Eating gluten-free in Tokyo/Japan
 

Hi there

I will be stopping off in Tokyo for 5 days soon on the way to the Philippines for a trip. Do any of you living in Tokyo/Japan deal with eating gluten free there? It seems like pretty much everything in Japan could potentially have gluten in it (think wheat, if you're not familiar with gluten, although it's in barley and rye too) so that includes most noodles, tempura, anything with soy sauce, probably most broths etc. From what I've read even most grilled meats will be marinated in soy sauce, which has gluten in it.

Any advice from those who have to avoid gluten in their diets would be most welcome, including any restaurant recommendations. I'll be based in Ikebukuro, but any suggestions to eat in Tokyo would be great.

Re: Eating gluten-free in Tokyo/Japan
 

Is it about time to loose some weight?

Soba noodles are made from buckwheat so they should be OK. Available in many noodle places.

Rice is OK, isn't it? Many kinds of sushi are just rice and fresh (raw) fish. Plenty of sushi bars around.

Re: Eating gluten-free in Tokyo/Japan
 

Eating gluten free has nothing to do with losing weight, but a necessity due to an auto-immune condition called Celiac disease. Believe me, I wouldn't have given up drinking beer (barley has gluten) to lose weight. Rice is generally fine, but it's all the hidden gluten that someone living in Japan with Celiac disease or gluten intolerance would know about. I believe sushi is often prepared with vinegar which can contain gluten, and apparently most soba noodles have wheat in them these days.

Re: Eating gluten-free in Tokyo/Japan
 

Buckwheat also has gluten.

I'll be in Tokyo for 4 days in December, so am also interested in GF produce. I've been told to take my own GF soy sauce!!