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Printable Japanese food allergy card: pick your allergens
A written card does what an accent cannot. Staff can read it, take it to the kitchen and check ingredients without guessing at your English. Tick your allergens below to build a card in Japanese, print it or save a screenshot, and carry a few copies.
Quick answer: Tick your allergens, check the severity line is true for you, then print the card or screenshot it. Show it before you order and ask the server to confirm with the kitchen.
Build your card
The card updates as you tick. It lists your allergens, says you cannot eat dishes containing them, asks the kitchen to check stock, sauces and oil, and asks them to avoid shared utensils. Nothing is sent anywhere; the card is built on your device.
Tick your allergens above and your card will appear here. (This card builder needs JavaScript. Without it, use one of the single-allergen cards linked below.)
Printing tip: choose “fit to page”, or take a screenshot and save it to your phone’s favorites.
How to use it in a restaurant
- Show it first. Hand it over at the door or at seating, not after the food arrives.
- Ask for the allergen chart (アレルゲン表, arerugen hyou). Chains and department store food floors often have one.
- Look for hesitation. If you hear “chotto…” (ちょっと…) or “muzukashii” (難しい), it is polite for “no”. Accept it and eat elsewhere.
- Beware “daijoubu”. 大丈夫 can mean “it’s fine” or “no thanks”. Ask a specific question.
Allergens on Japan’s labels
Packaged food must declare eight allergens: egg, milk, wheat, buckwheat, peanut, shrimp, crab and walnut. Other items, like soy, sesame, fish and molluscs, may not appear in the allergen line. Restaurants are not covered by the same labeling rules. Our label guide goes into detail.
Allergy words in Japanese
| Japanese (kana) | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| たまご（卵） | tamago | egg |
| にゅうせいひん（乳製品） | nyuuseihin | dairy |
| こむぎ（小麦） | komugi | wheat |
| そば | soba | buckwheat |
| ピーナッツ（らっかせい） | piinattsu (rakkasei) | peanut |
| えび | ebi | shrimp |
| かに | kani | crab |
| くるみ | kurumi | walnut |
| ごま | goma | sesame |
| だいず（大豆） | daizu | soy |
| さかな（魚） | sakana | fish |
| かいるい（貝類） | kairui | molluscs |
Prefer a single-allergen card?
These pages include a ready-made card and the hidden sources for each allergen. Pick the one that matches you.
Allergy safety: this is travel information, not medical advice. Restaurants often cannot guarantee an allergen-free meal, and cross-contact in kitchens is common. Carry any prescribed medication and a doctor’s letter, and check current Japanese rules for bringing medicine into the country.
Frequently asked questions
Is a printed card better than a translation app?
For allergies, a card is the dependable one: it needs no battery or signal and the kitchen can keep it in view. Use an app to read the menu, and the card to communicate.
Can I show the card on my phone?
Yes. Take a screenshot and favorite it so it opens fast. Make the text large, and keep a printed copy too in case your phone dies.
Does the card guarantee a safe meal?
No. It improves communication, but restaurants may decline, and cross-contact can happen. If a place hesitates, leave.
How many cards should I print?
Three or four: one for your wallet, one for your bag, one for your hotel, and a spare for a travel companion.
Related guides
Read the menu, then show the card
Japan Interpreter scans a Japanese menu with your camera, explains the dishes and flags common allergens, offline. Use the card to confirm with staff.
Japan Interpreter: offline camera and text translation for Japan. Allergen flags help, but never replace asking the restaurant.