As a long-time resident of Japan who eats a vegan diet most days, I must say I’ve had it easier here than many other countries I’ve lived and visited (although yes, sometimes I have to be vegetarian or pescatarian due to necessity, especially when traveling around the countryside).
If you’re vegetarian, you will easily find salads, sandwiches, and pastries pretty much at any store. It gets trickier for vegans since most breads and other pre-made meals usually have some dairy, eggs or meat, but an item that will never fail you is the salt-flavored onigiri (rice ball) at convenience stores or supermarkets. Just salt and rice? Yep, and it’s absolutely delicious!
In recent years, Starbucks has become a great proponent of the plant-based movement introducing several vegan and vegetarian-friendly items (sandwiches, cakes and pastries). You can also get many of the drinks made with soy, almond or oat milk.
In my experience, I’ve learned that being vegan or vegetarian is definitely possible (not to mention mind-blowingly delicious) but it takes research. Hopefully one day, but as of now, you cannot just walk into any store or restaurant and expect to see a plant-based option, so it’s best to consult online resources and Facebook groups to get your insider tips and recommendations ahead of time. Below are some of my favorites.
Is it Vegan? Japan: https://isitveganjapan.com/
Vegan Japan ヴィーガン日本: https://www.facebook.com/groups/26787874309