Tokyo Night Food Tour: Sangenjaya Back Alleys – Izakaya Experience

Tokyo Food Tour

• 4 hour guided night tour
• Experience the back streets of funky Sangenjaya, a neighbourhood not often visited by tourists.
• Try traditional foods such as kushikatsu, charcoal grilled meat, sashimi, grilled fish and more.
• Cook your own okonomiyaki or monjayaki.
• Chat with locals in a tiny standing bar.
• Try traditional Japansese drinks such as sake, hoppy and umeshu.
• Visit three izakayas specially selected by your guide.

The tour

Your guide will take you on an exploration of the back alleys of charming and funky Sangenjaya (5 minutes by metro from Shibuya).  Soak up the atmosphere of this unique local neighborhood rarely visited by tourists. Experience a night out the Japanese way.  During your Sangenjaya adventure you’ll check out the tiny bars in the lantern lit labyrinth of alleys.  Stop by for kushikatsu (deep fried meat, fish and vegetables on skewers) drinks and a chat with the friendly owner at a tiny standing bar.   Visit a teppanyaki restaurant where you’ll learn about and cook your own monjayaki and okonomiyaki. Finally visit a secret sake bar and enjoy a selection of sake, sashimi, and grilled dishes.  Get a real insight into Tokyo’s night life, taste delicious and rare Japanese  food and drinks, chat with locals and experience the charm of a wonderful Tokyo neighborhood.  The smells, tastes and sounds will leave you with unforgettable memory of your trip.

The Izakaya experience

Izakaya are a quintessential part of Japanese drinking culture and a trip to Japan would not be complete without a visit to one. What is an Izakaya? It is hard to define exactly but an Izakaya is often translated as a pub or a tavern.  An Izakaya is part pub and part restaurant and are essentially places where friends or coworkers gather over drinks and food for a good time.  They are located throughout Japan.  

Izakaya food

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. This allows everyone to get a taste of everything that is ordered. It’s therefore a great where to sample a large variety of dishes accompanied by cold beer, hot sake and good conversation.

The yokocho

Yokocho are one of Japan’s best kept food and drink secrets.  Consisting of networks of small alleys crammed with tiny bars, restaurants and izakaya, they offer a unique experience and an insight into Japan’s after dark habits. You will find all walks of life crammed into tiny bars, sharing stories with strangers and the master/mama-san of the bar. These bars are not usually fancy but you’ll find all kinds of delicious food and drink on offer, the clientele friendly and the atmosphere unique.