Old Town Tokyo Food Tour
Description
Our tour will take you through the charming area of Yanaka, filled with nostalgia and rustic charm. Our tour will offer you a sightseeing opportunity different from the “big city” feel of other parts of Tokyo. Yanaka was one of the few areas that survived the Great Kanto Earthquake and Fire of 1923 and was spared the Allied fire bombings during WWII. An afternoon stroll down the tiny side streets that dissect the area south of Nippori Station will highlight the diversity of craft still being produced in the area: textiles, ink prints, wood carvings, traditional cuisines, stationery, pottery, jewelry, and much more. You will have the chance to try local street snacks, stop by shops that are over 100 years old, see local shrines and temples and enjoy a regional and seasonal lunch, before ending with a traditional tea ceremony with Wagashi (traditional Japanese sweet). By the end of this lovely tour, you will have tried a lot of different Japanese dishes and drinks that locals LOVE!
Tour Options
Itinerary
Meet your guide here! And then start a 3-hour food tour of Tokyo’s Yanaka (Yanesen) District.
Tennō-ji
Kyōōji Temple
Yūyake Dandan
Visit small shops with history and try local specialties.
Yanaka Cemetery Park
Okakura Tenshin Memorial Park
A 3-hour food tour of Tokyo’s Yanaka (Yanesen) District: Get insights into local life and Japanese culture from a local English speaking guide, enjoy a regional lunch using the best seasonal ingredients and finish up with a traditional tea ceremony & Wagashi.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Children must be accompanied by an adult. Passport information copy is required for kids 10 and above.
- Family-friendly
- Changes to tours and spots we visit may occur due to schedules of restaurants, public holidays, weather conditions and other unforeseen circumstances. Applicable substitutions will be made in this case.
- Vegan, Vegetarian, Pescetarian, Gluten-Free friendly
Reviews(66)
Jane took us shopping and bought sushi and prepared a picnic for us. She even hustled for a table when she thought some others were gonna take it. So we were able to sit down in the shade. Jane was one of our best guides and spoke very good English.
It’s wonderful to hear you had such an enjoyable experience with Jane! Her thoughtfulness, energy, and attention to detail truly help make each tour special. We’re so glad you enjoyed the picnic and appreciated her efforts to ensure you had a comfortable place to relax and enjoy the food. Thank you for your kind words about her guidance and communication. We’ll be sure to share them with Jane!
This was a disappointing tour, especially considering the cost. We were 2 hours into the “FOOD” tour and the only thing we had to eat was a rice cookie. Me and my wife were both starving at that point. Part of the reason was a traditional tea ceremony that lasted about an hour. It was very nice but This wasn’t listed specifically on the itinerary. If it was then I wouldn’t have booked another tea ceremony later in my trip. Lunch was at a sushi restaurant but the table arrangements broke up the group so there wasn’t an opportunity to continue to get to know new friends met. While the guide was sweet, she was short on sharing information on the neighborhood or about different foods. In summary: - rice cookie - matcha tea and cookie - sushi - fried beef patty - beer - pasty.
Our tour was fantastic. Our guide, Miki (?) spoke excellent English and was very knowledgeable about the area. We had lovely food, a beautiful tea ceremony and visited some great old shops and temples. But but we were mostly blown away by the walk around the area and hearing about its history, culture etc. We would highly recommend this tour. Thank you.
We're so glad you had such a fantastic experience and enjoyed the beautiful mix of food, tea, historic shops, and beautiful temples. It's especially lovely to hear that the deeper history and cultural insights were able to make such a strong impression, it's this side of Japan that can make it so magical. We truly appreciate your recommendation and are delighted you had such a memorable tour! Thank you so much for joining us!
This review is a long time coming. I did a private tour of Yanaka and it was lovely from start to finish. My guide, Satoko, was very personable. I was fascinated by both the history of Yanaka and contemporary Japanese culture overall. She was happy to answer my questions and was so much fun to talk to as we strolled through the streets of this quaint neighborhood. Often, tours can take you to shops that are tourist traps, but that wasn't the case here. Every shop and vendor we visited clearly was a staple to the local community. I mentioned to Satoko that I was hoping to buy a couple bottles of aged sake for my husband and she went out of her way to help me find a local store and communicated with the shopkeeper what I was looking for. I highly recommend this tour for people looking to see a side of Tokyo often overlooked.
Thank you so much for sharing such a thoughtful and detailed review! We’re delighted to hear your private Yanaka tour with Satoko was such a lovely experience from beginning to end. Yanaka’s unique blend of history and everyday local culture makes it such a special area to explore, and it’s wonderful that Satoko’s personable nature and knowledge helped bring it all to life for you. We especially appreciate hearing that the experience felt authentic, with meaningful visits to true local staples rather than typical tourist spots. This is something we absolutely pride ourselves on, so learning that this came through for you on your tour truly means a lot to us! Satoko will be so happy to know her extra effort in helping you find the perfect aged sake for your husband made such a difference. Creating personal, memorable experiences like that is another thing that we always hope to do for everyone! Thank you again for your kind recommendation. We’re so glad you discovered this often-overlooked side of Tokyo and hope to welcome you back for another special off-the-beaten-path adventure in the future!
First day in Japan and decided to do this food tour instead of joining friends at Disney Japan. It was wonderful getting to know the area and getting a wonderful introduction to Japanese food. Lots of good information was given on the tour.
We're so happy you chose our food tour for your first day in Japan! It's wonderful to hear that you enjoyed exploring the area and getting a great introduction to Japanese cuisine. We're so glad that the tour provided you with lots of helpful insights along the way.
We had an incredible time exploring Yanaka with Jacob. We learnt to much about the area and the food. The tea ceremony was an absolute highlight! We’ll never forget the amazing hospitality of everyone we met on the tour. Thank you for making our honeymoon trip so special! A brilliant tour!
We're so happy to hear you had an incredible time exploring Yanaka with Jacob! It's wonderful that the tea ceremony stood out and that the hospitality made your honeymoon extra special. Thank you for sharing this experience with us, we're thrilled the tour created such brilliant memories for you both!
Paul and I would just like to say how much we enjoyed our tour today in Nippori ( Tokyo) Our host, Makki, was exceptional She organised food for us without any issues, which was not easy as we are both vegetarians She was knowledgeable and happy to help with all our questions The tour was well organised , with just the right number of people ( 6 inc a young lady from your HR office) The tea ceremony was lovely without being too formal but again was really informative Paul and Julie Whitehouse from England
Paul and Julie, thank you so much for sharing your experience! We're delighted to hear that your Nippori tour was so enjoyable and that Makki could accommodate your vegetarian needs seemlessly. She really enjoyed sharing her knowledge of the area, the local food, and Japanese culture with you. It's wonderful that the tour felt well-placed and informative, and that the tea ceremony was both enjoyable and insightful without being too formal. We're also glad the small group size helped make the experience personal and comfortable. Knowing that the combination of food, culture, and guidance left such a positive impression means so much. Your kind words will be shared with Makki, and we hope it encourages future guests to explore Nippori in the same memorable way you did.
We had a very enjoyable food tour of Yanaka with Michie and Joshua from Arigato Travel Tours. They were very warm and friendly and they shared a lot of interesting local history, including what to say at Japanese meals and information about the area’s shrines and temples, one or two of which we were able to visit along our walk. We tried senbei at Yanaka Senbei, beef and mushroom croquettes from Niku no Suzuki, yuzu sake at Echigoya Honten (a must), cream cheese & sweet bean paste bread and other baked goods at Hitotema bakery, fresh cherries (so different from Western cherries), matcha kakigori and the most amazing sweet potatoes, among other great snacks and street food. Lunch at a local soba restaurant was included, but the most memorable part of the experience was the tea ceremony at Gallery Okubo. This tour is definitely a highlight of our stay in Tokyo. Thank you so much, Arigato Travel Tours!
Thank you so much for this beautiful review! We're so happy to hear that your experience in Yanaka with Michie and Joshua was both delicious and enriching. They really do love sharing the quieter, more historic side of Tokyo, and it sounds like you were able to embrace every aspect of this, from the unique snacks and seasonal produce to the cultural insights and peaceful shrines. We're especially glad that the tea ceremony at Gallery Okubo stood out for you, it's such a special moment in the tour and one we're proud to include. Michie and Joshua will be thrilled to hear all of your kind words, and we know it meant a lot of them to guide such a curious and engaged group. Thank you for being open to trying everything from yuzu sake to sweet potatoes, and for appreciating all of the charm Yanaka has to offer. Your thoughtful reflection truly means a lot to us, and we hope to welcome you back on another adventure with us someday!
A fantastic Wallking tour in. Old Town Yanaka with Makiko. We were the only couple and Makiko took us to some great food experiences plus many out of the way places. A great tour which I would recommend. Regards Kay and Peter
Had a great day sampled a lot of different foods loverly guide very knowledgable Melissa was our guide would recommend tour
So glad you had a great day exploring with Melissa! She's wonderful at sharing hidden gems and tasty bites, thank you for the kind words!