I’ve been wanting to change the style of this blog for a while, but I have decided to keep it personal and also focused on different vegan and plant-based establishments in Japan. I want to continue to post in English as well as Japanese—there should be a Japanese version of this post soon.
This post covers two areas of Tokyo I visited for the first time recently.
First up: Sangenjaya. Sangenjaya is a quiet neighborhood easily accessible in Tokyo, as it is just past Shibuya. It is known for its numerous eateries and places to drink, and laid-back atmosphere. Pictured below is my lunch at Olu Olu Cafe, a cozy vegan restaurant with a Hawaii theme, located about a 15-minute walk from the Sangenjaya stations.
I got the daily lunch plate which consisted of fried soy meat, brown rice, salad, and two side dishes (potato with rosemary and a variety of simmered wheat gluten). The fried soy meat is something I like to try at other restaurants when it is offered—Olu Olu’s is very delicious and contains some heat.
Here is Olu Olu Cafe’s website: Olu Olu Cafe (Japanese and some English).
After Sangenjaya, I went further out to the Setagaya ward of Tokyo, which is a fairly suburban area where many families live. For a snack, I stopped by Fuji, a shop specializing in roasted sweet potatoes (yaki-imo in Japanese).
Yakiimo is very high on my list favorite foods of all-time list, and the one I ate here was very, very satisfying. I bought one with a hint of pumpkin flavor to go with the fall season.
Here is the official website: Fuji Sweet Potato Shop (Japanese only).
Relatively close to Fuji is Gotokuji, a Buddhist temple known for its thousands of cat statues. It’s definitely worth the trip to this temple, and after exploring the area you can wind down with a delicious sweet treat from Fuji.
