Japan — Batch 1

Japan is the country celiacs are most nervous about — and honestly, for good reason. Soy sauce contains wheat. It's in everything. But Tokyo had more GF-safe options than I expected. 18 restaurants tested, four of them fully dedicated gluten-free, and a 7/10 on our GF safety score. Highlights: a 100% GF kushiage counter, a celiac-aware omakase, and GF sweets in Asakusa. Full guide with all restaurants, GF scores, and maps on the site (link in bio).

SUSHI KORIN in Nishiazabu — celiac-aware omakase. The chef uses tamari instead of standard soy sauce, adjusts the rice vinegar, and talked us through every piece. Sitting at the counter in Tokyo, eating omakase without explaining or worrying — that's not something I take for granted. 4/5 on our GF safety scale. Full review on the site.

Thousands of vermillion torii gates winding up the mountain behind Fushimi Inari. Go as early as you can — it's a different experience without the crowds. The full Kyoto guide on the site covers where to eat GF nearby.

Gluten Free Kushiage Su in Tokyo — entirely dedicated gluten-free kushiage. Everything deep-fried in dedicated GF oil, served course by course at the counter. No gluten in the building. We went twice because it was that good. Eating fried food without a single worry is something celiacs almost never get. 5/5 on our GF safety scale.

Kinkaku-ji — the Golden Pavilion in Kyoto. The most photographed temple in Japan, and it earns it. Kyoto also had surprisingly good GF ramen options — more on that soon.

The thing most celiacs don't realize until they arrive in Japan: standard soy sauce contains wheat. It's in everything — sashimi dipping sauce, ramen broth, yakitori glaze, even rice seasonings sometimes. We brought GF tamari packets from home (the small single-serve ones). Most restaurants were happy for us to use our own once we showed the celiac dining card. This one tip changes the entire trip.

The only dedicated gluten-free ramen in Japan — Gion Soy Milk Ramen Uno Yokiko in Kyoto. Soy milk broth, GF noodles, in the heart of Gion. Ramen is the dish celiacs think they'll never eat in Japan. This place exists. 5/5 on our GF safety scale.

Gōtokuji Temple in Tokyo — the birthplace of the maneki-neko. Hundreds of white beckoning cat statues tucked into every corner. It's off the main tourist path and worth the detour.

Hakone — mountain town an hour from Tokyo by bullet train. Famous for hot springs, open-air museums, and views of Mount Fuji on a clear day. We stayed at a traditional ryokan where they accommodated celiac for a full kaiseki dinner. A very different side of Japan from Tokyo and Kyoto. Full Hakone guide on the site (link in bio).

Hoshino Resorts KAI Sengokuhara in Hakone — traditional Japanese ryokan with kaiseki dinner, and they accommodated celiac across every course. Private onsen, tatami rooms, multi-course dinner served in your room. They adjusted the soy sauce, removed wheat-based items, and the staff communicated with the kitchen on every dish. The kind of experience that seems impossible with celiac — and they made it work.

Arashiyama Bamboo Forest in Kyoto — towering bamboo, filtered light, and surprisingly quiet if you go early enough. One of those places that lives up to the photos.

Comeconoco in Osaka — a dedicated gluten-free bakery specializing in rice flour. Breads, pastries, cakes, all made in a fully GF facility. Walking into a bakery in Japan and being able to eat everything is not a sentence I expected to write. 5/5 on our GF safety scale.

What I packed for Japan as a celiac: a laminated celiac dining card in Japanese (essential — most kitchen staff don't speak English), GF tamari packets (the small single-serve ones, 6-8 lasted the full trip), GF snack bars for bullet trains and long temple days, and a translation app with camera mode for reading ingredient labels in konbini. The card opened every conversation. Without it, Japan would have been much harder.

Nara Park — where the deer bow to you (sometimes). An easy day trip from Kyoto or Osaka, and Kōfuku-ji temple next door is stunning. Nara also has Harushika sake brewery where you can do GF sake tastings — naturally gluten-free and worth the stop.

Japan was the trip I was most nervous about as a celiac. And honestly, it required more prep than anywhere else we've been. But with a dining card in Japanese, GF tamari packets, and the right restaurants researched ahead of time, we ate well every single day. 5 cities, 48 places visited, 4 fully dedicated GF restaurants found. If you're celiac and considering Japan — it's harder, not impossible. Full Japan guide with all restaurants, scores, and maps on the site (link in bio).