I've been in Tokyo for only 2 days now and I'm still having issues finding places that will cater to my Vegetarian diet. With that said, the hardest part happens to be finding vegeterian items at a grocery store. I happened to find a few pre-cooked dishes that described the vegetable contents, but neglected to print the meat ingredients. I thought that was misleading for the fact that other dishes did print the meat content on the package description. I just don't get it... I got a e-dictionary that will allow me to input Japanese text and translate it to English. I think this might be helpful in deciphering the product descriptions myself.

Anywho, the weather is nice which is all that I can hope for. It's late, gotta party. Sayonara....

Hope you're enjoying Japan, BigFeat-wish I could go back and head down to Kyoto! I'm sure you're not looking for more expensive restaurants at this point, as you now comprehend that yen tends to fly out of your hands like magic when in Tokyo, but if you are so inclined, I recommend a restaurant in Ueno called Sasa-no-yuki-2-15-10, Negishi, Uguisadani Eki (north exit). They serve traditional Buddhist vegetarian cuisine (also non-vegetarian) called "shojin-ryori" wonderful set meals of home-made tofu, in a beautiful garden with waterfall, with tatami seating. It's expensive. (so what ELSE is new?)

Now, I just hope you've located that Citibank bldg. with its foreign ATM machines at Ote-machi...

Japan must be heaven for Vegetarians! my son is a vegan and he eats Japanese food all the time! Sushi (with no fish), lots of noodle dishes with tofu - I can't understand why you're having so much trouble in the land of tofu! I personally hate tofu, but will just have to eat it in Japan if necessary.

The problem for vegetarians in Japan is that the base of almost every dish is fish broth...it's used for boiling, marinating, miso soup base...almost everything. Also, many prepared food items have meat in them, either small pieces, ground meat, or meat extract for flavor. Prepared food - ready to eat stuff made in the store kitchen - doesn't have to list the ingredients like commercial food.

BigFeat...try edamame (look like big peas, pop out the beans and eat them)...they are simply boiled in salt water. Sushi rolled with cucumber are safe, too. Italian restaurants often cater very well to vegetarians..you just have to ask.

Plus, KimJapan, I just don't think the Japanese are really into vegetarianism AT ALL.

I'm going to make my way down to Kyoto tomorrow. I've only found one Tofu restaurant in Tokyo so far. My meals have mostly been sandwiches and noodles. I did buy some groceries so that's save me tons of Yen for meals. Everything seems to be touristy. The Yen is literrally flying out of my pocket. I think I've already blown $500 in 2 days so far and I haven't seen any major sites yet. Let me get out of here and spend some more money ...

In Kyoto you can try Shojin-ryori, the classic Buddhist vegetarian meal. There are several cheapish Italian pizza and pasta places. The ones I've tried (can't remember the names) include a basement trattoria on the north side of Shijo-dori near Daimaru dept store. Meal for three including wine was under 6,000 yen in January.

Hey! Didn't I just say that????

We had a vegetarian in our group.
We got tempura several times, and simply swapped meat items with vegetable items among us. Used soy sauce, not dashi which contains bonito extract. Circulating plate sushi worked well. The vegetarian simple chose non meat items. Indian food was also a good choice. We didn't care for low cost Italian food in Japan. While they had choices of vegetarian items, we didn't like the way Japanese restaurants prepared them.
We were tofu'ed to death within few days.

Can anyone suggest some shops that may carry traditional Kimono garb in Tokyo or Kyoto? The only shop I ran into that had anything close was a department store in Ginza with way overpriced stuff. That said, I'm making my way to Kyoto tomorrow and I was thinking I may have better luck finding traditional garb in some shops there. Any suggestions would be extremely helpful.

BigFeat- there are two that I know of: one, Hayashi-2-1-1, Yuraku-cho, subway Ginza. Has all kinds of kimonos. The second is, Oriental Bazaar, a store that obviously carries oriental imports, but in addition, has a selection of both ready-made and antique Japanese kimonos-it's very easy to find in Omoto-Sando, on the way, and just before, the entrance to the Meiji Shrine-on the same side of the street as the couture stores-Christian Dior, I think. 5-9-13 Jingu-mae. Subway-Chiyoda line, Meiji-Jingu mae Eki (eki is train station). I got to it another way, by walking-but the stop above is the closest. The Kimonos are downstairs- and while the antique kimonos are somewhat expensive, the ready-made are not so expensive.

Traditional silk kimono is very expensive, and is considered luxury items with prices to match. Most Japanese women nowadays don't own their own kimono but hire one when needed, for weddings and coming-of-age ceremony at age 20 around Jan 15. Most don't even know how to put it on and get help from their mums or professional dressers (kitsuke).
What in the West is known as 'kimono' is a light indoor coat in bright patterns, but it's not worn by Japanese. You only find them in souvenir stores geared to Western tourists, and there are many such in Kyoto, esp in pedestrianised shopping streets off Shijo-dori.
What Japanese do wear in the summer is yukata, light cotton kimono which is a staple equipment of every hotel and ryokan room. They start from around 3,000 yen and you find a stockist in almost every shopping street. They have a wide range of patterns, size and price, with expensive ones costing over 10,000 yen. You also find them in souvenir stores, but range is limited. They make a fine souvenir, though being cotton they weigh a fair bit.
You can also get kimono accessories like obi-jime, a decorated cord to fasten the obi, which again makes a nice memento and is inexpensive.

Big Feat- best place to buy kimono is at flea markets. You'll find plies of nice ones for 1000 yen and up. Kyoto has that huge market at the temple behind the train station...It is only certain days of the month, but there are also sales at other temples. Check with the TIC...they have lists of even the smallest markets.

Another thing to check out in Kyoto if you'll be there next weekend- is a firefly ceremony that is held in the beginning of June at a temple on the river just a bit north of the palace. Again, check with the TIC.
There are some dramatic performances, lots of food and souvenir booths, Many local families in traditional garb and they release a cage full of fireflies. Lots of fun to watch.

I was thinking in the lines of a flea market as well Lcuy. I didn't assume the traditional garb would be that expensive, but being that they would more likely be specially tailored it makes sense. I purchased a couple Hakamas in the past for class and they would take days at a time before they were completed. I hope to find a good deal on one soon.. Thanks.

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