A Yoga Lovers Guide to Tokyo

I work for this great internet.tv site called Spinshell. We recently did a report on being a vegetarian in Japan. Check out the text and video below:

Being a vegetarian can be tough especially in a country where you can’t read or speak the language. At a recent dinner party hosted by the Tokyo Vegan Meetup Group we asked Miki Noguchi how hard it is going vege and what advice she could give us.

Watch the video at:
.m4v version
Interview with Miki Noguchi, organizer

It’s not easy but it’s not impossible. It depends on your background and how much knowledge you are bringing into the city.

Miki believes that being a vegetarian means becoming a food label reader, as many products that look vegetarian can contain meat or fish ingredients. If you want to eat organic you should also check labels for the JAS symbol or choose to shop at organic and vegetarian friendly supermarkets like Natural House.

Along with organic supermarkets, more vegetarian restaurants are opening throughout the city. Herwin Walravens, author of the Vegan Restaurant Pocketguide, has said that 15 new vegetarian restaurants have opened since he published the first edition of his book. If visiting a non-vegetarian restaurant Miki advises bringing along a Japanese friend for help. She also warns:

Definitely any Japanese sauce will have some form of fish extract in it. Dipping sauce for noodles, broth for noodles, I’ve even read artcilse where in some Italian restaurants they’ll use stock in their tomato sauce. Most restaurants have waitresses are not very knowlegeable about what is in the food.

Even if you are not a vegetarian, you may be interested in eating healthier. Tokyo’s latest raw food restaurant, Veggie Paradise, can teach you how to prepare tasty raw food and macrobiotic cuisine. It also serves up fresh vegetarian fare. Yuki Itoh, owner of Veggie Paradise, notes on the trend.

Interview with Yuki Itoh, owner-chef

People have become more conscious about what they eat. They started giving up western medication and seeking a (more) effective way (to heal) through changing (diet).

It may be difficult being a vegetarian but things are slowly getting easier as more vegetarian products hit the market and more people become aware.

A little knowledge will go a long way here. Take a look at these websites to help you on your vegetarian journey.

Hikaru was one of my first yoga teachers in Tokyo and is a caring experienced teacher as well as a beautiful person on both the inside and outside. She teaches Hatha and Sivananda classes at a Under the Light http://underthelight.jp/ Nealsyard www.nealsyard.co.jp/school/o_hatayoga.html and at a community centre in Yoyogi-Uehara. Check out her website for a schedule www.hikaruworld.com. Classes are ¥2,500 for 80-90 minutes.

These markets are a great place to pick up some well-priced organic goodies - from fresh fruit and vegetables to organic beer. A few stalls also sell Japanese style lunchboxes if you’re passing through midday.Next month is the official Earth Day on April 19/20, so the markets will run over the two days. There will be a lot more going on including live performances and lots of organic “eco-cooked” food.  Yoyogi Park, 1-1 Yoyogi-Kamizonocho, Shibuya-ku. www.earthdaymarket.com 

This is one place that is helping to make vegetarian more mainstream in the city. Its central location, only a few minutes from Azabu Juban, means it gets a lot of curious western and Japanese foot traffic, many who probably don’t realize its meat free nature until they’re in the doors. Try their pizza selection which are piled high with green goodness. Vegan meals are marked with a V on the menu and if there are traces of nuts or other potential allergens in the dish it will have a note next to it.  www.eatmoregreens.jp Tel: 03-3798-3191

OK, so this place isn’t exactly in Tokyo (it’s one hour from Ikebukuro stn) but they do deliver and once you take a look through their comprehensive organic online catalogue you’ll be hooked. They mainly sell organic brands from overseas and don’t sell perishable items like fruit and vegetables. Among the food items are personal care goods like soap, shampoo, and essential oils. If you do make it to the actual shop in Saitama they have a vegetarian cafe and event space. Check out their webpage for upcoming events and make your visit their timely. www.alishan.jp 

This organic chain is the most well-known and largest in the city. They have a large shop on Aoyama Dori that sells some delicious vegan desserts. The place is not 100% vegetarian and some dishes that look veggie friendly have fish stock in them - if in doubt ask the staff to help read the label, checking that there is no sakana (fish) or niku (meat). They also sell essential oils, beauty products, and yoga products (such as mats and books in Japanese). The Aoyama store is a few minutes stroll down Aoyama dori (on the same side as Mizuho bank) towards Shibuya www.naturalhouse.co.jp 

This organic shop is situated on the basement floor of the Meguro Artre building (which is connected to JR Meguro station). It’s not 100% vegetarian but they do have some great vegetarian products such as Amy’s soups, fake soy meat, Lara bars, and soy cheese. The table out front normally has a few vegetarian takeout lunch options such as veggie sushi for just over 300 yen.  They have a point card system that gives you discounts if you frequent there a lot - like I do.  

This place just oozes health. Situated inside the AVEDA shop in Omote Sando the cafe is always filled with the fresh scent of essential oils. They have some delicious vegan lunch sets which consist of a sandwich or grain dish with soup, a small salad, and a drink. They also have a delicious dessert section including treats like tofu tiramisu. At lunch on weekdays the place is packed with young women from nearby offices. 5-5-21 Minami Aoyama, Minato-ku 03-5466-2611 www.pure-cafe.com 

I’ve only visited this place once (and didn’t take a class) but I’ve heard great things about it. The owner/ head instructor Dominica is supposed to be an amazing teacher and great with adjustments. Dominica and another teacher called Dana also teach at the FURLA yoga studio in Omote Sando.What makes this place unique is its prenatal and postnatal yoga classes. At the postnatal classes babies are welcome and are even sometimes incorporated into the poses. They also have yoga classes for kids, along with a range of hatha classes for adults. If you do head out this way try a yoga burger at the Deva Deva cafe nearby.http://shizenyoga.com/e/www.devadevacafe.com/Enindex.htm