Shiga Prefecture, next to Kyoto, is very underrated. Despite many cultural properties and beautiful scenery in the prefecture, not many international tourists are aware of its existence. Because of the lack of overseas visitors, vegan-friendly restaurants are hard to come by. Fortunately, a few places are scattered in Shiga where you can enjoy a meal prepared from plant-based ingredients. So, if you are a vegan/vegetarian or will travel with one, refer to the below list for where to dine when you get there!
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Enman-in (圓満院)
Enman-in is a temple with gorgeous traditional buildings and a nationally recognized garden that offers various cultural activities. The temple’s restaurant, Yuyutei, serves vegan shōji ryōri for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
For more information about the temple, refer to our Enman-in article!
Enryakuji Kaikan (延暦寺会館)
Like many temples in Japan, most of the restaurants in Mt. Hiei are no longer vegetarian. The best place to head to for lunch is Enryakuji Kaikan in the Tōtō area. It is also where you can spend a night at Enryakuji. The meals served in the restaurant on the second floor are all vegan. Not only is the food delicious, but the restaurant overlooks Japan’s biggest lake, Lake Biwa!
For more information, refer to our Enryakuji Kaikan article!
Nyurinen (隠れ家台湾懐石料理 儒霖苑)
East of Lake Biwa, there is a fancy Taiwanese multi-course and set menu restaurant in Rittō City (栗東市). The vegan restaurant was opened in 2023 by a Taiwanese lady, Joyce Wu. She became a vegan after her health deteriorated and has been researching various vegan dishes. As she is an oriental vegetarian, her dishes are all allium-free.
The restaurant opened after she renovated her house’s ground floor. The traditional Japanese-style residential space was transformed into various dining areas decorated with lotus flower images, including a private room and a Japanese-style room with Buddha altars. After the renovation, her residence is a perfect example of how elements from different cultures can complement each other.
Joyce is also particular about the crockeries used in her restaurant. The crockeries are all Shigaraki ware, specially ordered by a Shigaraki ware maker in Shigaraki Town nearby. There are also a couple used as decor for you to check out while waiting for your food.
Because Joyce knows how much food can impact our health, her dishes are made using ingredients and herbal medicines that are good for our bodies. Most seasonings and fresh produce are sourced locally. Anything that she needs but isn’t available in Japan is sourced from Taiwan, allowing her to serve authentic Taiwanese cuisine.
She is also very good at making plant-based ingredients to look and taste similar to meat and seafood. For example, don’t be shocked when you see “prawns” in your dish. The fake prawns were made mainly using konjac. The vegan pork belly is very authentic, too.
As a reservation is required, please inform the restaurant if you have any dietary requirements. For example, if you can’t take oily dishes, Joyce can change the menu for you accordingly.
Nyurinen’s Business Hours and Access Information
- Nyurinen is open from 6 pm to 9 pm from Wednesday to Friday.
- Please refer to Nyurinen’s Instagram Account for updated business hours.
- The restaurant is a 30-minute walk from JR Tehara Station (手原駅).
Joyce Wu Kitchen (ジョイスウーキッチン)
If you are looking for a restaurant for a quick meal during the day, Joyce has another restaurant closer to JR Tehara Station. The restaurant opened in 2024 after Nyurinen, which also serves Taiwanese cuisine. It is where you will find many veganized Taiwanese street foods, such as Xiaolongbao, that are sold at reasonable prices. You can even try Taiwan’s stinky tofu, but the non-stinky and healthier version!
Like Nyurinen, the food is made from scratch using locally harvested vegetables and seasoning, as well as ingredients imported from Taiwan. Much effort and care have been put into making the incredibly tasty dishes that Joyce Wu Kitchen serves. For example, the vegan braised pork might sound ordinary. However, the plant-based pork dish is made using various kinds of mushrooms and Joyce’s unique sauce.
For desserts, how about a bowl of sweet tofu pudding with toppings and syrup?
The staff here are very friendly and try their best to ensure their customers have a great time in the restaurant. If you visit Joyce Wu Kitchen with children, they might even get small presents!
While in Japanese only, you can refer to HERE for Joyce Wu Kitchen’s menu.
All items on the menu can be taken away. Bento boxes are also available for those in a hurry or who prefer to enjoy the food elsewhere.
Joyce Wu Kitchen’s Business Hours and Access Information
- Joyce Wu Kitchen is open from 11am to 3 pm from Tuesday to Thursday and the 2nd and the 4th Sunday.
- It is closed on public holidays.
- The restaurant is a 10-minute walk from JR Tehara Station (手原駅).
Other Vegan/Vegetarian-Friendly Spots in Shiga Prefecture
- Yasu no Ossan Onigiri Shokudo (野洲のおっさんおにぎり食堂)
- A rice ball restaurant located between Keihan’s Biwako-Hamaōtsu Station (びわ湖浜大津駅) and Kamisakaemachi Station (上栄町駅) that has a couple of plant-based flavors.
- The plant-based onigiri includes but is not limited to pickled takana (高菜), grilled miso (焼きみそ), nozawana (野沢菜), sibatsuke (しば漬け), plum (梅), and kombu (昆布). Please check with the staff about the vegan rice balls available on the day upon arrival.
- It is a good spot to grab some quite bites before exploring Lake Biwa‘s beauty and the attractions in Ōtsu.
- A rice ball restaurant located between Keihan’s Biwako-Hamaōtsu Station (びわ湖浜大津駅) and Kamisakaemachi Station (上栄町駅) that has a couple of plant-based flavors.
Discover the Vegan-Friendly Restaurants in Kyoto
If you dislike constantly changing hotels during your trip, you will probably base in Kyoto and do day trips to the attractions in Shiga Prefecture.
So, if you plan to stay in Kyoto and need help finding vegan/vegetarian food, refer to our Kyoto’s Vegan-Friendly Restaurants article for places to enjoy delicious vegan/vegetarian dishes!
Discover the Attractions in Ōtsu City
Ōtsu, the capital of Shiga Prefecture, is a city filled with rich cultural and historical elements. Although it only lasted for five years, we are sure that after you admire the scenery of Japan’s biggest lake – Lake Biwa, it won’t be hard to understand why Emperor Tenji wanted to stay close to it!
For more information, please refer to our article on Ōtsu City (=ﾟωﾟ)ﾉ.
