Taste of Tokyo: Private 6-Hour Food & Drink Adventure

Sampling food at Tokyo's biggest department store food hall

Trying sake in a liquor store on Jujo's famous shopping street.

Delicious grilled chicken at a Robatayaki restaurant in Akabane

Trying melon bread and enjoying street beers in Jujo

Meeting the locals in an Akabane standing bar

Cooking shabu shabu in an Akabane izakaya.

Duration6h

Free cancellationFull refund up to 24 hours before

Instant confirmationYour booking is confirmed right away

TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted

LanguagesJapanese, English

Private tourOnly your group will participate

Overview

Discover three fascinating sides of Tokyo on a private six-hour food and drink adventure, far from the usual tourist crowds.

- Explore Ikebukuro's dazzling depachika, filled with beautifully presented Japanese delicacies.
- Wander through Jujo's traditional shopping streets, discovering family-run businesses and local neighbourhood life.
- Sample delicious street food, including onigiri, takoyaki, freshly made gyoza and regional specialities.
- Discover hidden food shops, traditional ingredients and unique Japanese treats.
- Experience Akabane's lively, retro drinking culture in an authentic standing bar.
- Grill your own Japanese barbecue in a cosy neighbourhood restaurant.
- Enjoy fresh sashimi, grilled seafood and sake in a lively local favourite.
- Meet local characters and hear the stories behind the places you visit.
- Enjoy a relaxed, fully private experience with all food and drinks included.

Three neighbourhoods, countless flavours and a genuine taste of everyday Tokyo.

What's included

Visits to three distinct local neighbourhoods
Private six-hour guided food and drink experience
All food and drinks enjoyed during the tour, including alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages
Personalised experience tailored to your group's tastes and interests
Local insights, cultural explanations and introductions to neighbourhood businesses
Street food, Japanese barbecue, sashimi and grilled seafood
Japanese food tastings in the depachika and Jujo shopping streets
Visit to a traditional Japanese standing bar

Gratuities
Transportation to/from attractions

What to expect

Ikebukuro
30m

Begin your food adventure in one of Ikebukuro's incredible depachika, the bustling food halls found in the basements of Japanese department stores. Explore a dazzling array of beautifully presented Japanese delicacies, from traditional sweets and freshly prepared savoury dishes to seasonal specialities and gourmet treats. Discover the importance of food presentation and gift-giving in Japanese culture while sampling delicious bites and learning about ingredients and flavours you might never encounter on your own.
Jujo Ginza Shopping Arcade
2h 30m · Admission ticket included

Hop aboard a local train for a short journey to Jujo, a lively, traditional Tokyo neighbourhood far from the usual tourist trail. Wander through its bustling shotengai (shopping streets) and hidden side streets, discovering family-run shops and delicious everyday Japanese food. Sample local favourites such as freshly made onigiri, crispy fried snacks, takoyaki and handmade gyoza, including a visit to a wonderful father-and-daughter shop where the same cooking pan has been used for over 50 years. Enjoy Japanese craft beer from a neighbourhood liquor store and explore speciality shops selling regional foods, green tea, miso and traditional Japanese tableware. A wonderfully authentic taste of everyday Tokyo life.
45m

Arrive in Akabane, one of Tokyo's most colourful and characterful drinking districts, and step inside a traditional tachinomi (standing bar). Rub shoulders with local regulars as you enjoy Japanese drinks and classic bar snacks in a lively, wonderfully unpretentious atmosphere. Discover the unique customs of Tokyo's old-school drinking culture, where standing shoulder to shoulder, sharing a few drinks and enjoying simple, delicious food is all part of the experience. A fascinating glimpse into everyday Japanese life that most visitors never get to see.
1h

Continue through Akabane's lively backstreets to Silk Road, a colourful stretch of tiny restaurants and local drinking spots. Pull up a stool in a cosy Japanese barbecue restaurant and grill delicious cuts of meat over glowing charcoal right at your table. Enjoy ice-cold beer or refreshing Japanese sours as you soak up the sizzling aromas, friendly chatter and wonderfully informal atmosphere. A chance to slow down, relax and experience the warm hospitality and distinctive character of Tokyo's neighbourhood dining culture.
1h

Continue your food adventure at a lively local seafood restaurant specialising in fresh sashimi, grilled fish and shellfish. Discover the incredible variety of Japanese seafood, from familiar favourites to more unusual specialities such as grilled tuna jaw and creamy sea urchin croquettes, depending on availability. Enjoy your dishes alongside Japanese sake or fragrant umeshu (plum liqueur), soaking up the warm, bustling atmosphere of this neighbourhood favourite. A delicious finale to your journey through Tokyo's diverse food culture.
15m

Finish your adventure with a leisurely stroll through Akabane's atmospheric backstreets, passing glowing lanterns, tiny bars and bustling neighbourhood restaurants. If time allows, enjoy one last sweet treat, perhaps a traditional Japanese confection from a local shop or a fun discovery from a Japanese convenience store. Your private guide will accompany you back to JR Akabane Station, help with directions for your onward journey and say goodbye after a memorable six hours exploring Tokyo's everyday food and drinking culture.

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point

Meet your guide in front of the ticket gates at Central Gate 1 of JR Ikebukuro Station. Please make sure you head to Central Gate 1, as Ikebukuro is a large, busy station with several ticket gates and exits. Your guide will be waiting outside the ticket gates.

End point

Your guide will drop you off at JR Akabane station after the tour.

Additional information

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
This is a fully private six-hour experience, with a relaxed pace tailored to your group's interests and preferences.
Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
The tour begins at JR Ikebukuro Station and finishes at JR Akabane Station.
A moderate amount of walking is involved so comfortable foot wear is recommended
Participants must be at least 20 years old to consume alcohol in Japan. Non-alcoholic drinks are available.
Some restaurants and standing bars are small, busy establishments with limited seating and accessibility.

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Reviews

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