Ryokan holidays as a vegetarian?

9 comments

1. In my experience most ryokan are very accommodating if you give them ample notice. I travelled with someone with a shellfish allergy to a few and never had any issues with them creating shellfish free meals. I’d assume they would do the same with vegetarian requests.

2. Might be an unpopular opinion amongst the purist high-rollers of jlife, but I always find ryokan meals to be way overpriced. So I look for plans without meals, and bring in whatever I feel like eating & drinking.

3. Contact ryokans that you’re interested in and see if they do vegetarian meals upon request.

4. A Temple stay might be your thing. Vegetarian food only and often located in really nice locations. Or give the Ryokan enough notice to prepare something else.

5. Almost all ryokan have traditional japanese meals, so not vegetarian. Changing that is not common but if you go to one that is used to foreign tourist, they might do it. Alternatively there are some ryokan that are part of a temple and offer 精進料理, which is vegetarian.

6. I’d also recommend asking. I’m a long time vegan and have found more often than not (and with advance notice of course) places can be quite accommodating or let you know when they aren’t.

7. No one working in a Japanese inn won’t know what shojin ryori is. Call up and ask if they can accommodate and if they seem confused reference Buddhist food. We’ve been to many places and either they understand and have an option or they make the normal stuff without the meat.

8. Check [Kunelasob](https://www.google.com/search?q=Kunelasob&tbm=isch) in Shikoku. I love the place and visited twice.

   A lovely couple restored an old farm and turned it into a *kind of* ryokan, but it’s obviously pretty laid back. They make amazing vegetarian meals that will be the highlight of the stay.

   It’s located in [Iya valley](https://www.google.com/search?q=iya+valley&tbm=isch), which is famous for its vine bridges and scarecrow village. Easily accessible by train from Tokyo station, surprisingly you can reach Oboke station with only one train change from Tokyo station!

9. I stayed at Onsen Seifuso in Yudanaka – they are known for catering to vegans. It was great. Try joining a Japan Veg group on Facebook and asking/searching there – you’re likely to find more info there than here.