Welcome to Joyful Vegan Japan!
Part of a special Joyful Vegan Travel series featuring travel tips, restaurant recommendations, and plant-based discoveries from around the globe
Joyful Vegan Travel Series
We’re starting in Japan, but this is just the beginning of my new travel series. Join me behind the scenes of our unforgettable plant-based journeys around the world! In exclusive posts, notes, and private chats, I’ll be sharing an abundance of practical travel tips, restaurant recommendations, cultural insights, and reflections on compassionate travel, including:
My favorite restaurants and plant-based dishes from each destination
Hidden gems and meaningful local experiences
Tips for avoiding animal cruelty while traveling
Behind-the-scenes stories, sneak peeks, and real-time updates
Early access to upcoming trips and itinerary reveals
If you’re reading this as a non-subscriber, I invite you to join me on these adventures, whether or not you travel with me for real.
So, let’s get started…
Japan: Our Itinerary
We’ve officially arrived—and I’m so happy to be bringing you with me, virtually, on this very special trip to this very special country. This is the third time we’re running our Japan trip—one of many unforgettable journeys I’ve had the joy of co-hosting with my amazing partners at World Vegan Travel. (As 2026 is sold out, in 2027, we’ll be running another Japan trip!)
One thing we learned from last year—when we ran one trip from Tokyo to Kyoto and the other from Kyoto to Tokyo—is that it makes so much more sense to move from the old to the new. So, the trips start in Kyoto and ending in Tokyo, which feels like the perfect way to move through Japan—from ancient traditions to modern life.
And so here we are in Kyoto, filling our bellies with okonomiyaki, ramen, and sushi (lots of food details coming!) and about to meet our group.
Since you’ll be following along virtually, I wanted to give you a sense of what a 10-day trip looks like for us so you can get excited about where we’re headed and what I’ll be sharing with you here in this exclusive space.
Kyoto
This is the heart of traditional Japan. With its winding alleyways, serene temples, and preserved wooden architecture, Kyoto offers a glimpse into Japan’s cultural soul. We’ll be visiting iconic temples, shrines, and gardens, enjoy a fully plant-based kaiseki meal, and spend time in Gion, the historic geisha district—yes, I’ll take you behind the scenes of that experience too.
👉 Upgrade to paid to follow this journey in Japan—from Kyoto to Hiroshima, Kanazawa to Miyajima to Tokyo, and everything in between.
Hiroshima
A powerful and emotional part of the journey, it was incredibly moving to see how people and nature can heal. We’ll be visiting the Peace Memorial Park and Museum, honoring the memory of those lost in 1945 and reflecting on peace, resilience, and hope. It’s sobering, moving, and something I’m deeply grateful to share each time we visit.
Miyajima Island
Famous for its iconic “floating” torii gate, Miyajima is one of the most photographed places in Japan—and for good reason. Beyond its natural beauty, the island holds deep spiritual and cultural significance. We take a scenic ferry from Hiroshima, and for me, it’s always one of the most memorable parts of the trip—not just because there are deer roaming all around (more on that later) but because of its stunning shrine, the optional tram ride up (and hike down) Mount Misen, a fabulous private lunch at a vegetarian restaurant tucked inside a traditional tea house, and the thousands of stone Buddhas adorned with red crocheted caps.
But you’ll see all of that soon...
Kanazawa
A hidden gem on Japan’s western coast, Kanazawa is full of history, art, tea ceremonies, and beautifully preserved samurai and geisha districts. It’s home to the stunning Kenroku-en, one of Japan’s most famous landscape gardens, as well as a beautifully restored feudal castle. While we’re based here, we also visit the UNESCO World Heritage village of Shirakawa-go, known for its traditional thatched-roof farmhouses and timeless mountain setting. In Kanazawa itself, we roll our own sushi, pound our own mochi, and soak up the calm pace of this often-overlooked city.
Tokyo
And finally, we arrive in Tokyo—Japan’s bustling, brilliant capital city. From the iconic Shibuya Crossing to the loyal Hachikō dog statue just nearby, Tokyo pulses with energy and contrast at every turn. We visit famous temples and shrines tucked between skyscrapers, indulge in incredible ramen, connect with local animal advocates, enjoy a lively night out at a vegan izakaya, and of course—karaoke! (And yeah, and Totoro!!) 😊
Food! Food! Food!
Japan is a true foodie country. Is it a vegan-friendly country / cuisine? Yes...and no. Japan has deep plant-based roots, especially through its Buddhist traditions—but modern cuisine includes a lot of fish, meat, and hidden animal products like bonito flakes and fish-based broths. (That’s why traveling here with us makes all the difference. You get to relax and enjoy the food without worrying about what’s in it.)
I can’t wait to dig into all manner of amazing foods such as: sushi, tempura, tofu, yuba, miso, soba, udon, ramen, okonomiyaki, gyoza, onigiri, mochi, daifuku, yatsuhashi, roasted sweet potatoes, candied strawberries, rice crackers, shojin ryori, tamari, and matcha. AND SO MUCH MORE!
If you’re interested in going deeper on the plant-based aspects of Japanese cuisine, you might want to check out these two podcast episodes:
Vegan Japanese Cuisine (Part One): History, Regional Traditions, and Religious Roots
Vegan Japanese Cuisine (Part Two): Plant-Based Roots in Traditional Dishes
Over the course of 3 weeks in April 2026, I’ll be sharing with you—paid subscribers—behind-the-scenes, sneak peeks, and early access to content I’ll be able to share much more fully once I’m not hosting a trip! 😊
📣 To get the most out of this experience, subscribe today, and be sure to JOIN OUR PRIVATE CHAT where I’ll be sharing quick updates, real-time snapshots, and inviting your questions as we go.
Love from Japan,
Colleen
All of the articles in this series can be found here: Joyful Vegan Travel: Japan