The Real Tokyo Food tour

• • 6 hour guided food tour
  • Experience the sights, smells, and tastes of Tokyo’s biggest department store food hall
  • Brush shoulders with Tokyoites as they go about their business in a traditional Shoutengai
  • Sample an array of Tokyo street foods.
  • Get friendly with the locals at a Japanese standing bar.
  • Try unique food and drinks
  • Experience a traditional Japanese izakaya meal.
  • Visit three distinct neighborhoods not often visited by tourists.

  The tour

  Get a taste of the real Tokyo on this 6-hour culinary tour and experience a wide range of foods and drinks. Forget the tourist hotspots of Shibuya, Harajuku, and Shinjuku, on this tour, you will be eating, drinking and shopping the local way.

  Depachika

  Start the tour by visiting Tokyo’s largest department store food hall and see first hand the gorgeously presented, picture perfect food displays, and sample some of the delicious offerings.

  ‘Shoutengai’ street food

  Then visit one of Tokyo’s best ‘shoutengai’ shopping streets.  Brush shoulders with the locals as they go about their daily lives.  Browse independent shops selling traditional Japanese food and drinks and try classic Tokyo street foods such as dumplings, takoyaki, korokke, tsukemono, karaage and much more.  Jujo’s traditional shoutengai arcade is also a great place to browse for souvenirs. 

  Standing bar and Izakaya experience

  After exploring the traditional shoutengai head to nearby Akabane, an area famous for its relaxed atmosphere and plentiful bars, restaurants, and izakaya.  In Akabane see how Tokyoites relax at one of the area’s raucous standing bars and try some traditional Tokyo bar food, washed down with one of Japan’s unique drinks such as ‘Hoppy‘, Shochu highballs or sake mixed with dashi.  Finally, end the tour the Tokyo way with some sharing plates and drinks at a traditional izakaya.

  You’ll be sure to get a taste of Tokyo’s real food scene on this tour by visiting 3 different and unique areas each with their own atmosphere.  You’ll definitely be full!

  Areas you’ll visit

  Ikebukuro

  One of Tokyo’s major entertainment and dining hubs located 10 minutes from Shinjuku on the Yamanote line. Famous for its huge department stores and its otaku culture, Ikebukuro is often overlooked by visitors.

  Jujo

  A residential neighborhood a few minutes north of Ikebukuro. Jujo is famous for its ‘Shoutengai’ shopping arcade selling everything from second clothes to delicious dumplings.

  Akabane

  An area just north of Ikebukuro and a transport hub, Akabane is famous for its cozy bars and izakaya and oozes retro charm. It’s a popular spot for day or night time drinks and its laid back charm and friendly locals offer a great way to enjoy Tokyo’s food and drink culture.

The Izakaya experience

Izakaya are a quintessential part of Japanese food culture and a trip to Japan would not be complete without a visit to one. What is an izakaya?  Izakaya is often translated as a pub or a tavern which can be misleading. Even so izakaya may be considered part pub and part restaurant and similar to gastro-pub, although with a Japanese twist.  They are basically casual eateries where friends or coworkers gather over drinks and food for a good time.

Dishes in Izakaya

The food might be described as ‘small plates’ and can consist of everything from yakitori to sashimi to fried chicken or pickles and edamame.
Dishes are ordered and shared among everyone therefore allowing everyone to get a taste of everything that is ordered. It’s basically a great where to sample a large variety of dishes accompanied by a cold drink and good conversation.

The Depachika
Depachika or department store food halls are one of the best ways to get an idea of Tokyo’s food scene. These  sprawling depachika, occupying the basement (or sometimes two basements) of Tokyo’s huge department stores, offer everything from exquisite lunchbox’s to artisanal pickles from the freshest seafood to delicate patisseries.  Moreover  a trip to Tokyo wouldn’t be complete without a trip to one if only to see the immaculate $200 melons.

Shoutengai
Shoutengai are Japanese shopping streets, often connecting stations, and are where Tokyoites go to do their daily business. They can be pedestrian avenues or covered arcades but these bustling streets are lined with boutiques, pharmacies, cafes, restaurants and groceries. Furthermore these shopping streets are generally free of the chain stores that can be found throughout the city and are filled with independents and mom and pop shops.

Shoutengai street food

These shopping streets are great street food destinations with a huge array of foods on offer.  You can find a huge array of tasty treats and snacks on a traditional shoutengai.  Typical foods on sale include dumplings, fried chicken, croquttes, meat cutlets, red bean filled pastries, ice cream, yakitori  and much more.  In addition to filling up on street food it is a perfect place to shop for interesting sousvenirs  such as rice crackers, Japanese pickles and green tea.  A trip to a shoutengai also offers a glimpse into the daily lives of  regular Tokyoites as they go about their business..