2026 Umami Town Street Food Tour

Yuko is an amazing guide. She is engaging, easy to talk with & very informative. She chose delicious, authentic spots that we would have never found or dared ourselves . I highly recommend Yuko and this tour!!

Wonderful day eating your way across Osaka from breakfast through lunch to dessert. Authentic, tasty and fulfilling. Classics like Gyoza, Takoyaki along with more exotic fair like Fugu and Toro. Such a fun way to experience the city and culture. No need for dinner.

Really one of the best food tours I’ve ever been on with Aki who was a fantastic guide. Price is all inclusive and the experience is seamless at every stop, really allowed us to enjoy, chat with the guide and group, and have a blast. It’s paced well to not overwhelm, and filled with lots of good knowledge and local info.

This was our second food tour with this company. Previously we did a tour in New Orleans and enjoyed it so much we looked at their Japan options. We had a great time with Aki. She was very knowledgeable about the area, history, umami and of course food! She did a great job weaving in history throughout the day, even with some visual aides. She took us all over. We went to at least 10 stops to eat and then non-food stops too. Everything was delicious and I'm still full! Highly recommend this tour. Thank you, Aki!

Amazing tour, Yuko was a great guide!

Had such a great time on this tour. Yuko was a great guide sharing some Japanese culture and stories as well as guiding us to great food spots! Would highly recommend.

The guide, Aki-San, was great. She was fun and funny, attuned the group, made sure to engage with everyone. Her commentary was informative, and suggestions about choices were excellent. It did seem like 5 hours at all. The food, in small bites, made a meal. All in all, better than I expected.

We had a wonderful time on our tour with Miyo exploring the Culinary Backstreets Osaka for savory foods. It really was well done and organized. We enjoyed many of the merchants that Miyo had a personal relationship with. The food was outstanding. We delighted in okonomiyaki (Mitsuki), Tuna(Uomaru) and Shiki_tea master (Rui, Nishi) to name a few. My favorite part however was a visit to a grocery store where we wandered around and were introduced to new foods we were not familiar with. We chose some of the things that attracted us most and Miyo bought them and we had a picnic. It was delightful and Miyo couldn't have been more personable. We would do it all again...

I can’t say enough about what a great experience this tour was. I had the pleasure of going with Culinary Backstreets in Istanbul and I’m so glad to have done this again in Osaka. CB emphasizes a more “locals experience”. We didn’t go to Dotonbori. That’s where all the tourists go. We went to markets and specially curated places, including a “hole in the wall” gem beloved by locals that you’ll never see in any guidebook or from YouTube wannabe influencers. Our guide, Yuko, was kind, lovely, gracious and provided a wealth of information. We also had a great group of people from Canada, the UK and the US that all appreciated the tour as much as I did. 5 stars? More like 10 stars. Bravo!

We have always liked the Culinary Backstreets tours for its mix of food, history and culture. We really enjoyed our guide, Yuko, who in addition to being friendly and engaging, had lived a number of years in the US, which informed her explanations and history. She linked the current influencer craze for egg and fruit cream ‘sandos’ with the history of a classic 1960s Japanese diner. Before trying the different grades of sashimi, she explained what part of the fish it comes from, the fishing villages of Japan, how the fish is auctioned off. We visited several places and tried several things, but didn’t come away feeling overstuffed. We went into a good sized Shinto shrine and learned a bit about goschuin and saw two very cute kids dressed in formal kimonos for a ceremony. This is one of the reasons I enjoy Culinary Backstreets tour, because it’s not only about the food.

What a great tour this is to introduce us to the Osaka food scene! We learned so much due to the in-depth knowledge of our fantastic guide Yoko. We had a widespread variety of food and drinks to sample, from matcha tea to sake and sesame snacks to fugu. As an aside, Yoko kindly took us on a detour to the Osaka stock exchange. There is so much more to explore, so we will definitely come back!

Miyo was a knowledgeable, fun and attentive tour guide who engaged everyone in our group of six people. She also made sure that each person was well taken care of over every tasting.

Yuko is friendly, knowledgeable and so nice. Really enjoyed the tour. Great selection of stops and eating spots. We spent the right amount of time at each place. Loved the sesame treats, okonomiyaki, gyoza and the special Osaka cheesecake! And the matcha! A perfect ending to the tour. I appreciated the special "hole-in-the-wall" places I would have never found on my own.

Miyo is a great guide and you will enjoy her warm hospitality, knowledge, selection of things to see, do, and eat. We started out with problems of our own making when our cruise ship was delayed in arriving in Osaka. She expertly kept us apprised of where her tour was currently located, what time she planned to leave, and where her next stop was. Importantly, she gave great advice on how to catch up and get there easily. Very professional handling made us feel calm about our situation. We may have missed a few stops but easily caught up and thoroughly enjoyed the tour. Her scheduled and unscheduled stops made everyone feel comfortable and involved. The Izakayas and small specialized eateries we visited were great. The store specializing in all things sesame was a first for us. The large supermarket/grocery store in the marketplace was fascinating to walk through. The gyoza, okonomiyaki, takoyaki, and matcha were definitely highlights we will remember. The young couple from Chicago were a great addition to round out our group of four guests. A good experience, look forward to another Culinary Backstreets adventure in the future.

Yuko's selection of foods and stops was exceptional. We loved that the tour began in a neighborhood shopping street where local people actually shop before taking us to the much busier Kuromon Market. The variety of foods we tried throughout the day was terrific, with some truly memorable bites. What impressed me just as much as the food was the way Yuko handled our group. The other guests on our tour had very different interests from ours and were considerably less enthusiastic about food and trying new things. Yuko managed those different personalities and interests masterfully. At no point did we feel that their lack of enthusiasm diminished our experience or prevented us from tasting and exploring the things we were excited about. That takes real skill in a small-group tour. She also went the extra mile to help us try kamatoro, the extraordinarily fatty cut of tuna from around the collar that I had particularly hoped to find while we were in Japan. Kamatoro was not included in the tour, but Yuko helped arrange for me to purchase some separately at our tuna stop so that we would have the opportunity to try it. It turned out to be one of my favorite bites of the entire trip. The food was outstanding, the markets were great fun, and Yuko was knowledgeable, warm, flexible, and exceptionally good at reading and managing her group. We came away feeling that she had made sure we got everything we possibly could from the experience. I would highly recommend this tour—and Yuko in particular—to anyone who genuinely loves food.

The food and cultural experiences were exceptional. Keiji was personable and knowledgeable with a passion for his country’s history, food and culture. Culinary Backstreet tours never fail to exceed expectations.

We are big fans of Culinary Backstreets and this Osaka food tour didn’t disappoint! Our guide Yuko was knowledgeable and friendly, sharing her inside knowledge about the traditional street foods of Osaka. While we were familiar with gyozas, takoyaki and okonomiyaki, Yuko showed us the best of Osaka varieties which showcased the traditional ways of cooking off the tourist paths. The pace was easy, the food portions were generous and best of all we had a terrific guide to welcome us to this wonderful city.

Fantastic food tour. Our guide Yuko was great. She knows a lot about Osaka cuisine and has a great sense of humor. I had a great time and learned a lot. Cheers Yuko

Yuko was amazing and easy to reach out to! All the local places she brought us were all delicious. She was able to ensure reservations for our group of 6 in these small restaurants. I love being able to try foods that were not typically available or I’m unaware of such as the yamatoro from a local fish shop!

Great tour. Lots of unique food with great bits of Japanese history included!

We made a culinary tour with Yuko and we were left very happy. Yuko deserves 100 stars out of 10! She brought us to eat best local food and freshest seafood. We could ask her anything about japanese culture and food. She also told us some historical details about the city as we were pasing from one stop to another. With nice and lively personality she has, 5 hours flied and we didnt even realise it was already time to say goodbye. Thank you again 🤗

It was such a fun and delicious tour! Our guide, Yuko, was very hospitable and so amazing! So very informative and answered all our questions. You could tell how passionate she is about food and it made it all the more fun and memorable. Every spot was so delicious and I especially enjoyed the sprinkle of history and fun facts throughout the tour. From start to finish it was such an amazing experience. I highly recommend this tour for anyone that is interested in a food tour in Osaka!

We had such an amazing experience in Osaka. Yuka our guide was amazing, informative, warm and friendly. She even catered to us as we are in the food industry in the US, and she took us to a restaurant supply store and showed us a lot of really awesome tools, explaining what they were for. She even showed us specific ingredients and which were the better quality to get. It was great getting a lot of back story behind products, the city and vendors. ( we are from Chicago, and Osaka is our sister city). This was a great way to experience Osaka as a day trip, and the fact that it ended with photos and even more treats ( after eating the whole day) to share was a great way to end the day. Truly a major highlight to our trip in Japan.

We had such an incredible experience with Culinary Backstreets in Osaka, and a huge part of that was because of our guide, Yuka. From the moment we met her at the meeting point until the very end of the tour, she was absolutely amazing. She was incredibly thoughtful, warm, funny, and genuinely seemed to care about making the experience special for everyone. There were so many little surprises throughout the tour that made it feel much more personal than just going from one food stop to another. What impressed us most was how much we learned. Yuka didn’t just explain what we were eating. She gave us so much context about Osaka, Japanese food culture, local traditions, and the history of Japan itself. Her explanations were thorough without ever feeling heavy, and she was willing to answer literally every question we had. We asked her about food, history, everyday life in Japan, Osaka culture, and probably a dozen random things along the way, and she always took the time to give us a thoughtful answer. She also has such an interesting story herself. We loved hearing about her time working in Florida and her plans to return to work as a hibachi-style chef at Disney’s EPCOT. You can immediately tell how passionate she is about food and hospitality. The food and stops were great, but Yuka is what really made this tour memorable for us. By the end, it felt less like we had spent the day with a tour guide and more like we had been shown around Osaka by an incredibly knowledgeable and kind friend. She is truly a wonderful person and an exceptional guide. If you take the Culinary Backstreets Osaka tour and get Yuka, consider yourself very lucky. We could not recommend her more highly. Thank you, Yuka, for such a memorable day in Osaka. It was genuinely one of the highlights of our trip to Japan.

This is our first Culinary Backstreets tour, and boy was it delicious, inspiring, fun, etc. This tour offered so much more than great food. We learned about Osaka - a town known for comedy, friendly and engaging people, and food that sparkles with the sixth tasting sense umami. Our guide, Aki, took us to so many wonderful places that we would NEVER have found on our own. From gyoza ((dumplings) to savory pancakes, takoyaki (octopus balls) to iced green tea and naturally sweet milk and matcha soft ice cream. We had oysters as big as your hand , fresh tuna that melted in your mouth and a scrumptious peach pastry. Nothing in Paris could have matched that. We ate our hearts out in this almost 6 hour tour, all under the guidance and fantastic direction of our guide, Aki. Advice - COME HUNGRY.

Aki was super friendly, knowledgeable, and patient with us. We felt like we got a very well-rounded food tour with history, sights, and a variety of food flavors. Thank you Aki!

Yuko was amazing! Not only did she provide us great history facts and yummy food stops, she also gave us ice packs and cooling towels to combat the heat! The tour was really good and laid back, we had bonus food items…fresh tofu, soy milk, if there was something interesting Yuko thought we should try….she would arrange it. This tour makes us want to return to Osaka in the future and experience more. Thanks again and hope the Nova Scotia bluefin tuna starts arriving soon!!

I loved that 2 people were sufficient to make the tour happen. It was my friend and me, a private tour. Skipping breakfast I did not leave hungry. Our knowledgeable guide went above and beyond, adding sights to a food and experience tour focused on Osaka specialities from local shops that have a long history in the community. We experienced how locals go about their lively day and their cherished foods. While we both picked "omnivore", it was possible to skip an item you don't care for. Though I recommend to use that wildcard sparingly if at all to get the most out of the experience.

The food tour itself was great but Yuka was the best host !!! Very knowledgeable and kind, showed us all the best places and knew the answers to all the questions we asked. Thank you Yuka !!

We had a lovely tour with our guide, Keiji, and were lucky enough to be the only guests. We sampled a wide variety of local foods and also had the opportunity to visit a local supermarket. All food, drinks and metro fares were included. The tour is quite expensive, so whether it feels good value for money may depend on how much you are able or willing to eat.

Yoko was amazing. She was funny, flexible and great with our kids. She shared lots about Japanese culture during numerous fun food stops. This was a highlight of our trip. If we could give more than 5 stars we would.

Miyo was a fabulous guide. We learned so much about Osaka and Japan even before we began eating our way through this beautiful town. She was patient and kind and funny and sweet and gave us an experience we will remember forever. If I could give her 6 stars, I would.

Miyo was the best tour guide ever. Super fun we all had a laugh. Brought us to the best places and got us the best stuff everywhere and spaced out all the food well. Enjoyed every second 5 stars

I had an amazing time on the tour. The guide is amazing and teaches you so much about Japanese culture and history. We were even given a nice surprise at the beginning and end. It was an amazing memory and such a great time.

We had a great time with Miyo on our food tour. It’s a great way to explore new neighborhoods and have some amazing food along the way. The tour was very flexible and met the needs of the whole family. Miyo was very knowledgeable and did a great job getting to know us and the kids. She was great with our 8 and 10 year old children. This is the second time we’ve had a 5star experience with Backstreet. Highly recommend!

We did this tour with Aki who was fantastic. She gave us the full culinary experience with not just the tasting, but the history behind the food. She gave us the history of buildings and sites in the area as we walked from place to place. I highly recommend this tour with Aki. She was the best tour guide we have had and we do food tours in every new city we visit.

The tour was amazing! Aki was so knowledgeable and the food was delicious! Perfect mix of history/culture/background for each restaurant. We felt like we really got a good feel for the city in addition to the food. You will not leave this tour hungry!

We had the pleasure of going with our guide Yuka who was amazing from start to finish. we got the opportunity to explore Osaka and it felt like we spent the day hanging out with a friend. Highly recommend, ask for Yuka!!

What a wonderful introduction to Osaka. Miyo’s connection to the city and its food is amazing, and we enjoyed every bite.

Miyo was amazing and did such a thoughtful and personalised tour looking at our likes and dislikes. Thank you so much for leaving such a memorable mark on our time. Her knowledge was remarkable too. Would do again

The food tour was amazing experience and would recommend it to anyone! Miyo was so so sweet and had extensive knowledge about history and gave amazing explanations to what we were trying. Her personality made the experience extremely enjoyable and I wish I could've hung out with her the whole day. I had been in Osaka for a week prior the the tour and the tour gave me a new perspective on the food scene in Osaka. Miyo was so kind she even gave me recommendations for restaurants in the Osaka and they were amazing. MIYO IS AMAZING!!!!

I had a wonderful time with the tour guides aki and miyo! It wasn’t just a food tour but it was also a tour of osaka, the historic waterways, and also a little bit of sake. We also didn’t just have some Osaka local flavors but also a lot of fresh seafood, which I didn’t expect! It was a wonderful experience that I highly recommend. Come hungry!

Just finished the Unami Town tour with Yuka and couldn’t have been happier with the experience! Yuka was not just a fantastic guide, but is clearly also a lovely person. She was so patient and engaging with our two kids and continually went out of her way to ensure we had a wonderful tour. We also did Culinary Backstreets in Tokyo a few years ago and loved that as well. Their tours are head and shoulders above the rest… They always take you to cool, quality, off the beaten path spots and explain the history/context of what you’re experiencing. And their guides are the best of the best… Real professionals and always fun/personable, with a passion for food and the local people producing it.

Miyo was very friendly and very knowledgeable. Food was excellent and overall fun day. A little expensive but worth it.

Miyo was a knowledgeable and gracious host for our tour. She taught us a ton about the history of food in Osaka. Miyo was so accommodating and even made on the spot adaptations to our tour to include foods that were interesting to us (even though we didn’t ask)! The food was absolutely amazing! The atmosphere was great. Miyo also made recommendations for places we might try after the tour concluded based on our conversations. My only regret is that I didn’t take more pictures of the wonderful food. Overall, it was a first class experience. Would highly recommend!

This was our sixth tour with Culinary Backstreets and one of our favorites! Yuka was a fantastic guide and seamlessly integrated Osaka’s food, culture, and history. The pacing was great, the food was delicious, and we learned so much! Yuka made sure we had a personalized experience and I would recommend this tour to anyone who visits Osaka or even any of the surrounding areas (we came from Kyoto).

Yuichi was a fabulous guide. He was knowledgeable regarding food, history and customs. He was very attentive to our needs. I highly recommend him.

Yuka is a delightful guide and very informative about Osaka’s history and food. So many eating places in Osaka, but Yuka took us to the best spots. From trying our first fruit sandwich for breakfast, to tasting different cuts of tuna (and eating the biggest, most creamy raw oyster I’ve ever had!) And so much more, before finishing with the magic matcha master - a pure joy to meet. Great fun also being shown food items to look out for when shopping. Yuka, thankyou for a great day.

A charming food tour experience with Yuichi who is 100% local. His English was very good and he guided us to a range of generational food vendors whom he rated highly.