A Culinary Travel Guide to Japan

April 29, 2025
Japan is becoming increasingly friendly toward Muslim travelers with the availability of halal restaurants in major cities. If you're planning a visit and want to enjoy halal food with peace of mind, here is a guide to the best halal restaurants in Japan.
1. Halal Ramen in Japan
Ramen is one of Japan’s most sought-after dishes by tourists. Nowadays, many restaurants offer halal ramen, free from non-halal ingredients such as pork or sake.
Recommended Halal Sushi Restaurants:
- Naritaya Ramen (Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka) – Chicken-based broth with a distinct savory flavor.
- Honolu Ramen (Osaka, Tokyo, Kyoto) – Halal ramen with delicious grilled chicken options.
- Ayam-YA (Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya) – Halal ramen with various broth options like miso and shoyu.
2. Halal Sushi and Seafood
As a signature Japanese dish, sushi often contains mirin or alcoholic vinegar. However, some restaurants now serve halal-certified sushi that’s safe for Muslim consumption.
Recommended Halal Sushi Restaurants:
- Sushiken Asakusa (Tokyo) – The first halal-certified sushi restaurant in Japan.
- Ganko Sushi (Osaka, Kyoto) – Offers sushi options with halal ingredients and no alcohol.
- Ginza Ukai-tei (Tokyo) – A fine dining restaurant with premium halal seafood selections.
3. Halal Yakiniku (Japanese BBQ)
Yakiniku is a popular Japanese BBQ dish. Now, several restaurants provide halal meat for Muslim travelers.
Recommended Halal Yakiniku Restaurants:
- Sumiyakiya (Tokyo, Fukuoka) – Halal BBQ restaurant with high-quality meats.
- Gyu-Kaku Halal (Osaka, Tokyo) – A halal-certified branch of the popular yakiniku chain.
- Panga Yakiniku (Tokyo) – Serves delicious halal wagyu beef.
4. Halal Restaurants with Traditional Japanese Menus
If you want to try other Japanese dishes like tempura, donburi, or halal bento, these restaurants are worth visiting:
Recommended Halal Traditional Japanese Restaurants:
- Kobe Beef – World-famous beef from Kobe.
- Matsusaka Beef – One of the richest and finest wagyu varieties.
5. Tips for Finding Halal Food in Japan
- Use apps like Halal Navi & HappyCow – These help you locate halal restaurants across Japan.
- Look for halal certification – Some restaurants display halal certification from the Japan Halal Association.
- Ask the staff directly – If in doubt, ask about the ingredients used in the dishes.
With more halal dining options available, Muslim travelers can now enjoy Japanese cuisine without worry. Enjoy your trip and halal food adventure in Japan!