If you visit Tenryu-ji at lunchtime, consider dining at Shigetsu, within the temple precinct. The tenzo, a monk trained to prepare Zen cuisine, creates a multicourse meal that achieves the harmony of the six basic flavors—bitter, sour, sweet, salty, light, and hot—attributes necessary to balance body and mind. Although you won't partake in the monk's daily helping of gruel, a salted plum, and pickled radishes, you will try vegetarian Zen cuisine at its tastiest.

Located in the grounds of Tenryū-ji temple in the beautiful Arashiyama district, Shigetsu serves the traditional Japanese Buddhist cuisine shojin ryori. This consists of a selection of exquisitely presented small dishes made using local, seasonal ingredients and no animal products. It’s a little pricey, but worth it for the quality of the food and the gorgeous surroundings to enjoy it in.

A restaurant serving Buddhist vegetarian dishes, operated by Tenryuji within the temple precincts. The Dharma Hall ceiling is painted with a cloud dragon; the garden is landscaped to frame views of distant Mt. Arashiyama and Mt. Kameyama. Shigetsu draws you into the nature, history and culture of Kyoto, making it an ideal place to savour the character of Buddhist cooking.

Visitors eat on traditional tatami mats here, and try tasty, traditional vegetarian dishes including tofu, clear soup, cucumber salad, steamed vegetables, pickles and eggplant. Enjoy the authentic interior here which features rustic wooden beams intricately decorated with golden insignia.

A part of the splendid Tenryu-ji Temple in the Arashiyama district of Kyoto, Shigetsu is all about authentic Japanese (Zen) Buddhist fare; which essentially means that everything served here is vegetarian and it is there...

Located within the Tenryu-ji Temple, Shigetsu is a Michelin recognized vegetarian restaurant that serves up the renowned tofu and vegetables of Kyoto in a garden environment that provides a holistic and peaceful experience throughout your meal. With vegetarian and vegan options for your meal, the presentation and ambiance combine in simple elegance to represent the Zen Buddhist backdrop. With beautiful meal compositions that highlight the region’s vegetables such as pumpkin, sea kelp, mushrooms, and the local tofu, you will be just as impressed as other vegetarian and non-vegetarian visitors!

Embark on an enchanting culinary journey at Shigetsu, a shojin cuisine restaurant nestled within Tenryuji Temple, a renowned World Heritage site and part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto. Rooted in the tradition of serving Buddhist monks, shojin cuisine embodies harmony with nature, offering a uniquely healthy dining experience. Focusing on plant-based ingredients such as vegetables, mountain greens, wild herbs, and seaweed, Shigetsu crafts exquisite dishes that resonate with the flavors of the season.

This vegetarian shojin restaurant is located right in the gardens of Tenryu-ji Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Guests must also pay the 500-yen garden entrance fee, but will be treated to its lovely views while dining on a variety of zen vegetarian sets. Shigetsu has also been designated a “Bib Gourmand” in the 2018 Michelin Guide, indicating a restaurant that serves “exceptionally good food at moderate prices.

One type of Kyoto cuisine that vegetarians and vegans in particular should be sure to try is shojin ryori. This is a traditional Buddhist style of food that doesn't use any animal products, focusing instead on ingredients such as tofu, fresh fruit, and seasonal vegetables. Shigetsu, located in Tenryuji temple in the popular Arashiyama district, is one of the best restaurants to sample this nutritious fare.

Within the tranquil precincts of the Nanzenji Temple Complex, Shigetsu invites patrons to savor the essence of Zen-inspired vegetarian cuisine. Among Kyoto’s Best Vegetarian Restaurants, this culinary sanctuary offers a menu that reflects the simplicity and beauty of Japanese aesthetics. Each dish is a meditation on flavor, creating a dining experience that harmonizes with the serene surroundings.

Located within the serene Tenryuji Temple complex, Shigetsu offers a unique experience of traditional Buddhist vegetarian cuisine [ 1] in Kyoto. The restaurant’s menu is a testament to the rich culinary heritage of Japan, featuring dishes crafted with precision and care. One highlight of Shigetsu’s offerings is the innovative use of shiitake mushrooms and yubani in their dishes.

Shigetsu is a fantastic place which is located inside the garden of the Tenryu-ji temple, Arashiyama. It serves very beautiful “Shojin Ryori” – Buddhist Zen cuisine – and only uses selected seasonal vegetables served in beautiful bowls and plates while sitting down in a stunning tatami mat room. Such an amazing experience which could be one of the highlights of your trip.

Shigetsu (Tenryu-ji Temple): This restaurant is set within the grounds of picturesque Tenryu-ji Temple in Arashiyama, so you can not only enjoy a beautifully simple shojin ryori meal of small, carefully-prepared dishes, you can look out on the temple’s tranquil gardens while you eat. See Shigestu’s English language website here.

Places like Shigetsu within the Tenryu-ji Temple complex offer delicious, carefully prepared meals that are surprisingly affordable compared to typical dining establishments. The minimalist presentation and complex flavors provide a memorable culinary experience deeply rooted in Kyoto’s religious history.

How about dining inside a Buddhist temple for the final vegan pièce de résistance?. Wear your finest socks and check out Tenryu-ji Temple’s Shigetsu restaurant, a serene oasis nestled amidst World Heritage gardens. You’ll indulge in shojin ryori, a vegetarian feast celebrating seasonal ingredients there.

This is the best-known vegetarian restaurant in Kyoto, and its location is not for nothing: it belongs to Tenryuji temple, in the neighborhood of Arashiyama. It serves shojin ryori, hearty and completely vegetarian Buddhist cuisine, in a Zen atmosphere. About ¥3,000 per person.

Shigetsu is a Michelin-starred restaurant located inside the Tenryuji Temple. You can enjoy the view of the temple and its garden as you take your food. You will be served all vegetarian meals, with each dish designed to connect you with nature.

One of the most interesting places to try Shojin Ryori is at Shigetsu, a restaurant found within the beautiful grounds of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Tenryu-Ji Temple, offering not just a culinary experience but a cultural one too.

Inside the grounds of Tenryu-ji Temple, Shigetsu is a great place to try traditional Japanese Buddhist cuisines, also known as shojin-ryori.