While Nagano City is the capital of Nagano Prefecture, it surprisingly doesn’t have many vegan-friendly spots. So, if you plan to spend a few nights here, check out the restaurants we mention in this article. In addition, stay close to Nagano Station so you don’t need to travel far from your accommodation to the restaurant.
The Vegan-Friendly Restaurants in Nagano City
- Irohadō (いろは堂)
- Ganso Shinshū Gyōza Tsukumo Hokochō (元祖信州餃子 九十九横丁)
- Trattoria Pizzeria&Bar LOGiC Nagano (ロジック)
- Other Recommended Italian Restaurants Close to Nagano Station
- MONZEN TERRACE ENYA (エンヤ)
- Fuchinobō (淵之坊)
Irohadō (いろは堂)
If you want to grab a quick bite for breakfast or lunch, visit Irohadō. The Oyaki maker originated from Kinasa village has a couple of shops close to Nagano Station and Zenkoji Temple. Oyaki (おやき) is a local specialty which are buns stuffed with flavored vegetables or sweet bean paste. The skin is made of wheat and buckwheat flour, making it having the extra buckwheat fragrance. As it doesn’t contain meat or seafood, it makes for the perfect breakfast/lunch or snack for us vegans/vegetarians!
An English menu is available at each Irohadō’s shop. What is in the amazing bun is clearly written for your decision-making. Once you have got the flavors you want, enjoy it while walking toward the next spot you want to visit. It is the perfect street food for walking and eating. If you want to have them for dinner, the staff will pack the cold ones for you to heat up later.
Tip: If you are unsure which flavor to try, grab a mushroom or the pumpkin Oyaki.
Irohadō’s Business Hours and Access Information
- Irohadō has three shops in Nagano City:
- Irohado MIDORI Nagano (いろは堂 MIDORI長野店): in the food court of Nagano Station
- Opens 9 am to 8 pm
- Irohado Nagano Tōkyū (ながの東急店): in Tōkyū Department store’s B1
- Opens 10 am to 7 pm
- Zenkoji Nakamise (善光寺仲見世店)
- The shop opens 10 am to 4 pm daily from mid-March to November. It closes on Wednesdays from December to mid-March.
- The shop extends its business hours to 5 pm on weekends and public holidays.
- Irohado MIDORI Nagano (いろは堂 MIDORI長野店): in the food court of Nagano Station
Irohado Nagano Tōkyū Shop (ながの東急店) can be tricky to find. Please go down the escalator and head straight. it is in a small alley on the right.
Ganso Shinshū Gyōza Tsukumo Hokochō (元祖信州餃子 九十九横丁)
If you like handmade dumplings, visit Ganso Shinshū Gyōza Tsukumo Hokochō. The Izakaya-style restaurant is a dumpling specialist and offers four vegan flavors. Some side dishes and snacks are vegan, too. So, if you need a place for a friend gathering close to Nagano Station, consider Tsukumo Hokochō. It has the perfect atmosphere for a great night out!
An English menu is available. If you are unsure which one to order, ask the friendly staff. They will introduce you to their menu and how the Japanese drink sake. When you are ready, put your order through your table’s touch panel, and the dumplings will be served in no time.
Because one side of the dumplings is pan-fried, you get to enjoy both the crispy and the chewy skin with one dumpling. The dumplings come with three dips, including the Shinshu miso sauce. The miso sauce goes really well with all their dumpling flavors.
If you are unsure what to order, go with the Nozawana dumplings (野沢菜餃子). Nozawana is one of the region’s specialties. The leaf vegetable is pickled, so the dumplings still have flavors without any sauce.
If you want a healthier meal, you can order the boiled dumplings instead. The taste of the dumplings differs slightly depending on how they are cooked. So, ordering both boiled and pan-fried dumplings and comparing the taste can be another way to enjoy what Tsukumo offers!
Tip: If your accommodation has a small kitchen, you can also purchase a pack of frozen dumplings from the vending machine in front of the restaurant.
Ganso Shinshū Gyōza Tsukumo Hokochō’s Business Hours and Access Information
- Tsukumo Hokochō is open from
- 2 pm to 11 pm on weekdays
- 12 pm to 11 pm on weekends and public holidays
- The restaurant is a one-minute walk from Nagano Station.
Trattoria Pizzeria & Bar LOGIC Nagano (ロジック)
If you like Italian food, don’t miss out on Trattoria Pizzeria & Bar LOGIC. It is close to Nagano Station and easy to find. The place is known for its piping hot pizza baked in a wood-fired oven. So, if you want authentic pizza that is easily accessible, visit LOGIC. In addition to pizza, there is a wide selection of pasta, appetizers, and desserts, making it popular among the locals and tourists.
LOGIC has a catchy appearance. You won’t miss it when you walk past it. The restaurant has a large dining space. If you are seated in front of the woodfire oven, you can see delicious-looking pizzas being baked one after another. The staff here are inviting and kind and offer wonderful service. If they have noticed you need something, they will bring it to you. You don’t even need to ask!
Moreover, you will be impressed by the various kinds of accessories in LOGIC’s toilets. Not only are sanitary products provided, but toothfloss, mouthwash, and even face wipes are left for the customers to use!
Like many Italian restaurants, lunch is cheaper than dinner. While the items on the lunch menu are a lot less than dinner, not only is it better value for money, but it also comes with a lunch salad! You can also make your main into a lunch set, which will come with a drink and/or a dessert.
If you are a vegetarian, talk to the staff to customize your pizza or pasta if you don’t want to stick with the classic but safe choice, Margherita pizza.
Trattoria Pizzeria & Bar LOGIC Nagano’s Business Hours and Access Information
- LOGIC is open from
- 12 pm to 3 pm for lunch
- 5 pm to 11 pm for dinner
- The restaurant is a 2-minute walk from Nagano Station.
Tip: LOGIC’s Happy Hours are between 5 pm and 7 pm. It is the best time to visit the restaurant for alcoholic drinks as drinks ordered during the 2 hours are half-priced!
Other Recommended Italian Restaurants Close to Nagano Station
Pizzeria Castagna (ピッツェリア カスターニャ)
- Pizzeria Castagna is another Italian restaurant in Nagano that uses a woodfire oven to bake their pizzas.
- The restaurant has an open kitchen where you can see the staff making pizzas, which makes dining here a little more exciting.
- They use local ingredients to make the pizzas and pasta, and the taste is absolutely incredible.
- Half-and-half pizzas are available, so you can pay the price of one but enjoy two flavors.
- Vegetable pizza is a must-order if you like fresh green vegetables.
- They also have a wide selection of pasta, salads, and appetizers.
- The service at Pizzeria Castagna is great. Even when the restaurant is full, the friendly staff still pay close attention to each group of customers and address their needs in a timely manner.
- While the staff speak limited English, if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask. They will try their best to explain things to you.
Scirocco Pizza & Wine (シロッコ ピザ&ワイン酒場)
- Another Italian restaurant close to Nagano Station that offers authentic Italian food.
- It has a bright American diner kind of vibe.
- Tables are separated by curtain to make it private for guests.
- The restaurant has more than 100 types of wine, making it a must-visit for wine lovers.
- The stone oven-baked pizza is amazing.
- If you eat eggs, try their quiche. It is phenomenal.
- The Basque cheesecake (バスクチーズケーキ) is incredible isn’t too sweet and match perfectly with the berry sauce. Coffee is made using freshly ground beans and has a rich aroma and the right amount of acidity.
Pizzeria Trattoria La Cotta (ピッツェリア トラットリア ラコッタ)
- The salt level is exquisitely balanced between the sauce, the dough, and the toppings. This is why the restaurant have many loyal customers.
- Like LOGIC, the mains come with a salad during lunchtime. While the salad is complimentary, it is prepared with care.
- Different pizza bases are offered, such as the cream base pizza, to suit your taste.
- La Cotta is run by two people, so it may take some time for your order to be served. But they always do a thorough job. Thus, Be patient and enjoy their delicious pizza!
- It is a small but lovely restaurant. Avoid rush hour during lunchtime to avoid queueing.
- English menu is available.
MONZEN TERRACE ENYA (エンヤ)
Monzen Terrace Enya is an Izakaya-style restaurant at the starting point of Zenkoji Temple‘s approach. Befitting the restaurant’s name, it has a large comfortable terrace at the back.
While there isn’t a vegan menu, plant-based options are available, especially in their a la carte menu. Some examples include avocado rolls and vegetable tempura. In particular, try their Nozawana tempura (野沢菜の天ぷら). The restaurant’s staff are friendly and are happy to customize some dishes so they don’t contain animal products.
For more information, refer to our article on Monzen Terrace Enya!
Fuchinobō (淵之坊)
Zenkoji Temple is the landmark around Nagano Station. Speaking of temple, the term Shōjin Ryōri might pop into your head. The best place to try the monk cuisine close to the temple is Fuchinobō. It is one of the 39 sub-temples of Zenkoji Temple that allow visitors to stay overnight. If you don’t have the time or budget for an overnight stay, having lunch at Fuchinobō is another option.
For more information, refer to our article on Fuchinobō!
Explore the Attractions Close to Nagano Station
Now you know where to dine around Nagano Station, you can start planning your visit to Nagano. There are a couple of spots close to Nagano Station that might interest you, including the shops and restaurants that lined the approach to Zenkoji Temple.
So, refer to our Guide to Attractions Around Nagano Station article for more information!
Explore the Chestnuts Town – Obuse
If you aren’t in a hurry, we recommend you stop by Obuse for the delicious chestnut desserts and the dramatic ukiyo-e that the town is famous for.
Find out more about what you can do and where to go, and of course, where to eat when you get to this gorgeous town with our Obuse article (=ﾟωﾟ)ﾉ.
You can even visit someone’s backyard without notifying the owner!
Visit the Snow Monkeys in Jigokudani Monkey Park
We have all seen humans enjoying the hot spring. Especially in winter, you might have indulged in the onsen to warm up and let the rich minerals moisturize your skin.
But have you ever seen monkeys doing the same?
If you are interested, follow our article on Jigokudani Monkey Park to find out the best time of the year to visit and how to get there!
