a normal cafe, vegan cafe CLOUD8’s lunch menu only consists of course menus. While a course menu sounds expensive, you can actually enjoy it for as low as 2,000 yen! And during the summer, if you have more cash to spare, make a reservation a week in advance to try their Raw Vegan Lunch Course. Not only will you be served with organic vegetables and fruits, the main dish cooked at a low temperature is incredible too!

Important: It is essential to make a booking if you want to have lunch at vegan cafe CLOUD8. You can contact the cafe by emailing [email protected].

vegan cafe CLOUD8’s Business Hours and Access Information

Other Vegan-Friendly Restaurants in Kyoto Prefecture

Japanese Cuisine

Restaurants With a Multi-Course Menu

• Okutan Kiyomizu (ゆどうふ　奥丹清水)
  • A restaurant opened by a tofu maker established in 1635 near Kiyomizu-dera Temple.
  • It is a great spot to enjoy Kyoto’s infamous boiled tofu.
  • Vegan options are available.
• Ajiro (阿じろ)
  • A Michelin-starred Shōjin Ryōri restaurant opposite Myoshin-ji Temple’s (妙心寺) south gate. Unlike many other Shōjin Ryōri spots, the multi-course Buddhist temple vegan meals at Ajiro are splendidly presented using lacquerware. The food also has a rich flavor.
  • The founder of Ajiro was trained in Myoshin-ji’s kitchen. So, the dishes served at Ajiro have the spirit of the Shōjin Ryōri, which has been passed down through the centuries. If you taste each dish carefully, you will be reminded of the Buddhist teaching of being grateful for ingredients and making the most of them.
  • You can either order a bento box (縁高弁当) or the course menu. While a bento box doesn’t sound exciting, you won’t be served an ordinary bento box that you can take away. The staff will bring you a lacquer tray filled with food!
  • Refer to HERE for photos of Ajiro’s Shōjin Ryōri.

• Goemon Chaya (五右衛門茶屋)
  • One of the best yu-tofu restaurants near Nanzen-ji Temple.
  • It can cater to the vegan/vegetarian diet. Please let the staff know upon arrival.
  • The English language menu not only explains all the ingredients but also how to use the condiments.
  • If you plan to visit on weekends or public holidays, it is best to make a booking by calling +81-75-7519-638.
  • The restaurant is pet-friendly, making it a great place to dine if you love animals. As the pet-friendly area is separated, those who prefer not to eat with animals won’t need to worry.

Ramen Restaurants

• Ramen Bar deco (拉麺BAR凸deko)
  • A ramen restaurant near Hankyu’s Nishi Kyogoku Station (西京極駅). The train station is on the same train line as Katsura Imperial Villa (桂離宮). It is a hidden gem in Kyoto’s city center.
  • The vegan ramen is flavorful and delicious.
  • The friendly owner, Tomo-san, speaks English and has great cooking skills. The service is good, too.
  • The restaurant has a bright and relaxing vibe created by the light Japanese background music.
• Kamukura Ramen (神座ラーメン)
  • A ramen specialist that has many restaurants in Japan.
  • You can order vegetable ramen (野菜いっぱいラーメン) and let the staff know your dietary requirements. The chef should be able to replace the broth with vegan broth. They can even make your noodle soup allium-free (oriental vegetarian).
  • The vegan broth is soy sauce based. While the taste is light, it is flavorful.

Other Types of Japanese Restaurants

• Gochisou Yakimusubi Onimaru (ごちそう焼むすび おにまる)
  • An onigiri rice ball chain shop with a branch west of Sanjo Station. It has a few vegan and vegetarian options.
  • The onigiri is delicious and convenient to grab if you are in a hurry or want to go for a picnic.
• Hobodo Cafe (喫茶ホーボー堂)
  • A cozy cafe serving vegan Japanese dishes with international influence. A rotating set menu and traditional Japanese desserts are available for lunch. You can also order vegan bento boxes to take away.
  • The lunch plate and bento boxes contain several side dishes cooked using seasonal vegetables. Each is made with love and has a unique flavor.
  • The atmosphere is very calm and relaxing. it is a great place to enjoy nicely prepared food slowly while chatting with your families and friends without being overwhelmed or rushed.
  • The food is sold at a reasonable price. The bento box is slightly cheaper than the lunch plate.
  • Note that the small cafe has limited seating.
  • Arrive early if you want to try the lunch set.

• Asian Chample Foods Goya
  • A restaurant near the University of Kyoto that serves Okinawan and other Asian dishes. It offers a wide range of vegan options.
  • If you don’t mind bitter melon, give chanpurū a go. It is a popular Okinawan stir-fried dish. 
    • Remember to ask the staff for the vegan version.
  • The restaurant has a relaxing island ambiance and is spacious.
  • The staff is friendly and accommodating.
  • HERE is the menu you can refer to.
• Restaurant Bar Nagisa (伊根なぎさ)
  • A Japanese-style restaurant in Ine Bay that offers vegan curry rice. While other items on the menu include seafood or meat, the spot is a rare gem in the small fishing town as it is the only place serving vegan food in the area.
  • Refer to HERE for a photo of the curry rice.

Indian Cuisines

• Ganesha (ガネーシャ)
  • An authentic Indian restaurant near Kinkaku-ji and Ryōan-ji with a couple of vegan/vegetarian options, including vegan naan bread.
  • Each dish is uniquely flavorful and amazing.
  • The owner is a sweet and attentive guy.
• Restaurant Namaste (レストラン ナマステ)
  • The Indian and Nepalese restaurant near Fushimi Inari Taisha is a perfect spot to rejuvenate after a hike to the top of the low mountain.
  • The restaurant is run by a lovely and friendly family who have created a wonderful atmosphere for their customers to enjoy the food.
  • English menu is available, and the staff speaks English.
  • The restaurant has a variety of vegetarian choices that can be made vegan.
  • The food here is authentic and well-priced, which is why the local Indians dine here regularly (albeit the paneer is harder than average).
  • The curry here is better than many Indian restaurants in Osaka and Nagoya.

Other Cuisines

• silver back’s cafe
  • The vegan cafe serves multi-national cuisine and is within walking distance of Kiymizu-dera Temple. Recommended options include the traditional Kyoto-style Obanzai set, soy grilled meat set, nachos, and Vietnamese pho. Vegan desserts are also available.
  • The owner-chef, Ohta-san (太田 研), is a very nice guy who makes mouthwatering dishes. The friendly staff also provides excellent services to the customers.
  • You will be amazed by how good the grilled vegan meat is.
  • It is a good spot to dine with someone who isn’t vegan/vegetarian.
• Pettirosso Kyoto (菜食ペッティロッソ 京都)
  • A vegan cafe near Kyoto Botanical Garden that offers Mediterranean and Japanese fusion dishes made from seasonal vegetables locally harvested (mostly organic). The Italian and Japanese owner couple is lovely.
  • You will enjoy fabulous vegan food in a warm and cozy atmosphere served by attentive staff.
  • Each dish is carefully prepared by the chef. You can tell how much effort has been put into making the food served in the restaurant with the first bite.
  • Homemade vegan baked goods are available for takeaway.
  • Gluten-free options are available.
  • It is best to call +81-75-585-5455 to make a reservation.

Vegan-Friendly Supermarket in Kyoto

• GOOD NATURE STATION
  • A large supermarket with many vegan items in Kawaramachi.
  • Various wines, bento boxes, breads, condiments, snacks, and nuts are on sale. Most of them are Japanese brands. Thus, the spot is very suitable for tourists.
  • There is also a cafe that offers organic food with vegan options.
• Organic Plaza (オーガニックプラザ)
  • An organic grocer that have shops around Japan. They have several shops in Kyoto, including Kawaramachi, near Kyoto Botanical Garden, and Gojō.
    • Refer to HERE for the full list.
  • You will find great selection of vegan and gluten-free goods here.
  • The original vegan gluten-free cake is good, not overly sweet.
• Gyomu Super (業務スーパー)
  • A wholesale supermarket/grocery store chain that has many branches in Japan. There are many imported goods and vegan bread.
• Life (ライフ)
  • Another supermarket chain in Japan that you can find a couple of vegan products, including vegan bread.

Vegetarian/Vegan-Friendly Hotels in Kyoto

If you are after a vegetarian/vegan-friendly accommodation in Kyoto, check out the below hotels/ryokans!

• Fujiya Ryokan (藤家旅館)
  • A budget ryokan near Kyoto Station.
  • The ryokan offers top-notch service and has a friendly pet cat.
  • It can arrange vegan breakfast upon request.
  • Refer to HERE for more information.
• Kyomachiya Ryokan Sakura Urushitei (京町家旅館さくらうるし邸)
  • A ryokan near Shijō and Kawaramachi that can cater to vegan and gluten-free dietary requirements.
  • The CP value is high.
  • A private bath is rentable for 500 yen for 40 minutes.
  • Various cultural activities are held for the guests. Please Enquire beforehand.
• Kyoto Nanzenji Ryokan Yachiyo (南禅寺 八千代 旅館)
  • Yachiyo is a ryokan close to Kyoto’s famous attractions, such as Heian Shrine (平安神宮) and Phiosopher’s Path (哲学の道).
  • The traditional ryokan, which has a gorgeous garden, is best known for its Kaiseki Ryōri, including Nanzenji Temple’s specialty Yutofu (湯豆腐). Amongst its different multi-course options, one of them is specially prepared for vegetarians.
• Good Nature Hotel Kyoto (グッド ネイチャー ホテル キョウト)
  • If you prefer to stay in the downtown area, Good Nature Hotel Kyoto, located in Kawaramachi, can be a good option.
  • The hotel’s breakfast has a vegan option.
  • You can also head to Hyssop (ヒソップ), a cafe in the hotel that opens from 8 am to 9 pm. It has a vegan menu.
• IMU HOTEL KYOTO
  • IMU HOTEL KYOTO in Kyoto’s Shijō is a cheaper hotel that provides accommodation plans to include vegan breakfast and/or dinner.
  • You can also reserve to visit its cafe for vegan lunch.
    • Refer to the official website HERE for more information.
• Towa Ryokan (都和旅館)
  • Just a 10-minute walk from Kyoto Station, Towa Ryokan is a Japanese-style inn that boasts Kyoto cuisine.
  • Vegan meals can be provided to the ryokan guests and day customers.
  • Please let the ryokan know your dietary requirements 3 days in advance.
• Malda Kyoto (マルダ京都)
  • Malda Kyoto is a hotel that only accepts 3 groups of customers per day. You will have the entire floor to yourself.
  • Café MALDA offers vegetarian curry and vegan/gluten-free muffins and desserts.
• THE JUNEI HOTEL Kyoto Imperial Palace West (ザ・ジュネイホテル京都御所西)
  • Just a 10-minute walk from Kyoto Imperial Palace, the ryokan offers guests a vegan and gluten-free Kyo-Kaiseki option for dinner/breakfast.
• Vegan Minshuku Sanbiki Neko
  • A fully vegan facility that provides vegan breakfast to start your day right.
  • The owners, Helen and Craig can also assist you in finding vegan and vegan-friendly restaurants in the areas that you plan to visit.
  • Refer to their official website HERE for more details and to book.
• Sunrise Suites (サンライズ スイーツ)
  • A serviced apartment hotel that provides a vegan breakfast set course that you can enjoy in your room.
  • All of the guestrooms are equipped with a kitchen and tableware set.
  • You can see Kyoto’s famous UNESCO World Heritage Site, Tōji Temple, from the rooftop garden.
• Maneki Machiya
  • A vegan-friendly guesthouse provider that can provide information about vegan restaurant information in the area in Kyoto you plan to visit.
• Kanamean Nishitomiya (要庵西富家)
  • A traditional ryokan that can cater to the vegan diet.
  • It also serves day-visit customers for breakfast and dinner.
  • Please contact the ryokan if you have special dietary requirements. HERE is their official website.

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