Shibuya’s famous crossing is only the starting point here. The real draw is a guided tasting of sushi, yakitori, yakiniku, takoyaki, sweets, and more, with beer, sake, whisky, and wine included. Tokyo-born guide Shinji leads the way and adds local stories as you move through the neighborhood. I like the private format, since your group…
Sangenjaya gives you a very different Tokyo: old neighborhood lanes, long-running local eateries, and Japanese comfort food just one station from Shibuya. This three-hour food walk trades famous tourist stops for everyday places where the food does the talking. I like the generous amount of food and the mix of savory and sweet tastings. I…
The best part of this tour is the sharp change of scene: you begin beside quiet moats and old castle stones, then finish among Marunouchi’s glass towers and the red-brick face of Tokyo Station. It gives you a clear picture of how Edo became modern Tokyo without asking you to spend a whole day on…
Mount Fuji is the star, but this private day tour gives you much more than a quick mountain photo. You move from the Fuji Subaru Line 5th Station to Chureito Pagoda, ancient cedar-lined shrines, clear spring ponds, a lava cave, and Lake Kawaguchiko. I especially like the door-to-door pickup within Tokyo’s 23 wards and the…
Shibuya’s bar scene is at its most entertaining when you get away from the giant crossings and let a guide lead you into an izakaya, a Japanese pub built around shared food and drinks. This 3.5-hour evening adds an unusual twist: you catch your own fish, then have the restaurant cook it for you. I…
Japan is a country where a little help can save you a lot of time. This 15-day small-group tour links Tokyo, Nikko, Mount Fuji, Kanazawa, Hiroshima, Miyajima, Kyoto, and more without asking you to solve every train connection yourself. Becki and Shawn lead a group capped at eight, and the itinerary can be adjusted around…
Tsukiji is best understood on foot, with your appetite ready. This three-hour private tour begins at Tsukiji Hongwanji Temple, then threads through the Outer Market before ending with sushi at a local restaurant. Your guide is a Tokyo university student, so the tour offers more than food facts. You can ask what young Japanese people…
Asakusa changes character after sunset. Senso-ji glows under the night sky, lanterns line Nakamise, and the Sumida River opens views toward Tokyo Skytree. This three-hour walk pairs those sights with four included foods and two drinks, giving you a useful taste of old Tokyo without spending an entire evening at a restaurant. I like the…
Adachi Fish Market gives you a side of Tokyo that most visitors miss. You can watch the city’s only specialized marine-products market come to life, then ride the train to Shibamata, a quieter old Tokyo district with temple carvings, sweets shops, and a famous movie character. I like the small group of no more than…
Tokyo’s best food discoveries are often found away from the famous sushi counters. This two-hour walk leads you through Musashi Koyama and Togoshi Ginza, where small shops serve fried chicken, charcoal-grilled skewers, handmade rice balls, curry bread, pudding, and other local bites. I like the small maximum group of eight, which keeps the walk friendly…
Insider guides, cultural deep-dives and current-affairs reporting on Tokyo and Japan, written by people who live here and go to the places they write about.