Flavours of Tokyo: A Journey Through Time - Small Group Food Tour
Recommended by 99% of travelers
Tokyo, Japan
- 5 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Overview
Discover Japan's unique culinary heritage on this small-group food tour. Visit three districts—Nihonbashi, Ginza, and Akihabara—and a diverse array of venues, from izakayas to train stations. Journey through history while sampling 14 dishes representing traditional Edo period cuisine to modern fusion flavors. The tour requires moderate walking and includes a refund policy allowing full refunds if canceled more than 24 hours in advance.
- Discover Tokyo's culinary heritage on a food tour
- Visit diverse eateries, from izakayas to cafes, in 3 districts
- Small-group tour (maximum 9): A more intimate experience
- Learn about Japan's culinary history from your guide
What's Included
- SnacksDashi. Katsuobushi. Kombu. Satsuma-age. Amazake. Imo Kenpi. Daifuku or Dorayaki. Pokemon Taiyaki. Matcha (green tea) bubble tea or ice-cream
- LunchYakitori. Tempura Soba. Tamagoyaki. Fruits Sando
- Alcoholic BeveragesLemon Sour (Japanese alcoholic drink)
- The costs of transport used during the tour are payable by yourself. We take two short subway rides.
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- 1-chōme-4-1 Nihonbashi, Chuo City, Tokyo 103-0027, Japan
Nihonbashi Subway Station Exit B12.
End point
- Akihabara Station1 Chome Sotokanda, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 101-0028, Japan
Operating hours.11:30 am
Itinerary
1
Nihonbashi
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Nihonbashi Bridge (Pass By)
2
Fukutoku Shrine
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
3
Ginza
1 hour 10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
4
Yurakucho
1 hour 10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
5
Tokyo International Forum
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
6
Kitte Marunouchi
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
7
Tokyo Station Marunouchi Ekimae Hiroba
20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
8
Daimaru Tokyo
20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
9
Akihabara
45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- You will be granted a full refund (excluding booking and administration charges) if you cancel more than 24 hours in advance of your tour. There are no refunds if you do not turn up for the tour or if you are late for the tour.
- You will need to be able to walk at a reasonable pace in a group environment and should expect to walk about 6.5 km or 4 miles in total over the 5.5 hours. You will also need to be able to walk up and down a large of number of stairs at subway stations. If you are not able to meet the walking requirement, the small group tour is not suitable for you, please contact us to change to a private tour.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 9 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
This experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If you cancel or ask for an amendment, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
5.0
based on 158 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
d7ztmdjjzp, May 2025
We had Yasu and he was wonderful. Full of knowledge about history of Japan. Engaging and accommodating with little glitches such as one of us forgot our suica pass in hotel and when we got stuck exiting out. Well paced and enjoyable tour. Highly recommend Yasu.
Brian_P, May 2025
The tour and our guide, Yasu were fantastic. You get a great overview of the history of Japan and how food inserted itself into or emerged from different time periods. Was highly enjoyable and considering the length, it wasn't that much walking - but you still get to travel to a variety of neighbourhoods in Tokyo.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Hello! Brian, thank you very much for your review! We are happy to hear that you had a fantastic food tour with Yasu!
Laura_H, Apr 2025
We had a great time navigating through past, current and future. The food was amazing and above all Keiko and fellow tour participants Cory, Andie and Josh were great. We went to food spots that we would have never thought of visiting and most likely would have never found on our own. Keiko was very experienced, knowledgeable and just the sweetest person. We just had a great time!
Steve_S, Mar 2025
This is a bifurcated review. Our tour guide, Keiko, was wonderful. She was knowledgeable, friendly, and really sweet. She shared history and culture well. With that said, the food part was disappointing. The first stop in old Tokyo was good, with a good miso. After that the food was tasteless, very starchy, French fries, a poi-like food, all while standing. First sit down was under a very loud train overpass, a Japanese curry on wobbly small seats, then a sit down with chicken wings and giblet's. I like them so I had a lot to eat, other members of the group did not touch them. Then sweets offered. We were too full for dinner but not satisfied by the tour. I think all members (8) felt this and six of us left early.
I expected this tour to be like other Viator food tours, restaurant to restaurant seated. I think this is Viator related, not related to the tour guide. We have another coming up in Hiroshima, hopefully more to my expectation. The description of the tour by Viator was quite exaggerated.
Response from Host, Mar 2025
Dear Steve,
Thank you for your detailed feedback. We truly appreciate your kind words about Keiko! We're glad to hear she made a positive impression with her knowledge, friendliness, and the cultural insights she shared during the tour.
We’re sorry to hear the food stops didn’t fully meet your expectations. This tour is designed to be a journey through time and culture, with casual, local experiences reflecting everyday Japanese life—from Edo-period snacks to modern izakayas and fusion desserts. We understand that this may differ from traditional seated, restaurant-to-restaurant food tours.
Your comments are valuable, and we’ll take them into account as we continue to refine the experience and clarify expectations.
Warm regards,
Jane and the Hello! Tokyo Tours Team
Chris_G, Jan 2025
I cannot say enough, good things about this food tour. This is coming from a couple who has done food tours around the world in many different major cities. Yasu was our guide and became a dear friend by the end. If you’re reading this and wondering what food to her to pick in Japan, this is the one. The food stops are curated for places that you may not experience in your Japan visit. It’s not just a regurgitation of the ordinary. Nor is it taking you to purely touristy destinations. This is truly deep into the heart of Japan and its flavors. The group is small. We really connected with our travel mates. This is worth every penny.
Response from Host, Jan 2025
Thank you so much for your review! We're absolutely thrilled that you and your partner had such an amazing experience on our food tour with Yasu.
It's incredibly rewarding to hear that our tour stood out among your many global food adventures. We're also delighted you connected with your fellow travelers and that Yasu became a dear friend. Building those connections is a special part of the journey.
We hope to welcome you back to Japan for another adventure soon!
zrgkvzgpwn, Dec 2024
Overall experience was great with a hiccup at the start. The meeting location was a little difficult to find. The location address was given on the e-ticket and on the booking site however, the subway station info (Nihonbashi exit B12) was only on the meeting and pickup link which can be easily missed. Luckily, we got help from a policeman who got us to the bottom floor of the building where the subway station exit was and who should find us was Yasu our tour guide! Yasu was great he new Japan history and culture and was enthusiastic about being able to tell us the information and answer our questions as well as being interested in our own culture and where we came from as the tourists. Most of the food was tasty and others were unique and interesting to try. We also got some recommendations for other food to try on the rest of our trip. The ‘Present’ section to us had the best food and we went back another day to eat at one of the locations again. By the end of the ‘Present’ section you’re pretty much full and wouldn’t be able to eat much more, so during the ‘Future’ section it can seem disappointing as it's a little lite on food but the food style is unique to Japan and works. If I had the money, I would go back to Tokyo just to eat at some of those places again!
Emily_L, Oct 2024
Miko was an incredible guide - she is warm, enthusiastic, and very kind. I liked the size of the group (6) which allowed for conversation among ourselves. There is also a generous amount of food involved considering the price. I also really appreciated getting to know the personal stories behind some of the restaurant owners. Highly recommend this wonderful tour!
Response from Host, Oct 2024
Hello! Emily, thank you for your kind review. We are happy to hear that you had a wonderful time with Miko and the other group as well!
Sharne_T, Oct 2024
We benefitted from the joy and care our guide gave the group. The tour took us to places we never would have gone on our own. We felt welcomed to the city. Thank you.
Response from Host, Oct 2024
Hello! Sharne, thank you very much for your review. We are happy to hear that you enjoyed and felt welcomed to the city by taking the food tour with your tour guide, Paiva.
Crystal_W, Sep 2024
Our guide Keiko was lovely, and we tried so many things that I wouldn’t have thought to try had I not taken this tour. It was wonderful way to taste and learn about the Japanese culture.
Response from Host, Sep 2024
Hello Crystal, thank you for your review. We are happy that you had a wonderful way to taste and learn about Japanese culture with Keiko!
Qiuchen_L, Aug 2024
Our guide, Miko was very Thoughtful and friendly. She took us to many places to Feel Tokyo By having a lot of delicious snacks and iconic foods During such hot weather, I really appreciate that, Highly recommendation !
Response from Host, Aug 2024
Hi Qiuchen, thank you for your review! We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed your food tour with Miko.
Kaylene_B, Jun 2024
My partner and I cannot praise our expert tour guide, Miko, enough for a wonderful and fun time. We greatly enjoyed the tour's theme of the past, present, and future, and Miko prepared a presentation booklet that allowed us to read more about the ingredients, dishes, and even some historical photos. I learned so much about Japanese cuisine from Miko, and we even had the opportunity to meet the owner of a Japanese sweets shop! There is so much to see on this tour, and you'll get to try tasty treats and food like kelp candy, mochi, fruit sandwiches, curry, and taiyaki. When the tour concluded, Miko walked us back to the train station, and she later sent a follow-up email with the photos she had taken of the group and the names of the dishes we had! She's a top-notch, incredibly kind, and attentive tour guide, and again, we had a great time touring the streets of Tokyo. If you want to try out a variety of Japanese food while learning about the country's history and culture, then I 100% recommend this tour to anyone visiting Tokyo!
Response from Host, Jun 2024
Hi Kaylene, thank you very much for your kind review! We are happy to hear that you enjoyed your tour with Miko!
Mike_H, May 2024
The guide Pavia was excellent showing us interesting places and explaining the local culture and food. We had an excellent overview of central Tokyo
Response from Host, May 2024
Hi there Mike! Thank you for your review! We are happy to hear that you enjoyed your tour with Paiva!
Jane_S, May 2024
I was attracted to the theme of past, present and future and was not disappointed. We enjoyed the three areas and variety of foods. Highly recommended!
Response from Host, May 2024
Hey there Jane, thank you very much for your review! We are happy to hear that you enjoyed your tour!
Laure_d, May 2024
Very insightful your with Yasu who is eager to share about Japan history and to learn about his guests. Highly recommended!
Response from Host, May 2024
Hi Laure, thank you very much for your kind review. We are happy to hear that you enjoyed your tour with Yasu!
Sophia_G, Apr 2024
We loved the curry noodles and the onigiri! Walking around and the theme of past, present, and future were great touches as well.
Response from Host, May 2024
Hi Sophia, thank you very much for your kind review! We are happy to hear that you loved the curry noodles and the onigiri!
Linda_D, Mar 2024
Great tour of different areas of Tokyo for authentic local food not found in tourist guides. Guide had great knowledge of Tokyo history and neighborhoods, as well as food. Very enjoyable experience. Would highly recommend.
Tim_S, Feb 2023
Pros:
- Our guide Sidney was excellent, patient, knowledgeable and extremely helpful
- The past/present/future theme was well curated
Cons:
- The tour was very slow and could probably all be achieved in 90mins, rather than 5 hours. As a tourist time is in short supply, and apart from store opening/availability hours, there’s no reason why this tour can’t either be accomplished faster or the amount of venues visited tripled.
- I left quite hungry, which is disappointing for a food tour. Most food options were just “to taste/try/share” rather than to eat. It was odd to share a single food portion with the group, especially because the items themselves are very cheap, some even available from convenience stores
Response from Host, Feb 2023
Dear Tim,
Thank you very much for your feedback of our food tour. It is the first time that we have received an average review and it gave us the opportunity to to reconsider how we run the tour and to think about if we need to make any changes to it.
In the 3 weeks since you wrote the review we have taken 13 groups on this tour. At the end of the tour we asked each of them if they thought we should a) add in more food stops b) change the food stops c) run the tour at a faster speed d) make the tour shorter (cut some things out). With some of the groups we showed them your review and with others we just said ‘we’re thinking of…. adding in more food stops/ speeding up the tour..etc.. what do you think?’
Everyone except one person said they completely full. Several could not finish the last food stop and took it as a ‘take out’ for later. Most of them said that they would be skipping dinner that night. The one person that was not completely stuffed was a 6’7” 170kg NFL player. He said he probably wouldn’t be eating for another 2 hours. On that basis we have decided not to add in any further food stops.
With regards to speed, it would be logistically impossible to run the tour in 90 minutes. Even if you sprinted from stop to stop, cut out all of the stories about the foods and the stores, and ate whilst running. That said we could probably cut off 45 minutes if we did ‘brisk walking’ instead of ‘casual walking’ and ate some of the items ‘on the go’ instead of at the stores. The feedback from all groups was that the tour is well paced at the current 5.5 hours. I would add that when we launched this tour it was 5 hours but we felt that was a little too rushed and so later extended it to the current 5.5 hours.
Your feedback on the sharing of items was valuable and has led to a change. There are 3 items that are shared on this tour, all others are individual portions. Two of the three items are shared because it would not be normal to eat an entire portion oneself. One is a pot of pickles and the other is a bag of candied potato. If someone was to eat an entire pot / bag on their own they would certainly be sick. The third item is a drink. When we designed the tour we thought most people probably wouldn’t like it (but would appreciate trying it). It turns out about 70% of people do like it and your feedback has prompted us to change this from a sharing portion to a full bottle each.
I appreciate that you booked the tour just 3 hours before it started and perhaps didn’t have time to read the tour description in great detail. I am also aware that you had to leave the tour part way through as you wanted to get to another attraction before it closed. This may have contributed to you not being as full as others. That said I also appreciate that we can’t satisfy 100% of people 100% of the time and perhaps this tour just wasn’t your cup of tea. There are much shorter food tours available with other companies which are purely about the food and do not go as deep on the historical and cultural aspects. Our approach is centered around understanding a city and its people through food. That means that we cover three distinct districts of Tokyo, rather than one like others companies, and we include several non food related stops which add to our understanding of the development of Tokyo. This of course leads to a longer tour which is ‘not just a food tour’. Nonetheless your feedback gave us the opportunity to sense check what we are doing and to look for ways we can improve. We are very pleased to have made the change to the drink stop and have you to thank for that. Thanks Tim :)
Franz_B, Sep 2025
Was great. very interesting and at the same time abundant and delicious. Danke Yasu, super Guide. We would book again.
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Response from Host, Sep 2025
Hi Franz, thank you for your kind review! We’re happy to hear you enjoyed your food tour with Yasu. We'll be delighted to accommodate you again!
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