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Peanut allergy in Japan: a restaurant card and the phrases you need
Peanuts are not central to Japanese cooking, and peanut is one of the allergens that packaged food in Japan must declare by law. That makes Japan easier than many destinations. Restaurants are different: staff awareness varies, and a handful of dishes and snacks use peanuts without saying so. A printed card and three phrases cover most of the risk.
Quick answer: Say ピーナッツ (piinattsu) or 落花生 (rakkasei), show the card below before you order, and ask about snacks, sauces and frying oil. If a server hesitates or says “chotto…”, treat it as a no.
Where peanuts actually show up
Most everyday Japanese dishes (sushi, ramen, yakitori, tempura) do not use peanuts. The risk sits in a few places:
- Bar and izakaya snacks. Kaki no tane (柿の種), small spicy rice crackers, usually come mixed with peanuts, and bowls of mixed nuts are a common otsumami.
- Regional foods. Peanut miso (ピーナッツ味噌) is a Chiba specialty, and jimami tofu (ジーマーミ豆腐) in Okinawa is made from peanuts, not soy.
- Chinese-style and Southeast Asian dishes. Dandan noodles, satay and some stir-fries can include peanuts or peanut paste.
- Dressings and sweets. Peanut-ae (ピーナッツ和え) is a vegetable dish dressed with ground peanuts, and some mochi and baked sweets contain them.
Oil, labels and chain restaurants
Most Japanese kitchens fry in salad oil (サラダ油), usually a rapeseed or soybean blend, but ask rather than assume. Packaged food, including konbini bento and snacks, lists peanut in the allergen line as 落花生, often written (一部に落花生を含む), “contains peanut in part”. Our allergen label guide shows how to read it.
Many chain restaurants publish an allergen chart (アレルゲン表, arerugen hyou) on a tablet, a printed sheet or their website. Ask for it before you order.
How to use the card
Hand it over before ordering, not after the food arrives. Ask the server to check with the kitchen. Be alert to ambiguity: daijoubu desu (大丈夫です) can mean “it’s fine” or “no thanks”, so follow up with “ピーナッツは使っていませんか？” and wait for a clear answer. If peanuts are not the only issue, build a multi-allergen version with our printable allergy card.
Peanut phrases in Japanese
| Japanese (kana) | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| ピーナッツ | piinattsu | peanut (everyday word) |
| らっかせい（落花生） | rakkasei | peanut (label and formal word) |
| ナッツるい（ナッツ類） | nattsu-rui | nuts (general) |
| ピーナッツアレルギーです | piinattsu arerugii desu | I have a peanut allergy |
| ピーナッツは入っていますか？ | piinattsu wa haitte imasu ka? | Does this contain peanuts? |
| ピーナッツを使わないでください | piinattsu o tsukawanaide kudasai | Please don’t use peanuts |
| あげあぶらはなんですか？（揚げ油は何ですか？） | ageabura wa nan desu ka? | What oil is used for frying? |
| アレルゲン表はありますか？ | arerugen hyou wa arimasu ka? | Do you have an allergen chart? |
| 確認していただけますか？ | kakunin shite itadakemasu ka? | Could you check with the kitchen? |
| 少量でも命に関わります | shouryou demo inochi ni kakawarimasu | Even a small amount is life-threatening |
Printable peanut allergy card
Print this page or screenshot the card and show it to your server. The Japanese is written for restaurant staff; the English lets you check what it says.
私はピーナッツ（落花生）アレルギーです。
I am allergic to peanuts.
ピーナッツ（落花生）が入っている料理は食べられません。
I cannot eat any dish that contains peanuts.
だしやソース、調味料、揚げ油にも入っていないか、ご確認をお願いします。
Please also check the stock, sauces, seasonings and frying oil.
ピーナッツ（落花生）に触れた調理器具や油は使わないでください。
Please do not use utensils or oil that have touched peanuts.
少量でも命に関わります。
Even a small amount can be life-threatening.
ご協力ありがとうございます。 Thank you for your help. · japanmust.com
Printing tip: set the page to “fit to page”, or take a screenshot and show it on your phone. Delete the last line if your allergy is not severe.
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 peanut allergy common in Japan?
Reported peanut allergy rates in Japan are generally lower than in the United States, so restaurant staff may be less familiar with severe cases. Show the card and use the word 重度 (juudo, severe) if it applies.
Do Japanese restaurants cook with peanut oil?
Rarely. Most use salad oil, a rapeseed or soybean blend, and Chinese-style places may use sesame oil. The kitchen is the only reliable source, so ask what oil is used.
Will “nuts” be understood?
ナッツ (nattsu) is understood but vague. Staff may think of almonds or cashews and miss peanuts. Say ピーナッツ and 落花生 explicitly.
Are konbini snacks safe for peanut allergy?
Packaged snacks must declare peanut on the label as 落花生. Look for it in the parentheses after the ingredient list, and remember that rice-cracker mixes often include peanuts.
Related guides
Scan the menu before you sit down
Japan Interpreter reads a Japanese menu with your phone camera, explains each dish in plain English and flags common allergens, even without WiFi.
Japan Interpreter: offline camera and text translation for Japan. Allergen flags help, but never replace asking the restaurant.