If you are looking for the perfect Kamakura day trip from Tokyo, hopping on the famous Enoden line is an absolute must. While Kamakura is famous for its breathtaking temples, it is also becoming a hotspot for incredible, healthy dining. On a recent date trip with my husband, we discovered what might just be the best healthy vegan cafe in? Kamakura—a true hidden gem for anyone seeking wholesome, nutrient-dense nutrition.
A perfect Kamakura day trip from Tokyo: riding the iconic Enoden train to visit the majestic Great Buddha (and his giant straw sandals!)
Finding truly healthy, whole-food plant-based options can sometimes be a challenge when traveling. That is why I was so excited to visit Cafe COTONOHA. Set inside a beautifully restored Kominka (a vintage Japanese old folk house), this 100% vegan restaurant in Kamakura focuses on clean cooking, zero MSG, and a mountain of fresh, locally grown vegetables.
Stepping into a beautiful piece of history—the warm, welcoming exterior and cozy vintage interior of Cafe COTONOHA’s traditional Kominka.
Whether you are a strict vegan or simply a foodie looking for a vibrant, nourishing meal, this cozy cafe offers an unforgettable culinary experience. Believe it or not, the last time I went to Kamakura was over 25 years ago! This was my husband’s very first time visiting, and this magical lunch made our day trip truly special.
There are three lunch set menus available—all vegan, crafted with wholesome, zero-MSG, and nutrient-dense ingredients. The drink menu is equally impressive, featuring a detailed listing of herbs alongside their specific health and beauty benefits. ( English available )
The Star of the Show: The Vegan Buddha Glass Platter (¥2,300)
My choice : The magnificent Vegan Buddha Glass Platter—an absolute masterpiece of colors, textures, and seasonal local nourishment
I ordered their signature Buddha Glass Platter, and it blew me away. The meal starts with a side salad. Normally, you don’t talk about a side salad in great detail, but I absolutely have to! It was full of surprises, bursting with flavour, and honestly could be the best salad I have ever had.
Look at this incredible variety of fresh, local veggies packed into one plate:
- The Greens & Crunch: Kale, Mizuna, Lettuce, Iceberg lettuce
- The Roots & Radishes: Three types of radish (red, yellow, purple), purple carrots
- The Prepared Veggies: Pre-seasoned cabbage, red cabbage, mushrooms, squash, tomato
- The Roasted Delights: Roasted pumpkin, and naturally super-sweet roasted sweet potato (absolute divine!)
The secret to this masterpiece is the house-made dressing. It has a beautiful yellowish tint and a rich, creamy texture with a subtle Asian flair. The magic lies in their homemade organic amazake (fermented sweet rice) combined with a sprinkle of Dukkah spices like cumin and coriander. I am not usually a big fan of cumin, but here it was incredibly subtle, healthy, and yummy!
The platter also features a spectacular array of clean, Japanese-fusion flavours:
- Broccoli and Lentil Cold Soup: Smooth and refreshing.
- Soy Chicken Karaage: Perfectly crispy and satisfying.
- Plant-Based Meatballs: Made wholesomely from oats.
- Sweet and Sour Tartar Sauce: A clean mix made with soy yogurt, chopped veggies, and agave syrup.
- Miso Eggplant & Tofu: Rich, savory, and traditional.
- Organic Mixed Grain Rice: Topped with roasted shishito green pepper and lotus root.
A closer look at the oat-based meatballs served with homemade tartare sauce, alongside organic mixed grain rice sourced from Kyushu and a smooth, refreshing Broccoli and Lentil Cold Soup. Drizzling the creamy, house-made organic amazake and Dukkah dressing over the platter brings it all together beautifully.
The “Glass Salad” Surprise
The platter includes a stunning glass layer that is so cute! To eat this beautiful salad, you use a special spoon to dive into the layers. From the bottom up, it features:
- Tororo (grated Japanese mountain yam)
- Seasoned Shirataki (white konjac noodles cooked the traditional Japanese way)
- Tofu turmeric soboro (seasoned scramble)
- Hijiki seaweed and bean sprouts
- Red cabbage, sprouts, carrot, and radish on top!
A closer look at the stunning glass salad layer, packed with beautiful traditional Japanese ingredients like tororo, shirataki, and colorful root veggies. I used their special ‘tool’ spoon to easily dive in and mix all the rich layers together!
To have a perfectly healthy body, we are supposed to aim for 30 different types of foods a day. Just by ordering this single platter, your diet is totally well-balanced!
My Husband’s Pick: The Hearty Curry Platter (¥2,100)
My husband paired his meal with an organic beer and ordered the Curry Platter. It comes with the same mind-blowing side salad, rice topped with roasted veggies, and their delicious soy chicken karaage.
The curry itself is a thick, comforting Japanese-style curry—but it is completely different from the typical restaurant versions that are loaded with heavy fat and MSG. COTONOHA’s version is incredibly clean, containing hijiki seaweed (very rare in curry, but amazing!), chickpeas, mushrooms, and loads of finely chopped vegetables.
My husband’s hearty Japanese-style curry platter, uniquely packed with clean vegetables and hijiki seaweed, perfectly paired with an organic beer.
Guilt-Free Dessert & Magical “Yakuso” Tea
After our meal, we were already full because of the serious amount of nutrients from the lunch. However, we really wanted to try a dessert paired with tea and coffee, so we decided to share. Today’s main dessert was already sold out, so we ordered the “Bliss Board”.
The rich, dense ‘Bliss Board’ raw brownie pairing with a frothy organic soy milk latte for my husband, and my custom-blended herbal infusion tea
This is a rich, guilt-free, and deeply nourishing raw brownie made simply from cocoa, nuts, and dates. No refined sugar, no flour—just pure, fudgy perfection! It has a dense, chocolatey texture that completely satisfied my husband’s sweet tooth.
To accompany the dessert, we ordered our drinks:
COTONOHA’s impressive ‘Yakuso’ medicinal herb bar, stocking a serious variety of over 30 unique herbs. My custom-blended Butterfly Pea and lemongrass tea was crafted here—a beautiful infusion packed with powerful anthocyanin antioxidants and digestion-soothing properties!
- For Him: A beautifully frothy organic Soy Milk Latte.
- For Me: I wanted to try something unique from their Yakuso (medicinal herb) bar. The owner was incredibly thoughtful and crafted a special mix just for me, blending Butterfly Pea tea with Lemongrass to make it exceptionally smooth and easy to drink.
The Healing Benefits Behind My Custom Herbal Tea
- Butterfly Pea Flower:Exceptionally high in anthocyanins (the same powerful antioxidants found in blueberries), which are amazing for skin health, reducing inflammation, and protecting cells.
- Lemongrass:Excellent for digestion, bloating, and calming the mind after a busy morning of walking and sightseeing
It arrived as a stunning sapphire blue. But the magic happened when I added a squeeze of fresh lemon—the tea instantly transformed into a vibrant purple! Pairing this raw brownie with their organic coffee and tea created the ultimate mind-body reset.
Pure alchemy in a glass! This Butterfly Pea blend tea isn’t just magical to watch—it is packed with powerful antioxidants and digestion-soothing properties that instantly reset my body
Why Kamakura Trumps the Tokyo Vegan Scene
Kamakura is such a fun and fulfilling place to visit! Before our lunch at COTONOHA, we spent a beautiful morning exploring the famous Great Buddha (Daibutsu) and the stunning Hasedera Temple. We only visited these two places, but there are so many more to explore
Capturing the magic of Hasedera Temple: lovely little Jizo statues smiling throughout the grounds, and the famous hydrangeas just starting to bloom beautifully against the stunning coastal views.
To be honest, I’ve been getting a bit tired of the Tokyo vegan scene lately. A lot of places feel like “tourist price” traps where everything is heavily marked up. But here in Kamakura, despite it being a major tourist area, COTONOHA is a total breath of fresh air. This place is truly worth every yen. It is incredibly budget-friendly for the sheer amount of effort, care, and mountain of fresh, locally grown vegetables they pack into every dish.
“Ending our rejuvenating Kamakura day trip with some barefoot ‘earthing’ on the beach—the ultimate way to ground and connect with nature.”
After our relaxing cafe time, we took a short walk down to the beach. We took off our shoes and walked barefoot on the sand for some refreshing ‘earthing.’ It felt so grounding to connect with nature after a full day of sightseeing.
If you are looking for a fun, peaceful, and rejuvenating day trip from Tokyo, Kamakura is absolutely the perfect escape!”
Tip: This cafe is highly popular, so you absolutely need a booking before you go!
Vegan Café COTONOHA
2 Chome-10-34 Hase, Kamakura, Kanagawa 248-0016, Japan
cotonoha.kitakamakura
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