Veggie curry set

As a vegetarian of 25-years (12 of those in Japan), I have had plenty of experience of going hungry when going out for dinner, or just settling for salad and french fries at a restaurant while everyone else gorges themselves.  My most memorable experience (and memories are often the things we wish to forget) is of arranging a vegetarian option at a company dinner only for the food to end up at the wrong end of the table and thus snorted down by the overstuffed coworkers there. There’s nothing like having to hand over ¥5000 for a dinner you didn’t get to enjoy to put you off socializing. If I sound bitter it’s probably because just because I’m still “hangry”.

Every year people contact me about what they can eat at Fuji Rock as vegetarians and thus I make a concerted effort to scout out meat-free options during the festival weekend.  I had been hoping there might be more and better choices as the years move on, but while there has been a small improvement, I still overhear a fair few hungry people staring at food stalls trying to figure out if something has meat or fish in before moving on to stare at something else they can’t eat. And when you do find something to eat… well…

My biggest disappointment was in the Oasis area last year.  After hungrily queuing for what felt like an interminable ten minutes for a falafel sandwich I was handed something in half a pita bread that may or may not once have been a falafel but was now just a mangled suggestion of its former self sprinkled over some cabbage.  Sadly, over my tenure in Japan, I have come to view shredded cabbage as less of a vegetable and more of a bland piss-take.  You can thus imagine my disappointment to find that 90% of the sandwich comprised this cretaceous chiffonade masquerading as nutrition. I am not ashamed to say that I was thoroughly British about the situation and instead of complaining went to the chip shop instead.  But that was just my one bad experience and I’m sure there were plenty more customers who were happy with their grub.

Jumbo fried tofu with avocado and cheese

Though it’s always difficult to predict what’s going to be available there are some regular vendors at Fuji Rock to keep you fed.  Curry and pizza are probably able to sate most appetites (though if you’re vegan, good luck with that), and are the best way to keep yourself reliably fed.  2018’s new addition of a bakery at the Oasis food court had me salivating at the mention of melted butter pretzels, but also impressed with it’s vegan “burger” option: grilled slices of aubergine inside a bun with a basil sauce and a vegan cheese that was more tangy soy mayo than cheese, though tasty enough.  Field of Heaven’s offerings consist of a jumbo fried tofu slab topped with avocado, cheese and tomato: a Japanese twist on avocado toast and good for those avoiding carbs.  Meanwhile, the veggie tacos nearby offer a fluffy casing with a portion of beans and salsa. And despite the half-hour wait, the pizza up at Field of Heaven is worth hanging around for.

Festival catering by nature has challenges, most particularly that many vendors rely on frozen items, which means fresh fruit and veggies are not in plentiful supply.  Practicalities coupled with a food culture that has trouble recognizing that bacon is a meat product means that the concept of vegetarianism is still sometimes met with a dog-like head tilt of incomprehension (though interestingly veganism seems to be much easier to process – less of a grey area?).   Overall in Japan, there have been huge improvements in what’s available to non-meat eaters over the past decade.  Let’s hope the festivals catch up.

Tacos near the Field of Heaven Stage

Vegetarian Survival Tips for Fujirockers

1) Fill up at breakfast and then snack on nuts, seeds, dried fruit and protein bars until dinner.  Make sure you come well-stocked.

2) Convenience stores outside of the festival should have something to eat – onigiri, yoghurt, fruit, etc.  It might be worth taking a trip into town in the morning to see what you can scavenge.

3) Keep an eye on the Fes Gohan page once it’s available and prep by taking a look at the vendor listing before you go.

4) Plan ahead and be prepared to eat when the opportunity arises rather than when your stomach dictates.

5) Don’t assume that just because something looks vegetarian that it is.  Always check for bacon.

Regular Veggie-Friendly Vendors

Oasis

Mumbai – Oasis – Vegetable Curry Set (¥1000)

Pizzeria Pittore – Pizza (¥1000-¥2000)

1066 (Blue Galaxy Area) – Chips (¥700ish)

Field of Heaven

SWNKA SHANKA – Vegetable Tacos (¥700)

東山食堂 – Jumbo Fried Tofu with Avocado and Cheese (¥700)

Sakuragumi – Pizza (¥1500ish)

Text: Laura

Photos: Fujirock Express 2016 and 2017