{"id":34886,"date":"2025-03-20T16:12:08","date_gmt":"2025-03-20T16:12:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/?p=34886"},"modified":"2025-03-24T09:25:19","modified_gmt":"2025-03-24T09:25:19","slug":"gluten-free-guide-to-japan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/2025\/03\/20\/gluten-free-guide-to-japan\/","title":{"rendered":"Your gluten-free guide to Japan"},"content":{"rendered":"<h4>Like this post? Help us by sharing it!<\/h4><ul class=\"wpfai-list\"><li class=\"wpfai-list-item facebook\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F34886&amp;t=\" title=\"Facebook\" class=\"wpfai-facebook wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-facebook fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item twitter\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/share?text=&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F34886\" title=\"Twitter\" class=\"wpfai-twitter wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-twitter fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item pinterest\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F34886&amp;description=&amp;media=\" title=\"Pinterest\" class=\"wpfai-pinterest wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-pinterest fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item linkedin\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F34886&amp;title=\" title=\"Linked In\" class=\"wpfai-linkedin wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-linkedin fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item envelope\">\r\n      <a href=\"mailto:?subject=&amp;body=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F34886%20-%20\" title=\"E-Mail\" class=\"wpfai-envelope wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-envelope fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item stumbleupon\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.stumbleupon.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F34886\" title=\"Stumble Upon\" class=\"wpfai-stumbleupon wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-stumbleupon fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item reddit\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.reddit.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F34886\" title=\"Reddit\" class=\"wpfai-reddit wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-reddit fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><\/ul><p data-ccp-border-bottom=\"0px none #000000\" data-ccp-padding-bottom=\"0px\" data-ccp-border-between=\"0px none #000000\" data-ccp-padding-between=\"0px\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">We\u2019re going to be honest, being gluten-free in Japan is challenging. Gluten intolerances are rare among Japanese people, soy sauce is used in almost everything, and there\u2019s a fair bit of misunderstanding around what a gluten-free diet means in practice.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p data-ccp-border-bottom=\"0px none #000000\" data-ccp-padding-bottom=\"0px\" data-ccp-border-between=\"0px none #000000\" data-ccp-padding-between=\"0px\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">If you\u2019re coeliac and can\u2019t risk any cross contamination at all, visiting Japan is going to be harder work \u2013 and you\u2019ll need to gather as much information as possible to work out whether it\u2019s the right destination for you (especially if food is important to you when you travel).<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p data-ccp-border-bottom=\"0px none #000000\" data-ccp-padding-bottom=\"0px\" data-ccp-border-between=\"0px none #000000\" data-ccp-padding-between=\"0px\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">We also know (and celebrate) that some gluten-free travellers are determined to visit Japan despite the adjustments needed. We\u2019ve put together a gluten-free guide to Japan, based on our knowledge of living and working there, to help arm you with as much knowledge as possible for a successful trip.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p data-ccp-border-bottom=\"0px none #000000\" data-ccp-padding-bottom=\"0px\" data-ccp-border-between=\"0px none #000000\" data-ccp-padding-between=\"0px\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Throughout, you\u2019ll also find some thoughts from a recent gluten-free customer, Elizabeth, who told us: \u201cI knew I didn\u2019t want my intolerance to stop us from enjoying Japan, and while we did have some difficulties finding food sometimes, overall, we had a beautiful trip.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 data-ccp-border-bottom=\"0px none #000000\" data-ccp-padding-bottom=\"0px\" data-ccp-border-between=\"0px none #000000\" data-ccp-padding-between=\"0px\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Top tips for eating gluten-free in Japan<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Research before you go<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559685&quot;:220}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">As with most countries, bigger cities are better set up to handle dietary requirements. You won\u2019t find gluten-free meals at every restaurant you go to, but places like Tokyo and Osaka will have more options. If you&#8217;re venturing more off-beat, you&#8217;ll need to be a bit more prepared.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Restaurant locator apps, like \u201cFind Me Gluten Free\u201d, and Facebook Groups such as \u201c<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">Gluten-Free in Japan\u201d have <\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">up-to-date information including restaurant options, reviews and recommendations. These can be a great source of inspiration to get you started and to familiarise yourself with what foods are likely to be safe.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">We recommend pinning locations on Google Maps, either before your trip, or when you\u2019ve got a bit of down time in Japan \u2013 saving the scroll when all you want to do is eat.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">If you\u2019re travelling with us, our customer experience team are available 24\/7 to help you book restaurants. They can call ahead, check the understanding of gluten-free diets, and make sure they\u2019re open when you want to go (Google is great, but not 100% accurate).\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Write down your requirements in Japanese<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Unless you\u2019re fluent in Japanese, you might not feel confident expressing what you need verbally in Japan \u2013 but writing your requirements down makes things simpler.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559685&quot;:220}\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">Whether on paper or in your phone, having your dietary requirements written down somewhere handy means you\u2019ll have them to refer to whenever you need. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559685&quot;:220}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">You can use Google translate to source the correct phrasing or, if you\u2019re travelling with us, just let us know early on in our conversations. We\u2019ll get everything you need onto a handy allergy vocab sheet, included as part of your Info-Pack.\u00a0 Some coeliac charities, like <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.coeliac.org.uk\/information-and-support\/your-gluten-free-hub\/travel-guides\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Coeliac UK, have country specific guides<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\"> to download, too.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559685&quot;:220}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_34964\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-34964\" style=\"width: 819px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-34964\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/GF-client-meal-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"819\" height=\"546\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/GF-client-meal-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/GF-client-meal-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/GF-client-meal-720x480.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/GF-client-meal-390x260.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/GF-client-meal-780x520.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/GF-client-meal-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/GF-client-meal.jpg 819w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-34964\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Our client, Elizabeth Frost, enjoying a gluten-free meal in Japan<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Bring snacks \u2013 lots of snacks<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Fresh off a long-haul flight, feeling jet-lagged and bewildered, you&#8217;re unlikely to want to tackle the bright colours of a <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">konbini <\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"none\">convenience store or try to decipher <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">kanji<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"none\"> to hunt down something gluten-free (save that for later in your trip when it&#8217;s likely to be more fun).\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559685&quot;:220}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Bring some convenient snacks that will get you through any hungry gaps in your trip. Elizabeth, our recent gluten-free customer, recommends adding things like peanut butter, rice cakes, rice noodles, and tinned tina to your snack stash \u2013 because you can use them to make quick meals when staying in hotel rooms with a kettle, or to build snacks like peanut butter rice cakes to take on longer journeys.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559685&quot;:220}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Bring your own GF soy sauce, tamari or mayo\u00a0<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Because gluten-free recipes and dishes aren\u2019t common-place in Japan, restaurant staff may err on the side of caution. Soy sauce is used in a lot of Japanese cooking, and if that&#8217;s taken out, your food may be seasoned only with salt and pepper to be on the safe side.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559685&quot;:220}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">But, there\u2019s a simple solution to avoiding bland food: pack some extra condiments in your suitcase \u2013 including some handy sachets or travel sized bottles for on-the-go ease. While Japanese tamari, a gluten-free soy sauce, is available in supermarkets, it\u2019s unlikely to be provided on tables in restaurants or at street food stalls, so bringing your own is a good option.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559685&quot;:220}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">If you\u2019re on a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/japan-small-group-tours\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Small Group Tour<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">, or travelling independently with a guide for the day, our Insiders will be able to explain why you have these to the restaurant staff (to avoid unwanted confusion). We can also write this on a vocab sheet for you.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559685&quot;:220}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Fun fact: Our <\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">customer experience team once couriered a bottle of gluten-free soy sauce across the country for a customer after she&#8217;d left it on a train&#8230; Noone can tell us food isn\u2019t important!<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559685&quot;:220}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559685&quot;:220}\">\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Google Translate (or similar translator app)<\/span><\/b> <b><span data-contrast=\"none\">will be your saviour\u00a0<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Travelling to Japan today is much easier now than it was pre-smart phones. Using a translation app like Google Translate, you can type, speak or take a photo of any text you want to translate or be translated between Japanese and English.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Speaking directly into the app is incredibly useful during a live conversation in a restaurant, at a street food stall or in a 7-Eleven supermarket. And in a country that doesn\u2019t use a Latin alphabet (like Japan or <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insideasiatours.com\/south-korea\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Korea<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">), camera functionality is invaluable.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Taking pictures of ingredients on packets or menus, with no need to type out words you\u2019re unfamiliar or try to access a different keyboard on your phone, will speed up choosing food and reassure you what you\u2019re eating is safe. On her trip, Elizabeth found that the only spanner in the works with this approach was vending machines, where you won\u2019t be able to check ingredients before you buy.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Your translation app of choice could be the single most helpful thing you bring with you. Just remember to have a portable source of Wi-Fi too \u2013 which we can provide.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_34952\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-34952\" style=\"width: 819px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-34952\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Clinet-in-konbini-1-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"819\" height=\"546\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Clinet-in-konbini-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Clinet-in-konbini-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Clinet-in-konbini-1-720x480.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Clinet-in-konbini-1-390x260.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Clinet-in-konbini-1-780x520.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Clinet-in-konbini-1-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Clinet-in-konbini-1.jpg 819w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-34952\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Elizabeth translating labels at the <em>konbini<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Head to a <\/span><\/b><b><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">konbini <\/span><\/i><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">(convenience store)<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Convenience stores will be your go-to for stocking up on snacks ahead of longer journeys or supplementing meals.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">There are three main convenience store brands in Japan: 7-Eleven, FamilyMart and Lawson. Remember these \u2013 they\u2019ll be the go-to shops you\u2019ll find even in the most remote locations (there\u2019s even a FamilyMart on the main road of the Buddhist temple settlement, Koya-san).\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">Again, you can use Google Translate to scan packets (try the <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">onigri <\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"none\">balls \u2013 filled with vegetables, meat or fish, delicious) and make sure the food inside is gluten-free.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Seijo Ishii is another, less common supermarket chain specialising in quality, international food \u2013 including gluten-free products. While some of what you find here won\u2019t be Japanese, pasta and crisps can get you out of a hungry gap until you find your next local gluten-free friendly stop.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">If you\u2019re staying somewhere with kitchen facilities, like an apartment style <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">machiya<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"none\">, don\u2019t skip the freezer section. These can offer plenty of alternatives or naturally gluten-free options for snacks, mains and desserts<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Check, and check again<\/span><\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Armed with your translation app or your allergy vocab sheet, it won\u2019t take long to work out what you can eat, but try not to make assumptions, and if in doubt, just check again.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Japanese dishes can contain a lot of hidden gluten. Soy sauce is a very common ingredient used in all kinds of dishes, and even sushi can contain gluten sometimes. Most noodles include gluten, but soba noodles tend to use buckwheat, which is gluten-free.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Remember, not all allergens that are included on packaging at home will be obvious on Japanese products. W<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">hile wheat is listed, rye, barley and oats aren&#8217;t on the government&#8217;s mandatory food label allergens list. <\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">Gluten-free menus aren\u2019t common in Japan, so it\u2019s best to ask the servers.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">And recipes will differ from place to place. For example, if you\u2019ve checked an <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">onigri<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"none\"> ball in Lawson, make sure to check your next one in 7-Eleven too.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">If you\u2019re ever unsure, grab your allergy vocab sheet or bring up Google Translate, and speak to someone in the shop, restaurant or where you\u2019re staying. Something you\u2019ll learn very quickly is that Japanese people are usually very keen to help out where they can \u2013 so don\u2019t be afraid to ask. Elizabeth was very kindly helped by a local in a 7-Eleven to find a loaf of gluten-free rice bread \u2013 which she used to bring to breakfast the next day for egg on toast.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_34976\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-34976\" style=\"width: 816px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-34976\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Buffee-Breakfast-1-300x202.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"816\" height=\"549\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Buffee-Breakfast-1-300x202.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Buffee-Breakfast-1-768x517.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Buffee-Breakfast-1-720x484.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Buffee-Breakfast-1-390x262.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Buffee-Breakfast-1-780x525.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Buffee-Breakfast-1-510x343.jpg 510w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Buffee-Breakfast-1.jpg 816w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 816px) 100vw, 816px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-34976\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A typical buffet breakfast in Japan<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Consider your breakfast the night before<\/span><\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Speaking of breakfast, the options available to you will vary depending on where you stay.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p data-ccp-border-between=\"0px none #000000\" data-ccp-padding-between=\"0px\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">In bigger, western-style hotels, it\u2019s more likely that there will be a choice or a buffet. Often, dishes will be clearly labelled, but, depending on where you stay, that can\u2019t be guaranteed, so be cautious.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">Staying in a traditional <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">ryokan<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0may not be the best option for you to keep a gluten-free diet. Meals are often served <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">kaiseki<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"none\"> style <\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u2013<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\"> multi-course, intricately prepared meals using seasonal produce. These take hours of preparation, so staff will struggle to accommodate dietary requirements. Speak to us and we can see whether certain <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">ryokan<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"none\"> can serve you a similar, but gluten-free meal, instead.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p data-ccp-border-between=\"0px none #000000\" data-ccp-padding-between=\"0px\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Wherever you\u2019re staying, for reassurance you\u2019ll have something to eat first thing, you could pop out the night before to a <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">konbini<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"none\"> \u2013 making sure you check out whether your room has a fridge or not.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p data-ccp-border-between=\"0px none #000000\" data-ccp-padding-between=\"0px\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">If you\u2019d rather have your own food prep space for a day or two, stay in an apartment-style <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">machiya<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"none\"> &#8211; great for cooking up some breakfast bits before heading out for a day\u2019s exploration. <\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">Elizabeth\u2019s travel consultant, Josey, helped make things easier by booking hotels strategically close to supermarkets: \u201cShe was fantastic.\u00a0 She booked hotels that were really close to supermarkets, and that had microwaves we could use.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p data-ccp-border-between=\"0px none #000000\" data-ccp-padding-between=\"0px\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201cWhen I travel, I\u2019m always so busy in the day, I really don\u2019t want to venture far for dinner or even out from where I\u2019m staying at all, so having these facilities at our fingertips was our compromise.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 data-ccp-border-between=\"0px none #000000\" data-ccp-padding-between=\"0px\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">If in doubt, try a chain restaurant<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p data-ccp-border-between=\"0px none #000000\" data-ccp-padding-between=\"0px\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">While we\u2019d always recommend trying local places, sometimes you want something quick, or that isn\u2019t traditional Japanese, and c<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">hain restaurants are more likely to have gluten or allergen-free meals.<\/span><\/p>\n<p data-ccp-border-between=\"0px none #000000\" data-ccp-padding-between=\"0px\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Some of our team favourites are Taco Fan\u00e1tico (a Mexican restaurant), Coco Ichibanya (which <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">is<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"none\"> Japanese, specialising in curry), Outback Steakhouse (an international, American steakhouse chain) or Mos Burger (burgers cooked to order), as a starting point.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 data-ccp-border-between=\"0px none #000000\" data-ccp-padding-between=\"0px\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Think before you forward your luggage<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p data-ccp-border-between=\"0px none #000000\" data-ccp-padding-between=\"0px\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Lots of people, including our customers, take advantage of the fantastic luggage forwarding system in Japan. This is particularly useful if you\u2019re jumping on and off <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">Shinkansen<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"none\"> bullet trains, or smaller local buses, where lugging larger bags is less convenient.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p data-ccp-border-between=\"0px none #000000\" data-ccp-padding-between=\"0px\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">But, if you\u2019ve got a significant amount of food in your luggage, you won\u2019t want to be without it for too long. Luggage forwarding is always optional \u2013 so consider whether you\u2019d rather pack a separate bag of food to keep with you, or avoid forwarding altogether and keep your stash of safe food with you at all times.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 data-ccp-border-between=\"0px none #000000\" data-ccp-padding-between=\"0px\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Ready to grab your gluten-free soy sauce?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p data-ccp-border-between=\"0px none #000000\" data-ccp-padding-between=\"0px\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">We hope you found the above gluten-free guide to Japan useful. As a handy summary to refer to, here\u2019s our quick prep list:\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"none\">Research restaurants before you go \u2013 and pin them on Google Maps<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"none\">Write down your requirements in Japanese<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"none\">Pack convenient snacks<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"none\">Pack gluten-free soy sauce, tamari or mayonnaise<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"none\">Download a translation app<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"none\">Make the most of <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">konbini<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"none\"> convenience stores<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"none\">Don\u2019t be afraid to double-check<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"none\">Think about breakfast the night before\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"none\">Consider chain restaurants, if you\u2019re in a hurry<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"none\">Think twice before you forward your luggage<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2 data-ccp-border-bottom=\"0px none #000000\" data-ccp-padding-bottom=\"0px\" data-ccp-border-between=\"0px none #000000\" data-ccp-padding-between=\"0px\"><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">Extra gluten-free guide to Japan resources<\/span><\/h2>\n<p data-ccp-border-bottom=\"0px none #000000\" data-ccp-padding-bottom=\"0px\" data-ccp-border-between=\"0px none #000000\" data-ccp-padding-between=\"0px\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">If you\u2019re interested in finding out more, you might find the below resources useful:<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p data-ccp-border-bottom=\"0px none #000000\" data-ccp-padding-bottom=\"0px\" data-ccp-border-between=\"0px none #000000\" data-ccp-padding-between=\"0px\"><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/fukuokaeats.com\/eats\/gluten-free-japan\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">The Ultimate Gluten Free Survival Guide For Japan \u2014 Fukuoka Eats<\/span><\/b><\/a><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p data-ccp-border-bottom=\"0px none #000000\" data-ccp-padding-bottom=\"0px\" data-ccp-border-between=\"0px none #000000\" data-ccp-padding-between=\"0px\"><a href=\"https:\/\/trulytokyo.com\/gluten-free-tokyo\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Gluten-Free Tokyo<\/span><\/b><\/a><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p data-ccp-border-bottom=\"0px none #000000\" data-ccp-padding-bottom=\"0px\" data-ccp-border-between=\"0px none #000000\" data-ccp-padding-between=\"0px\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidekyoto.com\/gluten-free-kyoto\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Gluten-Free Kyoto &#8211; Inside Kyoto<\/span><\/b><\/a><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p data-ccp-border-bottom=\"0px none #000000\" data-ccp-padding-bottom=\"0px\" data-ccp-border-between=\"0px none #000000\" data-ccp-padding-between=\"0px\"><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">If you\u2019d like to start planning a trip to Japan, our team are always on hand to answer any questions you might have about travelling while gluten-free or coeliac.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4>Like this post? Help us by sharing it!<\/h4><ul class=\"wpfai-list\"><li class=\"wpfai-list-item facebook\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F34886&amp;t=\" title=\"Facebook\" class=\"wpfai-facebook wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-facebook fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item twitter\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/share?text=&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F34886\" title=\"Twitter\" class=\"wpfai-twitter wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-twitter fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item pinterest\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F34886&amp;description=&amp;media=\" title=\"Pinterest\" class=\"wpfai-pinterest wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-pinterest fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item linkedin\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F34886&amp;title=\" title=\"Linked In\" class=\"wpfai-linkedin wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-linkedin fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item envelope\">\r\n      <a href=\"mailto:?subject=&amp;body=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F34886%20-%20\" title=\"E-Mail\" class=\"wpfai-envelope wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-envelope fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item stumbleupon\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.stumbleupon.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F34886\" title=\"Stumble Upon\" class=\"wpfai-stumbleupon wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-stumbleupon fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item reddit\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.reddit.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F34886\" title=\"Reddit\" class=\"wpfai-reddit wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-reddit fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><\/ul>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Like this post? Help us by sharing it! We\u2019re going to be honest, being gluten-free in Japan is challenging. Gluten intolerances are rare among Japanese people, soy sauce is used in almost everything, and there\u2019s a fair bit of misunderstanding around what a gluten-free diet means in practice.\u00a0 If you\u2019re coeliac and can\u2019t risk any [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":174,"featured_media":35018,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_sitemap_exclude":false,"_sitemap_priority":"","_sitemap_frequency":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2355,2366],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-34886","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-first-trip-to-japan","category-japanese-food-and-drink"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34886","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/174"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=34886"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34886\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":35051,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34886\/revisions\/35051"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/35018"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=34886"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=34886"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=34886"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}