By David, long-term Tokyo resident & food-loving traveler
Asakusa is one of the most visited places in Japan. Senso-ji, Tokyo’s oldest temple, sits at the heart of the district and in the streets around the temple grounds you can find hundreds of cafés, bars, and restaurants. I recommend you take a walk through the area and explore. Here are a few vegan places that serve traditional and modern Japanese dishes.
THE FARM CAFÉ
This cute place is located near the Ginza Line and Tobu Asakusa stations, close to the Tokyo Cruise building at Azumabashi Bridge. This is one of the few restaurants and cafés that face Sumida Park along Sumida River. Order the lunch plate if you want to try a selection of dishes. Other menu items include tempura-don (tempura on rice) or curry with a tempura topping. Please note that The Farm Café is only open for lunch and coffee.
Open Tuesday – Friday 11:30 – 15:00, Saturday & Sunday 10:00 – 15:00, Monday closed
Address: 1-3-3 Hanakawado, Taito-ku, Tokyo
PQ’s
PQ’s is a small vegan curry restaurant. If you like Japanese curry, it is worth the short 5-minute walk from Senso-ji Temple’s Main Hall into a more residential part of Asakusa. Make sure to check PQ’s sometimes irregular opening times here https://www.instagram.com/vegancurry/ and try their tasty and colorful creations. Many interesting local Asakusa bars and cafés are hiding in the small streets near PQ’s.
Address: 4-38-7 Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo
BON
BON offers traditional vegan cuisine called Fucha Ryori, a style of Shojin Ryori. This is the cuisine developed by Buddhist monks in Japan. Dinner courses let you try a number of different dishes in one meal. A lunch course and lunch box are also available on weekdays. BON is located close to Otori Shrine between Asakusa and Iriya Station, a 10-minute walk from Senso-ji Temple’s Main Hall.
Open 12:00 – 15:00 & 17:00 – 21:00, Sunday & holidays 12:00 – 15:00 & 17:00 – 20:00, Wednesday closed.
Address: 1-2-11 Ryusen, Taito-ku, Tokyo
For snacks and sweets, I recommend checking out VEGAN STORE. It is a combination of a convenience store and a small café. Upstairs you can sit. The shop is located near the Tsukuba Express Station between Senso-ji Temple and Kappabashi (the best place in Tokyo to buy knives, tableware, and cooking utensils).
VEGAN STORE
Open 6:00 – 23:00, Monday closed
Address: 2-25-9 Nishi-Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo
https://www.veganstore.jp/store/
For more local Asakusa and Tokyo travel advice, I recommend visiting the Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center in front of Senso-ji Temple’s Kaminarimon Gate.
Click the link below to read this related article you might like: “Travel tips for eating and drinking in Japan” https://authentic-tokyo.com/news/detail?news_id=676