Flavours of Tokyo: A Journey Through Time - Small Group Food Tour
Traveler rating
5.0/5
Based on 165 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Flavours of Tokyo: A Journey Through Time - Small Group Food Tour worth booking?
Flavours of Tokyo: A Journey Through Time - Small Group Food Tour is a 5.5-hour experience in Tokyo, Japan, from $154 per person. It scores 80 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Strongly Recommended”, based on a 5/5 rating across 165 reviews. This booking is non-refundable, so pick your date carefully. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 80 / 100
- Rating
- 5/5 (165)
- Duration
- 5.5 hours
- From
- $154 per person
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! You will need to be able to walk at a reasonable pace in a group environment and should expect to walk about 6.5 km or 4 miles in total over the 5.5 hours. You will also need to be able to walk up and down a large of number of stairs at subway stations. If you are not able to meet the walking requirement, the small group tour is not suitable for you, please contact us to change to a private tour.
What you get
- Lunch
- Snacks
- Alcoholic beverages
About this experience
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! You will need to be able to walk at a reasonable pace in a group environment and should expect to walk about 6.5 km or 4 miles in total over the 5.5 hours. You will also need to be able to walk up and down a large of number of stairs at subway stations. If you are not able to meet the walking requirement, the small group tour is not suitable for you, please contact us to change to a private tour.
What's included
Included
- Lunch
- Snacks
- Alcoholic beverages
Not included
- The costs of transport used during the tour are payable by yourself. We take two short subway rides.
What you'll see and do
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!
90 minutes here
Nihonbashi Bridge
Nihonbashi Bridge
Pass by without stopping
Fukutoku Shrine
Fukutoku Shrine: Discover the differences between Shrines and Temples. Learn how to cleanse your spirit and pray at a shrine.
10 minutes here
Ginza
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).
70 minutes here
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).
70 minutes here
Tokyo International Forum
From the railway tracks of Ginza and Yurakcho, we stroll to Tokyo Station calling in at the impressive International Forum Building on the route.
15 minutes here
Kitte Marunouchi
Kitte Building
10 minutes here
Tokyo Station Marunouchi Ekimae Hiroba
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).
20 minutes here
Daimaru Tokyo
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).
20 minutes here
Akihabara
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.
45 minutes here
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Tokyo
Nihombasi Mitsukoshi Department Store New Building. Basement Level (B1).
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
Returns to the starting point
Before you book
- Cancellation
- All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Tue, Thu, Sat
- Group size
- Up to 9 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Hello! Tokyo Tours
Know before you go
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- You will be granted a full refund (excluding booking and administration charges) if you cancel more than 24 hours in advance of your tour. There are no refunds if you do not turn up for the tour or if you are late for the tour.
- You will need to be able to walk at a reasonable pace in a group environment and should expect to walk about 6.5 km or 4 miles in total over the 5.5 hours. You will also need to be able to walk up and down a large of number of stairs at subway stations. If you are not able to meet the walking requirement, the small group tour is not suitable for you, please contact us to change to a private tour.
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 165 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
8 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Food and drink
8 mentionsThe tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers.
Knowledge and storytelling
7 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Traveler reviews
165 verified traveler reviews for Flavours of Tokyo: A Journey Through Time - Small Group Food Tour. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Great Food and History of Tokyo
This was an awesome experience. Our guide, Tina, was so knowledgeable and took us to wonderful spots that we would have never found on our own. We not only ate great food, but learned a lot about Tokyo's history. I highly recommend this tour!
via Tripadvisor
Great Food and History
This was a great experience! Our guide, Tina, gave us a great tour of Tokyo, and we learned so much about the city's history. She took us to out-of-the way stops that we would have never experienced on our own. It was well worth it!
via Viator
Memorable Food Tour
This was such a fun and memorable food tour! We visited parts of Japan that we had never seen before and discovered so much about the variety of Japanese food and the history behind it. Our guide Akira was excellent — very knowledgeable, friendly, and happy to share interesting stories along the way. We had a great time and came away with a much deeper appreciation for Japanese food and culture. Definitely worth doing!
Response from the operator: Hello! thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re so happy to hear that you had such a fun and memorable time on the tour. It’s great to know you enjoyed discovering new parts of Japan and learning more about Japanese food and its history. We’ll be sure to share your kind words with Akira—he’ll be happy to hear that his stories and knowledge made your experience even more enjoyable. Thank you for joining us, and we hope to see you again in Tokyo!
via Tripadvisor
Worst Food Tour Ever
This is the worst food tour we ever had and we have done over 20 in different cities around the world. When you think about exploring local food for over 5 hours in Tokyo all kind of amazing food comes to your mind but not this! During the first 2.5h you get little bites, mostly sweet, bought at shops for you that you taste in the street - nothing to drink, not even water. Then you get some cheap noodles and chicken in “salary man” style places. Tina, our tour guide was great - hence the 2 points. Hint: if you research enough you can actually find the food offered for this tour.
Response from the operator: Hi Christian, Thank you for your review. We are genuinely sorry to hear that you considered this the “worst food tour ever”. Having spoken with Tina following your tour, it seems that the experience you were expecting was simply very different from the tour you had been booked onto. Our Tokyo Food Tour is not designed as a tour where guests simply visit restaurants to eat a selection of popular Japanese dishes. It is a five-hour journey through the past, present and future of Tokyo, using food to explore the history, culture, society and economic development of Japan. Every stop and every food included has been carefully selected to form part of that story. The first part of the tour takes place in historic Nihonbashi and focuses on the Edo period. As described in our itinerary, this section consists of smaller tastings while visiting several food businesses dating back to the Edo period and learning about Nihonbashi’s importance in the development of Tokyo. As we move towards Tokyo Station, the story progresses through the Meiji Restoration and Japan’s Westernisation, with foods such as the fruit sando and croquette illustrating how Western food was adopted and adapted in Japan. We then explore Japan’s post-war economic development and salaryman culture through the everyday foods, restaurants and drinking traditions associated with working life. The final part of the tour looks towards the future and how Japanese food culture continues to evolve.. So in terms of your description of the food itself, you are correct: the first section includes a number of smaller tastings, followed later by more substantial food stops and further small tastings. This is intentional and is exactly how the tour is described. The foods are not simply chosen because they are enjoyable things to eat; they have been carefully selected to support the historical, cultural and sociological story that makes this tour quite different from a conventional food tour. We understand that you did not make this booking yourselves and that the tour was arranged for you by a third party. It therefore seems likely that the nature of the experience was not fully communicated to you beforehand. If what you were looking for was primarily a tour focused on eating a large selection of well-known Japanese dishes, then a more conventional food tour would undoubtedly have been a better choice for you. We are, however, very pleased to hear that you thought Tina was a great guide, and we will certainly pass your kind comments on to her. We are sorry that the tour selected for you was not suited to your personal interests, but we hope this provides some context for why the experience – and the foods included within it – are designed in the way they are.
via Tripadvisor
Opens a new door to Tokyo’s food culture
Enjoyed many things I would never find by myself
Response from the operator: Hello! Thank you for your review! We are happy to know that you enjoyed your tour. We look forward in welcoming you on another tour when you're back in Tokyo!
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 5.5 hours
- Free cancellation
- Non-refundable
- Minimum age to book
- 6+
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Tue, Thu, Sat
- Price range
- $154 to $176
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 58
- Verdict
- Strongly Recommended
Who runs this experience
Operated by Hello! Tokyo Tours, who run 6 experiences we rank across 2 cities, with an average Outty Ranking of 63.7.
See everything Hello! Tokyo Tours runsWhy this scores 80
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Flavours of Tokyo: A Journey Through Time - Small Group Food Tour: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Tokyo.
How much does Flavours of Tokyo: A Journey Through Time - Small Group Food Tour cost?
+
Prices start at $154 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Tokyo usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Flavours of Tokyo: A Journey Through Time - Small Group Food Tour take?
+
Plan for about 5.5 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Tokyo is not rushed.
Is Flavours of Tokyo: A Journey Through Time - Small Group Food Tour worth it?
+
It holds an Outty Ranking of 80 out of 100, which we label "Strongly Recommended". That score blends traveler sentiment (5/5 across 165 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable food & drink in Tokyo, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Flavours of Tokyo: A Journey Through Time - Small Group Food Tour?
+
No. This experience is sold on a non-refundable basis, so only book a date you are confident about. Similar experiences in the city do offer free cancellation if flexibility matters more than price.
Is Flavours of Tokyo: A Journey Through Time - Small Group Food Tour suitable for kids and families?
+
The operator sets a minimum age of 6. Older children generally do well here, and families should factor in the 5.5-hour running time when deciding.
How far in advance should I book Flavours of Tokyo: A Journey Through Time - Small Group Food Tour?
+
Around 58 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Tokyo can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
+
Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Tokyo and add a light layer if any part of the 5.5-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Flavours of Tokyo: A Journey Through Time - Small Group Food Tour start and how do I get there?
+
The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Tokyo within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Tokyo?
+
Tokyo is less a city than a stack of neighborhoods with completely different opening hours. A guided food crawl through Shinjuku's Omoide Yokocho gets you past the no-tourist curtains, while the day trips west to Hakone and Fuji need an early start to be worth the fare. Our ranking weighs guide quality heavily here, because in Tokyo the guide is the product. On Outty we rank every Tokyo experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Best of Shinjuku: Izakaya Food Tour (3-4 Stops, 14+ Tastings), Tokyo: Asakusa Senso-ji Temple & Old Town Walking Tour, Matcha Making Class in Tokyo with Authentic Japanese Sweets Set. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Tokyo?
+
Late March to May for blossom, October to November for clear Fuji views. Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Tokyo?
+
Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
+
Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
What is included in Flavours of Tokyo: A Journey Through Time - Small Group Food Tour?
+
Included: Lunch; Snacks; and Alcoholic beverages. Not included: The costs of transport used during the tour are payable by yourself. We take two short sub. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.
Where is the meeting point for Flavours of Tokyo: A Journey Through Time - Small Group Food Tour?
+
Nihombasi Mitsukoshi Department Store New Building. Basement Level (B1). Hotel pickup is not included, so plan your own transport and arrive 15 minutes early.
What languages is Flavours of Tokyo: A Journey Through Time - Small Group Food Tour offered in?
+
It runs in English. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.
Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for Flavours of Tokyo: A Journey Through Time - Small Group Food Tour?
+
Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.
What happens to Flavours of Tokyo: A Journey Through Time - Small Group Food Tour if the weather is bad?
+
This experience depends on good weather. If it is canceled because of poor weather, you are offered a different date or a full refund.
What do travelers say about Flavours of Tokyo: A Journey Through Time - Small Group Food Tour?
+
Across 165 reviews averaging 5.0 out of 5, recurring themes include the guide, food and drink, knowledge and storytelling. Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Ready to lock in your spot?
Pick a date, choose your group, and see the exact price for Flavours of Tokyo: A Journey Through Time - Small Group Food Tour.
Pick your date
