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Looking for Affordable and Effective Food Intolerance Tests in Japan, Recommendations?
I'm new to this group and recently moved to Tokyo from New York following my partner, who received a job offer here. While I greatly appreciate Japan's food culture, I've been struggling wi… Hi there,
I'm new to this group and recently moved to Tokyo from New York following my partner, who received a job offer here. While I greatly appreciate Japan's food culture, I've been struggling with a skin condition called dermatographia. Essentially, it causes my skin to rise where it's lightly touched and is especially triggered after eating certain foods.
For many years, I've managed this condition by taking antihistamines. However, a new theory has emerged suggesting that "leaky gut" might be the cause, with the first step being to undergo a food intolerance test. I found a Functional Medicine practice here in Minato City, where we live, and the test costs ¥45,000 (~$300). I find this a bit pricey, especially since I'm not sure if it will be helpful.
Has anyone here had this test done in Tokyo? What are the average prices, and did you find it helpful? I would greatly appreciate any input, as I don't speak Japanese well and find it difficult to research online.
Thank you!
The 45,000 figure is roughly what the Minato functional clinics charge, so you're not being singled out, but you can get the same IgG panel for closer to 20,000 to 30,000 at places like the Roppongi or Ginza cosmetic clinics that cater to expats. That said, I'd spend the money differently. Dermatographia is basically a mast cell thing, and a lot of people here manage it by watching overall histamine load rather than chasing one culprit food. Aged cheese, natto, canned fish, wine and reheated leftovers are the usual suspects. An elimination diet for three or four weeks costs almost nothing and often tells you more than an IgG panel, which Japan's allergy society doesn't really endorse anyway. If your Japanese is rough, the dermatology desks at Tokyo Midtown or Hiroo have English-speaking staff and can order a proper IgE blood test under insurance if a doctor thinks it's warranted.
45,000 is on the high end tbh. i got a food IgG panel done at a clinic in shibuya for around 25,000 a couple years back, but honestly the evidence behind those tests is shaky. japan's allergy society doesnt really endorse IgG food testing for intolerance, so a lot of docs here will just push you toward a proper ige allergy test (covered by insurance if a doctor orders it) or an elimination diet instead. for dermatographia specifically id see a dermatologist first, theres good english speaking ones around hiroo and akasaka, way cheaper than the functional med route
if u want to skip the pricy panels, ask a derm about a 食物アレルギー blood test under 保険, that's the ige one and it's cheap. for dermatographia tho, a lot of ppl find it's not one specific food but histamine load in general, so stuff like aged cheese, natto, canned fish, wine & leftover reheated meals can set it off. an elimination diet over 3-4 weeks costs basically nothing and tells u more than an igg panel imo. tokyo midtown or hiroo has english speaking dermatologists if ur japanese is rough
Where can I find crispy, pan-fried bacon similar to a certain international style?
if u have a costco membership the kirkland thick cut is the move, 4 packs of 500g for around 2500 yen and it crisps up proper in a cold pan. for smaller runs, precce in azabudai hills & the basement at isetan shinjuku both carry imported US & danish brands in the chilled case, just read the label for "thick cut" or "smoked" and not "loin". also worth knowing japanese bacon is often wet-cured so pat it dry before frying or it steams instead of crisping
kaldi coffee farm is hit or miss but their smoked bacon from denmark shows up pretty regular, the 200g pack runs about 600 yen. what actually works better for me is asking the butcher counter at peacock or life to slice the block bacon thick, like 5mm, they do it for free and it crisps way better than the pre-packed stuff. also fwiw cheap bacon crisps faster, the fatty supermarket kind at 300 yen a pack works fine if u cook it from cold in a dry pan and pour off the fat as it renders.
tbh the gyomu super store brand bacon is surprisingly decent for crisping up, its not thick cut but if you cook it low and slow it gets pretty crunchy. the key is the dry cure vs wet cure thing, wet cure steams. also check hanamasa if you have one nearby, they sell big packs of american style bacon thats actually smoked and firm.
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