JAPAN
Japan's classics.
The 15 most popular food & drink tours in Japan. What each one is really like, who runs it, and what you will pay.
3-hour Tsukiji Fish Market food tour: Wagyu skewers, uni and tuna sightings, and sushi or a seafood bowl with a local guide.
“Amazing tour with knowledgeable guide speaking good English. Tour gives good experience and knowledge about the traditions and culture, customs of Japan”
Osaka Shinsekai food tour: 13–15 dishes at 5 spots in 3 hours. Takoyaki, kushikatsu, gyoza, tonpeiyaki plus 2 drinks.
“It's the first tour I've ever taken like this. So I thought it was very nice. Lots of good info given by the guide and she was extremely friendly, willing to answer questions about anything.”
Walk Shinsekai for 13 Osaka dishes at 5 local spots, led by an English-speaking guide, with 2 drinks and fun culture stops in 3 hours.
“It was a very nice and informative tour. We got to eat some great foods at Osaka, and our tour guide--Mari--was such an encyclopedia of knowledge when it came to the history of the region and the foods we were eating.”
3-hour Shinjuku food crawl with a local guide, up to 13 dishes, 4 eateries, and nightlife vibes through Golden Gai, Omoide Yokocho, Kabukicho.
“Our tour was excellent!! We walked through different sections of Shinjuku and ate a lot of interesting food. Our guide was the informative, engaging and sprinkled in just enough humour. We had a great group from all over the world and spent 3 1/2 hours eating and drinking. A great way to end our day.”
Small-group izakaya tour of Shinjuku with 14+ tastings, 3 drink choices, and neon-night wandering through Golden Gai and Omoide Yokocho.
“Absolutely enjoyed it. Taiga brought us truly interesting local places. He was very informative. Really had a great time! We also appreciated that he made special arrangements for our two vegetarian friends. Would love to do this again when we go back”
Kyoto night food and sake in Gion. Small-group walk through backstreets, 9+ dishes, and 6 sake tastings for a full meal experience.
“J is a great tour guide! He is super knowledgeable about Kyoto, especially the Gieko districts and the local architecture. He provided great recommendations and conversation. He was the reason the tour was really fun! Thanks, J!”
Hungry Osaka street food tour through Shinsekai: 15+ tastings and 3 drinks in 3 hours with a local guide and a Tsutenkaku walk.
“I would highly recommend this trip. We went to places which I probably wouldn’t have found by myself. Tim, our guide was amazing. I was also lucky with my group- I had a really nice cozy group. I could have happily spent a couple more hours with them.”
Walk Tsukiji’s temples and markets with a local guide, tasting fresh street food at your own pace for $30.
“Fun introduction to fish market food stalls along with a visit to a beautiful local shrine. Really enjoyed Shino’s guidance”
A full-day Nagano mix of Zenko-ji, sake tasting, and Jigokudani snow monkeys, with lunch and winter-ready guidance.
“Although there is alot of walking on snow in winter, don’t let it put you off. You can purchase crampons at the gate which gives you better grip if it’s icy. The whole tour was exceptional. Jens and the team managed 40 of us will no probelms, keRead more”
Ueno’s standing bars and ramen, guided by an English-speaking local with food tastings and drinks in about 3 hours.
“A brilliant experience with Aki! We had wonderful evening and it was such a great start to our trip in Japan! Not only did we have great food but local knowledge and hot spots we wouldn't have known about otherwise Can't recommend enough! Jaapppaaannnn!!!!!”
Learn sake basics at the historic Gekkeikan Okura Museum, then taste 10 sakes with otsumami pairings and label tips in Kyoto.
“The tour included a guided tour of the Gekkeikan Sake museum. Then, a guided tasting in the museum's tasting room. Then another tasting at a nearby restaurant. The sake was all very distinct and tasty. I enjoyed learning about brewing and food pairing. I would recommend this experience and probably do it again myself!”
A Kyoto walking tour through the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Okochi Sanso garden, Tenryuji Temple, and Iwatayama Monkey Park, with two options.
“Best tour ive been on so far. Interesting and stunning scenery. Would highly reccomend. Guide was interesting and instructions were easy.”
Zenko-ji, local bites, sake tasting, and hot-spring snow monkeys at Jigokudani from Nagano or Hakuba, guided with lunch.
“Everything about this trip exceeded expectations. From the temple to the food to the monkeys. The guides knowledge was amazing.”
Shibuya Crossing, Hachiko, Dogenzaka izakaya bites, and Center-gai dessert. 13 dishes in 3 hours with a small-group guide.
“First the positives. The food was VERY good and plentiful. Good selection of dishes and the guide did a good job arranging for accommodations for a couple people in our group. He also texted several recommendations for places to eat in other cities at the end of the night. The food was not the issue.…”
Guided Tokyo Tsukiji Outer Market food tour with Wagyu skewers, sushi or seafood bowl, tamagoyaki, fruit, and culture lessons.
“Tadashi was great! He helped me find places I wouldn't have alone, gave great recommendations for places to go, gave a wonderful history lesson, taught me proper shrine etiquette, and was very pleasant and personable. Worth it for sure 😊”
