Culinary Adventures Across Four Cities
From Street Eats to Fine Dining in Japan and Okinawa
When you travel as a plant-based eater, every meal is a gamble—and trust me, there were plenty of delicious surprises and moments of "uh-oh" during our culinary adventures in Japan and Okinawa. From the hustle and bustle of Tokyo’s convenience store delights to the peaceful beachside meals in Okinawa, food was always at the heart of our experiences. It's always a mix of excitement and uncertainty when you’re in a foreign country, trying to translate menus, and assuming to a certain extent what's vegetarian—but that’s the fun of it, right? Not to mention, there’s always a lesson in flexibility.
Tokyo:
In Tokyo, convenience stores became my best friend. With their 24/7 accessibility, I found myself popping into Lawson and 7-Eleven several times a day for quick and easy meals. Onigiri, with its variety of seaweed and pickled vegetable fillings, became my staple—2 to 3 of these little rice balls a day were my fuel, especially after walking 10+ miles. Though, to my surprise, some of the “vegetarian” options I picked up were far from it. Let’s just say, I learned to always double-check ingredients—something that’s harder than it sounds when you don’t speak the language!
Breakfast was a bit of a challenge due to jet lag. We were up at the crack of dawn and ended up in Denny's one morning, which was a surprise. I indulged in eggplant, sunny side-up eggs, and corn soup—simple but so good, especially when you’re absolutely starving.
When we went for sit-down meals, I gravitated toward tofu curry and tried my best to avoid any sneaky fish-based ingredients that somehow make their way into my bowl. One memorable meal was miso soup—I forgot to ask about fish and there were mussels at the bottom of the bowl I didn’t see till I was slurping my last sip. Oops!
Osaka:
Our culinary experience in Osaka was all about street food and quick bites since we weren’t in the city too long. One afternoon, while wandering the city, I found Indoshama Vegan Indian Restaurant in Osaka, a solid win. They served up the largest piece of na’an I’ve ever seen. Dinner, however, took a surprising turn after having trouble finding something to eat that wasn’t deep fried or from a convenience store. I ended up eating breakfast for dinner, more specifically soufflé pancakes, which I had been looking forward to trying. Definitely not the dinner I had in mind, but it was an experience! Benny, on the other hand, devoured his seafood conveyor belt sushi with gusto, and I learned that sometimes being flexible with my plant-based diet makes travel a lot easier.
Kyoto:
On the Go:
In Kyoto, staying hydrated was key, and I couldn’t resist trying all the peach-flavored drinks—peach water, peach soda, and even peach alcohol. If it was peach, it was in my glass! I also had my heart set on trying vegan ice cream at a local flower shop, which I thought was such a cool concept. They were selling bouquets of flowers and delicious, delicate-looking ice cream, but sadly, they were sold out of the vegan options by the time I got there. I must admit, I’d fallen prey to the online hype a few times on this trip, and this was no exception. I’d been looking forward to trying candy-covered berries, cloud-shaped cake, cheese coins, because they all just looked so fun to eat. But in reality, they fell flat.
What ended up being my favorite was a simpler meal, a cute mini apple, a bottle of peach water, and a ginger salad. I grabbed these just before riding the bullet train (definitely an unexpected gem). These simple yet perfect snacks ended up being the real winners for me during this trip.
Sit-Down Meals:
Breakfast at the Hyatt Kyoto was an absolute treat. The buffet offered a spread that had everything you could possibly need to start the day: fresh bread, pastries, fruit, and plenty of coffee. It was the perfect way to fuel up before a day of exploring the city.
I also couldn't resist the tempura, and we found a spot we loved so much we kept going back. They were amazing at labeling vegan options in several languages, which made it so easy to know exactly what I was eating. The batter was light, and the vegetables were cooked perfectly. I also had some miso soup and a ginger salad to complement the meal—simple but so satisfying. And of course, no trip to Kyoto would be complete without indulging in some curry. It was the perfect comfort food after a busy day of sightseeing.
Dinner at Menbaka Fire Ramen was unforgettable. The place is known for its fire ramen, where they pour flaming oil over the ramen right in front of you. Of course, I was mistakenly served beef ramen at first, but luckily, I caught the mistake before digging in. They quickly fixed it and served me a delicious vegan ramen that was well worth the wait after a full day of exploring. Benny devoured his beef ramen, fried rice, and vegan dumplings (that I couldn’t finish)—clearly, he was more than happy with the food!
Okinawa:
On the Go:
We didnt run aroound too much in Okinawa because of the beautiful hotel we were staying at. At the airport, I had my second-ever experience with tofu pillows stuffed with rice—and I was hooked. On the way back to the hotel we grabbed everything our hands could carry on our bikes, which was actually a decent amount. lots of drinks, coffee, juice, water alcohol etc but the usual onigiri, sandos, and salty/sweet treats as well. My favorite snacks were, hands down, the seaweed chips. The freshest, crunchiest snack that made me feel like I was fully embracing the local flavors but let us be real I was already addicted to these back home. I even tracked some down back home in Orlando.
Sit-Down Meals:
Okinawa was the perfect place to slow our pace down, and the food scene was more elegant then most of the other meals as we ate mostly at the hotel. The breakfast buffet at the hotel offered every variety of food imaginable, as did their lunch and dinner options. The hotel served incredible meals, offering everything from vegetarian corn soup to veggie sushi in the dining room. We did manage to take the hotel bikes down to a few restaurants during our stay. I opted for mixed veggies in some form or another.
Traveling as a plant-based eater can definitely present its challenges, but I’ve learned that flexibility and curiosity lead to the most memorable meals. From onigiri in Tokyo to the vegan naan in Osaka, and even seaweed chips in Okinawa, food was not just sustenance—it was part of the experience. Whether it was indulging in dreamy cakes in Kyoto or discovering local delicacies, I was always able to find a way to enjoy the culinary offerings of Japan and Okinawa. In the end, it wasn’t always about sticking to my rigid diet, but embracing the journey and savoring the flavors along the way.
