Tokyo is famous for its technology, Anime, and video games, but it’s also one of the best foodie cities in the world.
From fresh seafood and ramen, the food scene has a healthy respect for tradition while still honoring experimentation and the fact that it has such a multicultural population. However, there are SO many eateries that it’s hard to find some of the best ones outside of touristy locations.
That’s why I’ve decided to carefully select the 7 top Tokyo food fours – all the food tours in Tokyo that are well worth your time and money! Let’s jump right in!
Be sure to see our reviews of Mt Fuji Day Trips, Mario Cart Tours and Sumo Experiences.
Best Food Tours in Tokyo
| Best of Shibuya Food Tour | Izakaya Food Tour in Shinjuku | Shibuya Bar Hopping Night Food Walking Tour in Tokyo | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Location: | 2 Chome-1 Dogenzaka, Shibuya City, Tokyo 150-0043 | 1-chōme-2-1 Kabukichō, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 160-0021 | Japan, 150-0042 Tokyo, Shibuya City, Udagawachō, 21６, Q Front, 1F | |
| Start: | 4:00 PM | 5:00 PM | 6:00 or 7:00 PM | |
| Duration: | 3 hours | 3.5 hours | 3 hours | |
| Includes: | Local guide, One drink included, 5 Food Stops, Dessert included | Guide, 7 different dishes at 3 izakayas, alcoholic beverages, small-group tour | 3 drinks & 4 dishes, 3 local izakaya bars with a local guide, Photos during the tour | |
Quick Answer: The 7 Best Tokyo Food Tours For 2024
- Best of Shibuya Food Tour
- Izakaya Food Tour in Shinjuku
- Shibuya Bar Hopping Night Food Walking Tour in Tokyo
- Shibuya All You Can Eat Food Tour Best Experience By Local Guide
- Shinjuku Omoide Yokocho, Kabukicho and Golden Gai Food Tour
- Tsukiji Fish Market Food and Culture Walking Tour
- Tokyo by Night: Japanese Food and Drinks Experience
Best Tokyo Food Tour Reviews
1. Best of Shibuya Food Tour
- Duration: 3 hours
- Departure: 2 Chome-1 Dogenzaka, Shibuya City, Tokyo 150-0043
- Departure Time: 4:00 PM
- Includes: Local guide, One drink included, 5 Food Stops, Dessert included
My first time in Tokyo was such a whirlwind, with seemingly endless activities to partake in, and so much to see! Pair that with the fact that I speak very limited Japanese, and I was grateful that this next tour existed.
The Best of Shibuya Food Tour took us on an adventure right through one of the city’s most lively, popular neighborhoods and taught us all about Japanese cuisine!
We met our guide right in the middle of Shibuya, and they instantly put me at ease with their calm and friendly personality along with their clear expertise on the subject.
I’d seen a bit of Shibuya before, but this was a much more immersive experience that felt like I had a friend leading the way.
Through the bustling streets and hidden alleyways, the vibe from the people and smell of delicious food wafting through the air was enough to make me completely enamored with this area.
We went to 5 different food stops, we were able to enjoy a nice selection of national dishes, from Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki, to various fresh sushi, yakitori skewers, and more!
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We went through a maze of eateries at an underground food hall, which made it feel like we were in some sort of movie!
Of course, no visit to Shibuya is complete without seeing the famous crossing, which reminded me a lot of New York City’s Time Square!
As we ended around 7 pm, it was the perfect time to enjoy the local nightlife afterward, with plenty of cool recommendations from our guide! It was a fantastic way to acquire a solid understanding of national cuisine, as he told us all about the different regions.
I highly recommend it if you’re looking for some background on Japan, tons of fun, and even more good food!
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
Other Experiences You May Enjoy:
2. Izakaya Food Tour in Shinjuku
- Duration: 3.5 hours
- Departure: 1-chōme-2-1 Kabukichō, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 160-0021
- Departure Time: 5:00 PM
- Includes: Guide, 7 different dishes at 3 izakayas, alcoholic beverages, small-group tour
When it comes to food tours, I feel like the only way to really enjoy the full experience is for it to be in a small-group setting.
That’s the case with the Izakaya Food Tour in Shinjuku, where your group is limited to a maximum of 20 participants for a customized, intimate experience.
Known for its entertainment district, there are tons of restaurants and bars within Shinjuku worth visiting, and your guide will take you to the best of the best.
Shinjuku is a place I hadn’t yet really seen yet, but I was very interested and intimidated by the nightlife scene there.
Our guide instantly made me feel more comfortable exploring the area, taking us to many cool, neon-lit locales that made me feel like I knew exactly what I was doing.
We had a pretty small group, but that was also the perfect opportunity to chat and get to know other travelers who were new to the area.
After our initial meeting, we then went to a few different local izakayas in the neighborhood, which is essentially skewers and small cuts of meat, fresh seafood, and veggies, along with bigger “signature” dishes.
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Our guide explained it all to us, as well as plenty of sashimi, gyozas, sake, beer, and even some “special” cocktail drinks that were so delicious and refreshing.
Our guide did a fantastic job answering any and all questions that we had in a patient and friendly way.
I had a fantastic time walking through the downtown area known as “Kabukicho”, which is all of Tokyo’s biggest and most vibrant district for entertainment.
You’ll find everything from prehistoric reptiles to neon samurai shows, so expect the unexpected! If you’re looking for a fun time all while learning about and trying new food, this is definitely the tour for you!
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
3. Shibuya Bar Hopping Night Food Walking Tour in Tokyo
- Duration: 3 hours
- Departure: Japan, 150-0042 Tokyo, Shibuya City, Udagawachō, 21６, Q Front, 1F
- Departure Time: 6:00 or 7:00 PM
- Includes: 4 drinks & 3 dishes or 3 drinks & 4 dishes, enough for a full dinner meal. (Vegan menu available), Hopping 3 local izakaya bars with a local guide, Photos during the tour
I always recommend this tour to those who are visiting Tokyo for the first time or those who are short on time and want to maximize their sightseeing and eating!
After all, I was able to try tons of bars I would’ve otherwise never even experienced without this tour! The Shibuya Bar Hopping Night Food Walking Tour in Tokyo is perfect for everyone with just about any type of diet, including vegetarian and vegan!
This thrilling adventure is a few hours full of cultural immersion and discovery of new foods, led by a knowledgeable guide who is a local to the area.
Ours was very passionate and full of fun facts about the different areas and dishes, and clearly knew the best places to go to!
I had no idea just how dynamic the food culture was here, and we were able to try everything from savory yakitori skewers and rich bowls of hot ramen to crispy tempura and fresh sushi.
This was so much fun, being able to go through all kinds of cool eateries highlighted with neon signs, and some of them were even in a kind of underground labyrinth!
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Most of the bars were izakaya-style, which are basically devoid of tourists and served some of the most amazing food and drinks I’d ever tried in my life. My favorite part may have been the entire floor of a massive building that is filled with various bars and pubs – no tourist traps in sight.
Our guide was so sweet and made sure we made plenty of stops for photos and videos, including a stop at the world-famous Shibuya crossing!
If you’re looking for a fun way to fill up your schedule or want an exciting alternative to dinner at just one restaurant, this is it! Our guide even included plenty of recommendations for us to try over the next couple of days, completely transforming our trip!
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
4. Shibuya All You Can Eat Food Tour Best Experience By Local Guide
- Duration: 4 hours
- Departure: 2 Chome-1 Dogenzaka, Shibuya City, Tokyo 150-0043
- Departure Time: 11:00 AM or 5:00 PM
- Includes: Sushi, yakiniku, chicken karage , takoyaki, 2 soft drinks and water, Desserts, City walking & culture tour, Professional guide.
The busy streets of Shibuya can be a bit intimidating to navigate, even if you’re native to the area! As tourists, it can be a bit stressful if you don’t know what you’re doing, so it’s a huge relief having a local guide lead the way.
With the Shibuya All You Can Eat Food Tour Best Experience by Local Guide, you’ll get to appreciate every corner of the iconic neighborhood in a way where you don’t have to worry about where you’re going.
This is the longest tour of all of those I’ve curated for this guide, as it does offer a bit more in regards to the walking and culture tour.
With that being said, be prepared for quite a bit of eating and walking, so put on a pair of comfy walking shoes and bring a jacket as it can get chilly at night!
With a small-group tour setting of no more than 10 participants allowed, this intimate tour makes it feel like you’re just cruising around with a little group of friends.
We met up with our guide right in Shibuya, which was luckily easy to find and we set off onto Shibuya 109 which is a local street known for its amazing food!
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Not only that, but many fashion trends start here so you can count on many young fashionistas cruising the streets for the newest trends.
It’s all very interesting and unique to Tokyo, with our guide offering us educational commentary about the area to understand the culture a bit better.
We also headed into a hidden alley that many locals frequent thanks to the cool bars and restaurants found here, though I realized very few tourists actually knew about it! We then took photos at Shibuya crossing, which is the busiest crossing in the entire country!
All of this and we got to try delicious food while chatting about Japanese culture – not a bad way to spend an evening!
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
5. Shinjuku Omoide Yokocho, Kabukicho and Golden Gai Food Tour
- Duration: 3 hours
- Departure: 1-chōme-2-6 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 160-0023
- Departure Time: 5:00 PM
- Includes: Local guide, two drinks included, 4 food stops
Shinjuku Golden Gai is a legendary district made up of various passageways lined with hundreds of little shanty-type bars, clubs, and restaurants packed together.
It’s a place unlike any other in the entire world, with ramshackle buildings and dimly-lit walking areas that look a bit “scruffy” but are absolutely amazing! The Shinjuku Omoide Yokocho, Kabukicho and Golden Gai Food Tour cover all that and much more!
This tour offers one of the most unique opportunities to see Golden Gai, which for some reason I’ve noticed is not commonly covered in Tokyo food tours.
With its cozy bars and narrow alleyways, it is like a journey back in time to the “old” Tokyo, which is really cool to see. After all, you can’t truly appreciate the present-day until you know where its culinary heritage begins!
After meeting up with our guide, we made our first stop at Omoide Yokocho which features bars that have stayed essentially the same for nearly 100 years!
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We then made our way to Kabukicho, which is not only the biggest Red Light District in Asia, but is also known as the safest. In Kabukicho, we took a break to try two different dishes – my favorite being a bowl full of savory ramen!
Once in Golden Gai I was completely in love with the lively environment, with locals who were surprisingly very friendly and welcoming to our group.
We sipped on some tasty drinks and tried a few different dishes before we stopped at a karaoke bar and had a ton of fun! This is one of my favorite tours I’ve ever taken anywhere, so if you want my advice, just sign up now!
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
6. Tsukiji Fish Market Food and Culture Walking Tour
- Duration: 3 hours
- Departure: 3-chōme-15-1 Tsukiji, Chuo City, Tokyo 104-8435
- Departure Time: 8:30 AM
- Includes: Local professional guide, food, snacks
This next tour is quite a bit different than any other on this guide, starting with the fact that it departs in the morning! The Tsukiji Fish Market Food and Culture Walking Tour is an adventure that highlights all kinds of fascinating finds!
Tsukiji market had been operating for nearly 100 years and was built to replace the older market before it that was destroyed by a massive earthquake.
While the inner market has since been moved, the outer market is still around in the same location and is right next to the opulent Ginza area that’s also fun to explore.
This is a great opportunity to see inside the famous site, where you’ll get to learn about its history and why so many of the country’s top chefs come here daily to purchase the highest-quality ingredients around.
I’ve seen some seriously eye-opening things here – things that you probably won’t be able to find anywhere else in the world!
We started by meeting our guide in from of the Tsukiji Honganji Temple gate early in the morning, heading to the biggest fish market in the country.
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We learned how many Michelin-star restaurants in Tokyo source their ingredients from here, and it’s easy to see why. We walked around, sampling all kinds of traditional Japanese foods, like fried fish cakes and Katsuobushi, as well as some drinks.
There are so many little food stands and shops to purchase from, that if you haven’t gotten souvenirs already, this is the perfect place to snap some up.
Our guide was so knowledgeable about the market itself, as well as the local food, that you’ll gain a whole new appreciation for Japanese culture. With tons of good eats, lots of learning, and lots of laughing, this is a truly special experience I feel everyone should have!
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
7. Tokyo by Night: Japanese Food and Drinks Experience
- Duration: 3.5 hours
- Departure: 4-chōme-6-16 Ginza, Chuo City, Tokyo 104-8212
- Departure Time: 5:00 PM
- Includes: Local guide, 3 local food tastings and 2 drinks, 2 subway tickets
Last but certainly not least, is the Tokyo by Night: Japanese Food and Drinks Experience tour! It’s one of the more affordable experiences of its kind, immersing you into the mesmerizing allure of the city at night.
Led by expert guides who are passionate about their city and its cuisine, it will take you through bustling streets from Shinjuku to the sophisticated neighborhood of Ginza with a delicious array of delicacies!
We met up with our guide at Yurakucho Station which was easy to find, answering our questions and offering a briefing of what to expect before we got started.
We strolled through Yakitori Alley, which is filled with more casual restaurants offering savory yakitori skewers. You have to try it in the housemade sauce for maximum tastiness with a sake to wash it all down with!
After that, we explored around some more, taking in all the sights and sounds of Tokyo’s exciting nightlife scene before arriving in Monja Street.
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Here, we tried the famous type of fried pancake called “monjayaki”, which I instantly fell in love with. I’m a huge fan of pancakes and French toast, and I would love to have something like this for brunch (or really, any hour of the day).
When we got to Ginza, I was super excited as it was filled with so much going on, from top-notch clubs to more local restaurants and fun shops to grab souvenirs at.
Our tour guide did a great job at telling us about the history behind the different places, though I did wish we would’ve visited a stop or two more for food. Overall, it was a wonderful night out with a local who knew the city like the back of his hand!
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
Foods Tasted
Tour Guides
Value
The Best of Shibuya Food Tour is our Editors Choice for the best Tokyo food tour.
