Information for Dietary Restrictions
When travelling abroad, finding suitable food can be challenging, especially if you have dietary restrictions. To help you eat safely in Japan, we have gathered information for Halal, Kosher, Vegetarian, Vegan, and Gluten-Free guests.
Here are some popular Japanese foods and seasonings often used in Japan. Please click on each one to find out what you may need to avoid during your trip in Japan.
Here are some popular Japanese foods and seasonings often used in Japan. Please click on each one to find out what you may need to avoid during your trip in Japan.
Note:
◆Regarding soy sauce for Halal, some soy sauce products contain alcohol while others do not, so it is important to check. Basically, "additive-free soy sauce" does not contain alcohol.
◆Scaleless fish prohibited in kosher includes: shellfish, crab, shrimp, sea urchin, squid, octopus, marlin, eel, monkfish, conger eel, sea eel, whale, loach.
◆Those that follow Kosher very strictly will not be able to eat at most restaurants.
As per Wikipedia:
• not cooking meat and milk together (regardless of whether the result was eaten)
• not eating milk and meat together (regardless of whether it was cooked together)
• not benefiting from the mixture in any other way
Some will not allow for bowls or silverware that touch milk be allowed to touch meat.
◆Regarding soy sauce for Halal, some soy sauce products contain alcohol while others do not, so it is important to check. Basically, "additive-free soy sauce" does not contain alcohol.
◆Scaleless fish prohibited in kosher includes: shellfish, crab, shrimp, sea urchin, squid, octopus, marlin, eel, monkfish, conger eel, sea eel, whale, loach.
◆Those that follow Kosher very strictly will not be able to eat at most restaurants.
As per Wikipedia:
• not cooking meat and milk together (regardless of whether the result was eaten)
• not eating milk and meat together (regardless of whether it was cooked together)
• not benefiting from the mixture in any other way
Some will not allow for bowls or silverware that touch milk be allowed to touch meat.
Japanese Seasonings
Sugar / Vinegar / Cooking Sake / Mirin / Soy Sauce / Miso / Cooking Oil / Dashi / Mayonnaise / Ketchup / Sauce / Ponzu / Oyster Sauce / Nam-pula / Flour / Salt / Pepper / Wasabi / Ginger / Mustard / Grated Garlic / Shichimi Togarashi / Sansho / Yuzu Pepper / Potato Starch
Sushi
- |
No |
Reason |
Halal |
Soy sauce |
Contains alcohol |
Vegetarian ・ Vegan |
Seafood, Eggs, Mayonnaise, Tamagoyaki |
Meat/animal flesh, Contains animal products |
Kosher |
Scaleless fish |
Kosher does not allow the consumption of scaless fish |
Gluten free |
Soy sauce |
Contains gluten |
*Eggs can be consumed by lacto-ovo-vegetarians and ovo-vegetarians.
Udon
- |
No |
Reason |
Halal |
Mirin in “dashi” (Japanese soup stock), Cooking sake |
Contains alcohol |
Vegetarian ・ Vegan |
“Dashi” Fish soup stock （ bonito and dried sardines） |
Contains products made from fish |
Kosher |
- |
- |
Gluten free |
Udon |
Contains gluten |
Tempura
- |
No |
Reason |
Halal |
Dipping Sauce for tempura (Mirin, Cooking sake), Chicken (that has not been slaughtered in accordance with Islamic law） |
Contains animal products prohibited in Halal, Contains alcohol |
Vegetarian ・ Vegan |
Seafood, Chicken, Dipping Sauce for tempura ( bonito and dried sardines） |
Meat/animal flesh, Contains products made from fish |
Kosher |
Scaleless fish (Shrimp, Octopus, Sea eel, etc.), Chicken（that has not been slaughtered in accordance with Kosher law) |
Kosher does not allow the consumption of scaless fish, Animal products prohibited in Kosher |
Gluten free |
Batter |
Contains gluten |
Yakitori
- |
No |
Reason |
Halal |
Chicken (that has not been slaughtered in accordance with Islamic law), Sauce (Alcohol) |
Contains animal products prohibited in Halal, Contains alcohol |
Vegetarian ・ Vegan |
Chicken |
Meat/animal flesh |
Kosher |
Chicken (that has not been slaughtered in accordance with Kosher law) |
Animal products prohibited in Kosher |
Gluten free |
Sauce（Wheat in soy sauce） |
Contains gluten |
Sashimi
- |
No |
Reason |
Halal |
Soy sauce |
Contains alcohol |
Vegetarian ・ Vegan |
Seafood |
Fish |
Kosher |
Scaleless fish |
Kosher does not allow the consumption of scaless fish |
Gluten free |
Soy sauce |
Contains gluten |
Ramen
- |
No |
Reason |
Halal |
Soup (pork, meat and broth that has not been slaughtered in accordance with Islamic law, lard), Noodles (Alcohol), Char-siu pork |
Contains animal products prohibited in Halal, Contains alcohol |
Vegetarian ・ Vegan |
Soup (seafood, meat, lard), Char-siu pork, Boiled eggs |
Contains animal products |
Kosher |
Soup (pork, meat and bones that has not been slaughtered in accordance with Kosher law, lard), Char-siu pork |
Contains animal products prohibited in Kosher |
Gluten free |
Noodles |
Contains gluten |
*Boiled eggs can be consumed by lacto-ovo-vegetarians and ovo-vegetarians.
Donburi (Rice bowls)
- |
No |
Reason |
Halal |
Pork, Beef, Chicken (that has not been slaughtered in accordance with Islamic law), Mirin, Cooking sake, Soy sauce |
Contains animal products prohibited in Halal, Contains alcohol |
Vegetarian ・ Vegan |
Meat in general, Eggs |
Meat/animal flesh, Contains animal products |
Kosher |
Pork, beef, chicken (that has not been slaughtered in accordance with Kosher law), Scaleless fish |
Contains animal products prohibited in Kosher, Kosher does not allow the consumption of scaless fish |
Gluten free |
Soy sauce |
Contains gluten |
*Eggs can be consumed by lacto-ovo-vegetarians and ovo-vegetarians.
Natto (Fermented soybeans)
- |
No |
Reason |
Halal |
Natto sauce (Alcohol） |
Contains alcohol |
Vegetarian ・ Vegan |
Natto sauce （Kelp extract, Dried sardines extract） |
Contains products made from fish and seaweed |
Kosher |
- |
- |
Gluten free |
Natto sauce (Wheat) |
Contains gluten |
Oden (Fishcake stew)
- |
No |
Reason |
Halal |
Dashi, or Japanese soup stock（Mirin, Sake, Soy sauce） |
Contains animal products prohibited in Halal, Contains alcohol |
Vegetarian ・ Vegan |
Dashi, or Japanese soup stock（Fish such as bonito and dried sardines), Eggs, Fish cake (fish, egg white) |
Contains products made from fish and animals |
Kosher |
Fish cake（if scaleless fish are contained） |
Kosher does not allow the consumption of scaless fish |
Gluten free |
Fish cake (Wheat) |
Contains gluten |
*Eggs can be consumed by lacto-ovo-vegetarians and ovo-vegetarians.
Tamagoyaki (Japanese rolled omelet)
- |
No |
Reason |
Halal |
Soy sauce |
Contains alcohol |
Vegetarian ・ Vegan |
Eggs |
Products made from animals |
Kosher |
- |
- |
Gluten free |
Soy sauce |
Contains gluten |
*Eggs can be consumed by lacto-ovo-vegetarians and ovo-vegetarians.
Soba
- |
No |
Reason |
Halal |
Soba soup (Alcohol） |
Contains alcohol |
Vegetarian ・ Vegan |
Soba soup（bonito and dried sardines） |
Contains products made from fish |
Kosher |
- |
- |
Gluten free |
Soba (Wheat), Soba soup (Wheat in soy sauce) |
Contains gluten |
Tonkatsu (Pork cutlet)
- |
No |
Reason |
Halal |
Pork, Sauce (Meat extract, Alcohol） |
Contains animal products prohibited in Halal, Contains alcohol |
Vegetarian ・ Vegan |
Pork, Sauce (Meat extract) |
Meat/animal flesh, Contains animal products |
Kosher |
Pork, Sauce (Meat extract) |
Contains animal products prohibited in Kosher |
Gluten free |
Batter |
Contains gluten |
Stuffed Bread
- |
No |
Reason |
Halal |
Processed pork products (Bacon, Sausage, etc.), Shortening, Emulsifier, Gelatin, Margarine |
Contains animal products prohibited in Halal |
Vegetarian ・ Vegan |
Processed pork products (Bacon, Sausage), Shortening, Emulsifier, Gelatin, Eggs, Mayonnaise, Cheese, Butter, Margarine, Honey |
Contains animal products |
Kosher |
Processed pork products (Bacon, Sausage, etc.), Shortening, Emulsifier, Gelatin, Margarine |
Contains animal products prohibited in Kosher |
Gluten free |
Bread |
Contains gluten |
Sukiyaki
- |
No |
Reason |
Halal |
Beef (that has not been slaughtered in accordance with Islamic law), Warishita or sukiyaki sauce (Alcohol) |
Contains animal products prohibited in Halal, Contains alcohol |
Vegetarian ・ Vegan |
Beef, Warishita or sukiyaki sauce (Fish such as bonito and dried sardines), Eggs |
Contains animal products |
Kosher |
Beef (that has not been slaughtered in accordance with Kosher law) |
Contains animal products prohibited in Kosher |
Gluten free |
Warishita or sukiyaki sauce (Wheat in soy sauce） |
Contains gluten |
Miso Soup
- |
No |
Reason |
Halal |
Miso (Alcohol) |
Contains alcohol |
Vegetarian ・ Vegan |
Dashii, or Japanese soup stock（Fish such as dried sardines） |
Contains products made from fish |
Kosher |
- |
- |
Gluten free |
Miso (Wheat) |
Contains gluten |
Okonomiyaki (Japanese savory pancake)
- |
No |
Reason |
Halal |
Pork, Sauce (Alcohol, Meat extract) |
Contains animal products prohibited in Halal, Contains alcohol |
Vegetarian ・ Vegan |
Pork, Shrimp, Squid, Sauce (Meat extract), Eggs, Cheese |
Contains animal products |
Kosher |
Pork, Shrimp, Squid, Sauce（Meat extract） |
Contains animal products prohibited in Kosher |
Gluten free |
Flour for okonomiyaki, Sauce (Wheat) |
Contains gluten |
Mentaiko (Spicy pollack roe)
- |
No |
Reason |
Halal |
Mirin (Alcohol) |
Contains alcohol |
Vegetarian ・ Vegan |
Spicy pollack roe, Bonito extract |
Contains animal products |
Kosher |
- |
- |
Gluten free |
Soy sauce, Spices (Wheat contained in some) |
Contains gluten |
Nikujaga (Japanese Beef and Potato Stew)
- |
No |
Reason |
Halal |
Beef (that has not been slaughtered in accordance with Islamic law), Dashi or Japanese soup stock (Mirin, Cooking sake) |
Contains animal products prohibited in Halal, Contains alcohol |
Vegetarian ・ Vegan |
Beef, Dashi or Japanese soup stock (Bonito) |
Contains animal products |
Kosher |
Beef (that has not been slaughtered in accordance with Kosher law) |
Contains animal products prohibited in Kosher |
Gluten free |
Soy sauce used in Dashi |
Contains gluten |
Curry Rice
- |
No |
Reason |
Halal |
Meat (that has not been slaughtered in accordance with Islamic law), Curry roux (Meat extract) |
Contains animal products prohibited in Halal |
Vegetarian ・ Vegan |
Meat, Curry roux (Meat extract) |
Contains animal products |
Kosher |
Meat (that has not been slaughtered in accordance with Kosher law), Curry roux (Meat extract) |
Contains animal products prohibited in Kosher |
Gluten free |
Curry roux (Wheat) |
Contains gluten |
Grilled Eel
- |
No |
Reason |
Halal |
Sauce for grilled eel (Alcohol) |
Contains alcohol |
Vegetarian ・ Vegan |
Eel |
Meat/animal flesh |
Kosher |
Eel |
Contains animal products prohibited in Kosher |
Gluten free |
Sauce for grilled eel (Alcohol) |
Contains gluten |
Shabu Shabu (Japanese Hot Pot)
- |
No |
Reason |
Halal |
Pork, Sauce for shabu shabu (Alcohol) |
Contains animal products prohibited in Halal, Contains alcohol |
Vegetarian ・ Vegan |
Pork |
Meat/animal flesh |
Kosher |
Pork |
Contains animal products prohibited in Kosher |
Gluten free |
Sauce for shabu shabu (Wheat) |
Contains gluten |
Rice Ball (Salmon, Mentaiko, Kelp, Tuna with mayo)
- |
No |
Reason |
Halal |
Mentaiko (Mirin), Seasoned seaweed (Mirin, Soy sauce), Kelp (Soy sauce) |
Contains alcohol |
Vegetarian ・ Vegan |
Mentaiko, Tuna, Salmon, Seasoned seaweed (Bonito extract, Shrimp extract), Mayonnaise |
Contains animal products |
Kosher |
- |
- |
Gluten free |
Seasoned seaweed (Soy sauce) |
Contains gluten |
Gyoza (Chinese dumplings)
- |
No |
Reason |
Halal |
Pork, Lard, Seasoning (Soy sauce) |
Contains animal products prohibited in Halal, Contains alcohol |
Vegetarian ・ Vegan |
Pork, Lard / (for Oriental Vegetarian・Oriental Vegan) Chinese chive, Garlic, Onion |
Contains animal products / (for Oriental Vegetarian・Oriental Vegan) Contains "gokun," or five pungent roots |
Kosher |
Pork, Lard |
Contains animal products prohibited in Kosher |
Gluten free |
Gyoza skin (Wheat) |
Contains gluten |
Takoyaki (Octopus balls)
- |
No |
Reason |
Halal |
Sauce (Meat extract, Alcohol) |
Contains animal products prohibited in Halal, Contains alcohol |
Vegetarian ・ Vegan |
Octopus, Sauce (Meat extract, Seafood extract) |
Contains animal products |
Kosher |
Octopus, Sauce (Meat extract) |
Kosher does not allow the consumption of scaless fish, Contains animal products prohibited in Kosher |
Gluten free |
Sauce (Wheat) |
Contains gluten |
Kaiseki Cuisine (Traditional Japanese multi-course meal)
- |
No |
Reason |
Halal |
Meat in general (that has not been slaughtered in accordance with Islamic law), Mirin, Cooking sake, Soy sauce |
Contains animal products prohibited in Halal, Contains alcohol |
Vegetarian ・ Vegan |
Meat in general, Seafood, Eggs |
Contains animal products |
Kosher |
Meat in general (that has not been slaughtered in accordance with Kosher law) |
Contains animal products prohibited in Kosher |
Gluten free |
Soy sauce (Wheat) |
Contains gluten |
Yakisoba (Stir-fried noodles)
- |
No |
Reason |
Halal |
Pork, Sauce (Alcohol, Meat extract) |
Contains animal products prohibited in Halal, Contains alcohol |
Vegetarian ・ Vegan |
Pork, Sauce (Meat extract) |
Contains animal products |
Kosher |
Pork, Sauce (Meat extract) |
Contains animal products prohibited in Kosher |
Gluten free |
Noodle, Sauce (Wheat) |
Contains gluten |
Chawanmushi (Steamed non-sweet egg custard)
- |
No |
Reason |
Halal |
Dashi or Japanese soup stock (Mirin, Sake, Soy sauce), Chicken (that has not been slaughtered in accordance with Islamic law) |
Contains animal products prohibited in Halal, Contains alcohol |
Vegetarian ・ Vegan |
Chicken, Eggs |
Meat/animal flesh, Contains animal products |
Kosher |
Chicken (that has not been slaughtered in accordance with Kosher law) |
Contains animal products prohibited in Kosher |
Gluten free |
Soy sauce (Wheat) |
Contains gluten |
*Eggs can be consumed by lacto-ovo-vegetarians and ovo-vegetarians.
Japanese Sweets
- |
No |
Reason |
Halal |
Soy sauce |
Contains alcohol |
Vegetarian ・ Vegan |
- |
- |
Kosher |
- |
- |
Gluten free |
Soy sauce (Wheat) |
Contains gluten |
Tofu
No special precautions
Edamame (Green soy beans)
No special precautions
Japanese Seasonings
Sugar / Vinegar / Cooking Sake / Mirin / Soy Sauce / Miso / Cooking Oil / Dashi / Mayonnaise / Ketchup / Sauce / Ponzu / Oyster Sauce / Nam-pula / Flour / Salt / Pepper / Wasabi / Ginger / Mustard / Grated Garlic / Shichimi Togarashi / Sansho / Yuzu Pepper / Potato Starch
Sugar (For white sugar)
- |
No |
Reason |
Halal |
- |
- |
Vegetarian ・ Vegan |
Beef bone charcoal used in the production of white sugar (some very strict vegans may be concerned about this) |
Contains animal products |
Kosher |
- |
- |
Gluten free |
- |
- |
Vinegar
- |
No |
Reason |
Halal |
Alcohol |
Contains alcohol |
Vegetarian ・ Vegan |
- |
- |
Kosher |
- |
- |
Gluten free |
- |
- |
Cooking Sake
- |
No |
Reason |
Halal |
Alcohol |
Contains alcohol |
Vegetarian ・ Vegan |
- |
- |
Kosher |
- |
- |
Gluten free |
- |
- |
Mirin
- |
No |
Reason |
Halal |
Alcohol |
Contains alcohol |
Vegetarian ・ Vegan |
- |
- |
Kosher |
- |
- |
Gluten free |
- |
- |
Soy Sauce
- |
No |
Reason |
Halal |
Alcohol |
Contains alcohol |
Vegetarian ・ Vegan |
- |
- |
Kosher |
- |
- |
Gluten free |
Wheat |
Contains gluten |
Miso (Rice miso, Barley miso, Soybean miso, Mixed miso)
- |
No |
Reason |
Halal |
Alcohol (mixed miso) |
Contains alcohol |
Vegetarian ・ Vegan |
Bonito extract (mixed miso) |
Contains animal products |
Kosher |
- |
- |
Gluten free |
Barley (barley miso) |
Contains gluten |
Cooking Oil (Salad oil, Sesame oil, Olive oil, Lard)
- |
No |
Reason |
Halal |
Pork fat (lard) |
Contains animal products prohibited in Halal |
Vegetarian ・ Vegan |
Pork fat (lard) |
Contains animal products |
Kosher |
Pork fat (lard) |
Contains animal products prohibited in Kosher |
Gluten free |
- |
- |
Dashi (Japanese soup stock)
- |
No |
Reason |
Halal |
Mirin |
Contains alcohol |
Vegetarian ・ Vegan |
Bonito, Dried sardines |
Contains animal products |
Kosher |
- |
- |
Gluten free |
- |
- |
Mayonnaise
- |
No |
Reason |
Halal |
Brewed vinegar |
Contains alcohol |
Vegetarian ・ Vegan |
Egg yolk |
Contains animal products |
Kosher |
- |
- |
Gluten free |
- |
- |
Ketchup
- |
No |
Reason |
Halal |
Brewed vinegar |
Contains alcohol |
Vegetarian ・ Vegan |
- |
- |
Kosher |
- |
- |
Gluten free |
- |
- |
Sauce (Worcestershire sauce, Thick sauce)
- |
No |
Reason |
Halal |
Brewed vinegar, Alcohol, Soy sauce, Meat extract（that has not been slaughtered in accordance with Islamic law) |
Contains animal products prohibited in Halal, Contains alcohol |
Vegetarian ・ Vegan |
Meat extract |
Contains animal products |
Kosher |
Meat extract（that has not been slaughtered in accordance with Kosher law) |
Contains animal products prohibited in Kosher |
Gluten free |
Wheat, Soy sauce |
Contains gluten |
Ponzu Sauce
- |
No |
Reason |
Halal |
Brewed vinegar, Alcohol, Soy sauce |
Contains alcohol |
Vegetarian ・ Vegan |
Bonito extract |
Contains animal products |
Kosher |
- |
- |
Gluten free |
Soy sauce |
Contains gluten |
Oyster Sauce
- |
No |
Reason |
Halal |
Soy sauce, Alcohol |
Contains alcohol |
Vegetarian ・ Vegan |
Oyster extract |
Contains animal products |
Kosher |
Oyster extract |
Contains animal products prohibited in Kosher |
Gluten free |
Soy sauce, Flour |
Contains gluten |
Nam-pula (Fish sauce)
- |
No |
Reason |
Halal |
- |
- |
Vegetarian ・ Vegan |
Anchovies |
Contains animal products |
Kosher |
- |
- |
Gluten free |
- |
- |
Flour
- |
No |
Reason |
Halal |
- |
- |
Vegetarian ・ Vegan |
- |
- |
Kosher |
- |
- |
Gluten free |
Wheat |
Contains gluten |
Salt
No special precautions
Pepper
No special precautions
Wasabi
No special precautions
Ginger
No special precautions
Mustard
No special precautions
Grated Garlic
No special precautions
Shichimi Togarashi (Japanese mixed spice)
No special precautions
Sansho (Japanese pepper)
No special precautions
Yuzu Pepper
No special precautions
Potato Starch
No special precautions
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