VEGAN STORE: Asakusa’s new all-vegan convenience store & restaurant opens today

Vegan and vegetarian diets have increased over the past years around the world. The number of the vegan tourists visiting Japan is increasing, however, yet Japanese restaurants are still behind in the vegan movement. Given that more international tourists will come and see the Tokyo Olympic Games next year, the restaurant industry is urged to catch up with this diet movement.

An all-vegan convenience store & family restaurant, “VEGAN STORE”, opens today in Asakusa, Tokyo, a popular area among international tourists. All the products and plates, the store handles, are plant-based. The lineup also includes meals that meet religious dietary restrictions such as halal. The goal of VEGAN STORE is realizing the day any people in Japan can share one table regardless of their nationalities, culture or religion.

The showcase of the convenience store primarily contains certificated vegan foods. If the store cannot find certificated ones, they will then purchase alternatives that matches their concept by researching the manufacturing processes. In addition, rice balls, sandwiches, bento lunch boxes, hot snacks and vegan ice cream are all prepared in the store. They are also all plant-based and chemical-free. The monthly subscription service of nut milk and five grain brown rice provides residents with delicious and healthy foods every day. A currency exchange machine is also available in the store.

The family restaurant provides all-vegan and gluten-free plates. It procures fresh vegetables from a whole seller dealing with farmers who grow organic or pesticide-free vegetables throughout Japan. Gluten-free bread, vegan cheese, nut milk and noodles are all prepared in the restaurant.

VEGAN STORE also plans to hold a seminar to promote understanding and diffusion of vegan concept, in the free space on the second floor of the store. In addition, the company will open all-vegan online shopping mall in January.

All-vegan stores or restaurants are still rare in Japan. We expect the opening of this VEGAN STORE will help vegan people to better enjoy life in Japan.