Daily Life Lessons · Restaurants
Be able to clearly tell a restaurant which foods you cannot eat, understand the limits of what the restaurant can do, decide for yourself whether to eat, and call 119 if you have strong symptoms.
In Japan, there are allergen labeling rules for packaged processed foods, but restaurants are not required to label the dishes they serve. Some restaurants provide information voluntarily, but the absence of a label does not mean that an ingredient is not in the food.
Before ordering, say clearly which foods you cannot eat, for example: "Shokumotsu arerugī ga arimasu. Tamago o tsukatte imasu ka?" (食物アレルギーがあります。卵を使っていますか, "I have a food allergy. Does this contain egg?"). If it is difficult to explain in Japanese, you can also show a card with the names of the foods written on it. However, small amounts can get mixed in, for example through shared cooking equipment, and there are limits to what a restaurant can do. If you have a severe allergy, contact the restaurant in advance to check whether they can accommodate you, and if you have any concerns, consider not eating there. In the end, it is you (or your family), not the restaurant, who decides whether to eat.
If you have strong symptoms after eating, such as difficulty breathing, do not hesitate to call 119 for an ambulance.
食物（しょくもつ）アレルギーの 伝え方です。
・レストランの 料理には、アレルギーの 表示が ないことが 多いです。 ・表示が なくても、入っていないとは かぎりません。
1. 注文の 前に 店員に 言います。「食物アレルギーが あります。卵を 使っていますか」 2. 日本語が むずかしいときは、食べられない ものを 書いた カードを 見せます。 3. 少し まざることも あります。食べるか どうかは、自分で 決めます。 4. 重い アレルギーの 人は、前もって 店に 連絡します。心配なら、その 店で 食べない ことも 大切です。
息が 苦しいなど 強い 症状が 出たら、すぐ 119番に 電話します。
What about allergen labeling for restaurant dishes?
Unlike processed foods, there is no labeling requirement for eating out.
Which is an appropriate way to tell the staff?
Clearly say that you have an allergy and name the food.
Which is correct about a dish with no allergen label?
Even without a label, the ingredient may be in it.
What should people with severe allergies do?
Ingredients may get mixed in, and there are limits to what a restaurant can do.
What if you have strong symptoms after eating, such as difficulty breathing?
The number for an ambulance is 119.
Q. What if I cannot explain in Japanese?
A. You can use a card listing the foods you cannot eat, or a translation app. Some local governments, such as the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, publish sheets for communicating allergies in multiple languages and with pictograms.
Q. Can I just ask them to remove it from the finished dish?
A. Just removing it may leave small amounts behind. You can also ask whether they can make the dish again, but some restaurants cannot do this.
Q. Which ingredients must be labeled on processed foods?
A. There are 9 items: shrimp, crab, walnuts, wheat, buckwheat (soba), egg, milk, peanuts and cashew nuts. Cashew nuts were added in April 2026, and there is a two-year transition period, so some products may not show them yet. The list may be revised, so check the latest information from the Consumer Affairs Agency.
This practice tool asks questions in random order (it works when JavaScript is enabled). You can still read all the questions and explanations above without it.
Systems and procedures may differ depending on the city, ward, town or village where you live and on the time of year. Please check the latest information from your local government or the relevant organizations.
Content checked on: 2026-09-28
This page is a translation of the Japanese original. If the translation and the original differ, the Japanese version takes precedence. View the Japanese original