Gyoshintei

Tpossible47

Points +26

Vegan

18 Aug 2023

Restaurant closed - Edit

Gyoshintei has been replaced by another restaurant called Fujimoto. No vegan options on the menu and when I asked if it was possible to get anything without meat, I was informed that the stock is fish stock. Nice staff but no options.

Updated from previous review on 2023-08-18

Cons: Closed

Riceball

Points +46

Vegan

31 Oct 2020

Nice vegan experience - Edit

All tastes great and vegan options. Staff are nice.

Rarostuffo

Points +82

Vegan

14 Jan 2020

Beautiful and japanese experience - Edit

Traditional and gorgeous place. Not that easy to find because it is located inside a little and beautiful neighborhood that is not very full of signs. Very traditional. They were kind enough to read my vegan card and let me know the meal course in the menu that worked for me. (Shiojin Ryojri 12 dish meal). Yes, It Is expensive but totally worth it because it is a once in a lifetime japanese experience you won’t get anywhere else.

Pros: Very friendly and very traditional., They were open to my requirements , Beautiful surroundings

Soft Yuba (soy milk skin) at Gyoshintei in Nikko

This is their vegan version of japanese Omelet (tofu) and broiled eel (mushrooms ) at Gyoshintei in Nikko

I got the vegan version of this after showing a vegan card at Gyoshintei in Nikko

totor_le_castor

Points +48

Vegan

19 Jun 2019

Excellent food relaxing atmosphere - Edit

We went there after visiting the temples and this place did not disappoint!
It was a bit complicated to find but we got there in the end (we circled around the neighbouring houses).
The lady led us to a table where we sat in full view of the garden and bonsais. We were the only customers.
I chose the vegan shojin ryori. My friend took the equivalent with some fish dishes.
It was possibly one of the tastiest meals I've experienced. I was scared I'd still be hungry by the end of it but I left there very satisfied.
Yuba is apparently a speciality of the region and was served in different ways.
We also go several refills of two different teas which were both excellent.
Don't miss out on this if you are in Nikko.
Worth noting is they accept card payments.
The lady was also very reassuring and announced the main ingredients of each dish and told me "no fish" each time she set a plate before me.

Pros: Excellent local ingredients, Card payments accepted, Relaxing atmosphere

Cons: A bit expensive (but worth the experience), Slightly difficult to find

tpowpow

Points +173

Vegan

26 Feb 2019

Just not for us - Edit

Beautiful n cool experience but for me and my friend the food was not for us. I like literally every vegan meal imaginable but this felt like an ordeal to go through, last thing you want when hungry. Although I suppose is a delicacy and experience in a beautiful setting, treat it like a game!

Pros: Experience

Cons: Price!!, Cold slimy were the keywords

Veggiechiliqueen

Points +123

Vegetarian

18 Feb 2019

Outstanding shojin ryori in Nikko! - Edit

I had scouted out Gyoshintei on my trip to Nikko as I only eat shojin ryori when I travel; at first, I had a little difficulty finding it in Google Maps, but as I walked through maple-lined paths dripping with rain, I felt like I’d stumbled into a magical oasis. The building is set in a clearing in the woods, with small bonsai trees out front.

Inside, it is a traditional Japanese restaurant with tatami (but chairs, so don’t worry about sitting on the floor).

I was the only guest at that time of day; I had the shojin bento box only offered at lunch.

It included tempura, Koyadofu, gomadofu and veggies served different ways. Dessert was a squash yokan.

Absolutely delicious and beautiful meal and interior, I was not rushed at all and enjoyed looking out over the beautiful garden.

Pros: Beautiful setting and presentation

Bento (lunch only) at Gyoshintei in Nikko

dmth

Points +148

Vegan

24 May 2018

Great Vegan set menu - Edit

Had a beautiful meal here, the food was really nice and looking out over the garden was awesome. Would rate 5 stars if I could but Happy Cow is dumb 🙃

All of the staff were super helpful and very kind. I confirmed the vege set didn't have any dashi or bonito in it and the wait staff checked with the chef.

While the place is a little hard to find, the GPS coords are slightly wrong and it's a little expensive - the experience is totally worth it.
We tried many things that we would be unable to elsewhere in Japan, like shashimi style uba.

To find the restaurant, look for the kanji, '堯心亭' on the map.

The correct address is:
2340 Sannai, Nikkō-shi, Tochigi-ken 321-1431, Japan

Here is a Google maps link:
https://goo.gl/maps/2QmUhcNgZgn

When you come off the street there are two small screens that look like you're going into someone's house - don't worry, you're on track!

Pros: beautiful garden , great staff, delicious food

Cons: can be a bit hard to find, expensive

pickled veggies, tempura veggies, steames veggies, soup and rice at Gyoshintei in Nikko

Shashimi style yuba at Gyoshintei in Nikko

sarahcferg

Points +17

Vegetarian

11 Apr 2018

elegant and delicious - Edit

Gyoshintei is tucked away, giving it a peaceful and elegant feel that was a true joy. The food was uniformly delicious and the service refined without being overly formal. My husband enjoyed the kaiseki courses with some fish and meat— really mostly vegan as well

CFBL

Points +344

Vegetarian

25 Mar 2018

Buddhist cuisine - Edit

Definitely an experience, worth doing as there are not many opportunities to experience traditional japanese cuisine as a vegan / vegetarian in Japan.

We arrived at lunchtime without a reservation and chose the 12 course menu which was certainly enough for lunch. My husband had the fish option and i had the vegan option.

Personally, whilst I enjoyed the experience, I found the food a little bland. Interesting, but the flavours were delicate, as is usual with buddhist style food. Also lots of tofu in different ways, often cold. Even for the fish menu which my husband wasn’t so excited about.

I’m glad I went, but given it was fairly expensive and the food a little bland I probably wouldn’t go again.

If you get off the bus from the station at the parking lot to the west/south west of where the restaurant is marked on googlemaps you just need to follow the path to the north east around the back of a big tall attractive / grand grey stone building. I put the japanese name (can be found on tripadvisor) in googlemaps.

Lenny Travels

Points +40

Vegan

20 Oct 2013

A Must! - Edit

Gyoshintei was an exquisite experience. Located near the Rinno-ji temple, hidden amoung a confusing labyrinth of beautiful garden paths, the reataurant is a tranquil oasis in the sometimes crowded Nikko tourist scene. The setting alone is worth the experience: sliding screens, tatami floors, kimono costumed servers, Japanese customs and manners, and a wall of sliding glass doors opening on a serene garden. This is an experience to be slowly savored.
Both vegan set options provide an ample number of plates, all delightful. Take your time and enjoy the subtle variety of flavors. The presentation is itself a feast for the senses. The meals are not inexpensive, but if expense is an issue, it's well worth saving up for this treat. I don't think you will regret it.
By the way, ring the bell at the entrance for the hostess. You'll know you've found the right place when you see the entrance curtain with the three piece crown emblem. It would also help to get the tourist information people to trace out your route on one of their free maps. Don't hesitate to ask. Otherwise you might spend some time searching.

Pros: Refined, exquisite traditional dining, Delightful atmosphere, Japanese elegance

Cons: A little expensive, Somewhat hard to find

Nancy Cadet

Points +970

Vegan

15 Oct 2013

Sublime Kaiseki - vegan options worth looking for - Edit

Location: in the Unesco world heritage shrine area, close to the Rinno-ji temple, and across the street from the Hotel Seikoen. From Nikko train station, walk uphill on the town's Main Street, past the Shinkyo sacred bridge. You can continue walking on the Main Street till you reach steps to the temple area entrance, or take the UNESCO World Heritage pathway on the right of the sidewalk . The restaurant is located in a lovely garden up a steep path from the hotel and parking areas. A curtain (noren) with three peaked crown hangs over the door.

Food and ambiance: The restaurant is in a tranquil, tasteful setting, a dining room overlooking a moss and bansai garden; it has thoughtful service by women dressed in kimonos. There are two lunch set meals , multi course options for vegans: approx 44,000 yen and approx 62,000 yen,(more expensive at dinner); all dishes are listed on the English menu. The Kaiseki style is seasonal , with small plates, a balance of tastes, subtle presentation; the set menu, includes tofu in many forms , sesame tofu, pickled veggies, miso soup, chestnut rice, dessert , tea. The food was incredible, surprising, visually pleasing and better than any of the excellent vegan meals I've had in my trip to Japan.
Updated from previous review on Tuesday October 15, 2013

Updated from previous review on Tuesday October 15, 2013

Pros: Delicious unusual food, Beautiful setting , Gracious service

Cons: Can be hard to find--just keep asking, Expensive, but worth it!

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