Holiday in Japan with DS who only eats "safe" food

[Jasper6]

I am looking at a holiday in Japan next year, however my 11 year old DS only eats a very limited range of food due to ADHD and would prefer to starve rather than eat food he is not comfortable with
Does anyone have any advice, or should I just accept he will only eat burgers from McDonald's and sneak some bread and spread he likes into our luggage. Also rule out going to rural parts of the country that will not cater for him? Are there any English shops there with branded English food? Any advice would be great.

What are his safe foods currently?

If he eats plain white rice, you will be better off than if he doesnt

I probably would if his safe foods include plain rice and noodles

DH used to work out there, not in Tokyo but another medium sized city.
He put me off wanting to visit Japan because where he was, it was raw fish, rice and pickled veg for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
I'm sure Tokyo would be much better for your DS though

I lived there (albeit ten years ago). Bread is not the same as here. It's double the size, thickness wise, and sweeter. McDonald's breakfast is the same, can't say about the burgers. International shops where I bough things like olives, taco kits, tea bags, were super expensive. I wouldn't say it's a place your son would be able to find much he likes

Starbucks had cheese and ham toasties though, and they will be even more conveniently located now.

Tokyo has plenty of tourist places with (terrible) pizza and fries. You won’t starve in the city, and in a hotel there will be western breakfast. A tolerance of noodles and rice would be good though.

He does like rice, we could work on the noodles as he does like spaghetti.

He doesn't like pizza unfortunately but does like fries

I was there last week. I had cornflakes for breakfast (from a department store food hall, also got milk-other days we had hotel breakfast buffet)

And lunch could have been tuna sandwiches or chicken wrap (I had a nice pumpkin one in the end)

Dinner would just mean going to more western places for pizza or burger (but I just had boring rice and veggie so partner could eat what he wanted)

My oh is the same we got by on fast food joints for breakfast and lunch and ate out in proper restaurants at night. There was always a fried chicken option. For context he eats KFC and Katsu chicken with rice pretty much everyday so very limited 😞

Even the McDonald’s is different. We managed when my son was a toddler though but only visited cities.

I’m vegetarian, and while I’m not picky, that does severely limit you in Japan if you aren’t willing to overlook bonito flakes. I love European Japanese food, but there are always vegetarian options here, and you aren’t struggling with a menu you can’t read.

I ate a lot of croissants for breakfast, lots of fruit (Japanese fruit is great), and a lot of plain noodles and plain rice. Lots of snacks from the 7/11.

Japanese pasta is not like Italian pasta - I found it quite weird and I’d suggest it might cause more problems than it solves if your DS is expecting a “normal” spaghetti bolognaise and finds himself presented with the Japanese version which tastes “wrong”.

If you can get your son to accept plain ramen, you’ll be fine - my issue was that it was all made with pork stock. But it was widely available.

Thanks to all,

Not sure how to reply directly as I am new to Mumsnet, but have lurked for may years. Thanks for all you responses, very helpful. Looking like McDonald it is, with western breakfasts at hotels. Do you know if you can bring bread and spread into the country in your luggage? This is a one in a life time holiday after years of illness with breast cancer, heart attach and chronic fatigue syndrome. He loves trains (and so does his dad) and often watches youtube videos about Japan. Otherwise we may have to look at a "safer food country" like the US, as he does want to go to Universal for Harry Potter, but I would love to explore Japan it looks like a wonderful country.

Perhaps Canada with the Rocky Mountain train would be easier?

If he likes the look of Japan, and I would as a train lover, it may help him try more food. Even if it is noodles instead of spaghetti. Small victories or still victories.

Chips or wedges are available in every 7/11 also fried chicken if he will eat that. Donuts are similar to what you get here.

In Kyoto we went off to the bamboo forest and there as a train museum there too!

So much for train lovers to do on Japan. I will keep researching

They have vending machines at trim stations and corner shops that have sandwiches. Simple ones like white bread and cheese, white bread and cucumber and floury buns with margarine/butter plus the more unusual fillings (to us) of strawberries, and pickled veg.

Japan ? .................. Oh yes :)

https://www.youtube.com/@LifeWhereImFrom/videos ( a favourite YT channel )

I hope you can stay for a few weeks, its a long way to travel.

I am also veggie (and not fish included). I am hoping to go to Japan in 2025 - and dont speak the language at all. Do you have any more tips! (My prospective trip is reminding me a little bit of when I travelled to work in Poland in 1990 for 3 weeks - my large suitcase was stuffed full (by my mum) with nuts & seeds. I was very spoiled by the local hotel - just opposite the Russian embassy - the other members of the team - all meat eaters - were very jealous of my boiled egg & pancakes on Sunday!!). But I will be travelling much lighter this time!

Ha, I need to quote to reply directly to someone. Yes planning 3 weeks.

There are a number of apps which can suggest veggie/other diet related food outlets based on location. Happy Cow is quite useful and I've used it when in Japan. Its also useful to have a couple of politely worded key phrases handy - mainly "no bonito flakes please" and "vegetarian, no fish but eat eggs and dairy".

Tofu and eggs are common, dairy less so. There are entire restaurants devoted to Japanese food based around tofu and even in rural areas they could cater if warned in advance. I've had some amazing veggie meals in Japan.
In the major tourist areas there are also western style restaurants but if I wanted something quick and cheaper there was always ramen with tofu or eggs or veg okonomiyake (but remember to tell them to hold the bonito!).

I’ll be honest, 3 weeks is a long time for a kid without their safe foods.

But if you do go, then the Kyoto Railway Museum is beyond world class.
https://www.kyotorailwaymuseum.jp/

The kids bento boxes there are train themed.

Work on noodles in broth then you are made, will he eat grilled meat? You can always get that and plain rice. Western food is available in cities but a few months of preparation will make your lives easier. Japanese culture is fashionable so it's a pretty good hook to get him to try things gradually

We went a few years ago with then 7yo DD before she was diagnosed as auDHD. She lost a bit of weight when we were there but it wasn't an issue. McDonalds is easily available. Also we found porridge oats were a good staple. You can get hold of bread. 7 11 and vending machines are everywhere. I am veggie which was more difficult. I was able to avoid things with chunks of meat but fish or meat stock is pretty much unavoidable....