Old Town Tokyo Food Tour

Great food tour! Jacob, our guide, had such enthusiasm for food and Japan that it was contagious. His tour included some great tastings, some historical perspective, a visit to a knife store where they made their own products, as well as a tea ceremony. We enjoyed seeing a different part of Tokyo-- one that wasn't destroyed during WW2. I am not an adventurous eater, but Jacob got me to try some new things. I especially liked the chopped pork katsu, sesame rice crackers and the Yuzu sake cocktail. I highly recommend this tour and guide!

Jacob was engaging, knowledgeable guide. The stops in GinzacYakura were well chosen--katsu, sake and a knife shop among them. The tea ceremony at the end proved you be a beautiful capstone for a wonderful tour.

We had a wonderful time with our guide, Michie. She introduced us to delicious Japanese specialties and explained so much about them. At the same time, we saw so many interesting places and learned a lot about Japanese culture and history. Michie was not only perfectly prepared, but she was open to all our questions and, above all, incredibly friendly. It was a great pleasure to travel with her.

We had a wonderful experience on the Tokyo Old Town Yanaka Tour with Joshua. Joshua was friendly, engaging, and made the experience feel personal rather than like a typical organized tour. Exploring Yanaka was a fantastic way to experience a quieter, more traditional side of Tokyo, and Joshua made the time especially enjoyable. His enthusiasm and easygoing personality made us feel comfortable from the very beginning. We thoroughly enjoyed our time with Joshua and would highly recommend this tour to anyone looking for a more intimate and memorable way to experience Tokyo.

Jane took us shopping and bought sushi and prepared a picnic for us. She even hustled for a table when she thought some others were gonna take it. So we were able to sit down in the shade. Jane was one of our best guides and spoke very good English.

This was a disappointing tour, especially considering the cost. We were 2 hours into the “FOOD” tour and the only thing we had to eat was a rice cookie. Me and my wife were both starving at that point. Part of the reason was a traditional tea ceremony that lasted about an hour. It was very nice but This wasn’t listed specifically on the itinerary. If it was then I wouldn’t have booked another tea ceremony later in my trip. Lunch was at a sushi restaurant but the table arrangements broke up the group so there wasn’t an opportunity to continue to get to know new friends met. While the guide was sweet, she was short on sharing information on the neighborhood or about different foods. In summary: - rice cookie - matcha tea and cookie - sushi - fried beef patty - beer - pasty.

Our tour was fantastic. Our guide, Miki (?) spoke excellent English and was very knowledgeable about the area. We had lovely food, a beautiful tea ceremony and visited some great old shops and temples. But but we were mostly blown away by the walk around the area and hearing about its history, culture etc. We would highly recommend this tour. Thank you.

This review is a long time coming. I did a private tour of Yanaka and it was lovely from start to finish. My guide, Satoko, was very personable. I was fascinated by both the history of Yanaka and contemporary Japanese culture overall. She was happy to answer my questions and was so much fun to talk to as we strolled through the streets of this quaint neighborhood. Often, tours can take you to shops that are tourist traps, but that wasn't the case here. Every shop and vendor we visited clearly was a staple to the local community. I mentioned to Satoko that I was hoping to buy a couple bottles of aged sake for my husband and she went out of her way to help me find a local store and communicated with the shopkeeper what I was looking for. I highly recommend this tour for people looking to see a side of Tokyo often overlooked.

First day in Japan and decided to do this food tour instead of joining friends at Disney Japan. It was wonderful getting to know the area and getting a wonderful introduction to Japanese food. Lots of good information was given on the tour.

We had an incredible time exploring Yanaka with Jacob. We learnt to much about the area and the food. The tea ceremony was an absolute highlight! We’ll never forget the amazing hospitality of everyone we met on the tour. Thank you for making our honeymoon trip so special! A brilliant tour!

Paul and I would just like to say how much we enjoyed our tour today in Nippori ( Tokyo) Our host, Makki, was exceptional She organised food for us without any issues, which was not easy as we are both vegetarians She was knowledgeable and happy to help with all our questions The tour was well organised , with just the right number of people ( 6 inc a young lady from your HR office) The tea ceremony was lovely without being too formal but again was really informative Paul and Julie Whitehouse from England

We had a very enjoyable food tour of Yanaka with Michie and Joshua from Arigato Travel Tours. They were very warm and friendly and they shared a lot of interesting local history, including what to say at Japanese meals and information about the area’s shrines and temples, one or two of which we were able to visit along our walk. We tried senbei at Yanaka Senbei, beef and mushroom croquettes from Niku no Suzuki, yuzu sake at Echigoya Honten (a must), cream cheese & sweet bean paste bread and other baked goods at Hitotema bakery, fresh cherries (so different from Western cherries), matcha kakigori and the most amazing sweet potatoes, among other great snacks and street food. Lunch at a local soba restaurant was included, but the most memorable part of the experience was the tea ceremony at Gallery Okubo. This tour is definitely a highlight of our stay in Tokyo. Thank you so much, Arigato Travel Tours!

A fantastic Wallking tour in. Old Town Yanaka with Makiko. We were the only couple and Makiko took us to some great food experiences plus many out of the way places. A great tour which I would recommend. Regards Kay and Peter

Had a great day sampled a lot of different foods loverly guide very knowledgable Melissa was our guide would recommend tour

Melissa proved to be a great guide and companion for the Yanaka Old Town Walking Tour. She had a wealth of knowledge about the area and local vendors with whom she was clearly familiar. The tour included a number of interesting snacks, Sake, a lunch in a small local restaurant and possibly the highlight was definitely a traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony by a local family. Melissa took lots of photos of our experience as a reminder of a fabulous tour. This is an excellent tour that we would highly recommended.

Our guide Sanae was excellent to educate with memorable stories of the past and showing us how to behave at holy places. We got very good lunch and matcha ice cream. And learned how to make tea.

The Arigato Travel Food Tour in Yanaka was such a fun and unique way to explore the neighborhood. We enjoyed learning about history of Yanaka and tasting traditional food. One of our favorites was a perfectly fried beef croquette, which was so satisfying and full of flavor. We even enjoyed the croquette in a sake shop with some delicious sake! I also especially loved the whimsical cat tail pastry (a nod to Yanaka’s famous cats!). The tea ceremony at the end and drinking matcha from ancient cups was such a peaceful and memorable moment—it tied everything together beautifully.

We loved our Breakfast Food tour with Shigeki. He was very informative & considerate & we had a wonderful time with him. We loved the places he took us to & tasted food we never thought we would have tried. He was very thoughtful in accommodating my gluten allergy & we all loved the experience very much.

We recently joined the Tokyo Old Town Food Tour in Yanaka Ginza, guided by Makki from Arigato Travel, and we couldn’t have asked for a better experience. From the very beginning, Makki impressed us with her warm hospitality and deep knowledge of the area. She took us to several hidden gems, including a memorable tea ceremony where we learned about traditional Japanese customs firsthand. One of the highlights for our children was searching for the charming cat statues around the market—this playful treasure hunt kept them engaged and excited throughout the tour. On top of that, Makki went above and beyond to accommodate our dietary needs by helping us find halal food options, which truly showcased her thoughtfulness and resourcefulness. We left with full hearts, satisfied taste buds, and plenty of unforgettable memories. If you’re looking for an immersive, family-friendly cultural experience in Tokyo, we highly recommend booking a tour with Arigato Travel—and especially with Makki! 先日、Arigato Travelのマッキさんがガイドを務める「東京オールドタウンフードツアー（谷中銀座）」に参加しましたが、大満足の体験となりました。ツアーの初めから終わりまで、マッキさんは温かいおもてなしと地域に関する豊富な知識を披露してくださり、とても頼りになりました。特に印象的だったのは、伝統的なお茶の作法を体験できたことです。日本文化の奥深さを間近で感じることができ、とても勉強になりました。 子どもたちは、谷中銀座の商店街にあるかわいらしい猫の置物を探しながら散策するのを楽しんでいました。また、わたしたちの食事制限（ハラール対応）についても、マッキさんが非常に親身になって相談に乗ってくださり、本当に助かりました。家族みんなが安心して楽しめるツアーをお探しの方には、ぜひArigato Travel、そしてマッキさんのガイドをおすすめします！

Loved the tour of an old section of Tokyo. Many hidden gems. Perfect pace. Delicious food tasting. And a beautiful surprise at the end. The guide was charming. Highly recommend

Our tour through Yanaka with Satoko was excellent!! Our family thoroughly enjoyed it. Satoko was an excellent guide; she was professional, friendly and answered all our questions. The Tea Ceremony was the highlight!!! We also enjoyed lunch and sampling sweet delicacies of Japan. Thank you Arigato Food Tours!!

An awesome tour with Makki , fun and we learnt lots , she was a fabulous guide , fun and interesting . We really enjoyed the day

Visiting from New York, my daughter and I had the pleasure of a 3-hour tour of Tokyo’s old neighborhood in the northern part of the city with Arigato Travel. Our guide, Claire, made it fun, informative, and quite yummy! We got to sample many tasty treats unique to the area. And the shop owners, who knew Claire, were welcoming and engaging. She also shared colorful facts about the Yanaka Ginza shopping area and the various Shinto and Buddhist shines and ancient cemeteries along the way, awakening a surprising fascination in my young daughter. Even though we had a tea ceremony reservation time to keep (and you CAN’T be late for that!), she was patient and flexible as we wandered into the artisanal boutiques for a bit of shopping. Claire made sure we were right on time for the tea ceremony, which was much more authentic and warmly inclusive than the last one we did. I can’t recommend this tour more enthusiastically. It was a grand experience, from start to finish!!

Thomas was great, knowledgeable, and informative. He told us lots about the Gion area and knew lots about the local culture and history!

This morning Claire took us on a relaxed and informal tour of Yanaka district. Taking in both the well-trodden, and no so well-trodden sights, she gave us a real taste of so many culinary delights. From kawaii cat tail doughnuts to the best egg sandwich ever, we rounded off the tour with a tranquil and friendly tea ceremony at the Gallery Okubo. Claire was the perfect guide, giving us insight into this wonderful culture, answering our many questions and catering to our varied dietary requirements within our family. Thank you Claire! We also thoroughly enjoyed the Tsukiji Breakfast Tour two days ago - book this company, they’re great!

Amazing and enriching experience!! Sandra was an incredible guide and lovely for our family to spend a few hours with. The food experience was great and there was more than enough to leave us feeling full and satisfied by the end. Would 100% do another Arigato tour!

Now that I've had several weeks to look back on my first trip to Japan, I can say that my experience with Hannah and Mick was a wise choice and one of the best things we did. Tokyo is so big and it can be intimidating to explore areas that aren't talked about as much. We enjoyed walking around Yanaka and savoring the foods we tried. Our favorite was the menchi-katsu! The tea ceremony was also a unique experience. Overall, I would highly recommend Arigato Travel and suggest anyone who loves Japanese food and culture book a tour with them.

On the advice of our son and his family who visited Tokyo approximately one year ago, I contacted Arigato and emailed Lauren regarding what we were looking for in a tour guide. I told her we will be in Tokyo for 2 1/2 days prior to joining another professional tour for two weeks. I explained that we wanted someone who could take us around Tokyo to see the sights our other tour would not be seeing. After several emails back-and-forth, I was assured that someone would be taking us to the sights of Tokyo we wanted to see and helping us with regards to choosing restaurants and food that would please our adventurous palates. When we got to Tokyo, we were thrilled to meet our tour guide and driver, Josh. Josh was absolutely amazing! He is so knowledgeable and fun. We ended up going all over the city, enjoying the sights and enjoying all the new foods that he introduced us to as well as joining us, along with Lauren, for a fabulous dinner. We were so pleased with our choice of using Arigato and the services that Arigato provides. Do not hesitate contacting Lauren for your tour guide needs. She and Josh are just amazing!!

Sandra was such a wonderful accommodating guide! She was flexible to our requests, calm, funny, knowledgeable, and overall ensured we had a great time! I would definitely recommend Arigato tours and you should definitely ask for Sandra as your guide!

We had a fantastic morning with Hannah and Kazuno on the Old Town food tour. We sampled loads of wonderful food and drinks along the way and stopped for an amazing Japanese curry for lunch (one the best we’ve had!) The owner of the restaurant was such a delight and made us feel very welcome. We also took part in a wonderful tea ceremony and again the hosts wear incredibly warm and welcoming. Hannah and Kazuno were so knowledgable about the areas we explored and the history. All in all it was a wonderful day, thank you.

Sandra was an excellent tour guide. We covered the Tokyo old town and had a fantastic tea ceremony. I highly recommend this walking food tour.

Delightful day through old town Yanaka with Sandra who was the perfect guide for all things food and craft. Delicious goodies and lunch. Even accommodating me as a vegan. And a tea ceremony too! What a treat.

Fantastic tour. So interesting and all the food was so yummy. Our guide Makki was wonderful- lots of knowledge but also felt we were walking around with a friend. Highly recommend- hope Makki is your guide x

Michie was such a knowledgable, friendly and energetic host… achieving the best balance between food, culture and history! This is a picturesque walk through Old Town Tokyo, stopping for some very delcious treats and meals.

This tour is a great way to look at the “real”Tokyo, away from the business district and the high end shopping. The tour was both fun and educational. Our guide, Hannah, was a gem, very knowledgeable and personable. I would recommend this trip to others

The tour was very entertaining. The guides Sandra and her partner were full of information about old Tokyo.

Makki was really kind and incorporated our interests in the food tour! Not only did we get to eat delicious local food, but we were able to walk all around Yanaka to see how beautiful Yanaka is and hear stories about its history and culture. The tea ceremony was an absolutely incredible experience. Makki also took pictures of us during the tour which was great! I would say this is a must-do tour. Just make sure you don't plan anything too close to when the tour is scheduled to be finished. It might go over or you might want to stay to continue to check out the shops!

We had Michie San as our tour guide and she was amazing. She is very friendly and knowledgeable about her favorite town of yanaka. The pace was good. The snack portions are large so definitely go with a hungry tummy. Lunch was delicious at a lovely Japanese resto. We have requested for a Japanese confectionery (wagashi) making class on top of the tour aLong with tea ceremony. It was such a fun learning experience I highly recommend to pay extra for it. You get to pick a tea bowl for the tea ceremony. I have never Imagined I would hold a 400 yr old tea bowl in my hands. It was fascinating. All in all I wholeheartedly recommend this walking tour if you want something about off the beaten path and the loud and fast Tokyo. A piece from the last that is still quite alive!

We did a food and cultural tour in Yanaka with Makki. It was our second day in Tokyo, so it was great to be shown around a neighbourhood and to try some lovely food. We tried some street snacks, had a delicious set lunch and participated in a great tea ceremony with some very old Japanese ceramics. It was also great walking between food stops and soaking up the atmosphere in this beautiful neighbourhood. Thank you for a great experience.

My daughter, age 13, and I did the Old Town Food Tour with Yuko . It was interesting and fun. We were staying not far from the area where the food tour was conducted, but had not explored Yanaka Ginza before the tour. Yuko shared insights into the history of the area, taking us to some of the temples, as well as providing an opportunity to sample a range of foods. She went out of her way to accommodate us, to work out what we would like and be interested in, so as to make the tour fun. The team ceremony was special and I am very glad we had that experience.

It was so fun to explore Tokyo with Yuko! Doing the tea ceremony with the the family of Yuka-An was the highlight of our trip! We did two tours with Arigato and both were by far the best of all the 5 walking tours we took while in Japan.

We really enjoyed our food tour and tea ceremony in the old town of Asakusa in Tokyo. We learned about the shrines protecting the district, tasted snacks and sake and sweets and had a full lunch meal in a traditional restaurant. We also got to experience a tea ceremony and drink out of hundreds-year-old cups. It was our first day in Tokyo so we appreciated learning about what foods we should try on our trip. We asked a hundred questions and could have asked a hundred more. Asakusa has lovely neighborhoods to walk around and old, traditional shops to duck into.

We thoroughly enjoyed our food tour! The tea ceremony was extra special and all the food along the way was delicious and our guide informative. We (two 50+ year olds and one 15 year old) highly recommend this tour. It was a highlight of our trip and we liked doing it early in our trip so we could use the knowledge throughout our trip.

Yuko was an excellent guide as she strolled with us through Yanaka. We tasted everything from coffee to sake and from sweets to soba. She explained about the foods and the local culture. We even participated in a formal tea ceremony at a very special family-owned shop that’s been around for generations. What a treat!

This was such an enjoyable and interesting tour, in Yanaka, a part of Tokyo which we would not otherwise have known about. Our excellent guide, Josh, took us to several small food shops to sample various delicious savoury and sweet things, and then for lunch. We ended with a beautiful tea ceremony, using very old family heirloom bowls. This was a lovely experience. Josh also showed us many other interesting places in Yanaka. As it is cherry blossom season it looked especially pretty. He was very knowledgeable. We liked Yanaka so much that we went back a few days later and ate the same snacks and had lunch at the same place! We would highly recommend this tour.

My wife and I loved this tour. We tend to do food tours in most countries we visit to get a real experience with locals and their food. Michie was our host and she had a new assistant who were both lovely caring people who really cared that we had a great time. Their English was excellent and nothing was too much trouble. We experienced a wide variety of food and venues. Would recommend highly.

We discovered a part of Tokyo that we would never have known by ourselves. We learnt about food, culture and a rich history of Japan. Michi was an amazing tour guide. She was so patient every time we saw a shop and wanted to go in and shop. She explained the history of the neighborhood. The Tea Ceremony was so much fun and at the end the owner of the place gave us drawing of the cups we used (one was 100 years old) which we now have framed in our house. We will definitely come back to Japan again and this time book more Arigato tours. Highly recommend.

We met Norma and immediately knew it was going to be a great day. We walked a mere 100 steps before our first tasting - crackers which had a variety of options. From there we learned more about the history of the neighborhood and walked down the main shopping street. Norma was fantastic at reading our group and generously helping our group member who had some mobility challenges - being sure to walk a speed that was comfortable for her. Norma also allowed us plenty of time to shop and explore without feeling rushed. The tea ceremony with cups dating back to the 1700s was also quite a treat. All in all, 5 stars for this tour and Norma!

We had a great time with our guide Josh visiting Yanaka old town. It’s an area spared from the air raids during the war so is full of quaint shops and narrow alleys in the heart of modern Tokyo. The highlight was participating in a tea ceremony. The 4th generation tea master served us in antique bowls, some 200 to 300 years old. A wonderful experience.