Vegan
Vegetarian food (Shojin Ryori) located inside Sogen Garden of the Tenryu-ji temple, Arashiyama. Garden admission fee is 500 Yen. Address in Japanese: 京都府京都市右京区嵯峨天龍寺芒ノ馬場68. Open Mon-Sun 11:00am-2:00pm.
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Last update on 08 Oct 2014 by Guest
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73 Reviews
First Review by backpasher
NadineRabenstein
Points +64
Headache - Edit
It was closed. Instead of updating their website, Google maps Or writing it at the entrance we had to make the Treck until right before the restaurant to see the small sign that it is closed :(
Read moreGuest
CameronFinley
Points +65
Some of the prettiest food we had in Japan - Edit
In my opinion, there's not much I didn't love about dining at Shigetsu. First of all, the setting is magnificent. Tucked away in a semi-secluded area on the Tenryuji temple grounds in a beautiful machiya style building. The hosts and servers were fantastically polite, friendly, and efficient. We ordered the Yuki set meal thinking that it would be just enough for a light lunch at the smallest set offering. It was still a good amount of food and neither my partner or I were able to finish everything. Even though most of the food was simply prepared (being shojin ryori this wasn't a surprise), the plating and presentation were absolutely stunning. Everything from the serving trays, to the plateware, to the individual vegetable pieces were magazine pretty. I was not able to identify all of the food, but most of it was at lesat somewhat recognizable. There were mushrooms, butdock root, daikon radish, yuba, plain white rice as a backdrop, miso glazed eggplant, and more. Such a terrific array of colors, textures, and temperatures. They really considered all of your senses when designing this menu. The miso glazed eggplant was seriously one of the best things I've ever eaten. It was sweet, savory, blasted with umami and very luxurious. I wish I had asked about it's preparation while I was there. The meal was finished off with simple orange slices and strawberries that were perfectly sweet and refreshing. I would not hesitate to dine there again if I ever find myself back in Kyoto. It's a must eat for any plant-based or vegan visitors.
Read morePros: Presentation was stunning and food delicious., Affordable; service and hospitality on point. , The setting is gorgeous.
Cons: Sitting on the floor was tough but you get a chair
plantpowergirl
Great review Cameron. Thank you for the details about the Yuki being being enough for lunch. It looked light, but now I am confident it will be enough for us as well.
Read moreGuest
p.skillz
Points +504
Outstanding - Edit
We went to Shigetsu for lunch on our last day in Japan. They make shojin ryori (Zen vegetarian cuisine) at Shigetsu, a large temple-style restaurant surrounded by the natural beauty of Tenryu-ji’s World Heritage gardens. We had our own private room and enjoyed rice, soup and nine side dishes. The food and the experience were outstanding. You have to book in advance and we booked the most expensive menu, which was still only about £45 each. Great value for the quality of the food, and when you consider we had our own private dining room just for two people. You can get a menu for about a third of that, but the people who did that, were in a big room with 20 or 30 other people.
Read morePros: Amazing food, Stunning location
Guest
Emmalot
Points +165
Amazing - Edit
Great temple food. Come hungry! Everything is so beautiful and tastes good. The place is also nice and peaceful. Need to reserve in advance!
Read moreYou have to buy an entrance ticket for the garden to get to the restaurant - but on the other hand you get to enjoy the garden before or after eating. I've been there twice (-23 and -24). The menu didn't differ much but I would definitely come again if I ever come back to Kyoto.
Pros: Food is great, Peaceful place, A lot to eat
Cons: Need to reserve (early?), Not a cheap option
Guest
JuRibeiro
Points +110
Great surprise - Edit
If you want to experience temple food, this is the place!
Read moreWe went in without a reservation. Though they offer 3 set menus, only one is available without a reservation (the smallest - 3,800 yen). You will sit sideways with your party while facing other customers on the other side of the aisle. The standard is to sit on the floor, but small chairs are offered if you need.
The meal is a set of small plates, each with different items (some savory, some sweet). It is a weird experience to eat without knowing what it is or what it will taste like, but we truly enjoyed it. Though it was the smallest meal, it is clearly not small; my husband ate it all, but I wasn’t able to finish every single dish. The standard drink is Japanese hot tea, but you can order cold drinks as well (water, soda, etc).
The experience overall was truly fantastic! The atmosphere, the silence, the food - everything was worth it! Highly recommend it!
Pros: Food, Atmosphere
Guest
drea1981
Points +806
Underwhelming/ bland / disappointing - Edit
I feel as though you are paying for the privilege of sitting in the temple while eating. The food should be 1 star. It has no taste / texture is sometimes gross . We purchased the 9000 yen each and we were not able to eat much of it . And we are very open to eating and trying all kinds of food . We even had the tofu set down the street from the temple for 3000 yen each and it was amazing ! If you’re going to go for the experience I’d say get the cheapest meal. The most expensive one only comes with two more dishes for an extra 50$ basically. Definitely isn’t worthy in my opinion controls many delicious high end meals I’ve had all over Japan . Would not recommend.
Read moreGuest
NathaliaZimmermann
Points +304
Delicious temple food and experience - Edit
I almost missed that the restaurant was inside the garden so we wanted to leave already just as we saw it.
Read moreThe food was amazing! Different small dishes, each unique in taste and visual quality, even though we didn't know what everything was. The place is really nice and traditional. The price is a little higher than other places but it's totally worth it!
Updated from previous review on 2024-03-25
Pros: Amazing food, Traditional place, Worth the price
Guest
LakshanFernando
Points +50
Great shojin ryori experience - Edit
Wanted to try this vegan experience since reading about it. I was so happy when the Happy Cow app showed this place when I was visiting the temple. The food, the separate dishes, sitting on the mat, dining with the other guests were an experience that I would carry for ever of my visit to Japan!
Read moreHoneyHan
Hi just curious whether u made a reservation or walk-in?
Read moreGuest
20tleeper
Points +93
A Must Do Experience - Edit
If you are vegan or have any desire to explore traditional Buddhist cuisine, please come here. It will not disappoint. The food was delicious and unlike anything I have ever had in my life. It was also a very filling and clean meal. I felt very satisfied and genuinely felt good after eating it. Some of the food was a little unidentifiable, so I didn’t know everything I was eating…but it was all good. It was of course on the more expensive side of eating in Kyoto but it is understandable why.
Read morePros: The Ambiance, Serving Size
Cons: Some food wasn’t identifiable
Guest
Thunderflop
Points +124
Experience 10/10 - Edit
Shigetsu offers tasty veganized Japanese dishes in a beautiful setting. You will be sitting on tatami mats, savoring every bite of their traditional flavors. Staff is very friendly and they speak English.
Read moreGuest
FaithUgates
Points +412
It was an experience - Edit
It was my first time dining in a restaurant like this and having a shojin ryori meal. This is heaven for a vegan/vegetarian and a must try if you are visiting the area. I ordered the least expensive set but I still ended up very full. I love everything about it, the food, the ambiance, the location and the staff. #Veganuary
Read moreGuest
Tyrni
Points +36
Really good Shojin Ryori - Edit
I was a bit wary since the area around the temple is quite touristy, but the food was fantastic. I haven't had Shojin Ryori anywhere else so I cannot compare it to anything, but everything was delicious and the flavors were very unique for me.
Read moreI paid 3300 JPY for the set menu but prices are due to increase shortly according to the website. There are other higher priced sets where you get more courses. It is a relatively high price considering how inexpensively you can eat in Japan, but it was well worth it for me and I got plenty of food.
Guest
KatharinaW.
Points +60
Very good! - Edit
While this spot is in the middle of such a large tourist attraction and the restaurant seems to run like a well-oiled machine, it is still very good and very worth visiting.
Read moreI arrived without reservation and was served the Yuki/Snow course. It was a full tablet of temple cuisine with a big pot of tea. Among different kinds of veggies, I was served Yuba, Konjak, Rice, Goma Dofu, spinach in Yuzu - A very good mix of flavours.
To my delight they kept bringing more food, so I also received a pumpkin soup with a rice cake, a fresh sweet potato croquette and seasonal fruit.
The food was very good. I ate a lot of temple cuisine in Japan and this was definitely among my favorites. Like mentioned before, temple cuisine tries to preserve the original flavours of the ingredients and can therefore be a bit on the bland side. I found this course to be much more flavorsome than some others I tried.
If you have the chance, don't miss this spot!
I paid 3300 Yen for the whole course tea.
Updated from previous review on 2023-10-23
Pros: Great Seasonal Food!, Friendly English-speaking staff
Cons: A bit on the touristy side
Guest
Beverlovely
Points +19
Not the best - Edit
The venue is lovely and the staff very nice but unfortunately we found the food bland and sometimes unidentifiable. I understand this is a temple and the food is simple but it was not for us.
Read morePros: Soup was nice, Presentation of food
Cons: Found food bland, Unidentifiable
Guest
Gub
Points +82
Spectacular experience in a unique setting - Edit
We pre-booked the Hana course which included a private room. After entering without shoes we were seated on the floor at our individual tables and the servers brought the courses. Although each of the 15 or so individual dishes was quite small, there was so much food I was the most full I’ve been in a long time.
Read moreWe were not told what all of the dishes were so I would only recommend this to open-minded eaters. Fussy eaters probably won’t enjoy the mystery!
Although it may seem expensive compared to other meals in Japan (around £90 total for the two of us), it was such a special experience which we’ll remember forever.
Pros: An opportunity to try many traditional foods, All vegan, Unique setting
Cons: It would be nice to know what each dish was
Guest
mcallavera
Points +178
Interesting experience - Edit
Lunch was a completely new experience to us. Relaxing atmosphere and extremely nice staff. The food was wonderfully arranged but some of it was really strange to our western palates. You could tell it was high quality though. I found the price for our menu a bit steep at 5500¥. There are cheaper menus though, which I would probably recommend if you are not used to this kind of cuisine.
Read moreGuest
RainbowTrainy
Points +1198
A relaxing dining experience! - Edit
My boyfriend and I each had the HANA course which consists of rice, soup, and 7 side dishes for ￥8.000,- per person. The staff was super friendly, and the dishes were presented so beautifully. A relaxing experience where we sat on the floor and drank tea. The food was partly bland and slimey, but that is so be expected from this kitchen. Overall, a good experience and would recommend 🌱✨
Read morePros: Relaxing atmosphere , Beautiful food
Cons: Slimey food
Guest
Osnati
Points +44
An unforgettable experience - Edit
Traditional dishes, very well thought out and delicious. Unique textures and flavors. We have not identified all the ingredients. The meat eater enjoyed the meal very much, he was ready to eat such a meal every day and join the vegan community
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2023-08-27
Guest
SJ738
Points +138
Once In A Lifetime Experience - Edit
Once in a lifetime experience of multi-course vegan Japanese food. Each course uniquely prepared with fresh vegetables and authentic flavor. Reserve in advance, higher price allows for more courses and private room.
Read moreGuest
syong2
Points +174
Traditional Japanese Vegan Meal in Exceptional Environment - Edit
When we first did our research on this restaurant which was part of our Kyoto trip planning to Arashiyama, we were initially put off by how expensive the meals were. However, we decided to take the plunge and eat here since it is not every day that we as vegans get to enjoy traditional Japanese Vegan meals in such a great environment. And we were not disappointed. The food was great (we are asian so rice-based food tend to be great for us) and the environment excellent. We also saw that the restaurant was recognized by Michelin. The online reservation process was super-easy (Thanks to Google Translate), but you must do it at least 3 days in advance. The reservation gets sent to your email, and we just showed the receptionist our email confirmation and we were escorted to our seats.
Read morePros: Unique cultural experience
Cons: Expensive
Guest
Nattata
Points +365
Worth it for the experience - Edit
Shojin ryori is not the most flavorful cuisine. The meal was fairly austere flavor-wise, though quite pretty. However if you are a tourist to Kyoto looking for a shojin ryori experience without breaking the bank, this is the place to go. I wouldn't eat here every day, but I would recommend everyone eat here once.
Read morePros: Cultural experience, unique food
Cons: Not super tasty
Guest
MariaD
Points +2610
Wonderful experience and fantastic Zen Buddhist food - Edit
Loved the authentic dining experience! Went pretty early at their opening time at 11am because we didn't have a reservation. Thankfully, they were able to accommodate us pretty quickly! You are required to take your shoes off and then are guided to a shared dining room where you sit on the floor on tatami.
Read moreThe food was delicious! The eggplant and the sesame tofu were the winners! Plus, green tea is included in the set. Additional drinks like hot sake, wine, oolong tea, etc. can be ordered at an additional cost.
The food was enjoyed by vegans and non-vegans alike😄The only set available was the cheapest one at 3300 yen which was fantastic because the sets can get pretty pricey at 5000 yen. Definitely recommend this place!
Pros: All vegan!
Guest
nerissawvh
Points +165
A cultural experience - Edit
During high season it is less peaceful but we enjoyed it. Wasn't easy to reserve online due to language issue although chrome browser translates pretty well. Must reserve in advance
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2023-04-16
Pros: Beautiful presentation of local food , Stunning gardens in spring , Traditional tatami setting
Cons: Seated close to other tourists who may be talking , Not easy to find. Ask and look for signs, Food is exotic and you have to be open minded
Guest
hotmilk993
Points +452
Great food but hectic environment - Edit
The restaurant is located inside the Tenryuji Temple complex which is swarmed with tourists (you need to pay garden entrance to reach the restaurant, but it’s cheap and the garden is nice). The restaurant itself has a bit of a theme park restaurant vibe as a result. I think there are some private rooms but most people sit in large rooms (like a dining hall) where you are very close to other parties.
Read moreWe got the cheapest menu and it was very filling, so don’t worry about that when selecting your course!
Reserve in advance.
Guest
Ebsveg
Points +2193
Unique experience - Edit
Honestly this is a 10/10 experience that I really recommend to anyone if they can go. Food wise maybe more so 8/10. I loved half the dishes, liked a quarter and wasn't super fond of the last quarter but that's why I liked about the experience. You get to try such a variety and between all 3 of us we all loved different dishes which I loved.
Read moreAlthough the sign outside said fully booked we walked in at opening and they said there was space, so if it says fully booked i think just try and see if there is space. It is pricey and you do have to pay entry to the garden (500 yen) but it was such an amazing experience I think it's really worth doing.
Guest
cheerfulgoat
Points +245
Very disappointing - Edit
Was so excited to try this place and yet it wound up being both our worst and most expensive meal. It’s very much a texture experience and not one I liked. My group of four had three haters and one “it was fine.” I’ve had temple food a few times now and this was by far the least appetizing. The experience itself was nice though.
Read morePros: Quite a bit of food, Nice atmosphere eating in rows with everyone else
Cons: Did not enjoy the food, Expensive
Guest
jollieduck
Points +1915
A sublime experience - Edit
A delightful and delicious vegan spread inside of a UNESCO world cultural site. I really enjoyed the experience, although and not completely sure about the composition of everything that I ate as there were no explanations for the set menu. I ordered the smallest option at 3,300 Yen and it was more than enough food.
Read moreEveryone sits on the ground in a long row, facing another row of diners. I was happy to be on the end to get an oblique view of the gardens outside.
They were fully booked for the day when I arrived, so I’m glad I had made a reservation before my trip.
Updated from previous review on 2023-03-19
Guest
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