Shojin Sushi Minamo (Minami)

If you’re a vegetarian or vegan who loves sushi, Shojin Sushi Minamo – a traditional shojin-ryori style sushi bar – has you covered.

The Shojin Sushi Minamo entrance is located down a short stairwell from street level for a cozy speakeasy feel © Angelino Donnachaidh

If you’re in Osaka and hankering for completely vegan and gluten-free sushi that is both artisanal and authentic, then look no further than Shojin Sushi Minamo, located in the city’s southern downtown area of Shinsaibashi.

True to its name, Minamo’s tasty sushi is prepared and served according to the traditions of “shojin ryori” – an umbrella term for a wide variety of sophisticated and delicious Buddhist temple devotional cuisines that are together easily one of the country’s most overlooked and underappreciated culinary achievements. Most of the time you’d have to book a dinner or even an overnight stay at a temple to try real shojin ryori, but at Minamo you can enjoy it right in the bustling heart of Osaka’s main youth shopping and nightlife district.

Developed by and for monks living under strict prohibitions on the consumption of animals, all shojin ryori is fully vegetarian and most of it is even vegan. Minamo’s sushi falls into the latter category, using no animal products whatsoever. Shojin ryori also forgoes the use of such “pungent” plants such as onion or garlic, seeking to highlight the natural deliciousness of each ingredient rather than overpower them.

Thanks to the Buddhist shojin-ryori tradition, Minamo serves authentic sushi using only vegan ingredients © Angelino Donnachaidh

To me, it has always felt like something of a paradox that so much of the vegetarian and vegan dining in Japan has emerged under the influence of recent Western trends. The country’s own traditional culture feels like it fits hand-in-glove with a plant-based diet. And the truth is that this is more than just a feeling.

The full story of the history of dietary meat consumption in Japan is complex and far too much to do justice here. But if I may briefly wax historical, suffice it to say that numerous legal bans on the eating of meat were enacted throughout the history of the country for reasons ranging from religious to environmental, and that strong cultural and religious taboos on the practice have deep, millennia-old roots.

Much of that was overturned during the great westernization of the country that took place under the Emperor Meiji, who among other things made history by celebrating the new year of 1872 with a public feast of meat. The same year, even Buddhist monks were legally allowed to consume meat. These changes were largely motivated by a desire to both emulate and compete with Western powers.

Shojin Sushi Minamo features just six counter seats, and a full lineup of liquors for those who like a tipple with their meal © Angelino Donnachaidh

Japan today remains a country acutely aware of global trends and its place in them. While it may have been westernization that drove vegetarianism in the country to near-extinction in the first place, it has in fact also been Western vegetarian and vegan trends that have helped to reinvigorate these ancient traditions by offering new lenses of external validation, reclaimed modernity, and “coolness” through which to appreciate them. This has also given a well-deserved new street cred to the monks, chefs, and home cooks who kept shojin ryori alive.

So as you sit down to a meal of Minamo’s excellent shojin ryori sushi, take a moment to appreciate not only the delicious flavors and textures of each bite, but the rich cultural traditions, fickle – and at times even perilous – currents of history, and the devoted masters of the temple kitchen craft without which it wouldn’t be here for modern vegetarians, vegans, and just us health-conscious food lovers to enjoy.

One thing to note about visiting Shojin Sushi Minamo is that ordering is all done entirely online via smartphone – so be sure to come with your phone charged for the smoothest experience.

About Angelino Donnachaidh
Angelino Donnachaidh is a Mexican-American father, author, Japanese-English translator, and longtime resident of Osaka, Japan. His works include the middle grade (pre-)historical fiction novel Tamiu: A Cat’s Tale (Winner of the North Street Prize and CWA Muse Medallion), the YA post-cyberpunk heist adventure screenplay Brother (Winner of the HollywoodGenre 2025 Scifi Screenplay Competition), and the upcoming samurai scifi-fantasy action-thriller novel The Mayhem Protocols.

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Shojin Sushi Minamo Information

Name in English:
Shojin Sushi Minamo

Name in Japanese:
精進寿司 みなも

English address:
〒542-0086 Osaka, Chuo Ward, Nishishinsaibashi, 1 Chome−10−4 Ace. Building, B１

Japanese address:
〒542-0086 大阪府大阪市中央区西心斎橋１丁目１０−４ エースビル B１

Vegetarian & Vegan

Opening hours:
12:00pm-2:00pm, 5:30pm–9:00pm Friday through Tuesday
Closed Wednesdays and Thursdays

Non-smoking area: Yes

Nearest transport:
3-minute walk from Shinsaibashi Station on the Osaka Metro (Subway) Midosuji and Nagahori Tsurumi Ryokuchi lines (Exit 8)
10-minute walk from Shinsaibashi Station on the Osaka Metro (Subway) Sakaisuji Line (Exit 7)

Website: Official website (English)

Near To Here:
Shojin Sushi Minamo is located in Osaka’s Minami district. See our complete list of things to do in the Minami district, including places to eat, nightlife and places to stay.

Best Osaka Restaurants
See our list of the best Osaka restaurants for even more ideas about great places to eat in Osaka and our other recommended sushi in Osaka.

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