Experiences / Dining
Shojin ryori — temple cuisine
精進料理 しょうじんりょうり
Food · Quiet · Wellness · Book ahead
The vegan cuisine of the Zen monasteries: sesame tofu, simmered vegetables, tempura of mountain herbs, rice and pickles, served in lacquer in a temple dining room or a specialist restaurant. It is the one fully vegetarian tradition in Japanese food and the most beautiful; a handful of temples in the centre and a few restaurants serve it to visitors by reservation.
- How to arrange it
- Book a week ahead; some temples serve only at lunch and only with a zazen session first.
- Price band
- ¥¥¥
- Allow
- 90 min
Where to book it
Ueno & Yanaka
Sasanoyuki
笹乃雪
¥¥ · 75 min · English: no
Founded in 1691 in Negishi, Sasanoyuki claims to be the birthplace of silken tofu (kinugoshi-dofu) in Edo and still serves a single fixed tofu-centered course in a wooden, traditional building, unchanged in spirit for over three centuries. It is one of Tokyo's oldest continuously operating tofu-cuisine houses, distinct from newer shojin-ryori restaurants aimed at tourists.
Roppongi & Azabu
Shojin Ryori Daigo
精進料理 醍醐
¥¥¥¥ · 120 min · English: partial
A two-Michelin-star restaurant near Atago Shrine that serves kaiseki-format shojin ryori built entirely around seasonal vegetables, tofu and yuba, with meals taken in individual tatami rooms rather than a shared hall. It is one of the few Tokyo restaurants presenting Buddhist temple cuisine at full-course fine-dining level rather than as a simplified set menu.
Named operators, each verified against its official site. We list the booking route and whether English is spoken; hours and prices live on the official site. All operators