Plant-Based Takehara: A Vegan Guide to Hiroshima’s “Little Kyoto of Aki”
With historic townscapes, Seto Inland Sea views, hidden valleys… and rabbits, city of salt and sake, Takehara, has much to offer. And, now, vegan and plant-based diners can enjoy it, too!
Nestled along the tranquil coast of the Seto Inland Sea, Takehara is an excellent place for a day-trip or overnight stay from Hiroshima. Often called the “Little Kyoto of Aki,” Takehara is best known for its beautifully preserved historical district, where traditional merchant houses line narrow streets in harmonious rows. White plaster walls, lattice windows, and traditional sake breweries recall a time when the town prospered through salt making and trade.
The scenic Sazanami Kaido (“road of rippling waves”) offers sweeping views of calm waters dotted with islands on its way to the charming port of Tadanoumi, the jumping-off point for Okunoshima, widely known as Rabbit Island. To the north, in the hills close to Hiroshima Airport, the atmosphere shifts from coastal to rural, with spaces that highlight creativity, food, and the outdoors.
While Takehara has much to offer, it has long been something of a food desert for vegan and vegetarian travelers. That has now changed, as a collection of local businesses has channeled their omotenashi spirit of hospitality to create a diverse range of plant-based dining options.
So, without further ado, let’s get into plant-based Takehara!
Takehara Station and Historical District
Taiwan Dining Cafe Gyoten
Just a few meters from Takehara Station, on Aifuru Dori, this local favorite is easily recognizable from the Chinese lanterns hanging in front. Gyoten has been a local favorite dining spot for over 10 years and is an excellent place for a casual lunch, dinner, or drinks.
The owner-chef spent several months traveling around Taiwan, eating as he went, before recreating his favorite dishes to serve to locals alongside his wife. Now, vegan diners can also enjoy a taste of Taiwan.
Walk-ins can order plant-based versions of their delicious Yurinchi Chicken and steamed dumplings in the evening. If you are looking for lunch, it is well worth making a reservation up to two days in advance to enjoy more plant-based versions of their most popular dishes.
Vegan options at Taiwan Dining Cafe Gyoten
Lunch (reservations 2 days in advance by phone or DM)
・ Yurinchi Vegan “Chicken” lunch set (reservation required)
・ Spicy Mabo Tofu lunch set (reservation required)
・ Yurinchi Vegan “Chicken” Burger & Soup set (reservation required)
・ Vegan Lu Rou Fan Burger & Soup set (reservation required)
Dinner
・ Vegan Yurinchi “Chicken”
・ Vegan steamed dumplings
Opening hours:
Lunch: Wednesday – Sunday 11:30-14:00 (L.O. 13:30)
Dinner: Tuesday – Sunday 18:00-21:30 (L.O. 21:00)
Michi-no-Eki Takehara
Takehara’s Michi-no-Eki is located close to the entrance to Takehara’s pretty historical preservation district and, as well as a market selling fresh local produce at great prices, has a restaurant and a food truck that serve a tasty vegan katsu pita sandwich to take away.
It’s a flavorful, light bite perfect for keeping your energy up while you explore the picturesque streets and hillside temples in the historical district. The store inside also sells handy-sized bottles of vegan okonomiyaki sauce for those who like to be prepared, and there is a nice selection of local beer, sake, and soft drinks available on the upper floor.
Vegan options at Michi-no-Eki Takehara
・ Vegan katsu pita sandwich
・ Small bottles of vegan okonomiyaki sauce on sale in the store
Opening hours:
Michi no Eki 09:00-17:00
Shop 11:00-16:00 11：00～16：00
Closed: 3rd Wednesday and New Year Holidays
Okonomiyaki Horikawa
Located right in the middle of the historical district’s main street, next to the area’s oldest surviving building, the Horikawa family has been making soy sauce in Takehara for 160 years, and serving Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki in a restored traditional storehouse for almost fifty.
Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki, with its layered ingredients including noodles, makes for a satisfying lunch or dinner. Plus, it’s great fun to eat straight from a hotplate! Add a taste of Takehara with a helping of sake lees in your okonomiyaki. The sake lees (called “sake kasu” in Japanese) come from the town’s three remaining breweries and provide extra depth of flavor.
Horikawa kicks off 2026 by adding a new vegan version of its okonomiyaki. A skillful use of kombu stock in preparing the all-important pancake base results in a 100% plant-based okonomiyaki that is both hugely flavorful and satisfying, without leaving you feeling overfull.
Vegan Options At Okonomiyaki Horikawa
・ Vegan okonomiyaki
・ Edamame
・ Plain rice
Opening hours: 11:00-14:00 (L.O. 13:30), 17:00-19:00 (L.O. 18:30)
Closed: Wednesday
Cafe Like A Trip
Housed in a traditional house complete with retro furnishings and an inner garden, Cafe Like A Trip is a lovely place to take a break from exploring the historical district, or to recompose yourself after enjoying a sake tasting at the Fujii Shuzo brewery gallery opposite. It is only open at limited times of the week, but if your planned visit coincides with one of these days be sure to take advantage of enjoying one of their vegan sushi set meals.
A selection of four servings of sushi featuring fresh seasonal ingredients, accompanied by three tasty dressings, is served with a light soup and pickles. Your meal is rounded off with a light kinako (roasted soy-flour) gelato, served with rice-flour dumplings, and coffee.
Vegan sushi set meals include soup, dessert, and coffee (limited to 5 sets per day for walk-ins, so reservations are recommended to avoid disappointment). Owner Miyatake-san also has a large stock of kimono on the upper floor, which are available for rental.
Vegan Options At Cafe Like A Trip
・ Vegan sushi set meal (includes dessert and drink)
Opening hours: 11:00-16:00 Saturday and Sunday (Weekday opening available for reservations of 2 more people)
Please check the Google Map listing ahead of your visit to avoid disappointment.
Setouchi Dining Harvest – Green Sky Hotel Takehara
Conveniently located near Takehara Station, Green Sky Hotel is the biggest hotel in central Takehara. Its dining space, Setouchi Dining Harvest, run by a team of accomplished chefs, is open to all for lunch and dinner. While they are best known for dishes that showcase the bounty of the Seto Inland Sea, especially tempura, they offer one of the best vegan selections in the area.
Vegan Options At Setouchi Dining Harvest
・ Tomato and soy meat spice curry (also available as a set with soup and salad)
・ Tofu milk and seasonal vegetable tomato doria (also available as a set with soup and salad)
・ Vegetable and seaweed salad
・ Seasonal vegetable tempura rice bowl chazuke
・ Takehara kimbap Korean roll sushi
・ Hiroshima lemon vegetable ramen
・ Soy milk gelato with seasonal fruit
Opening hours:
07:00-09:00
11:30-15:00 (L.O. 14:00)
17:30-21:00 (L.O. 20:00)
Closed: Thursday and occasional Sundays
Sazanami Kaido
Noboru Coffee Roasters
Noboru Coffee Roasters is a roadside cafe housed in a restored 70-year-old building that specializes in pour-over coffee made with beans roasted on-site, with a garden and lovely views of the Seto Inland Sea. You can accompany your drinks with tasty light meals and snacks, including a vegan teriyaki tofu sandwich and a luxurious steamed chocolate cake.
Noboru Coffee Roasters is a great place to take a break if you are biking the Sazami Kaido, which links the Shimanami Kaido and Tobishima Kaido, or driving between Takehara and Tadanoumi. Chilling out is welcomed and encouraged, so feel free to grab a book from their mini library and enjoy the calming BGM.
Vegan Options At Noboru Coffee Roasters
・Teriyaki tofu sandwich
・Steamed chocolate cheesecake
Opening hours: Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and National Holidays 09:00-20:00
Okomomiyaki Kissa Eden
Cozy Okomomiyaki Kissa Eden is an intimate eatery located on the Sazanami Kaido. Upon entering, you will immediately notice their love for the Hiroshima Carp baseball team – there are Carp posters and memorabilia everywhere!
On the menu, which includes set meals, teppan dishes, and okonomiyaki, you will find a hearty vegan okonomiyaki made with locally sourced sake lees added.
Eden is affiliated with the adjacent Kawabata Ryokan, so if you are staying overnight, you can also enjoy pay-as-you-go karaoke before bed.
Vegan options at Okomomiyaki Kissa Eden
・ Vegan okonomiyaki with added sake lees
Opening hours: 10:00-14:00, 17:00-20:00
Closed: Tuesday, New Year Holidays
Kawabata Ryokan
Roadside ryokan with private rooms, local vibes, and a healthy but straightforward vegan breakfast option, which includes miso soup, a riceball, salad, pickles, and some fruit. The affiliated Okonomiyaki Kissa Eden, next door, serves vegan okonomiyaki at lunch and dinner, so vegan visitors won’t go hungry here!
Vegan options at Kawabata Ryokan
・ Vegan set breakfast (freshly-made rice ball, miso soup, salad, fruit)
・ Head next door for vegan okonomiyaki at Okomomiyaki Kissa Eden (see above)
Tadanoumi – Gateway to Rabbit Island
Okonomiyaki Fuji
Friendly, local, and popular retro okomiyaki shop, a 5-minute walk from Tadanoumi Station. With two vegan options (go for the vegan special if you like mushrooms!), this is the top spot for plant-based okonomiyaki before or after visiting the bunnies on Rabbit Island.
Vegan options at Okonomiyaki Fuji
・ Veggie-packed vegan okonomiyaki
・ Fuji vegan special okonomiyaki (with mushrooms)
Closed: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
Na-Raku
As well as vegan Italian and Japanese noodle dishes for eat-in customers, Na-Raku near Tadanoumi Port, offers one of three vegan take-away options – vegetable dry curry, spicy eggplant mapodofu, or creamy vegetables and fried tofu with soy mince in an ankake savory sauce, depending on the day.
Vegan options at Na-Raku
Every day
・Vegan pasta (eat in)
・Vegan udon noodles (eat in)
One of the following each day
・Vegan dry curry (take out)
・Vegan eggplant mapodofu (take out)
・Creamy vegetables and fried tofu with soy mince in an ankake savory sauce
Northern Takehara
Kokufu
Get away from it all at this countryside spot in a picturesque valley approximately 20 minutes by car from either Takehara Station or Hiroshima Airport. The site, located right next to the family farm, has a private sauna and an outdoor modern version of the traditional Japanese Goemonburo upright bath – an experience you won’t want to miss out on!
Choose to hang out for the day and head home or return to your accommodation in the evening or camp overnight (tents and other equipment are available).
The highlight, however, is the delicious BBQ courses they lay on. Enjoy a drink or two while the friendly owner serves up dish after dish, all cooked outside. Kokufu offers an entirely vegan BBQ option made with produce from the family farm and local markets. The pizza-style grilled mochi (handmade by the owner’s mother) with miso sauce is a personal favorite, closely followed by a warming veggie hot pot with noodles. There was even plant-based ice cream to finish.
Opening hours: From 08:00 (Reservations required)
Website | Instagram | Google Map
Tamari Ya
Gluten-free diners will love this stylish cafe near Hiroshima Airport with lovely views of the surrounding rice fields. As well as a selection of delicious and beautiful donuts, gluten-free pizza, and drinks are also on the menu. Several of Tamari Ya’s donuts and one of their pizzas are also vegan-friendly!
Vegan options at Tamari Ya
・ Several flavors of gluten-free donuts
・ Vegan pizza with thick tomato sauce
Opening hours: 10:00-17:00
Closed: Wednesday, Thursday
Tamari Ya Farmstay
You may fall in love with the Tamari area and find it hard to leave. Not to worry, right next to the Tamari Ya cafe is a wonderful house available to rent. This well-appointed rustic retreat is a perfect place to decompress and generally enjoy a slice of Japanese country life.
Limited to one group booking at a time and offering farm activities and guided local walks, a stay at family-run Tamari Ya is perfect for those looking for a slower, more immersive travel experience. Gluten-free and vegan diners are well catered for here.
Asahi Chocolate
Drop in at this bean-to-bar chocolate factory, located in a former school building, to enjoy luxurious chocolate drinks and desserts in a real Japanese elementary school classroom.
The chocolate is actually made down the hall in the school’s former science lab, and much of the work is done by residents with physical and learning disabilities, who are now playing a vital role in this rural revitalization project, which makes damn fine chocolate.
Pick up some of their beautifully-packaged single-origin chocolate bars to take home. Excluding white chocolate options, Asahi Chocolate’s chocolate bars are generally vegan and make great gifts. They also offer a delicious chocolate drink made with soy milk on their cafe menu.
Vegan options at Asahi Chocolate
・ Soy-milk iced chocolate latte
・ Single-origin dark chocolate bars
Opening hours: 11:00-16:00 (L.O. 15:45)
Closed: Wednesday
Plant-based Takehara Map
