Dealing with Food Allergies in Japan
- Published on : 19/06/2026
- by : Clement
- Youtube
Soba
@Masaaki Komori on Unsplash
Traveling in Japan with food allergies is possible! Allergens are often listed on restaurant menus or on products at the supermarket. Here’s an overview from Japan Experience.
Traveling to Japan when you have food allergies may seem intimidating at first, mainly because of the language barrier. However, measures are in place to make daily life easier for those affected. For example, since 2015, regulations have required the labeling of several major allergens on mass-market products. Although certain precautions are still necessary, it is entirely possible to enjoy Japanese cuisine with complete peace of mind.
Product Labeling
At convenience stores or supermarkets, the most common allergens are listed in a dedicated box or highlighted in the ingredients list. This box can be identified by words such as "アレルゲン" or "アレルギー物質":
Here is the list of the 8 allergens that must be listed on packaging:
Eggs: 卵 / たまご ("tamago")
Milk: 牛乳 / ぎゅうにゅう ("gyuunyuu")
Wheat: 小麦 / こむぎ ("komugui")
Shrimp: 海老 / えび ("ébi")
Crab: かに ("kani")
Buckwheat: そば ("soba")
Peanuts: 落花生 / らっかせい ("lak-ka séé")
Walnuts: くるみ ("kurumi")
If you can't recognize these complicated characters, a translation using your smartphone's camera will do the trick.
Hidden Allergens
It’s quite common in Japan to come across products that contain certain allergens without appearing to do so.
For example, soy is very common: as the main condiment in Japanese cuisine, soy sauce is found in a wide variety of prepared dishes, snacks, and savory crackers.
People with fish allergies should be careful with dishes containing dashi (出汁/だし), a fish broth that serves as the base for many dishes, such as soups and certain types of noodles.
People with allergies should also watch out for buckwheat in these dishes, as well as seafood found in certain dishes and sauces.
Miso Soup, made with dashi broth
@Alex Bayev on Unsplash
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Eating at a Restaurant
Avoiding allergens at restaurants is relatively easy.
At most major chains and fast-food restaurants, ingredients that may cause allergies are listed on the menu.
At smaller, local restaurants, this isn’t always the case. It’s up to you to be careful and ask the staff for more information if needed.
Ramen-ya
@Redd Francisco on Flickr
“I’m allergic”
The Japanese word for “allergy” is “アレルギー” (pronounced “allele-gui”). Here’s a phrase that’s easy to remember, even for non-Japanese speakers:
“[product name] arerugii ga arimasu”(pronounced “allele-gui ga ali-masse”)
To say “I’m allergic to [product name]”
Check the list of allergens above, and you’ll be ready to order safely at restaurants in Japan!
If you have a problem
For mild symptoms, it’s important to quickly identify the allergen. You can buy antihistamines at any pharmacy (drugstore), which are very common in Japan.
If you experience more severe symptoms, do not hesitate to call emergency services by dialing 119. In major cities and tourist areas, hospitals should be able to treat foreign visitors.
However, it is strongly recommended that you travel with an allergy card written in English and/or Japanese and that you purchase travel insurance to cover your medical expenses if needed.
Matsumotokiyoshi Pharmacy
@Wikimedia Commons
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