--- title: "Flavours of Tokyo: A Journey Through Time - Private Food Tour" lang: en type: tour city: Tokyo country: Japan price: 299 currency: EUR price_unit: per_person availability: bookable rating: 4.96 reviews: 52 duration_minutes: 330 languages: [en] rank_in_category: 19 of 45 (Food & Drink Tours) schedule_checked: 2026-11-07 data_updated: 2026-11-08 canonical: https://guidekin.com/japan/tokyo/tours/flavours-of-tokyo-a-journey-through-time-private-food-tour/ --- # Flavours of Tokyo: A Journey Through Time - Private Food Tour **Guidekin's take:** Explore Nihonbashi, Ginza and Akihabara through dashi, yakitori and sweets on a private tour for your party. Fourteen food tastings and a lemon sour are included; you pay separately for two short subway rides. 4.96 from 52 reviews at €299 per person for 5h 30m. In our comparison: #19 of 45 in Food & Drink Tours, by rating weighted by review volume (table below). ## Overview 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! This is a private tour and only the people that you personally invite will be in attendance. Hotel pick-up is available - an extra hour is added to the tour to cover the travel time. ## Before you book - Hotel pickup: no car needed - Min. 2 to book: not for solo travellers - 7 start times: between 11:00 and 14:00 - Food included: Lemon Sour (Japanese alcoholic drink) - Strollers OK: infants accepted - Non-refundable: no free cancellation **Pickup:** Hotel pickup included ## Key facts - Price: from €299 per person for the Meet in Nihonbashi (5.5 hrs) option; other options up to €320 - Duration: 5h 30m - Rating: 4.96/5 from 52 reviews (collected from Guidekin & Viator & Tripadvisor) - Operator: Hello! Tokyo Tours - Minimum booking: 2 travellers at this price - Group: Private tour, your party only - Guide languages: English - Start times: 11:00, 11:30, 12:00, 12:30, 13:00, 13:30, 14:00 - Booking: Instant confirmation, mobile ticket - Price checked on Viator: 2026-11-07 ## Reviews 4.96 from 52 ratings on Guidekin, Viator & Tripadvisor. 98% of ratings with a star breakdown are 4 or 5 stars: 51 of 52. - 5 stars: 51 (98%) - 4 stars: 0 (0%) - 3 stars: 1 (2%) - 2 stars: 0 (0%) - 1 star: 0 (0%) ### What reviewers say Reviewers praise the food variety and historical context; the route involves substantial walking. **Praised:** - Guides connect food tastings with Tokyo's history and everyday culture - A wide range of dishes, snacks and unfamiliar flavours - Stops in neighbourhoods and eateries reviewers would not find alone - Patient, friendly guides who engage children and answer questions - Practical help using Tokyo's trains and subway **Complaints:** - Substantial walking between neighbourhoods and food stops Written by Guidekin from the 50 most recent English reviews on Tripadvisor & Viator (2019-11-19 to 2026-09-22); last checked 2026-11-08. ## Tour options Prices are the operator's current list price for two travellers (whole euros); options sold only to bigger parties say so; pick the option on the booking page. | Option | Price | Guide languages | Details | |---|---|---|---| | Meet in Nihonbashi (5.5 hrs) | €299 / person (for 2+ people) | English | - | | Meet at your hotel (6.5 hrs) | €320 / person (for 2+ people) | English | Pickup included | ## What's included - Yakitori. Tempura Soba. Tamagoyaki. Fruits Sando - Dashi. Katsuobushi. Kombu. Satsuma-age. Amazake. Imo Kenpi. Daifuku or Dorayaki. Pokemon Taiyaki. Matcha (green tea) bubble tea or ice-cream - Lemon Sour (Japanese alcoholic drink) ## Not included - The costs of transport used during the tour are payable by yourself. We take two short subway rides. ## Itinerary 1. **Nihonbashi** (1h 30m) - 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... 2. **Nihonbashi Bridge** (pass by, no stop) 3. **Fukutoku Shrine** (10m) - : Discover the differences between Shrines and Temples. Learn how to cleanse your spirit and pray at a shrine. 4. **Ginza** (1h 10m) - 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... 5. **Yurakucho District** (1h 10m) - 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... 6. **Tokyo International Forum** (15m) - From the railway tracks of Ginza and Yurakcho, we stroll to Tokyo Station calling in at the impressive International Forum Building on the route. 7. **Kitte Marunouchi** (10m) - Kitte Building 8. **Tokyo Station Marunouchi Ekimae Hiroba** (20m) - 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). 9. **Daimaru Tokyo** (20m) - 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). 10. **Akihabara** (45m) - 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... ## Schedule - Runs: daily - Departures: 11:00, 11:30, 12:00, 12:30, 13:00, 13:30, 14:00 - Schedule last checked: 2026-11-07 - These are published departures, not a live seat count; availability is confirmed at checkout. ## Cancellation All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations. ## Meeting point Nihombashi Mitsukoshi Department Store – New Building, Basement Level (B1) ## Good to know - Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller - Public transportation options are available nearby - Suitable for all physical fitness levels - 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. ## Cost for your party | People | Total | Per person | |---|---|---| | 2 | €598 | €299 | | 4 | €800 | €200 | | 6 | €1002 | €167 | Cheapest option for that party size from the operator's current price tiers; the calendar shows the exact figure for your date. Shared tours in Food & Drink Tours start at €90 per person. ## Compared with other Food & Drink Tours | Tour | Price | Duration | Rating | Group | |---|---|---|---|---| | **This tour · #19 of 45** | €299 | 5h 30m | 4.96 (52) | private | | [Tokyo West-Side Cycling & Food Tour](/japan/tokyo/tours/tokyo-west-side-cycling-food-tour/?format=md) | €95 | 3h 30m | 5.0 (223) | shared | | [Unlimited Local Night《ALL-YOU-CAN-DRINK》Find SHINJUKU Hidden gem!](/japan/tokyo/tours/unlimited-local-night-all-you-can-drink-find-shinjuku-hidden-gem/?format=md) | €104 | 3h | 4.99 (173) | shared | | [Eat and Drink Like a Local-Hidden Taverns & Ramen in Ueno, Tokyo](/japan/tokyo/tours/eat-and-drink-like-a-local-hidden-taverns-ramen-in-ueno-tokyo/?format=md) | €95 | 3h | 4.95 (1244) | shared | Ranked #19 of 45 in Food & Drink Tours by Guidekin score (rating weighted by review volume). Prices here run from €90 to €299, median €145; typical length 3h. 11 of 45 are private. Figures are live from the tour cards; the rubric is our handpicked set, not the whole market. Full list: https://guidekin.com/japan/tokyo/tokyo-food-tours/?format=md ## More in Tokyo - All Tokyo tours: https://guidekin.com/japan/tokyo/?format=md - This page as HTML: https://guidekin.com/japan/tokyo/tours/flavours-of-tokyo-a-journey-through-time-private-food-tour/ Filters, the full catalogue and the URL contract for this city: https://guidekin.com/japan/tokyo/?format=md