Experience The Taste Of Old Tokyo In Backstreet Yanesen

We absolutely LOVED our Culinary Backstreets tour in Tokyo! It was one of the highlights of our trip to Japan, and so much of that was thanks to our incredible guide, Kan. Kan was AMAZING! Knowledgeable, engaging, funny, and genuinely passionate about sharing the food and culture of Tokyo. It felt less like being on a tour and more like spending time with a local friend who couldn't wait to introduce us to some of their favorite places. We loved that the experience went beyond simply tasting delicious food. We came away with a greater appreciation for the people, traditions, and stories behind what we were eating. Those are the kinds of experiences that make traveling so memorable. As someone who loves food and plans travel for others, I really appreciate a tour that feels authentic, personal, and thoughtfully put together. Culinary Backstreets delivered on all fronts. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this experience, and if you're lucky enough to have Kan as your guide, you're in for a treat! We would absolutely book with Culinary Backstreets again.

Want to know more about Japan and Tokyo in particular. Then do yourself a favour and book this tour. Not only do you get to eat a wide variety of foods you learn about Japanese art, culture and history.

Fantastic tour. Our guide was so knowledgeable as he grew up in the same town.

Backstreet Yanesen: A Taste of Old Tokyo. Fabulous tour to get a base for Tokyo and Japan. The tour appealed due to the small size of the group (no following around someone holding a flag in the air with 30+ people). That allowed for real conversations about Japan, Tokyo, history, culture and of course food. We learnt so much about the area as well as gaining confidence in walking into to future restaurants with appropriate cultural sensitivities. We spent time understanding shrines and temples and the reasons behind the rituals here. We walked about 2-3kms over the 6 hours at an easy pace, and did not need dinner after all the food of the day! Our guide, Mairi, full of energy and knowledge. I would highly recommend this tour and will try Culinary Backstreet Tours in other countries.

"5/5 stars! This tour was a highlight of our trip. Lau did a phenomenal job introducing us to the local food scene and weaving in fascinating stories about the history of the area. If you get Lau as a guide, you are in for a treat!"

Dennis was such an amazing tour guide! He was very knowledgeable & conversational. We loved learning about the history of the neighborhoods and going into the local hidden gems in the area. We got to eat lots of food - definitely come hungry! Dennis made sure we got to try everything and talked about the craft of each dish and restaurant. Highly recommend!

Ken was our guide who was very knowledgeable and found some amazing places to visit. I would book him again when I return to Japan

Exceptional food tour in Tokyo - this tour was the highlight of our time in Tokyo. Our guide, Kan, was wonderful - he not only gave us a food tour, it was also a history and cultural tour. If you have a chance to take this tour your won’t be disappointed. There is a fair bit of walking a a good pace to be able to fit in all the food experiences in all three districts in Yanasen. We are now motivated to do other culinary backstreets food tours in Tokyo as well as other major cities when we travel there. The small group size was great - just 6 of us on this tour, you could not fit any more into some of the very small and unique food establishments we visited. We never would have found all these places on our own.

I have done many Culinary Backstreets tours in many cities around the world, and just added two tours here in Tokyo. My wife and I like the CB experience because the guides have been uniformly knowledgeable and they pick out interesting food items and places that complement the historical and social information they offer during the tour. In this case (Yanesen) our leader Kan had grown up in Tokyo and was very familiar with the culture and cuisine of the area. He could answer any of the questions we asked and often could draw parallels with his childhood or his family. The food items were really awesome. The grilled eel was just awesome and the various sweets were really interesting. I've noticed some complaints from people who have mismatched expectations about CB tours. You should take this tour if you are interested in a deep dive of the culture, history, and food of this specific area. While we had PLENTY to eat, if you are just interested in getting stuffed you might be bored with the cultural explanations and the sights.

My guide Diana was wonderful. A great day. Can’t recommend highly enough.

We had an amazing time on this Tokyo food tour! Our guide, Michelle, was incredibly knowledgeable—not just about the food, but the neighborhoods, culture, and history behind what we were trying. One of our favorite parts was getting to try lots of different foods in small portions. It felt like the perfect way to experience a wide variety of Tokyo’s food scene without getting too full too quickly. Every stop felt thoughtfully chosen, and we left having discovered so many things we never would have found on our own. Highly recommend

Amazing. A highlight of my 2 week stay just in Toyko. Not only was the food experience so tasty, but the knowledge of the food, Japanese culture and history from my guide Kan was incredible. Loved.

We did the Yanesen tour with Michelle and had a wonderful time exploring corners of Tokyo we were unlikely to find ourselves. The food and venues were very well curated with cultural and historic locations well spaced between eating and drinking. Michelle provided excellent background and context at all times and the pacing was great. Finishing with a drink on a makeshift street bar was perfect. Thank you Michelle for one of the best experiences of our trip.

The Backstreet Yanesen tour was one of the absolute highlights of our time in Tokyo. Kan is a phenomenal guide and we learned about so much more than food. The neighborhoods we explored were lovely and we certainly wouldn’t have encountered them without Kan’s guidance. Every stop was more delicious than the last. Almost every producer was from a family tradition going back generations, tucked away in a backstreet storefront that doubled as their home. We got a real insight not only into the foodways of the community but also into the life of the communities themselves. We also visited beautiful shrines and temples and got insights into Shinto and Buddhist beliefs, customs and rituals that it would have been difficult to find otherwise. Can’t recommend this tour highly enough!!

Great introduction to Japanese food. Loved walking the backstreets, meeting the shop owners and learning their stories.

This was a brilliant experience! We had such a good day with Kan, who was so friendly and knowledgeable about the area, Japanese culture and modern day society, food and traditions. The food stops were delicious (special mention for the red bean pastry) and it was a great way to wander through residential neighbourhoods you probably wouldn't see if you're just doing the tourist highlights. We visited multiple shrines, cafes, and generally ate our fill. Highly recommend!

The tour was wonderful! Our guide Kan was charming, his selections of places to stop to try the food were outstanding and well timed, he provided many interesting background details and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

This was a really nice relaxing tour of traditional Japanese foods, temples and traditions away from the crazy crowds of Tokyo while easy to access from downtown. It did not seem like we were walking very fast but we covered a lot of ground and dropped into many places to eat and drink - regular foods, delicious desserts, snacks, tea, alcoholic drinks. Our guide was very knowledgeable, fun and super nice. A really great overview of Japanese foods and introduction to the amazing people that make it.

Guide had an observer along and the pair were really delightful, adding different perspectives and history to the tour. We ate a lot and the onigiri has been the highlight of the trip foodwise. Would not have found otherwise. We wanted to try a number of dishes without stressing about where to go and we also were interested in temples and shrines so it was the perfect combo. We had a good time and really enjoyed Michelle (and Drago).

We loved our food tour with Diana. It connected us with the heart of Tokyo & its food culture. Good fun, informative & delicious

We had a great day touring Yanesen, eating delicious food, learning the history and visiting temples and shrines. Our guide Mairi was fantastic and very knowledgeable.

I really can’t recommend this tour highly enough. Michelle was an absolutely brilliant guide, so friendly and knowledgeable with a deep knowledge of and love for Japan, Tokyo, and its amazing and varied cuisine. I worried that 6 hours might be too long, but it flew past as we discovered delicious nigiri, one of the coolest cafes in Tokyo (in a former public bathhouse), delicate, scrumptious eel (I’m generally not a fan but believe me, you’ll want to try this one!), fresh fruit juice, mouth-watering mochi, and so much more. And the tour isn’t just about food. We also visited some beautiful temples off the beaten track, which gave us a rare opportunity to get a sense of Tokyo beyond the crowds. The real draw is Michelle, who brings everything together in the most exciting way. If you’re in Tokyo, do not miss this! It was the best thing we did in our 2 weeks in Japan.

We love culinary backstreets tours! This was an ambitious agenda, we really appreciated having a heads up that we would be walking and standing so much (more than 10,000 steps). However, we would have appreciated cutting one of the sesame snack stops which felt duplicative, a couple more stops for a seat in the shade, and more availability of water. Kan (spelling?) provided incredible, detailed historical and cultural information about the food, Tokyo, and Japan, in general. We were impressed with his conversational English and the incredible information and stories he provided.

Absolutely amazing tour! WE ATE SO MUCH FOOD! I honestly wasn’t expecting g that amount, though everything g was so delicious that my tummy somehow made room. Our guide was just the best and we learned a ton about the neighborhood. Highly recommend!

Our first full day in Japan - what a perfect introduction to the amazing city of Tokyo. Kan was a delightful guide - so passionate about the area’s history, the shop owners and chefs along the way and all the yummy food he introduced us to. A very well-paced and complete tour, and did I say delicious?! Culinary Backstreets is clearly a very professional company. I look forward to using them on other trips in different cities around the globe.

Great!! Kan was very knowledgeable and we leaned a great deal. The food choices were delicious. Highly recommend Kan and the tour.

We had a wonderful time with Ellie on our tour in Yanesen. We had a lot of food and Ellie was a fantastic introduction to the culture of the area. We loved all the food and we ended up returning to the area later to pick up some souvenirs. The standouts for us were the plum onigiri and the unagi. Ellie even went out of her way to bring us to a nearby tea shop when we mentioned that we wanted to pick up some green tea. Ellie was a 10/10 guide and we really enjoyed spending time with her, and have recommended the tour to others we met while we were in Tokyo.

One of the best food tours we have ever done. (And have done 30+) The passion and authenticity of the foods and owners was amazing. Our tour guide Elly was outstanding and went above and beyond. Exceptional tour from start to finish. Only 5 of us on the tour, so it was wonderful not to be crowded nor to have just one bite - plenty of food and time to ask questions. 10/10

Absolutely, stunningly amazing! The best food tour I've ever been on, and I've done a ton. Highlights included going to a Buddhist Temple to view a fire-cleansing ceremony, a Shinto Shrine to pray to the gods, and a private backroom talk with a local family restaurant owner about how exactly they make all of their food. I had a list of foods that I wanted to try, and this tour completed most of my list all on its own! We went on two other food tours while in Tokyo, and this one was by far the best.

What a delicious treat it was to explore the side streets of Yanaka with Michelle. We loved every bite, sip, and slurp of our walk, and equally appreciated the cultural context that she shared with us. Exploring a city like Tokyo with a guide like Michelle is exponentially more enlightening and interesting than stumbling and fumbling around on your own. Thank you for a superb day.

Absolutely the best tour I have had the pleasure to take in any city. Michelle tailored our visit and ensured we learned about the culture, the neighborhoods and the delicious food.

Our Tokyo Culinary Backstreet Tour was outstanding. We learned so much about the foods, history, and culture of Tokyo. If not for this tour, we probably would have never seen this area of Tokyo. Kan, our guide, was extremely knowledgeable about a wide range of topics and was so generous with his time and sharing. We appreciated the authenticity and traditions of the shops and restaurants we visited. Whenever we visit a city with a Culinary Backstreet tour we always take it and it's always a highlight of the trip.

We had the absolute best tour with our extremely knowledgeable tour guide, Mairi! We spent approximately seven hours eating incredible food, learning about the history of Tokyo and Japan, and meeting local vendors. We visited places that we never would have found on our own and enjoyed every minute of the tour! Mairi was attentive to our needs and took great care of us. We ate so much food I could barely eat another bite! The tour far exceeded all expectations and we look forward to doing more tours on future trips. We were a little nervous about our daughters (12 and 16) on the tour, but they were just as enthusiastic about it as we were and had fun trying so many new things. I would recommend this to anyone visiting Tokyo.

OMGosh, this was the BEST tour EVER!!!! Not only did we taste AMAZING foods along the way, but Mairi gave us SO MUCH interesting information as we meandered the streets of Yanesen! Truly, a MUST DO if in Tokyo! And be sure to ask for Mairi as your guide!!!!

I joined an interesting small group of people to explore Tokyo’s old neighborhoods and enjoy lots of tasty food along the way. Mairi was a lovely, enthusiastic guide and host for this adventure. Lots of wonderful memories.

Our family did this on our first day in Japan. Michelle was an outstanding guide! We learned a lot and Michelle was a true pro at crafting the food stops and providing an interesting mix of history, culture, and information. Highly recommend!

Michelle was an excellent guide with whom we explored the Yanesen area. Starting with the breakfast onigiri, Michelle introduced us to local eateries with unique aspects we certainly wouldn't have found on our own. She introduced us to speciality foods including creampuffs, traditional candy (from a 90 year old candy maker) and red bean pastries. The eel over rice was excellent as was everything we sampled. It was a lot of fun wandering from spot to spot as she patiently explained life in Japan. I loved the cultural aspects of the neighbourhoods: visiting the Nezu Shrine and the passing by the numerous temples Yanaka is known for. Finishing the day with beers in Yanaka Ginza was a treat.

Our tour guide was amazing and very knowledgeable! Our tour went on for an additional extra hour, which was honestly great to be able to experience a few more delicious items! I liked that we visited more quiet parts of Tokyo and especially loved visiting and supporting multiple shops that had been in business for 100+ years!

This was such a wonderful experience. Not only did we taste a lot of amazing food, we got to experience parts of Tokyo we wouldn't have seen on our own and got an incredible insight into the culture, history and flavors of the past.

Maira was very enjoyable and knowledgeable.. She had lots of tastings and tours planned for us. She gave us a good compromise of history and present day information.. All of the tastings were wonderful. Our tour was worth our time and $.

We had the best time touring with Mairi! She was the best! She took us to the 3 sisters of the Sendagi area. The food was amazing. Her choices took us to the entire gambit from a typical Japanese breakfast through a fantastic lunch with was very enlightening, to the final touches of dessert and a small local bar to finish the day. We would all highly recommend Mairi and Culinary Backstreets!! Thank you!!!

We did the tour on March 16th with Mairi. It was a fantastic day. Mairi was fantastic. She is so knowledgeable of Japanese and Tokyo history and did a great job explaining everything. All the food stops were incredible. Visiting 3 neighborhoods, including the temples, shrines and temple town we much more than expected. We came away tired, and with a great memory of Tokyo. Go hungry!

A must-do! Highlight of our trip to Tokyo. Our guide, Diana, is extremely knowledgeable and did an amazing job of weaving the history of the area and Japan to the cuisine and culture we tasted along the way. I cannot recommend this enough!

Our guide Maire was exceptionally knowledgeable and we learned so much more about Japanese culture than we expected. We enjoyed the range of foods we got to try, and the stories of each restaurant. A fantastic way to explore the quieter parts of Tokyo

We had such a lovely time with Michelle touring Yanesen. The food was consistently delicious, and the family-run businesses were charming and fascinating. Michelle was a fount of information; we learned a lot and she skillfully managed our group with careful consideration. This is a great tour, and we would not hesitate to take another with her. We look forward to our upcoming tour in Osaka!

This is our third Culinary Backstreets Tour, and you simply cannot go wrong with this tour. If you're the type of visitor who enjoys eating local food and trying spots that you might not have thought to try or found on your own, this is the tour for you. We really love that we got to try a wide swath of food, that coffee was a big part of this tour, and that our guide, Diana did such a great job considering our tastes and interests as we visited each spot. You truly cannot miss this tour if you love food!

This is an informative and enjoyable tour. Diana was a phenomenal guide who was energetic and intelligent in her direction and delivery. The food was incredible and unique. We ate something interesting, ate something more interesting and kept at it all day. The areas visited were unique in Tokyo and provide a non tourist perspective of this massive place. We walked quiet streets and visited tiny establishments that were owned by third of fourth generation merchants. They unfirmly welcomed us and shared their craft. Highly recommend to any and all!

Kan the tour guide for the Yanesen Old Tokyo tour with Culinary Backstreets was awesome! Super knowledgeable and fascinating background. His pacing of the tour was a perfect balance of various stops for food and drink mixed with historical and cultural spots, so it was a great full-day tour with a deep dive into this area. We had a cozy group of 3 guests to one guide, so Kan and our party were able to fit perfectly into the small shops we visited. Our tour ranged from breakfast places to lunch to snacks, drinks, and easy bites for dinner, so it all added up to a great and well-rounded dining experience for the day. We were able to walk around much of the neighborhood enjoying the temples, shrines, and markets, so this tour is best for those who enjoy walking and don't mind eating in cozy retro coffeeshops or standing at a street stall. I would highly recommend this tour (I've also tried the Culinary Backstreets tour in Istanbul) and others by this company. Thank you, Kan and Culinary Backstreets for a great dining and learning experience for the day.

Our small-group food and history tour was easily the highlight of our trip to Japan! What truly made the experience stellar was our guide, Kan, whose deep knowledge transformed every bite into a lesson on Japanese heritage. We didn't just eat, we learned the stories behind generations-old family businesses and the evolution of Japanese dining etiquette. If you want a perfect blend of culture, history, and incredible flavors, this tour is an absolute must-book.