“I want to try a vegan restaurant.” “I’d like to eat out in a way that’s better for the environment.”
If you’ve thought this but aren’t sure which restaurant to choose, you’re not alone.
Over the past few years, more vegan restaurants in Tokyo have appeared in guides and features, giving diners more options than ever. The reasons behind this shift vary—concern about environmental impact, health consciousness, and animal welfare considerations all play a role. Yet the labels “vegan” and “sustainable” don’t always reveal what a restaurant actually does, or whether their practices align with what matters to you.
Official websites vary widely in detail. Some restaurants clearly explain their initiatives, while others simply state “vegan options available” with little else to go on.
This article examines vegan restaurants in Tokyo based solely on information available on their official websites. There’s no need to decide immediately. Take your time, think about what you value most and what kind of experience you’re looking for.
Editorial Selection Criteria
The restaurants featured here were selected after reviewing their official websites for any publicly stated information in the following areas:
- Exclusion of animal-derived ingredients: Whether the restaurant officially states it does not use meat, fish, eggs, or dairy products
- Plant-based menu availability: Presence and proportion of vegan menu items
- Ingredient sourcing policies: Local sourcing, contract farms, organic cultivation, etc.
- Environmental initiatives: Waste reduction, plastic reduction, fair trade practices, etc.
- Information transparency: How openly sustainability policies and results are disclosed
These criteria don’t imply that restaurants meeting them are superior. They simply represent the lens through which information was examined. A restaurant with limited public information may still have careful practices in place. Conversely, extensive information doesn’t guarantee a restaurant will suit everyone’s needs.
Restaurant Selection
1. SASAYA CAFE
Location: Honjo-Azumabashi
Restaurant Overview
According to the official website, SASAYA CAFE operates under the concept “VEGAN & ALL NATURAL,” with all menu items free from animal-derived ingredients. The restaurant serves dishes like Indian curry and tempeh katsu—100% plant-based offerings.
Sustainability Initiatives
The restaurant uses no animal-derived ingredients and sources rice and vegetables from farms that minimize pesticide and chemical fertilizer use. The official website states that all food menu items are plant-based vegan.
Best Suited For
Those seeking fully plant-based meals. People interested in vegetables grown without pesticides or chemical fertilizers. Anyone wanting to experience a straightforward “no animal ingredients” approach to dining.
Considerations
Third-party vegan certification status is not mentioned.
Restaurant Information
SASAYA CAFE
2. CHAYA Macrobiotics
Location: Shiodome, Shinjuku-Sanchome (Green Italian TORCIA), and other locations
Restaurant Overview
Based on macrobiotic principles, this restaurant primarily serves dishes made without meat, eggs, dairy products, or refined white sugar. Sister establishments include “EARTH BAKERY” and “Green Italian TORCIA,” both emphasizing plant-based and vegan food.
Sustainability Initiatives
The menu centers on macrobiotic standards excluding meat, eggs, dairy products, and refined white sugar (some locations offer seafood dishes; vegan menu items are clearly marked). Sister establishment “EARTH BAKERY” focuses on plant-based offerings, while “Green Italian TORCIA” provides extensive vegan options including Bolognese made with meat alternatives. The messaging emphasizes environmental consideration, describing itself as a “sustainable bakery that prioritizes the earth’s future, environment, and customer health.”
Best Suited For
Those interested in macrobiotic philosophy. People who prefer to avoid refined white sugar. Diners wanting to try different styles of vegan cuisine across multiple sister locations. Anyone considering food from both environmental and health perspectives.
Considerations
Not all locations are fully vegan (some offer seafood dishes, though vegan menu items are clearly identified). Third-party vegan certification status is not mentioned.
Restaurant Information
CHAYA Macrobiotics The Royal Park Hotel Iconic Tokyo Shiodome
Tabelog
Ikkyu
Green Italian TORCIA
Tabelog
Ikkyu
3. Sens & Saveurs
Location: Marunouchi
Restaurant Overview
This restaurant incorporates organically and naturally grown vegetables and fruits, partnering with producers who embrace sustainability principles. Sens & Saveurs participates in the Japan Sustainable Restaurant Association, which collaborates with the sustainable restaurant award affiliated with “The World’s 50 Best Restaurants.” The restaurant has been recognized as a finalist in that award program.
Sustainability Initiatives
The restaurant uses organically or naturally grown vegetables and fruits, and supports producers working toward sustainability goals. A smaller “Petit Fix Course” helps accommodate lighter appetites and prevents food waste from leftovers. Sens & Saveurs has been selected as a finalist in the Japan Sustainable Restaurant Association awards.
Best Suited For
Those who value organic and natural cultivation methods. People who want to support producers with strong sustainability practices. Diners interested in internationally recognized evaluation standards. Anyone seeking restaurants with food waste reduction measures.
Considerations
Not a fully vegan restaurant (presence and proportion of vegan menu items not specified). Third-party vegan certification status is not mentioned.
Restaurant Information
Tabelog
Ikkyu
4. Mr.FARMER
Location: Omotesando, Hibiya, and other locations
Restaurant Overview
Operating as a vegetable-focused cafe using produce from contract farms nationwide, Mr.FARMER offers an extensive vegan menu. The Omotesando flagship location operates as an all-vegan cafe, while other locations may offer non-vegan menu items depending on the location and time of day.
Sustainability Initiatives
The restaurant’s vegan menu excludes not only meat and fish but also animal-derived broth, dairy products, eggs, honey, and white sugar. Vegetables come from contract farms across the country. Menu offerings include vegan, gluten-free, and power protein options.
Best Suited For
Those looking for restaurants with extensive vegan menu variety. People who value produce from contract farms. Diners with multiple dietary considerations such as gluten-free needs. Anyone wanting a fully vegan dining experience at the Omotesando location.
Considerations
Locations other than the Omotesando flagship are not fully vegan (vegan menu proportion varies by location). Third-party vegan certification status is not mentioned.
Restaurant Information
Mr.FARMER Omotesando
Mr.FARMER Tokyo Midtown Hibiya
Mr.FARMER Komazawa Olympic Park
5. BROWN RICE
Location: Omotesando
Restaurant Overview
Operated by Neal’s Yard Remedies, this restaurant features Japanese-style vegan cuisine centered on brown rice, vegetables, soybeans, and seaweed. The menu uses seasonal domestic ingredients and traditionally made seasonings.
Sustainability Initiatives
The restaurant uses seasonal domestic ingredients and traditionally made seasonings. The menu centers on vegetables, soybeans, seaweed, and other plant-based ingredients in a Japanese-style approach.
Best Suited For
Those who value domestic ingredients. People interested in traditional seasonings and Japanese-style vegan cuisine. Diners who prioritize seasonal eating.
Considerations
The proportion of vegan menu items and whether all menu items are vegan is not specified. Third-party vegan certification status is not mentioned.
Restaurant Information
BROWN RICE Tokyo Omotesando
6. T’s Tantan / T’s Restaurant
Location: Jiyugaoka, Tokyo Station, and other locations
Restaurant Overview
Under a concept called “Smile Vege,” these restaurants serve vegan cuisine made without animal-derived ingredients including meat, seafood, eggs, and dairy products. The concept embraces “food barrier-free,” aiming to create spaces where people of different backgrounds and health conditions can share meals together.
Sustainability Initiatives
No meat, seafood, eggs, or dairy products are used. The “food barrier-free” concept aims to create environments where people with diverse backgrounds and health conditions can dine together. The restaurants have obtained vegan certification from NPO VegeProject Japan.
Best Suited For
Those seeking meals completely free from animal-derived ingredients. People with allergies or health-related dietary restrictions. Diners who connect with the “food barrier-free” philosophy. Anyone who values objective assurance through third-party certification.
Restaurant Information
T’s Tantan GRANSTA Tokyo
T’s Tantan Ikebukuro
T’s Restaurant
Additional Context
Common Decision Points
“Fully Vegan” vs. “Vegan Menu Available”
Some restaurants like SASAYA CAFE offer entirely vegan menus, while others like Mr.FARMER (except the Omotesando flagship) and CHAYA Macrobiotics include both vegan and non-vegan options. Neither approach is inherently better—what works depends on who you’re dining with and what you prioritize.
Variation in Information Disclosure
Some restaurants provide detailed explanations of their initiatives on official websites (such as Sens & Saveurs), while others simply note “vegan options available.” Limited information doesn’t necessarily mean limited practices, but it may leave you without the details you need to make an informed choice.
Third-Party Certification
Based on this review, T’s Tantan / T’s Restaurant has obtained vegan certification from NPO VegeProject Japan. Other restaurants reviewed did not display third-party certification logos or mentions (such as Vegan Society or VegeProject Japan) on their official websites, though this could change. The absence of certification isn’t necessarily problematic, but if you prioritize objective verification of vegan standards, direct inquiry with the restaurant may be necessary.
Areas Not Covered in Depth
- Energy efficiency and renewable energy: Most restaurants did not disclose this information
- Carbon footprint measurement and reduction: Nearly all restaurants lacked available information
- Labor conditions and diversity: Aside from T’s Tantan (food barrier-free concept), information was not available
A Note on Information Transparency
When choosing sustainable dining options, information disclosure itself serves as one indicator. However, limited public information doesn’t necessarily mean a restaurant isn’t taking action—it may simply reflect different priorities or approaches to disclosure.
If specific aspects matter to you, contacting restaurants directly may yield more detailed information.
Related article: Organic Restaurants in Tokyo: Understanding Certifications, Farm-to-Table Models, and Vegan Options
Closing Thoughts
This guide examines vegan restaurants in Tokyo based on information available on their official websites.
Some restaurants detail their ingredient sourcing channels. Others outline specific waste reduction measures. Some articulate philosophies like “food barrier-free.” A few have obtained third-party certification. Each restaurant has different strengths, and each has areas where information remains undisclosed.
There’s no single “correct” restaurant to choose. What matters is what you prioritize.
Do you want meals completely free from animal-derived ingredients, or are vegan options sufficient? Do you want to know about local sourcing or relationships with contract farms? Do you want to consider waste reduction and energy efficiency? Do you seek objective assurance through third-party certification? Do you value the transparency of information disclosure itself?
There’s no need to visit immediately. Choosing not to go, or deciding a restaurant isn’t right for you this time, are equally valid choices.
If this article helps you choose dining options based on your own criteria, it has served its purpose.
