Gluten-Free in Japan
My New Celiac-Friendly Travel Cards
After my gluten-free cards proved so useful in China, I decided to create a new, more user-friendly version for my upcoming trip to Japan. I’ll be traveling across the country — from more international spots like Tokyo to more remote areas — and I want to be fully prepared with clear explanations of what I can and can’t eat, as well as how food needs to be prepared safely for someone with celiac disease.
So, I made a new set of printable cards that explain celiac disease in a simple and straightforward way. They’re small enough to fit in a purse and can be handed to restaurant staff when I arrive, so they can quickly see whether gluten-free options are available.
Each card includes:
A brief explanation of celiac disease in Japanese
An English translation (in case they point something out and I need to understand!)
Then, I also created two detailed ingredient sheets: one listing common gluten-containing items, and one with safe ingredients. I’ll either hand them to the chef or use them myself when ordering from a menu. I also added a few helpful notes, for example, sushi rice is only safe if it’s made with rice vinegar.
My friend Miho (who’s Japanese and super kind!) double-checked everything to make sure it’s all clear and accurate.
As always, if you follow me on Instagram, I’ll be sharing my day-by-day experience as a celiac navigating Japan. I hope this can inspire more of you to travel confidently and not let celiac disease hold you back.
If you want to follow along (I’d love that!), you can find me on Instagram: @thereshebooksagain 💛
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