Osaka is often referred to as "The Kitchen of Japan", and it's famous for its street food. One of its most famous dishes is takoyaki. If you've never had it, they're traditionally made with minced octopus, shaped into balls, covered in batter and deep fried. As a vegan traveller, I...

Imagine this: You've just stepped out of Shinjuku Station, your heart racing as you dragged your case through the crowds, trying to find which of the over 200 exits is the right one. You finally surface on the pavement, the bright lights and chaos of Tokyo hitting you like a...

The Quest for Vegan Ramen Ramen is the ultimate comfort food. From the hot, nourishing broth to the indulgent noodles and rich toppings, it's a culinary experience you can't miss, especially if you're visiting Japan. However, for vegans and vegetarians planning a trip to Japan, the fish stoke and bone...

When I was planning my first trip to Japan, I was so excited and had been posting about my upcoming trip on Instagram. An old colleague saw my stories and reached out to me. She'd moved to Tokyo a few months prior and suggested getting dinner while I was in...

T's Tantan is one of the most beloved ramen purveyors in Japan, and for very good reason. An offshoot of the popular T's Restaurant in Jiyugaoka (near the gorgeous Saido, another great vegan restaurant), T's Tantan has been around since 2011 and now has four branches: two in Narita airport,...

Down a dark alley in Tokyo's quiet Jiyugaoka neighbourhood I had the most creative meal of my life. Saido restaurant is voted one of the best vegan restaurants in the world on Happy Cow, and for good reason. The chef, Kusumoto Katsumi, opened his restaurant in 2018 after spending years...

Introduction: Why Take the Sleeper Train? Taking the sleeper train in Thailand is a bit of a rite of passage for travellers in the country. Every year, millions of people use Thailand’s rail network, not just to get from A to B, but as part of the journey itself. When...

Introduction Ao Nang was my final stop on an almost month-long trip through Uzbekistan and Thailand. With a new job waiting for me back in London, I wanted my last few days to be calm and low-key. I’m not very good at relaxing - two weeks on a beach sounds...

Eating Vegan in Bangkok Being vegan in Bangkok is both surprisingly easy and unsurprisingly delicious. There’s a reason that Thai food is beloved the world over, but until I moved to London in 2010, it wasn’t something I’d ever really tried before. When I was in university, my now-husband and...

Getting to Khao Sok The minibus bounced along uneven roads in the early morning sun, speeding by lush green hills and delicate palm trees. I'd arrived into Surat Thani on an overnight train at 6:30am and had booked a night's stay in Khao Sok Paradise Resort, before heading on for...