How to Eat in Japan with Allergies: Phrases, Cards & Safe Picks

Short answer: You can eat safely in Japan if you prepare—use clear Japanese phrases, carry a bilingual allergy card, pick restaurants that publish allergen info, and learn which convenience-store foods are lower risk.

This guide is for first-time international visitors with food allergies or dietary restrictions who want concrete, travel-ready steps: what to say (and write), how to choose restaurants, what to buy at konbini (convenience stores) and supermarkets, and realistic tips for common dining situations like sushi, ramen, and izakaya pubs.

How do I tell a restaurant about my allergy in Japanese?

Start with short, direct sentences staff can read or hear. If you use your phone to show text, show both languages. Here are tidy, polite phrases you can copy into your notes or a printed card.

Basic phrases to show or say

Put these on your phone or printed card. Read them aloud slowly if you need to speak them.

Polite opener: すみません、食物アレルギーがあります。 (Sumimasen, shokumotsu arerugī ga arimasu.) — Excuse me, I have a food allergy.

Specify the allergen: 私は［アレルゲン］アレルギーです。 (Watashi wa [allergen] arerugī desu.) Example: 私は卵（たまご）アレルギーです。— I am allergic to eggs.

Does this contain X?: これは［アレルゲン］が入っていますか？ (Kore wa [allergen] ga haitte imasu ka?)

Can it be made without X?: ［アレルゲン］を使わないで作れますか？ ( [Allergen] o tsukawanaide tsukuremasu ka?) — Can you make it without [allergen]?

Avoid shared cookware: 調理器具が共有されると危険です。 (Chōri kigu ga kyōyū sareru to kiken desu.) — Shared cooking utensils are dangerous (for me).

If severe: アレルギー反応で命に関わります。 (Arerugī han’nō de inochi ni kakawarimasu.) — An allergic reaction can be life‑threatening.

Key allergen words (copy these)

Include both Japanese kanji/kana and English for clarity. Common allergens:

Egg — 卵（たまご） tamago | Milk/dairy — 乳・乳製品（にゅう）nyū/nyū seihin | Wheat — 小麦（こむぎ）komugi | Soy — 大豆（だいず）daizu | Peanut — 落花生（らっかせい）rakkasei / ピーナッツ piinattsu | Tree nuts — ナッツ／木の実（きのみ）k …
(Note: include a full list on your card: fish 魚（さかな）sakana, shrimp エビ ebi, shellfish 貝（かい）kai, sesame ごま goma, gluten グルテン)

How do allergy translation cards and apps work?

A printed bilingual allergy card is the most reliable tool: staff can read it, keep it, and pass it to the kitchen. Apps and translation tools are useful backups but can mistranslate technical ingredient details. Use both—card first, app second.

What to include on a card

Keep the front short and urgent, the back with details:

• Front (large text): “I have a severe food allergy to: [list allergen names in Japanese and English]”
• Follow-up: “If eaten, I can have a serious reaction (anaphylaxis). Please do not use this ingredient and avoid cross-contamination.” (Japanese translation underneath)
• Optional: list foods you can eat and any preparation notes (e.g., “no soy sauce, no dashi”)
• Contact: a local emergency contact or hotel name and phone number in Japanese

Sample bilingual card text you can copy

Front (Japanese / English)

すみません。重度の食物アレルギーがあります：卵、乳、小麦。これは命にかかわる可能性があります。調理器具の共有も避けてください。

Excuse me. I have severe food allergies: EGG, MILK, WHEAT. This can be life‑threatening. Please avoid cross‑contamination.

Apps and services

Use a translation app (offline mode recommended) for ad‑hoc questions. Take screenshots of your card in multiple languages. There are also printable templates from international allergy organizations—search for “allergy translation card Japan printable” and verify translations before travel.

What are the best restaurant types and chains for allergy-safe dining?

Your safest bets are places with clear ingredient lists, staff used to tourists, or kitchens that will customize orders. Avoid kitchens with lots of frying or heavy cross-use unless staff confirm safety.

Safer choices

• International chain restaurants (subway-style, some burger shops, coffee chains): usually have English menus and standardized recipes; still check ingredients.
• Vegan/vegetarian restaurants: often more familiar with excluding common allergens and listing ingredients; ask about cross-contamination.
• Dedicated allergy-friendly places in big cities: look for venues that advertise allergen info in English (Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka).
• Hotels and Western-style restaurants: higher chance of staff who understand allergies and where the kitchen can adapt.

When to be cautious

Small family-run ramen shops, yakitori stands, and some izakaya use shared broths, marinades, and fryers. Dashi (fish stock) and soy sauce are foundational in many dishes—ask specifically if broth contains fish or soy.

How to choose a restaurant online

Before you go: check the restaurant website or menu for “allergen” or “アレルギー” and read recent reviews on international platforms. Use reservation notes to state your allergies; if the platform allows notes, copy your Japanese card text exactly into the reservation field. For large-city options see the Tokyo restaurant guide for venues with English menus.

How can I shop at convenience stores and supermarkets safely?

Convenience stores (konbini) are lifesavers when travelling, but labels are in Japanese and recipes often use mixed sauces. With care, you can find safe options for many restrictions.

Label basics

Look for the word アレルギー (allergy) or 原材料 (ingredients). Some packaged foods list specific allergens in bold or a dedicated section. If you can’t read labels, use your allergy card and ask staff (store clerks often help) or scan the barcode with a translation app offline. Keep an eye out for the kanji for common allergens: 卵, 乳, 小麦, そば (soba/buckwheat), 落花生, ごま.

Lower-risk konbini picks (examples)

• Plain onigiri (rice ball) labeled with only rice and salt or a single safe filling—confirm no soy sauce or dashi seasoning.
• Fresh fruit, plain yogurt (check milk if dairy is safe for you), and simple salads—ask about dressings.
• Bottled beverages, coffee, and tea are generally safe; watch flavored drinks for dairy or additives.
• Certain prepackaged grilled fish can be safe if your allergen is not fish; check ingredients carefully.

If in doubt, buy plain staples: rice, bread labeled with clear ingredients (if wheat is not an allergen for you), and sealed single-ingredient items.

What should I watch for in specific dining scenarios (sushi, ramen, izakaya)?

Different Japanese dining formats have different risks. Below are scenario-based actions to reduce risk, with sample lines to show staff.

Sushi and sashimi

Main risks: cross-contamination on boards, sauces (may show soy, mirin), and garnishes (may contain sesame). Say: この寿司には（アレルゲン）が入っていますか？ or bring your card and ask the sushi chef to avoid touching your pieces after handling other items. At conveyor-belt sushi (kaiten), ask staff to prepare off the belt.

Ramen and noodle shops

Main risks: broth (dashi) often contains fish, soy, and sometimes dairy or pork. Ask directly: スープに魚（または豚、醤油）は入っていますか？ If you must avoid broth, some shops will serve noodles with a simple tare (seasoning) or plain noodles—confirm they won’t use shared strainers or ladles.

Izakaya (pub) style dining

Izakaya plates often share oil and grills. Tell the server: 揚げ物、焼き物は別の油で調理できますか？ (Can fried/grilled items be cooked in separate oil?) Many izakaya are crowded and use shared serving plates—request a fresh plate and clear instructions about cross-use.

Cost and planning: Do I need reservations or extra payment for allergy requests?

In most cases restaurants do not charge extra just for accommodating an allergy, but small kitchens may be unable to adapt. Advance planning reduces stress and wasted meals.

When to reserve

Make reservations if you need a specific menu modification (gluten-free menu, nut-free cake, private kitchen). For larger parties, call ahead with your bilingual card text. Use the reservation notes on booking sites to paste your Japanese allergy statement so staff have a record.

What about extra costs?

Most common outcome: no fee. Exceptions: if a special dish requires extra ingredients or a private preparation, a restaurant may quote a surcharge—ask before confirming. Always confirm whether a substitution is possible rather than assuming it’s free.

Quick comparison: tools to manage allergies while traveling in Japan

Use this table on the go to decide which tool to use for each situation.

Practical tips before and during your trip

Small steps will avoid many problems. These are concrete actions to take before you leave and while you travel.

• Print several copies of your bilingual card and save images on your phone in multiple languages.
• Carry emergency medicine and a translated prescription or doctor’s note in Japanese describing how to administer it.
• Plan heavy-eating days in big cities where you can find allergy-aware restaurants; rural areas may have fewer options.
• Use credit cards and contactless IC cards (Suica/Pasmo) to avoid language barriers during quick purchases.
• If you have severe allergies, stay in a hotel with an English-speaking front desk and inform them of your condition—ask if they can call restaurants for you.

For more restaurant selection ideas while in Tokyo, check our Tokyo restaurant guide. For more on buying food at convenience stores and supermarkets, see our convenience store survival tips.

What to do in an allergic emergency in Japan

If someone has a severe reaction: call 119 (ambulance/fire) and say “アナフィラキシーです” (anaphylaxis desu). If you don’t speak Japanese, ask your hotel or a Japanese-speaking person to call for you. Carry a printed note in Japanese that explains the symptoms and treatment you require and shows allergies and medication names.

Recommendation

Book restaurants in advance when you need custom meals and use a printed bilingual allergy card at every meal. Carry an eSIM or pocket Wi‑Fi so translation apps and online menus are always available—this helps with last-minute label checks and contacting restaurants.