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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.
104 Reviews
First Review by backpasher
rebea
Points +429
Great lunch - Edit
Fresh vegetable, really delicate flavors and quite filling too. Prices are quite high compared to other restaurants in Japan, but it’s a good experience. There was lots of tourists being loud though which ruined it a little unfortunately
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2026-09-25
Guest
michelav
Points +937
Amazing authentic temple food experience - Edit
To begin with you eat on a tatami with the traditional low single table. There’s many menus to pick from but the day we went it was only one. The food was great and the hot tea accompanying was also very tasty. We loved the stuffed aubergine.
Read moreYou have to pay the 500¥ fee of the garden visit, but after that you have direct access also to the bamboo forest (without having to go around a lot)
Updated from previous review on 2026-08-12
Pros: Authentic experience, Green michelin
Guest
vkb007
Points +510
Amazing dining experience - Edit
Amazing vegetarian restaurant inside the gardens of Tenryu-ji. You need to purchase the ¥500 entry tickets first per person to enter the garden area. No a-LA-carte menu, just 3 types of set menu. Only 1 on menu today, the ¥3800 option. You have to sit cross legged in typical Japanese style. If you cannot do that, they provide low chairs. The place is very neat. Service excellent. The food is a big variety.so you get to taste a lot of items. My favorite is the miso eggplant, which is outstanding. Lot of options, not your standard sushi or ramen. The ingredients taste fresh. Loved it
Read moreGuest
plantaciousvivacious0
Points +292
Worth doing! - Edit
It was definitely worth it to eat here! It was a lovely, serene experience sitting on the floor of this beautiful building and enjoying the set course meal (presented quite elegantly).
Read moreWe were given a menu explaining the courses (I Google-Lens'ed it, then forgot to take a picture for HappyCow, gosh darn it). The meal: First, they served a soymilk hot pot, which you are meant to allow to cook until the flame expires. Next, they brought us a tray with a variety of things including homemade tofu, "pungent roots," shredded yam, rice, I think tahini-covered broccolini, and a plate with some assorted sweets, including one sort of rice/mochi/sweet dumpling thing wrapped in what I'm guessing is a rice leaf (and I'm also assuming you're not supposed to eat the leaf). These plates offered an impressive variety of flavor.
Lastly, they served us a viscous mushroom stew of some sort, and fresh fruit.
The meal came with green tea and oolong tea served before and after the meal.
Just to prepare you if you're a tourist like me and not used to Japanese temple customs: you have to pay a small fee to enter the temple grounds; at the restaurant you must remove your shoes, sit on the floor, and wear the designated bathroom slippers in the bathrooms. There was a person who had trouble sitting on the floor, and the staff did offer a short chair (proactively, without being asked). Great service on top of a delectable meal.
Afterwards, it was spectacular to wander the temple and nearby bamboo forest.
Quick side note: after the forest, we went to Jojakkoji Temple and wandered the garden, which ascends quite a ways up to a nature-immersed spot with a beautiful view of Kyoto city; I highly recommend that walk as well!
Updated from previous review on 2026-01-25
Pros: Delicious, Variety of flavor, Unique, peaceful, relaxing environment
Cons: It's a little expensive, but worth it, Pre-set menu (I loved that; some folks don't)
Guest
belarjalea
Points +158
Preciosa experiencia - pero masificada - Edit
El sitio es una maravilla, el personal es amable y servicial, la comida está muy rica (con muchos ingredientes, texturas y sabores que desconocemos en Europa), pero los turistas son HORRIBLES. Me da pena que permitan entrar a personas que solo están interesadas en hacer fotos y vídeos (incluso de los trabajadores y otras personas que van a comer) aunque haya muchísimos carteles pidiendo que NO se haga. Gente maleducada que grita, se ríe fuerte… sólo les interesa publicar en instagram.
Read moreEs una pena que un sitio así sea tan trendy porque esas personas arruinan la preciosa experiencia.
Pros: comida muy interesante y distinta, el sitio es precioso
Cons: es un poco caro, se ha convertido en una experiencia instagrameable
Guest
Melissa39
Points +136
Still best vegan meal experience in Japan - Edit
This is our second time coming here (first in mid 2024) and remains our favorite meal experience as vegans in Japan. The Hana wasn’t available last time but was this time. They give you a ton of food that’s just incredible. Simple flavoring but very delicious and unique. Highly recommend!
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2026-02-02
Guest
melkrych
Points +79
Such a unique experience - Edit
This was such an incredible unique experience. The food was so different than anything I had before but it was so tasty. The experience of the restaurant is something I’d strongly recommend and the location is absolutely beautiful.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2025-12-30
Pros: Unique experience , Beautiful location , Unique food
Cons: A bit pricey , Sometimes might need reservation
Guest
Tsukimi
Points +8263
Love this place - Edit
I’ve been here 3 times over the years and it’s always a culinary pleasure. Every little dish tastes wonderful.
Read moreThe staff is so nice and the location is just gorgeous!
Updated from previous review on 2025-12-30
Guest
steveveg
Points +3309
Wonderful temple Shojin Ryori lunch - Edit
We were only able to reserve the smallest lunch option - the Yuki set with rice, soup and 5 dishes. They also offer 6 and 7 dish options. The lunch is great. Service is fast-paced, very practiced and efficient but friendly. The setting is peaceful, in a very spacious tatami room with 20 individual low tables. A low chair is available if requested. The temple itself is well worth visiting.
Read moreGuest
Vegalisa
Points +426
Buonissimo! - Edit
Cucina molto buona, sapori delicati e molto buoni. Lo consiglio assolutamente
Read moreGuest
grunorkt
Points +51
C’est une expérience - Edit
C’est une expérience à vivre au moins une fois. Le repas est copieux et certes plus cher que dans d’autres endroits mais le lieu est touristique.
Read moreGuest
ilex
Points +30
Great shojij ryori experience - Edit
Come hungry! Enjoy plate after plate of treats in beautiful settings. Some of the dishes were truly novel to me in terms of textures and balances and flavours were delicate to emphasis the vegetables eaten. The tofu, stickier than I expected, with wasabi and soy was a highlight for me, as was the yuba skin gently floating in a delicate clear broth. Staff were friendly and warm, and on a soaking wet day this was a highlight.
Read moreGuest
Sara2CB
Points +223
Absolute unique experience - Edit
Some dishes were definitely strange from my occidental palette, but that was part of what made it so great.
Read moreAll the flavours were unique and different, some foods I don’t even know what they were! So it’s great to finally experience various ingredients and flavours that I am unfamiliar and confused about, and knowing that no animals were hurt in the process
Guest
MESnyc
Points +676
Lovely - Edit
We had a peaceful, delicious set meal here (the Yuki set). The food was fresh and mildly flavored (as is customary with shojin ryori) yet still very tasty. The staff was wonderful.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2025-08-31
Guest
Marisa_Denise_
Points +156
Great experience - Edit
The food was different from everything we have eaten in japan. We really liked the different components. The experience was very special. Would highly recommend to try it.
Read morePros: Nice location, Special experience , Nice food
Guest
LizzieManning
Points +25
Best meal of Japan trip - Edit
It's undeniable that the Tenryuji temple food is a must-do for vegans/vegetarians visiting Kyoto. I went with my friend who's lactose intolerant (eats meat/fish), and she also loved it. She was a little scared of the look of the cold potato soup, but that ended up being a favourite. The 2 tofu dishes were incredible, as was the most eggplant.
Read morePros: Variety of dishes, Lots of food, Beautiful location
Guest
JokeMaes
Points +38
Great place to eat! - Edit
Highly recommended place to discover! We loved everything about this restaurant
Read morePros: One of a kind atmosphere , Original, tasty and healthy food, Authentic experience
Guest
dara.emily
Points +199
Yummy and fun! - Edit
My non-vegan boyfriend and I both equally enjoyed our meal and the atmosphere (his idea to go based on good reviews!) We pre-ordered the smallest option and were given A LOT of food! We didn’t know exactly what we were eating but everything was good and we enjoyed trying new things. I loved the eggplant, cucumber salad, rice, and pickled vegetables. I also enjoyed trying some new fruits! The food came out almost right away and we were also give. hot tea. It was a very cool experience that I definitely recommend.
Read moreGuest
Jinbe
Points +349
So good food, great experience - Edit
The food is fresh, tasty and I felt energized afterwards! This was so good, also because of the authentic atmosphere.
Read moreYou should come here, when you visit Arashiyama park. But you should be there at 11-12 o’clock because they can run out of food quickly.
Pros: Authenticity , Tasty and healthy food, Very friendly and polite staff
Guest
plantpowergirl
Points +359
Wonderful Experience - Edit
Incredible introduction to a cultural experience. We both ordered the Tsuki course in advance. Arrive early to navigate your way through the gardens. The Miso Glazed Egglant was out of this world.
Read morePros: Food was amazing, Atmosphere was peaceful
Cons: Not a lot of interaction with wait staff
Guest
SouthernmostVegan
Points +2204
Worth it to pay more - Edit
Spend the money. Get the private room. Full set. You’re welcome.
Read moreGuest
AlexandrineG
Points +292
Incredible experience - Edit
I recommend reservation in advance.
Read moreThe food was a unique experience. Things I never tasted in my life before. Worth it , but a bit pricey.
Guest
Kwr_
Points +2343
Special and unique experience - Edit
Temple restaurant inside a beautiful garden - everything is vegan, should book ahead online. Beautiful meal and unique dining experience, eating shojin ryori seated on the floor with shoes off in a beautiful temple building. It’s expensive but we got the cheapest option which comes with free hojicha and were very full and enjoyed the experience and exploring the garden after. Note that meal is around 3,900 yen each which doesn’t include 500 yen garden entrance fee.
Read moreGuest
ellenellenwatermelon
Points +151
Special Shojin Ryori Experience - Edit
A very special meal at Tenryuji Temple. Beautiful presentation in a traditional setting. Tatami. Tea. A special occasion with dear friends. The temple and gardens are also exceptional. Recommend.
Read morePros: shojin ryori, temple setting, beautiful and delicious
Guest
a_oliv
Points +111
Different - Edit
I ate a lot of small dishes and I have no idea what it was. Very different flavors, great presentation and I didn't like a couple of dishes.
Read moreVery friendly staff amd although you get to try a lot of foods, it is expensive.
Pros: Variety of foods, Experience
Guest
Vysturbed
Points +2352
Great dishes! - Edit
The temple itself is so beautiful and I was happy to learn they serve only vegan food than just vegetarian. There is a 500 yen fee to access the restaurant though, and check for open reservations ahead of time since some days are booked full.
Read moreOur set included a creamy broth you spoon to a vinegary broth that accented into an amazing soup. Along with a delicious miso dressing to go with the veggies.
Definitely take advantage of walking through the garden after eating ❤
Guest
Greggco
Points +2466
Great experience - Edit
Zen Buddhist food in a traditional Japanese setting. Food is really good, there's however no menu or English explanation as to what the dishes are, so I didn't know what I was eating most of the time, but it was delicious 👍
Read moreGuest
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