Eat Safely & Confidently
Food Allergy & Dietary Help in Japan
A professionally prepared Japanese allergy card and multilingual support to help you communicate clearly with restaurants throughout Japan.
What this service is
Travelling with food allergies or dietary requirements in Japan can be challenging, especially when ingredients are hidden in everyday dishes. Japan Hand provides practical support for visitors with severe allergies, coeliac disease, halal, kosher, vegetarian, vegan, and other dietary needs.
We prepare a professionally written allergy or dietary card in Japanese, explain the seriousness of your requirements, contact restaurants in advance, and confirm exactly what they can safely provide. When needed, a multilingual helper can accompany you to the restaurant and communicate directly with the kitchen throughout the meal.
Many ingredients that cause problems are not obvious. Fish-based dashi appears in many vegetable dishes, soy sauce usually contains wheat, mirin is common in sauces, and sesame or pork-derived ingredients often appear where visitors don’t expect them. Translation apps rarely explain these hidden risks.
Whether you’re planning your trip before arrival or already in Japan, we’ll help you find suitable restaurants, communicate clearly, and enjoy Japanese food with greater confidence and peace of mind.
Who This Service Is For, and What We Do
The Problems We Solve
- Hidden ingredients are common – Dashi, a fish-based stock, is used in many dishes, including soups and meals that appear to be vegetarian.
- Common condiments may contain allergens – Soy sauce contains wheat, making many seemingly safe dishes unsuitable for travelers with coeliac disease or gluten intolerance.
- Translation apps have limitations – While they can translate words, they may not clearly communicate the seriousness of food allergies or dietary restrictions.
- Ingredient labels are difficult to interpret – Food packaging is typically written in Japanese, with allergens listed under names unfamiliar to most international visitors.
- Special dietary options require planning – Halal and kosher restaurants are available mainly in larger cities, making advance planning essential when traveling elsewhere.
What Your Helper Does
Your helper prepares a personalised Japanese allergy card, contacts restaurants in advance, explains your requirements directly to the kitchen, recommends suitable restaurants, teaches you how to recognise common ingredients on Japanese food labels, and can accompany you during meals if needed.
Reassurance
For serious allergies, clear communication matters. We don’t rely on machine translation—we make sure your dietary requirements are properly understood before you eat.
Duration
Preparation can be completed before you travel, while restaurant support is available for individual meals or throughout your trip.
Pricing
Every dietary requirement is different. Pricing depends on your specific needs, the number of restaurants involved, whether you require a personalised Japanese allergy card, and whether a helper accompanies you.
FAQs
How serious an allergy can you handle?
Tell us exactly what it is. We will be honest about what we can and cannot make safe.
What about coeliac disease?
Soy sauce contains wheat, which catches almost everyone out. We word cards specifically for this.
Do you cover halal, kosher, vegan and vegetarian?
Yes. Each needs a different conversation with the kitchen.
Can you check convenience store food?
Yes, and we can teach you to read the labels yourself.
What if a restaurant says no?
We tell you, and we find somewhere that says yes.
Can you prepare the card before I arrive?
Yes, and we recommend it.
Can a helper come to the meal?
Yes, and for severe allergies we recommend it.
How much does it cost?
It depends on what needs covering and how many restaurants. Tell us and we will give you a price.