Private Tour
Flavours of Tokyo: A Journey Through Time - Private Food Tour
Overview
Available languages
5 hours 30 minutes
Mobile ticket
This 5.5 hours tour takes you on a journey through time, through food! Spanning three geographical districts of Tokyo and three periods of time this food tour covers the foundation of Japanese food and cooking (the Edo period), the most popular present-day foods in Japan and finishes in the future with some fusion twists on traditional flavours. Visit Nihonbashi, Ginza / Tokyo Station and Akihabara. Enjoy 14 Japanese food tastings. Come hungry! This is a private tour and only the people that you personally invite will be in attendance. Hotel pick-up is available - an extra hour is added to the tour to cover the travel time.
Additional Info
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
You will be granted a full refund (excluding booking and administration charges) if you cancel more than one week (more than 168 hours) in advance of your tour. You will be granted a 50% refund (excluding booking and administration charges) if you cancel between 7 days and 2 days (167 and 49 hours) in advance of your tour. There are no refunds if you cancel with 48 hours or less notice. There are no refunds if you do not turn up for the tour or if you are late for the tour.
Cancellation Policy
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
What To Expect
Nihonbashi
Starting in Nihonbashi, in the past, we will look at key ingredients and flavours that underpin Japanese food. We will learn about Dashi, the stock that forms the base of many Japanese dishes. We will focus in on two key ingredients; Katsuobushi and Kelp. From there we will enjoy some traditional Japanese snacks that have been eaten for generations. Satsuma-age (fried fish cake), Amazake (a healthy fermented rice drink), Imo Kenpi (sweet potato chips) and Daifuku (glutinous rice mochi with a sweet filling). All of the shops that we have chosen have been carefully curated. All are over 100 years old, several date back to the Edo period itself!
Nihonbashi Bridge
Nihonbashi Bridge
What‘s Included
Yakitori. Tempura Soba. Tamagoyaki. Fruits Sando
Dashi. Katsuobushi. Kombu. Satsuma-age. Amazake. Imo Kenpi. Daifuku or Dorayaki. Pokemon Taiyaki. Matcha (green tea) bubble tea or ice-cream
Lemon Sour (Japanese alcoholic drink)
The costs of transport used during the tour are payable by yourself. We take two short subway rides.
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Options
Meet in Nihonbashi (5.5 hrs)
Meet at your hotel (6.5 hrs)
Pickup included
Reviews
47 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
An excellent food and cultural tour
SylviaZ180,Mar 26, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Keiko met as at our hotel and guided us through Tokyo and the metro system. We had so many stops, trying a wide range of food, from many different vendors. Keiko gave us background information on the history of Japan and the changes in Japanese cuisine. It was so interesting, and we loved being in various restaurants and walking through the busy streets and shops. Even though we covered a great distance, it was at a relaxed pace and we had some lovely conversations. It felt like a good friend was showing us around Tokyo, and delighting us with many treats. Highly recommend!
Exploring Tokyo Like a Local Thanks to Our Amazing Guide Miko
d123barks,Mar 13, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our food and history tour of Tokyo with our guide Miko was one of the absolute highlights of our trip to Japan. From the moment we started, Miko brought the city to life with an incredible mix of historical insight, local knowledge, and genuine enthusiasm. The tour struck the perfect balance between Tokyo’s rich history and its amazing food culture. Miko guided us through neighborhoods we would never have discovered on our own, explaining the history behind shrines, streets, and markets while introducing us to some truly memorable local dishes. Every stop felt carefully chosen and authentic. What really set the experience apart was Miko herself. She was warm, engaging, and incredibly knowledgeable, answering every question we had and sharing fascinating stories about Tokyo’s past and present. It never felt like a scripted tour—it felt like exploring the city with a knowledgeable local friend who genuinely loves sharing their culture. If you want to experience Tokyo beyond the typical tourist spots and taste some fantastic food along the way, this tour is a must. Ask for Miko if you can—she made the entire experience unforgettable.
Walked all over eating yummy food and explained the culture of Japan so fun would so do again if in town
shelbymF1769RH,Dec 28, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00SO FUN AND EXPLIANED EVERYTHING SO WELL AND SO KIND. actually the best time ever and helped us navigate through Japan beautifully and totally recommend
Great Tokyo food tour with much more
syellina,Nov 21, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We have been on many food tours. We usually begin a visit to a new city with a food tour. Our Tokyo food tour with Keiko was unique. It included a broad range of foods typical for Tokyo and also included visits to a number of neighborhoods. In each location Keiko provided an insightful picture of Japanese culture over a broad time period. We have not experienced this level of cultural discussion on a food tour before. If this is of interest to you take this tour with Keiko.
A thoughtful journey through Tokyo’s flavors with Keiko—highly recommended
Kellie B,Nov 5, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00What makes it special: Keiko connects eras of Tokyo history to what you’re tasting—so it’s not just “eat this,” it’s “here’s why this matters.” The experience: A curated mix of familiar favorites and discoveries, with light sightseeing that ties neighborhoods to the dishes. We tried plenty of new things and loved them. Guide: Keiko is fantastic—kind, organized, and a great storyteller. Route: The itinerary is proprietary, so no specifics—but it balances popular spots with quieter corners for a richer feel. Bottom line: A unique, insightful, and delicious tour that became a trip highlight.
The perfect mix of a tour
Alisunshine2,Nov 1, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I absolutely loved how this tour was organized. We really felt like we were mixing an historical understanding of Japan with a preview of the everyday life of a Japanese person living in Tokyo. This is just how we want to to experience a city - through food and history! And our tour guide, Keiko was a delight. Not only was she very knowledgeable, but she also did a great job of herding our group of 6 people on and off the train and through the streets of Tokyo. We highly recommend this tour with Keiko!
Fantastic Tour of Tokyo
971gabel,Oct 23, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I could not have been happier with our tour with Keiko. They did an excellent job with answering all our questions and taking us to spots we would have never known to have tried. Not only were the places unique, the food tastings themselves were a great mix of familiar items along with new foods and flavors. We never felt rushed and Keiko handled last minute curve balls with grace and ease.
Not worth the money
Sean B,Sep 25, 2025
- Review from Viator
3.00Not a great experience. Would not recommend it. Guide not very engaging. Some spots wee very touristy and silly.
It was a wonderful way to...
Elease C,Aug 17, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00It was a wonderful way to explore the city and learn about the history and culture through food. Our guide Keiko was fantastic. She was friendly and knowledgeable and made the experience really fun. I highly recommend!
Mikko was an exceptional...
Vanessa F,Jul 2, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Mikko was an exceptional guide! Not only did we enjoy a wide variety of food, she also taught us history and culture. She quickly became “our friend in Tokyo”.
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Operated by Hello! Tokyo Tours