Tour Details
- Duration
- 3 hours
- Product Type
- Tour
- Venues
-
- Shibuya
- Dogenzaka
Photos & Highlights
- Be whisked away on a journey of flavors, from smoky yakitori to savory okonomiyaki
- Step into izakayas with a local foodie expert and experience Japanese food off the beaten path
Tour Description
Smell the sizzling yakitori floating past as you navigate the streets of Shibuya with a local expert who peels back the curtain on Japanese food culture and invites you into small, local eateries that you couldn’t find on your own. Here, you can leave any anxieties at the door – your guide is your cultural compass, showing you the way through spidery alleys and sprawling avenues while demystifying the intricacies of ordering at a standing sushi bar and proper chopstick etiquette.Â
This night tour will take you to several izakayas around the neon-drenched neighborhood of Shibuya. Izakayas are vibrant social hubs that come to life after the working day ends and can only be experienced in the evening.Â
Make your way through the neon-illuminated streets of Dogenzaka before enjoying a sit-down meal with your local guide, where you’ll gain an even deeper understanding of Japanese food culture.Â
Time permitting, venture to Nonbei Yokocho, also known as Drunkard’s Alley, for a craft beer and that yakitori you smelled earlier. Perhaps you’ll even have a chance to hop into a purikura, or Japanese photo booth, to capture memories of an incredible evening in Shibuya.Â
By the end of your tour, you will have experienced a side of Tokyo that many visitors fail to uncover. With a full belly and camera roll, you’ll also come away with a new appreciation for Japanese culture, a deeper understanding of mealtime traditions, and a story worth sharing about the night you dove into the heart of Tokyo's vibrant food scene.
- You’re looking for more than overdone ramen tours and crave a deep dive into the unique culinary culture with a local.
- You don’t want to feel intimidated to enter and dine at small, local Japanese izakayas. Our local expert will alleviate anxieties and make you feel more comfortable in hidden neighborhood gems.
- You know there’s more to the food scene in Tokyo but aren’t sure how to find reputable foodie destinations outside of the guidebook.Â
- You want to both enjoy the tantalizing flavors of Japanese cuisine and learn more about the vibrant tapestry of this iconic neighborhood, from the well-known Shibuya Crossing to the neon-drenched Dogenzaka.Â
- Begin with lighter fare, such as tempura or hanpen fish cakes, paired with shochu, local beer, or a hoppy (a beer-flavored, low-ABV drink).Â
- Move onto fluffy curry buns, melt-in-your-mouth mochi, and steaming noodle soup in the food halls.
- Enjoy a sit down meal where you can explore a full menu, and end with yakitori and one last drink before farewells.
- These tastings do replace a meal, so come hungry.
- Dietary restrictions should be shared in advance in order to possibly adapt the tour. We don’t recommend this tour for vegans or for people with celiac disease.Â
Additional Trip-Planning Resources
- A few things that pair well with this tour:
- A little pre-trip prep: Japanese Food Culture: An Essential Introduction for Your Trip
- Some handy chopstick skills – but don’t worry if you’re not a pro!
- An empty belly and an adventurous palate
- You might also like the Tokyo Evening Sake Tasting Tour
Transport
- This tour has an optional meeting point transfer if you'd like a private car to pick you up from your accommodation. If you choose to add this service, please add the address to your accommodation in the Additional Details section
Can the tour accommodate those with allergies or dietary restrictions?Â
We do our best to accommodate everyone, but it can be tricky to find tastings to suit all dietary requirements or preferences. Gluten-free diets are easily accommodated. Vegetarians can join, but there will be far fewer samples available. We don't recommend this tour for vegans or for people with celiac disease.Â
If you have any allergies or dietary restrictions, please let us know when you book. The more information about your diet and eating and drinking preferences that you can give us, the better prepared we can be for your tour!
Is it okay to tip my guide in Japan?
Yes. Context clients generally tip anywhere from 10-25% of the purchase price of a personal service such as this, depending on the quality of the experience and their tipping habits.
We understand that some of our valued guests may have mobility concerns, and we want to ensure you have a comfortable and enjoyable experience throughout your tour. If there are any accessibility concerns that your tour guide will need to be aware of, please let our team know at the time of booking.
Is this tour wheelchair-friendly?
This tour is not walking intensive, but there are bars and eateries located along narrow streets which can be difficult for wheelchair users to navigate. Not all bars and restaurants have an accessible entrance.Â
Please notify us of any accessibility issues so we can adapt tour stops accordingly.Â
Where You'll Start
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256 Reviews
Reviews can only be left by Context customers after they have completed a tour. For more information about our reviews, please see our FAQ.
This was an amazing tour! Our favorite part of Tokyo! John is the best guide. Highly recommend
Jean
Nov 27, 2024
Amazing time exploring Shibuya with John! His knowledge of the area combined with background in food history and science was a great combo.
Alex
Nov 25, 2024
A great evening! This was the first time we chose a Context tour purely for fun, rather than education, but it turned out to be both fun AND educational. After wandering fruitlessly around the Shibuya area before the tour, we met John outside the station, and he showed us many places in the area we would have never found ourselves. Great chicken ramen, fabulous sushi from the place that submitted the winning bid at auction for most expensive tuna ever, and a hole-in-the-wall bar that looked like it had no room until we found the "upstairs", a three-person crawl space. John knew everything about Japanese food, and was such a fun guy to show us a multi-course, slurpy side to the Tokyo food scene.
Stephanie
Nov 25, 2024
