7 Vegan-Friendly Fine Dining Restaurants in Ginza

More Vegan-Friendly Dining Options Are Emerging in Ginza

In Japan, an increasing number of restaurants—including prestigious establishments listed in the Michelin Guide—are offering vegan menus. Traditional Japanese dining styles such as kaiseki and shojin ryori have long emphasized plant-based ingredients, making it relatively seamless for these restaurants to accommodate vegan preferences. Kaiseki is a refined multi-course meal composed of beautifully presented small dishes, while shojin ryori is a Buddhist vegetarian cuisine rooted in spiritual and culinary tradition.

Ginza, renowned as one of Japan’s premier gourmet destinations, is home to many of the country’s finest dining establishments. Several high-end restaurants in this area now offer thoughtfully crafted courses tailored to various dietary needs. In particular, top-class sushi and kaiseki restaurants are elevating Japanese cuisine and hospitality to new heights, ensuring that even guests with dietary restrictions can experience the essence of Japanese culinary artistry.

7 Vegan-Friendly Fine Dining Restaurants in Ginza

1. Gucci Osteria da Massimo Bottura Tokyo / Italian

Gucci Osteria da Massimo Bottura Tokyo, created by the iconic global fashion house Gucci, is a culinary jewel that has earned one Michelin star for four consecutive years. It has also been selected twice as one of Japan’s Top 100 Restaurants on a major gourmet review platform—an accolade that speaks to its exceptional quality and creativity.

Here, tradition meets innovation in a sophisticated expression of modern Italian cuisine—playful, elegant, and artistically inspired. Guests can immerse themselves in a refined dining experience where Italian culinary heritage is reimagined through a contemporary lens. Vegan requests can be accommodated with advance notice; simply include your dietary preferences in the special request section when making your reservation.

Chef Raffaella De Vita, who honed her craft across various regions of Italy, brings not only culinary expertise but also a profound appreciation for Japanese culture. Her dishes seamlessly blend authentic Italian techniques with Japanese ingredients and sensibilities, resulting in an exquisite, cross-cultural gastronomic experience.

Located on the top floor of Gucci’s flagship store, “Gucci Namiki,” the restaurant offers an ambiance akin to an art gallery. In addition to the 40-seat main dining area, the property also features eight fully private rooms (available for a minimum of two guests), making it ideal for intimate gatherings, special occasions, or business dining.

2. Sushi Kanesaka (鮨 かねさか) / Sushi

Sushi Kanesaka is a celebrated establishment that has earned both one and two Michelin stars multiple times, alongside numerous accolades on Japan’s leading gourmet review platform. Upon request via the special request section at booking, the restaurant can thoughtfully prepare a vegan-friendly menu.

Chef Shinji Kanesaka, the owner and master craftsman, refined his skills over a decade at prestigious sushi restaurants in Tokyo. He aspires to create perfectly balanced sushi—much like the simplicity and harmony of the Japanese character “一” (ichi). Every gesture in the shaping of each piece is deliberate, reflecting precision and elegance. From the maturation of the fish to control of temperature and humidity, each element of the sushi—topping, sushi rice, and wasabi—is carefully harmonized.Only the finest ingredients are selected, judged with discerning expertise, and treated with the most suitable preparation for peak flavor.

The interior is simple yet dignified, free from unnecessary embellishment, allowing guests to fully engage with the artistry unfolding behind the counter. With overseas branches, Sushi Kanesaka is also known for being foreigner-friendly. English drink menus are available, and basic communication in English is possible, making it welcoming to international guests.

3. Tempura Mochiku (てんぷら 茂竹) / Tempura

Tempura Mochiku is a long-standing specialist in tempura (Japanese deep-fried delicacies), founded in 1914 and celebrated as one of the Top 100 restaurants in Japan on three separate occasions. Now led by its fourth-generation owner, Chef Yuta Nishizawa—who trained at a traditional ryotei (high-end Japanese restaurant)—the restaurant offers a fresh interpretation of classic tempura, blending time-honored techniques with contemporary creativity.

While true vegan options are not available due to the use of egg in the tempura batter, the restaurant can prepare a vegetable-only menu upon request. Guests wishing for a plant-focused selection are encouraged to specify their preferences in the special request section during booking.

Ingredients are meticulously selected from Toyosu Market, focusing on peak-season produce. The tempura is fried using 100% sesame oil, handcrafted over three days using the traditional Edo-period “tamashime-shibori” pressing method. This results in oil of stunning amber color, producing tempura that is exceptionally light, crisp, and aromatic, while allowing the natural flavors of the ingredients to shine.

The intimate, Japanese-style interior features an 8-seat U-shaped counter, ensuring every guest can enjoy close-up views of the chef’s craftsmanship. English menus are available, making it a comfortable choice for international diners.

4. Ginza Umi (銀座海味) / Sushi

Ginza Umi is a sushi restaurant operated by Aoyama Umi, a renowned establishment that earned two Michelin stars for ten consecutive years. Vegan requests can be accommodated by specifying any ingredients you cannot eat in the special request section when making a reservation.

To ensure the highest quality, ingredients are carefully sourced from across Japan, selecting only the freshest and most flavorful seasonal items. The rice used for sushi is treated with the utmost care: they use organic Hitomebore rice, preserved in a vacuum as “hibernation rice,” and cooked to perfection in a donabe (earthenware pot) crafted by the famous Shigaraki Kumoigama, enhancing the natural sweetness and texture of the grains.

Beyond seafood, Ginza Umi places equal emphasis on vegetables, favoring naturally grown, non-industrial produce. Seasonal vegetables, cultivated in environments close to nature, are showcased to highlight their natural flavors, creating dishes that celebrate the essence of each season.

While the restaurant embodies traditional elegance and formality, the approachable and warm hospitality of the chef and staff ensures a relaxed dining experience. English menus are available, and fully private rooms for two guests make it an ideal choice for intimate meals or special occasions.

5. Ginza ETHICA / Innovative

Ginza ETHICA, selected three times as a Michelin-Selected Restaurant, is an innovative dining destination that blends ethical principles with traditional Mexican cuisine. “Ethical” refers to choices that are socially and environmentally responsible, reflecting care for people and the planet.Through the OMAKASE platform, two vegan-friendly dinner courses are available for reservation.

Chef Tetsuo Nakajima, a seasoned chef who honed his skills traveling across Mexico, prepares dishes using ethically sourced ingredients with traditional Mexican culinary techniques. Vegetables are procured from contracted farms or grown in urban farms that utilize vacant city lots, while herbs and produce are chosen for their sustainability and environmental impact.

The restaurant also offers a wide selection of rare natural wines, curated by a sommelier trained at a three-Michelin-starred restaurant.

The interior, crafted using reclaimed materials, exudes the warmth of natural wood. The five table settings can be joined together to accommodate larger groups, making the space versatile for both intimate and social dining experiences.

6. Ginza Kushikatsubon (銀座 串かつ凡) / Kushikatsu

Ginza Kushikatsubon is the Ginza branch of Kita-Shinchi Kushikatsubon, a restaurant that has earned eight Michelin stars. Due to the use of lard in the frying oil, fully vegan options are not available, but several vegetable-based skewers may accommodate some vegetarian preferences.

A hallmark of Kushikatsubon’s kushikatsu (deep-fried skewers) is that they do not leave the typical greasy aftertaste often associated with fried foods. To achieve this lightness, the batter is kept thin, and panko breadcrumbs are finely ground twice for an exceptionally delicate coating. The frying oil is a blend of lard and silkseed oil (derived from cottonseed), resulting in a neutral, mild flavor. Skilled chefs carefully monitor the frying process, ensuring each skewer is cooked perfectly without absorbing excess oil.

The elegant interior features a 14-seat U-shaped counter, allowing guests to watch the artisans at work, as well as two fully private rooms. With English-labeled drink menus, international guests can dine comfortably without language barriers.

7. Menya Shichisai (麺や七彩) / Ramen

Menya Shichisai is a renowned ramen restaurant featured in the Michelin Bib Gourmand and selected six times among Japan’s Top 100 Ramen shops. The owner is committed to mukacho (no chemical seasonings), ensuring all ramen is prepared without artificial additives.

The restaurant offers fully vegan, all-vegetable dishes such as tantanmen (spicy sesame noodle soup) and mapo tofu (spicy tofu in chili sauce). Guests can specify their dietary preferences in the special request section when making a reservation.

A unique feature of Menya Shichisai is that noodles are freshly made in front of each guest after ordering. This allows diners to enjoy the fragrant aroma and firm texture of freshly kneaded wheat while observing the entire noodle-making process. Noodles can also be substituted with gluten-free harusame (mung bean-starch) noodles, a popular option among health-conscious diners.

The café-style interior is bright, modern, and clean. With English-labeled menus and ticket machines, as well as English-speaking staff, international guests can dine comfortably and confidently.