Useful Japanese phrases for Muslim travelers

Many restaurant and shop staff in Japan are happy to help, but not everyone speaks English. You can show these phrases on your phone or read them aloud. Each one has the Japanese text and how to say it.

At a restaurant or shop

I am Muslim. I can't eat pork or alcohol.

私はムスリムです。豚肉とお酒が食べられません。
Watashi wa musurimu desu. Butaniku to osake ga taberaremasen.

Does this contain pork?

これに豚肉は入っていますか？
Kore ni butaniku wa haitte imasu ka?

Do you use sake or mirin in this?

お酒やみりんは使っていますか？
Osake ya mirin wa tsukatte imasu ka?

Do you have any dishes without pork or alcohol?

豚肉とお酒を使わない料理はありますか？
Butaniku to osake o tsukawanai ryōri wa arimasu ka?

Is there a halal restaurant near here?

ハラールのお店はこの近くにありますか？
Harāru no omise wa kono chikaku ni arimasu ka?

Is there a prayer room?

礼拝室（お祈りの部屋）はありますか？
Reihaishitsu (oinori no heya) wa arimasu ka?

May I pray in a quiet place for a few minutes?

少しの間、静かな場所でお祈りをしてもいいですか？
Sukoshi no aida, shizuka na basho de oinori o shite mo ii desu ka?

Is there a mosque near here?

この近くにモスクはありますか？
Kono chikaku ni mosuku wa arimasu ka?

Could you show me the ingredients?

原材料を見せてもらえますか？
Genzairyō o misete moraemasu ka?

Thank you very much.

ありがとうございます。
Arigatō gozaimasu.

Tips

• Showing the Japanese text on your screen often works better than saying it.
• "Osake" (お酒) means alcohol in general, not only Japanese sake.
• Mirin is used in many sauces, so it is worth asking about it by name.
• A smile and "arigatō gozaimasu" go a long way.

To read food labels yourself, see Reading food labels in Japan.