Living A Healthy Vegetarian Life In Japan

Photo by Pixta
Vegetarian culture has drawn a lot of attention in Japan these days. Though it is not widely spread yet compared to overseas, it is possible to enjoy a vegetarian or vegan (no animal products whatsoever) life in Japan.

Get Protein from Tofu or Natto

No one can survive without protein but getting the necessary amount each day without animal products can be difficult if you don't know where to look. In Japan, supermarkets or convenience stores are your best option. You can buy tofu in many different varieties for anywhere from 80-200 yen per package, and natto (fermented soy beans) for 90-200 yen for a 2-3 box set.

Juices and Smoothies to Go

When you get thirsty, you can get original juices or smoothies at juice bars in many stations or the lower floors of department stores. Be careful though - some smoothies may contain milk, so please double-check the labels or ask the staff before ordering.

Pictures on a Menu

There are hundreds of good restaurants in Japan though until very recently not many had vegetarian options available on the menu. That being said, most menus come with pictures of each dish, so if you are at a shop that does not mention its vegetarian/vegan status clearly, these pictures may be the best means of identifying what foods you can and cannot enjoy. If you do not eat dairy or egg products, you may need to check the menu (usually on the back or last pages) for the restaurant's allergy information, or ask the staff.

Choose Your Favorite Delicatessen

The basement floors of department stores typically have large delicatessen sections. You can buy pre-packed salads or order salad sold by weight at these shops. As the department stores of late tend to have signs in multiple languages, you may be able to check for yourself whether or not something is safe for your to eat; if not, ask the staff.

Vegetarian Ingredients

Photo by Pixta
The number of shops and companies selling animal-ingredient free food has been on the rise in recent years. As the picture above shows, vegetarian curry powder is available, as are more raw nuts, dry fruits, tofu and non-dairy milk products, and so on.

Japan has a long tradition of vegetarian and semi-vegetarian cooking itself, so it is said that Western-style vegetarian culture will surely start to spread in Japan as interest in diets and worldly cuisine grows.

Though the reasons for being a vegetarian vary, be they religious, environment or health based, cross-cultural understanding and a little extra research will help to make living a healthy vegetarian life in Japan possible.