Private Tokyo Food Tour - A Journey Through Time Through Food
6 hours
From 11:00
Group 1+
English
6 hours
11:00
What you'll do
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.
Itinerary
- 1Starting 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!
- 2
Nihonbashi Bridge
- 3
Fukutoku Shrine: Discover the differences between Shrines and Temples. Learn how to cleanse your spirit and pray at a shrine.
- 4
Arriving into Ginza / Yurakucho we learn about how Japan industrialised after the war. With industrialisation came Salarymen and with Salarymen came Gado Shita’s (small bars and restaurants built under the railway tracks) to serve the working men before their commute home. We will eat and drink like Salarymen at an Izakaya (Japanese style pub) and noodle stall under the tracks. On our menu we have Yakitori (grilled meat on skewers), a Sour (an alcoholic drink which is unique to Japan) and tempura soba or curry udon ( noodle soup dishes).
- 5
From the railway tracks of Ginza and Yurakcho, we stroll to Tokyo Station calling in at the impressive International Forum Building on the route.
- 6
Kitte Building
- 7
At Tokyo Station we will try some foods popularly eaten on a commute home; Tamagoyaki (Japanese omelette) and a Fruits Sando (Japanese milk bread sandwich filled with fresh fruits and whipped cream).
- 8
Arriving in Akihabara, an area famous for its many electronics shops, Maid Cafes and Anime culture, we consider the future of food in Japan. We will be trying a selection of desserts which combine traditional foods or flavours with a modern fusion twist. In addition to our three fusion desserts, we will discuss Akihabara’s prominence in bringing new technology, ideas and subcultures to Japan.
What's Included
Dashi. Katsuobushi. Kombu. Satsuma-age. Amazake. Imo Kenpi. Daifuku or Dorayaki. Pokemon Taiyaki. Matcha (green tea) bubble tea or ice-cream
Yakitori. Tempura Soba. Tamagoyaki. Fruits Sando
Lemon Sour (Japanese alcoholic drink)
Meeting Points
1-chōme-4-1 Nihonbashi (Chuo City, Tōkyō-to, 103-0027)
Notes
Not wheelchair accessible
Not suitable for pets
Infants must not sit on laps
Infant seats unavailable
All of the information about the tour including directions to the meeting point can be found on the google doc. link below. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ZeULszXAkk10KjRG1fUVQkiJ2puGkbn5i99XdxmyC-o/edit?usp=sharing Cancellation Policy: If for whatever reason you want to cancel your booked tour then please note the following. Please email us your notice to cancel and we will confirm a cancellation by email. You will receive a full refund (excluding any credit card charges / booking fee) if you cancel more than 2 weeks before your scheduled tour. You will receive a 50% refund if you cancel your tour 5 days to two weeks before your tour. There are no refunds if you cancel your tour less than 5 days (119 hours) before the start of your tour. There are no refunds if you do not turn up for the tour or choose to leave the tour early.
We pick up from any hotel or Airbnb in Central Tokyo.
Gallery
Cancellation policy
A full refund will apply if you cancel more than 7 days before the activity start time.
A 50% refund will apply if you cancel more than 48 hours before the activity start time.
No refund is possible if you cancel less than 48 hours before the activity start time.
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