Best Shojin Ryori Japanese Buddhist Vegetarian Cuisine
- Kyoto
- 29 Aug, 2025
You don’t have to be vegetarian to enjoy shojin ryori, or Zen temple vegetarian cuisine. These multi-course plant-based meals are an essential culinary experience when visiting Kyoto. Check out our list of shojin ryori restaurants in Kyoto below!
[Shojin ryori in Kyoto: EQRoy /
Shutterstock.com]
Well before kaiseki, there was shojin-ryori — Zen temple vegetarian cuisine. Think of an elaborate, seasonal, multi-course, 100% plant-based meal and you won’t be far off the mark. It is the kind of food that reveals the extent of all the possibilities inherent in plant ingredients — especially the soybean. It is substantial but will not leave you bloated. You don’t have to be vegetarian to love this; it might even inspire you to eat more greens in the long run.
Because of its monastic origins, the majority of shojin-ryori restaurants in Kyoto are found inside temples. This must be one of the best parts about shojin-ryori dining — you get to visit a lovely temple at the same time and kill two birds with one stone!
In general, shojin ryori meals fall within the mid-range price category. They’re great for special occasions, too. Here are some of our favourite places for shojin ryori in Kyoto.
- Shigetsu
(Arashiyama); mid-range)
Inside the grounds of Tenryu-ji Temple, Shigetsu is a great place to try traditional Japanese Buddhist cuisines, also known as shojin-ryori. - Izusen Daiji-in (Central Kyoto);
mid-range)
Looking for a vegan meal in beautiful surroundings? Try a shojin-ryori lunch at Izusen Daiji-in in Daitoku-ji Temple. Their gorgeous and elaborate meals are sure to be a highlight of your visit to Kyoto. - Ajiro Honten (Central
Kyoto); mid-range to expensive)
Whether you’re vegan or not, gourmands should head to Ajiro Honten near Myoshin-ji Temple to enjoy gorgeously cooked, multi-course Buddhist temple vegan meals. One of their claims to fame: they’re the longest running vegan restaurant in the city to keep their Michelin star. - Daitokuji Ikkyu (Central
Kyoto); expensive)
For great shojin ryori, look no further than Daitoku-ji Ikkyu. This Zen temple vegetarian restaurant is the oldest existing one of its kind in Kyoto — it’s over 500 years old! - Yoshuji
(Kurama; mid-range)
Yoshuji is the nicest place to eat in Kurama, full stop. You can choose from sets of Buddhist vegetarian cuisine or simpler bowls of noodles.
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Kyoto Vacation Checklist
- For a quick overview, see my First Time In Kyoto guide.
- Check if a visa is required for Japan
- Check Kyoto accommodation availability on Booking.com and Agoda.com.
- Buy Japan Rail Tickets and Shinkansen Tickets Online.
- For tips on where to stay, see Where To Stay In Kyoto.
- See my Packing List For Japan.
- Purchase an eSim or SIM card for Japan.
- Compare flight prices on Skyscanner.
- Consider a Japan Rail Pass - see if it’s worth for you.
- Consider a travel insurance.