Higashiyama Food Arcade is known as “Kobe's kitchen” and has long been loved by Kobe citizens.
About 130 stores are lined up along a 300-meter stretch from north to south!It will be a fast-paced 3-hour tour where you can eat, walk, and experience Japanese culture and history.
The lively food arcade stimulates the senses with its lively shouts, appetizing smells, retro designs and so on. It is hard not to be distracted by all the colorful flowers, sundry goods and fresh handmade food!
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
Kobe Port Terminal
- The 3rd floor plaza of Kobe Port Terminal I'll be waiting with a sign that has your name on it. "Pick-up time and location are flexible — just let me know what works best for you!"
Higashiyama Shopping Street
Dive into Kobe's vibrant food scene on this 4-hour private tour! Known as Kobe's kitchen, this food arcade offers a taste of famous street food and homemade delicacies.
Kobe is home to both the sea and mountains, and is actually the most food-rich city in the Kansai region.
Perfect for foodies and adventurous types who want to explore the heart of Kobe's food culture. We will guide you to our carefully selected restaurants! Let's get going!
Famous “kamaboko” stores have been featured in the Michelin Guide. What in the world does it taste like?
A long-established yakitori restaurant that has been in business for 100 years.
A yakitori shop that can only be found in Kobe! Unique cooking method and ingredients! What is the secret?
A very popular restaurant where people wait in line for over an hour! What is the selling point of this restaurant?
Colorful inari sushi. There are three types of rice in Japan. Do you know the difference between them? And what are the ingredients?
And so on.
This is the start of a tour of the kitchen of Kobe, the freshest food in Kansai.
Souvenir time and food encore time
Once your stomach is full, it's time to take your happy hour home.
We will guide you to delicious and special souvenirs that you can only buy here.
You can also have another taste of your favorite food.
Taxi back to Kobe port
We'll take a taxi back to the cruise terminal with plenty of time for boarding.
Ending Point
Kobe Port Terminal
This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
・Guide fee
Transportation fees of you and other personal expenses.
1)Do not eat breakfast, and eat sparingly the night before as well. You can eat a full meal of very reasonable and fresh food.
2)This tour involves a lot of walking, so make sure to wear comfortable shoes.
3)Please let me know in advance if you have any food allergies or other dietary restrictions.
4)Local small shops do not always accept credit cards or any electronic money. Please bring enough cash.
5)Please prepare your own garbage bag (small vinyl bag).
6)Depending on the day of the week, some shopss my not open.So please let us know in advance if you have any special requests or foods you would like to eat.
7)Please let me know the date and time so that I can be flexible.
8)Please note that I cannot take responsibility for any accidents that occur during the tour. I highly recommend getting travel insurance before you come to Japan.
• Our tours can be customized according to your needs and preferences.
• Click below to tell us what you are looking for.
Hi, I am Rika. I am in Kobe city now.
Welcome to Rika’s personal guide tour!
I was born in China, group up in Japan, high school was an English course, and majored in Business Administration at Kobe University, so I speak Chinese, Japanese and English!
I like working with people. I worked for a major trading company, competing for first or second place in Japan, for over 10 years. I am currently working for a share houses company. The company manages more than 12 share houses in Kobe. About half of our residents are foreigners from different contries. I really enjoy talking with the people who have various backgrounds around the world.
Kobe is a very convenient place with easy access to Osaka, Nara and Kyoto! It is famous for its traditional culture, old history, wonderful nature and delicious food, like Kobe beef as you know!
So far I have two main tours available.
One is” Eating Tour” at Higashiyama shopping street. Higashiyama Shopping Street is known as “Kobe's kitchen” and has long been loved by Kobe citizens. You can enjoy the local food tour and learn some survival Japanese while you are at it!
The other one is Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge, which is one of the world's longest suspension bridges! We can go to the top of the Bridge, 300m over the sea, and enjoy the panoramic view from the top!
Let’s get together to enjoy real Japan! I am waiting for you!
Marshawn H.
“Kobe and Beyond”
We had the pleasure of having Rika as our tour guide in Kobe, Japan, and she was excellent. She took us to all the places we requested and went above and beyond to answer our many questions. Before our tour, she even researched how to navigate to an off-the-beaten-path outlet mall we wanted to visit, ensuring everything went smoothly. Throughout the day, she made sure we felt safe and comfortable while navigating the streets and trains. Thanks to her, we left with a deeper appreciation and understanding of Kobe—beyond just its famous Kobe beef. Rika’s professionalism, preparation, and warm personality made our experience truly memorable. Highly recommended!
Rika N.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! I still vividly remember that day — all the walking we did, the laughter we shared, and the delicious food we enjoyed. I often tell my family and friends about it, as if it happened just yesterday. It made me so happy to hear you speak about the beautiful things you discovered in Japan. And of course, the highlight was our outlet shopping adventure! I still wear our matching earrings often — they take priority over many of my other accessories, hahaha. Shopping with girl friends is truly more fun, and I guess that’s something universal! I look forward to seeing you again in Japan someday. Warm regards, Rika
Tim J.
“Perfect Kobe Experience from Ship to City”
We had a wonderful afternoon and evening with Rika! Arriving on the Spectrum of the Seas, we were welcomed right from the harbor with a personal touch and perfect service. She guided us to the most beautiful spots in Kobe and shared many interesting insights along the way. The atmosphere was warm and relaxed, and the highlight was without a doubt the delicious Kobe beef – absolutely outstanding! Highly recommended for anyone wanting to discover Kobe in a special way.
Rika N.
Hi Tim, Thank you so much for your wonderful review — it truly warms my heart and encourages me. I still often think back to the wonderful time we spent together and share those memories with my friends and family. It was more than just sightseeing — I truly enjoyed our many conversations about different cultures with your intelligent and insightful mother, and I learned a great deal. Thank you for giving me such special memories. I’m planning to take a friend to that Belgian restaurant in Sannomiya’s dining district — the one with the delicious beer — and I’ll be sure to send you my impressions and some photos afterwards. Until recently, I thought Belgian chocolate was the most famous thing from Belgium, but thanks to you, I’ve discovered so many more charms of your country. Over the years, I’ve guided many international guests, but you and your mother asked the most thoughtful questions and truly engaged in cultural exchange. It gave me the opportunity to reflect on and deepen my own understanding of Japanese culture. Thank you so much for that! This work allows me to meet so many wonderful people and serves as a window to the world. I will continue to share the beauty of Japan — and Kobe in particular — with people from all around the globe. I hope our paths cross again someday — it would be a pleasure to see you both in Kobe or elsewhere in the world. Warm regards, Rika
Antje C.
“KOBE Beef and Japanese Tea Ceremony”
We were incredibly fortunate to experience a memorable tour in Kobe with Rika. She not only showed us the main highlights of the city but also introduced us deeply to Japanese culture and customs. The most impressive part was participating in a traditional tea ceremony, where we could experience the delicate rituals and the beauty of this centuries-old tradition firsthand. The highlight of our tour was definitely the Kobe Beef restaurant, where we enjoyed the famous Kobe beef in an extraordinary atmosphere. The experience was simply unforgettable and perfectly rounded off our trip. Rika is an extremely friendly, professional, and dedicated guide who led us through the day with great passion. We can only warmly recommend her as a tour guide and are grateful for this wonderful experience! 私たちは、リカさんと一緒に神戸での素晴らしいツアーを体験できたことを非常に幸運に思います。彼女は市の主要な見どころを案内してくれるだけでなく、日本の文化や習慣についても深く紹介してくれました。特に印象的だったのは、伝統的な茶道に参加したことで、何百年も続くこの儀式の繊細さと美しさを直接体験できたことです。 ツアーのハイライトは間違いなく神戸ビーフレストランで、そこで有名な神戸牛を素晴らしい雰囲気の中で味わうことができました。この体験は忘れられないものであり、私たちの旅を完璧に締めくくるものでした。 リカさんはとても親切で、プロフェッショナルで、情熱的なガイドです。彼女に案内してもらった一日を心から感謝しており、心からおすすめします! もしさらに調整したい部分があれば教えてくださいね!
Rika N.
Dear Antje, Thank you very much for your kind and thoughtful review! It was a great pleasure to spend the day with you in Kobe. I’m so happy to hear that you enjoyed not only the famous spots but also learning about Japanese culture. I’m especially glad that you found the tea ceremony memorable. It’s a beautiful and delicate tradition, and I’m glad you could experience it in person. Seeing how close and kind you and your husband are made me think again about how special family trips are. After our tour, I actually went on a short trip with my own husband and son. Thanks to you, I was reminded how important it is to spend time with family. I’m also happy that you enjoyed the Kobe beef lunch. It sounds like it was a great way to finish the day and a wonderful memory from your trip. If you ever come back to Japan, I would love to see you again. Thank you once again! Warm regards, Rika
$135/ per group