Gluten‑Free Dining in Japan – Easy Cards for Coeliac & Allergy‑Safe Travel
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ITADAKI™ Gluten-Free Project. In partnership with Bothie Campers & Bothie Social Club
Our gluten‑free Japan dining cards show you what you can eat—not long ‘can’t eat’ lists.
Designed for coeliac & allergy‑sensitive travellers, they tap into Japan’s traditional restaurant culture to help you enjoy safe, delicious meals.
What Makes Our Cards Different
Here’s why these are the best gluten-free travel cards for Japan
✔️ Restaurant-type focus - Yakiniku, Yakitori, Sushi/Sashimi, Soba & convenience‑store snacks
✔️ Yes‑first wording - emphasises safe dishes before problems
✔️ Bilingual Japanese-English - restaurant‑ready translation
✔️ Chef & traveller tested - coeliac‑friendly, culturally correct
✔️ Free generic backup card – included in case none of the main restaurant types fit
Use a basic translation card & you may bounce from restaurant to restaurant. Use an ITADAKI™ card & go straight to places that welcome you.
| Item | Purpose | Compare to others |
|---|---|---|
| 5 Restaurant Cards | Order safely in the most common traditional eateries | Generic cards only give 1‑list, ours cover 5 top styles |
| Companion Guides | How to find each place, what to bring, hidden risks | Guides are included - others don't provide them |
| Free Generic Card | For last-resort situations | Only free backup - the rest are upfront extras |
| Free Downloadable Allergy/ Gluten Card | For travellers with combination allergy/ sensitivities | Allergy/ Gluten PDF included (others charge extra) |
Only $9.99 per restaurant bundle.
Same price as a generic card, but with 3x the practical value. Instant digital download.
How to Use Your Gluten‑Free Cards in Japan
How to Use Your Gluten-Free Travel Cards in Japan
Step 1.
Search “yakiniku,” “yakitori,” “sushi,” or “十割そば” (soba) in Google Maps.
Step 2.
Check the companion guide for what to bring (eg GF soy sauce).
Step 3.
Hand over the card – staff read the yes-list first, smile & seat you.
Step 4.
Enjoy your meal – no menu edits, no awkward refusals.
5 Things Every Gluten-Free Traveller Needs to Know
1
Wheat is labelled, gluten isn’t
Wheat (小麦) is a regulated allergen, but barley, rye & gluten aren’t - and are often not labelled.
2
Barley is the key hidden danger
Barley (大麦) slips into miso, soy sauce, vinegar, syrups,, sake & barley tea – it’s rarely labelled.
3
Substitutions are not welcome
Japanese menus are fixed. Diners with allergies or coeliac disease are expected to choose a restaurant that suits their needs, not ask for changes.
4
Traditional dining options are everywhere
A yakitori shop in Tokyo works the same as one in a remote mountain village. Learn the pattern once – reuse it nationwide.
5
Translation apps won’t cut it
For example, ‘Soba’ can mean the noodle dish made from buckwheat, or just buckwheat. Clear language of cards prevents mix-ups.
Want more detail? Download the FREE Field Guide with restaurant recommendations, allergy tips & travel safety strategies.
Need Extra Help?
✔️ Coeliac-friendly roadtrip planning
✔️ Slow travel gluten-safe tours
✔️ Welcome kits – GF soy sauce, snacks, custom guides
✔️ Travel kitchens & GF market shopping guides
✔️ Gluten-safe accommodation – recipes, sterile cookware, stocked groceries & cooking classes
✔️ Custom bentos & precooked-meals
FAQ
Q1. Are these cards suitable for coeliac disease or severe gluten sensitivity?
Yes. These cards are a powerful tool when used as part of a bigger risk management framework. Wording addresses cross-contamination, hidden gluten & other risks.
Q2. Do I still need to speak Japanese?
No – the card does the talking. You only need basic phrases like “thank you.”
Q3. Can I buy individual restaurant‑type cards or only a bundle?
Yes – individual PDFs available, or save with the full bundle.
Q4. Where can I use the cards?
Anywhere in Japan – unlike gluten-free restaurants you’ll find one of our 5 types of restaurant in any village, town or city in Japan.
Q5. What if my risk level is very high?
Book our gluten-safe accommodation or roadtrip service for extra control.
Q6. How are these cards better than Google Translate?
Our cards address the complex risks that coeliacs & people with gluten-sensitivity encounter eating out in Japan. They are written specifically for Japanese restaurant staff to address the gaps in culture & knowledge around gluten, food service & terminology. They are more than translation cards, they are your passport to the Japanese food scene.
Ready to Eat Safely & Travel Freely?
Get the cards, skip the guesswork, enjoy Japan.
The Moment We Flipped the Script
When our friend Alison & her daughter Zoe planned a visit from Australia, they asked how to eat gluten-free in Japan. We tried the usual ‘please-read-this-essay-about-what-I-can’t-eat’ cards & quickly found that they just didn’t work. Staff were confused, rejections piled up & safe meals were hard to find.
So we decided to make our own & flip the model.
We tested cards in real izakayas, yakiniku, sushi, yakitori & soba shops across Japan
Our approach worked so well, we decided to create the Itadaki Gluten-free Project to share it with other travellers.
Meet the Team
Kate (comms pro) & Tomoko (Japanese-born Australian ICU nurse) turned a friendship into a powerful collaboration: the ITADAKI™ Gluten-free Project.
We partner with local Hida restaurants to test the cards to ensure cultural accuracy & trust.
Bothie Social Club bought together a collaborators to test & improve the cards; Bothie Campers worked with us to provide services for slow travellers & road-trippers. Together we focus on safe & joyful travel that is open to everyone.
ITADAKI™ – designed by gluten‑free travellers for gluten‑free travellers in Japan
