Soy milk, almond, oat, rice, coconut, and even potato! The options for alternative milk are endless. Chances are if you’re like me, you’ve moved or travelled from a country that already offers alternative milk options when it comes to getting your caffeine hit.
Japan is a nation of coffee lovers. If you like black coffee you’ll be able to get coffee pretty much everywhere (you can even get warm coffee from vending machines!!) However, if you prefer a flat white, a cappuccino, or a matcha latte, something with milk in it, a little bit of preparation is needed beforehand!
Soy products including soy milk are everywhere and readily available in supermarkets and konbinis but not always available in every cafe. So, I have compiled a list of cafes you can go to for coffee, matcha, or anything that you require milk in, that offers alternative milk.
Want to get that cafe-quality coffee at home? Why not try Kappu Coffee, a Japanese coffee subscription that delivers straight to your door? Make sure to have a look at the post for 5% off your order!
Chain Cafes with Alternative Milk Options
Wondering where to find your next caffeine fix? Make sure you’ve got a solid Japanese data plan so you can search on the go!
01. Tully’s
Milk alternatives: Soy
Atmosphere: Simple, practical
V or V. O: Vegan options
A chain cafe with many stores around Tokyo, offering soy milk as an alternative for coffee and matcha lattes. You can get a soy flat white for ¥550, a matcha latte for ¥510 and a cappuccino for ¥460.
02. The Matcha Tokyo
Milk alternatives: Soy, almond, oat
Atmosphere: Modern, simple, minimal
V or V. O: Vegan options
A cafe based in Tokyo with 3 different locations. Offering matcha flavoured confectionaries, (they have a matcha vegan cookie) and 100% organic matcha drinks. You can get a matcha latte using soy, oat or almond as an alternative milk for ¥702.
Open: varies 11:00-19:00 / 10:00-19:00
03. Starbucks
Milk alternatives: Soy, oat, almond
Atmosphere: Simple, practical
V or V. O: Vegan options
A well-known chain cafe, with many stores in Tokyo. They offer three milk alternatives but the almond milk is not vegan. They also have vegan light bites and baked goods. For a tall latte, it’s ¥470. Starbucks is a great option for when you’re in a rush as there are so many stores across Tokyo, and you know they will have something that would be suitable. When I visit, I like to get an oat matcha latte with a glazed doughnut!
*The almond milk has a pork-derived ingredient per customer service*
04. Starbucks Reserve Roastery Tokyo
Milk alternatives: Soy, oat, almond
Atmosphere: Modern, artistic, industrial
V or V. O: Vegan options
A cafe with four floors, each floor specialising in something different. They are a premium version of normal Starbucks, selling rarer and higher quality coffees. Offering drinks with three milk alternatives and vegan food options. A soy latte here will cost ¥750.
*The almond milk has a pork-derived ingredient per customer service*
Open: 7:00-22:00
Address: 2 Chome-19-23 Aobadai, Meguro City, Tokyo 153-0042, Japan
05. Excelsior
Milk alternatives: Soy, almond
Atmosphere: Casual, practical
V or V. O: Vegan options
A cafe owned by Doutor, another chain coffee shop in Japan. For coffee, tea and matcha, you can choose from soy or almond as an alternative milk. Excelsior is one of the cheaper cafes on this list, you can get a latte for ¥398 and an almond caramel latte will cost you ¥408. Some stores open at 7 am which is earlier than many cafes, but it’s best to check before going as opening times can vary.
06. 2Foods
Milk alternatives: Oat
Atmosphere: Modern, casual, friendly
V or V. O: 100% Vegan
2Foods is a 100% vegan cafe with 5 stores in Tokyo. They offer meals, desserts, snacks and drinks. Oat milk is used in their coffees and matcha. When I last visited, we had a great iced oat latte and ate an impressive Halloween parfait and doughnut!
07. Café de Crie
Milk alternatives: Soy
Atmosphere: Casual, practical
V or V. O: Vegan options
A Japanese cafe with soy milk alternatives. A small latte will cost￥380, and a medium for ￥430. For those who want to try something else, they have a blueberry and soy yoghurt smoothie for ¥520 and a banana smoothie for ¥480.
08. Doutor
Milk alternatives: Soy
Atmosphere: Casual, practical
V or V. O: Vegan options
A chain cafe with many branches in Tokyo, sells hot and cold teas, matcha, and coffee using soy milk as an alternative. A soy latte will cost you ¥310, and a kinako soy latte for ¥350. Another cheap option!
09. Ain Soph
Milk alternatives: Soy
Atmosphere: Trendy, modern
V or V. O: 100% Vegan
Ain Soph is a fully vegan cafe restaurant with three locations in Tokyo and one in Kyoto. Each branch is slightly different, a patisserie, restaurant and cafe. Here they use soy milk, a latte will cost you ¥720, and a hojicha latte at ¥770, slightly pricier than other places on this list.
10. Streamer Coffee Company
Milk alternatives: Soy, almond
Atmosphere: Casual, cosy, modern
V or V. O: Vegan options
Chain cafe with 6 stores in Tokyo. A good place to do work with a cup of great coffee, but slightly pricier. Offering drinks with soy and almond milk alternatives. ¥750 for a latte, ¥790 for a California latte. They charge ¥80 extra for soy milk and ¥150 extra for almond milk on their coffees.
11. Beck’s
Milk alternatives: Soy
Atmosphere: Casual, practical
V or V. O: Vegan options
A chain cafe that has soy milk as an alternative. There is normally a smoking area in this cafe, so it can be quite a smokey cafe, which may not be for everyone. You can get a hot or cold soy latte for ¥380.
12. Komeda Coffee
Milk alternatives: Soy
Atmosphere: Casual, practical
V or V. O: Vegan options
A chain with many stores in Japan. The store has soy milk as an alternative, and even soy whip cream to have in your drinks. Coffee starts from ¥480 and iced coffee with soy whip starts from ¥580.
13. Komeda Is
Milk alternatives: Soy, oat, almond
Atmosphere: Relaxing, friendly, eco
V or V. O: 100% Vegan
“Komeda coffee” is a chain kissaten, “Komeda Is” is their first fully plant-based cafe serving meals, desserts, alcohol and drinks. They have oat, soy and almond milk. Make sure to go to “Komeda Is” to get all the plant-based options!
Open: 7:00-22:00
Address: 1 Chome-13-1 Tsukiji, Chuo City, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan
14. Segafredo Zanetti
Milk alternatives: Soy
Atmosphere: Practical, casual
V or V. O: Vegan Option
Cafe with a few locations in Tokyo, offers soy milk as an alternative for your drinks. They also have a vegan wrap and tiramisu. Soy lattes from ¥450.
15. Foru Cafe
Milk alternatives: Almond
Atmosphere: Modern, relaxed
V or V. O: Vegan Option
Foru cafe, meaning “for you”, is a cafe with 4 different locations around Tokyo. They have almond milk as an alternative, and a latte will cost you ¥510.
Independent Cafes with Milk Alternatives
These are some of the independent cafes in Tokyo that offer alternative milk.
16. Wired Tokyo 1999
Milk alternatives: Soy
Atmosphere: Fashionable, cool, modern bar
V or V. O: Vegan options
If you fancy somewhere a bit more stylish, come to Wired Tokyo 1999. It’s a multistory cafe and bookstore offering soy milk as an alternative. You can get matcha lattes here for ¥750.
Open: 10:00 – 22:00
Address: 150-0042 Tokyo, Shibuya City, Udagawacho, 21−6 ＱＦＲＯＮＴ7F
17. Goodtown Doughnuts / The Little Bakery Tokyo
Milk alternatives: Oat, almond
Atmosphere: Trendy, friendly
V or V. O: Vegan options
Goodtown Doughnuts and its sister store recently relocated to a new location together. They are a cafe bakery in Harajuku, known for their doughnuts, and baked goods. They have vegan doughnuts, cinnamon rolls and cookies, as well as oat and almond milk alternatives for your drinks. You can get a latte here for ¥710.
Open: 10:00 -19:00
Address: 6 Chome-13-6 Jingumae, Shibuya City, Tokyo 150-0001, Japan
18. Wired Bonbon
Milk alternatives: Almond
Atmosphere: Fashionable, Modern
V or V. O: Vegan options
Wired Bonbon’s well known for having amazing plant-based parfaits! They have almond milk as an alternative to be enjoyed in your hot and cold drinks. A latte will cost you ¥600.
Open: 11:00-21:00
Address: Lumine 1 Mall 6F, 1 Chome-1−5 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan, 160-0023
19. Double Tall Coffeebar
Milk alternatives: Soy, almond
Atmosphere: Friendly, cosy
V or V. O: Vegan options
A small hole-in-a-wall cafe, serving speciality coffee. Offering great coffee for a reasonable price. They have soy and almond milk as an alternative. A matcha latte will cost ¥520.
Open: 9:00-19:00 Monday to Friday | 10:00-18:00 Saturday and Sunday
Address: 1 Chome-23-16 Shibuya, Shibuya City, Tokyo 150-0002, Japan
20. Citron
Milk alternatives: Soy, almond
Atmosphere: Modern, minimal
V or V. O: Vegan options
Known as a French, vegetarian salad bar. They offer drinks with soy and almond milk alternatives. A latte would normally cost ¥580 but to have it with soy or almond milk, they add an extra ¥110, making the total ¥690.
Open: 8:00-21:00 Monday to Friday | 8:00-19:00 Saturday and Sunday
Address: Seirin Building 1F/2F Minami Aoyama 2-27-21 TOKYO 107-0062 Japan
21. Garden House Crafts
Milk alternatives: Soy, oat
Atmosphere: Rustic, open
V or V. O: Vegan options
A cafe bakery with soy and oat milk options for your drinks. On a nice day, you can enjoy your drink out on the wooden terrace. They charge ¥110 for soy milk and ¥150 for oat milk. So a cappuccino with soy milk will cost you ¥760.
Open: 8:30 – 18:00
Address: Japan, 〒150-0034 Tokyo, Shibuya City, Daikanyamacho, 13−1 LOG ROAD DAIKANYAMA5号棟
22. About Life Coffee Brewers
Milk alternatives: Soy, oat
Atmosphere: Friendly, trendy, minimal
V or V. O: Vegan options
Small cafe with great coffee, friendly staff and limited seating. They have oat or soy milk as an alternative to enjoy in your coffee. ¥520 for a soy latte.
Open: 9:00-18:00 Monday to Friday | 11:00-18:00 Saturday, Sunday
Address: 1 Chome-19-8 Dogenzaka, Shibuya City, Tokyo 150-0043, Japan
23. Universal Bakes and Cafe
Milk alternatives: Soy, oat
Atmosphere: Rustic, minimal, friendly
V or V. O: 100% Vegan
A 100% vegan bakery selling, bread, pastries and snacks. They have oat and soy milk to have in your drinks. A soy latte at ¥680 and an oat latte at ¥750.
Open: 8:30-18:00 Wednesday to Sunday
Address: 5 Chome-9-1 Daita, Tokyo, Japan, 1550033
24. Coconut Glen’s
Milk alternatives: Coconut
Atmosphere: Beach themed, relaxed
V or V. O: 100% Vegan
Known for serving vegan coconut ice cream. They also have coconut milk for lattes and iced coffee, which costs ¥450. This is the only place serving coconut milk on this Iist!
Open: 11:00 – 19:00
Address: 2-18-6 Minamiikebukuro, Tokyo, Japan, 171-0022
25. Mabre Vegan
Milk alternatives: Soy
Atmosphere: Friendly, modern
V or V. O: 100% Vegan
A vegan cake cafe located next to Shinjuku Gyoen Park. They sell a selection of cakes that can be enjoyed with a cup of tea or coffee. They use soy milk, and you can get a drink for ¥450.
Open: 11:00 – 19:00
Address: Shinjuku, 2-chōme−1−５, Parkside Sq, 1st Floor, Tokyo, Japan, 160-0022
26. Cafe Slow
Milk alternatives: Soy
Atmosphere: Cosy, friendly, modern
V or V. O: Vegan options
A cafe serving organic food with vegan and vegetarian-friendly meals on their menu. They serve drinks using soy milk as an alternative. You can get a latte for ¥630.
Open: 11:30 -17:00
Address: 2-20-10 Higashimotomachi, Kokubunji, Tokyo, Japan, 185-0022
27. The Front Room
Milk alternatives: Soy, oat
Atmosphere: Sophisticated, modern, fashionable
V or V. O: Vegan options
A cafe-restaurant offering soy and oat milk coffees for ¥715. It’s conveniently located in Tokyo station, and they also have two food options: a vegan salad and an arrabbiata.
Open: Monday to Thursday 8:00-22:00, Friday 8:00-23:00, Saturday & Sunday 9:00-21:00
Address: 103-6390 Tokyo, Chiyoda City, Marunouchi, 2 Chome−4−1, Marunouchi Building, 1F
On the surface, Japan might not seem like the most vegan-friendly destination in the world but, dig a bit deeper and you’ll soon find out there are more than a few places to get your tea and coffee fix.
Whether you’re a tea lover or a coffee drinker, this list has something for everyone to have their vegan-friendly drinks in Tokyo, with a milk alternative.
Is there any I’ve missed? Let me know!
Check out my food Instagram for more places to eat and drink in Japan!
