Language Guide · Japanese

Japanese Allergy Card
printable translation card in Japanese

Common allergen terms in Japanese script with pronunciation, a useful sentence pattern, and a written card you can show before ordering. Speaking the phrase still helps, but a card gives staff something to read and pass to the kitchen.

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Get this card in Japanese

Your allergens, written in 日本語 for kitchens in Japan, with the optional cross-contamination warning shown in this sample.

  • Printable PDF with a cut-out card, plus an image for your phone
  • Every allergen in Japanese and English, side by side
  • Apple and Google Wallet passes for cards with up to three allergens

$7.99 one-time for Japanese English is free · All Languages $29.99 · instant digital delivery, no shipping charge

Continue with this card
Direct answer: Allergy in Japanese is アレルギー (arerugii). A useful pattern is [allergen]アレルギーがあります: "I have a [allergen] allergy." For peanut allergy, say ピーナッツアレルギーがあります. For a severe allergy, show a written Japanese card before ordering, ask staff to confirm the ingredients and preparation, and leave if the answer is unclear.

What's the biggest food allergy risk when eating in Japan?

Soy sauce, mirin, and dashi are useful things to ask about, but their use depends on the recipe. Ask whether the dish contains soy sauce, wheat, fish stock, shellfish, sesame, or shared equipment instead of relying on a cuisine-wide rule.

Why written Japanese beats spoken English

A Japanese card gives staff something concrete to read and pass to the kitchen. It can be more useful than trying to explain a complex allergy in spoken English, but it does not guarantee that the restaurant can accommodate you. Present it before ordering, ask follow-up questions, and leave if staff cannot answer clearly. That's the design principle behind the translation card approach.

Japanese restaurant menu board written in Japanese with dish photos and prices
Written Japanese lets staff verify an allergy request against the same script used on menus and food labels.

Allergen labelling in Japan

For packaged foods, Japan's official food-labeling guidance is a useful reference. In restaurants, ask about wheat in soy sauce, noodles, batter, and stock, and ask how the kitchen handles shared equipment.

Frequently asked questions

Do restaurants in Japan accept written allergy cards?

Many restaurants can read a written Japanese request, but acceptance and accommodation vary. Present the card before ordering, ask staff to confirm the ingredients and preparation, and leave if they cannot answer clearly. Use practical label terms such as 小麦 (wheat) where relevant, and ask separately about soy sauce, dashi, shared oil, and utensils.

What do you get with the Japanese allergy card?

A printable PDF with a cut-out card, plus an image sized for your phone. Every allergen you select is printed in Japanese and English side by side. Cards with up to three allergens can also be added to Apple or Google Wallet.

Does the Japanese card cover dashi and soy sauce?

Fish stock and soy sauce are two of the most common places allergens hide in Japanese cooking, and neither is obvious from a dish name. Select fish, soy or wheat when you build the card and those terms are printed on it in Japanese. Our Japan guide covers where they appear across the cuisine.