Going to Study in Japan? Know About Halal Food, Mosques and Ramadan Facilities

Thinking of studying in Japan but worried about halal food, mosques, and Ramadan? I get these questions often. Having lived there, I can tell you that while it takes a little planning, it's absolutely doable. Let me share what I've seen.

Halal Food: What You'll Find

Halal Restaurants in Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya

Major cities have a growing number of halal restaurants. In Tokyo, Shinjuku, Shibuya, and Ueno have Malaysian, Indonesian, and Indian options. Osaka's Nipponbashi and Nanko areas are good. In Nagoya, Sakae and Imai are decent.

Halal Supermarkets and Stores

Shin-Okubo in Tokyo has 'Halal Tokyo' store. You can also order halal rice, noodles, and spices from Amazon Japan. Nearby Muslim embassies can also help.

Mosques and Prayer Spaces

Almost every university city has a mosque. Tokyo Mosque (Shibuya) is the largest, with 1000+ people for Jummah. Osaka Mosque, Nagoya Mosque, and Kamakura Mosque are others. Smaller towns have 'Muslim-friendly' rooms.

Ramadan in Japan

Sehri & Iftar

During Ramadan, Tokyo Mosque offers free iftar daily. Osaka Mosque and Nagoya Mosque also host iftar. University Muslim Student Associations (MSA) organize sehri and iftar events.

Work & Study Schedules

Office and class timings don't change during Ramadan in Japan. But professors are generally understanding. I've taken classes during Ramadan — mornings are a bit tiring, but you get used to it.

Honest Trade-offs

Halal food in Japan isn't as abundant as in Bangladesh. Small cities may have no halal meat. Mosques are few. So choose a big city. Ramadan days are long — about 15 hours in Tokyo. But Japan's safety, cleanliness, and discipline make everything easier.

My advice: before you go, collect addresses of mosques and halal stores near your university. Join the university's MSA. Check our pre-departure guide at Inochi Global Education. If you have more questions, contact us.