Tokyo tour for food lovers & food replica making
Joined 2022
Would you like to explore the 'food capital' of Japan? This is a food-themed tour, which takes you to ①Tsukiji, the bustling fish and vegetable market, ②Ginza, the elegant shopping area where food takes on a different note, ③Asakusa, an old temple town with traditional sweets, and ④Kappabashi, the 'kitchen town', where you can make your own food replica!
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
At your central Tokyo hotel or at any station convenient for you in central Tokyo
Your central Tokyo hotel or station in central Tokyo
Pick up / meet up
Tsukiji Market
Tsukiji was the world's No.1 fish and vegetables market until 2018, when its wholesale section was moved to Toyosu. The retail section and a part of the wholesalers remained in Tsukiji, and the place is bustling with ordinary customers and professionals as before. The shelves are packed with seasonal goods of superior quality that cannot be found elsewhere and sampling them would be a good introduction to understanding our rich food culture. Ideal place to have an early lunch of sushi!
Ginza
Two stations from Tsukiji is Ginza, Tokyo's most expensive and elegant shopping district. At the basement floor of a department store, you will find an incredible array of foods at delicatessen section.
Asakusa
Asakusa is a temple town retaining an old-Edo (former Tokyo) feel. The Thunder Gate, with its iconic giant red lantern, and the Nakamise Shopping Street are the approach to the Senso-ji Temple. You can try various traditional sweets and enjoy looking at Edo-style goods sold along the street. At the Main Hall of the temple, let's pray for your safe trip!
Kappabashi
Kappabashi, the 'kitchen utensils town', lies next to Asakusa. It is an 800m street almost entirely populated with shops supplying the restaurant trade. What you cannot miss here is the elaborate replica food, a Japanese invention. They are often displayed outside restaurants to show what you should expect for what price you pay. You may have found them very helpful when no English menu is provided. And they do look very tasty, don't they? Here you can actually make wax replica yourself. You would be really surprised to know how miraculously they are made, so come on, let's try!
(If you and your group wish to try other experiences instead of food replica making, like traditional indigo dyeing, please let me know.)
Fee: replica food making - ¥3,000/person, indigo dyeing experience - ¥2,000～/person
Tawaramachi Station or Asakusa Station
End of the tour
Optional: Tokyo Skytree (Tour extension is possible with extra fee)
The tour ends here, but if the weather is fine and you are still full of energy to call it a day, the Tokyo Skytree is right in front of you, so why not extend the tour a little and see the daytime view from its observation deck gradually change into the gorgeous night view? Tokyo Skytree is the world's tallest TV tower. At the foot of the tower is Soramachi, with 300 shops and restaurants, aquarium, planetarium, etc.
You can decide on the tour extension on the day of the tour, because the visibility depends largely on the day's weather. Extra hour cost: ¥6,000 per hour / group.
Admission Fee (adult/weekday or holiday): up to Tembo Deck at 350m ¥2,100 or ¥2,300/person, up to Tembo Galleria at 450m ¥3,100 or ¥3,400/person
Ending Point
At the place of last visit or at a pre-arranged place
Want to personalize this tour?
This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
Inclusions & Exclusions
guide fee
hotel pick-up within central Tokyo area
transportation fee of you and guide: about ¥1,000 / person
lunch cost of you and guide (please pay the whole bill)
experience fee (please refer to the itinerary)
Please note that in case of extension of the tour, the followings will be added:
extra hour cost: ¥6600 per hour / group
entrance fee of you and guide (please refer to the itinerary)
Tour Important Information
・Tsukiji Market is closed on Sundays, most Wednesdays and on National Holidays. This TOUR WILL NOT BE HELD ON MARKET HOLIDAYS. Please contact the guide for holiday information.
・Replica food making / indigo dyeing experience requires prior reservation. Children aged 4 or older can participate in the experience. Please contact the guide before booking the tour.
・Many shops in Tsukiji do not accept credit cards, so please bring cash.
・Please inform the guide in advance of any FOOD RESTRICTIONS.
Important message from the supplier
・I am basically available from Thursday through Sunday. As for Monday through Wednesday, please contact me for availability.
・Some of the experiences/visits require prior reservation. Please send a direct message to me before booking a tour.
Cancellation Policy
- Free cancellation - 8 days prior to meeting time
- 50% Refund - 3 to 7 days prior to meeting time
- No Refund - Within 2 day(s) prior to meeting time
Joined 2022
About Tour Guide Keiko O.
Hello! I’m Keiko.
The memories of travels are somehow linked with foods: I absolutely agree with this. How about you? Travel and food are the two things I love, and I would be delighted to share my passion with you!
Before becoming a government licensed guide, I worked for 40 years as a bank manager. Throughout my career, I was always in contact with overseas, communicating with many people from across the world. Also, I lived in London for 3 years and went to elementary school there. Having such a background, I naturally became very much interested in cross-cultural exchange. Whenever I travel abroad, I always try to experience local culture, because it gives me a chance to encounter many interesting things.
As a guide, I wish to not only introduce the beauties and wonders of Japan, but also to take you on a first-hand experience tour of our country, especially focusing on Japanese culinary culture. It will be nice if you can take home what you experienced here and enjoy cooking Japanese dishes in your county – a lasting souvenir! My 40 years’ experience in traditional Japanese kaiseki cuisine might be helpful here.
Come and explore Tokyo with me!
Reviews
Alisha N.
“Perfect food tour”
Keiko was an amazing guide that was very knowledgeable about traditional Japanese food. She took us all over the city and even to Yokohama for a ramen making experience that was perfect for the whole family. I highly recommend her!
Keiko O.
Alisha-san, thank you very much for your nice comments! Being a foodie myself, I love doing a tour for guests with special interest in food, so it was indeed a wonderful experience for me too. I wish you all a nice stay in Japan, with a lot more of delicious encounters!
Hans L.
“Keiko brought Tokyo’s spirit to life — unforgettable!”
This was my first trip to Japan, though I’ve long loved Japanese cuisine, literature, and film. I thought I knew Japan — but thanks to Keiko, I truly fell in love with it. Keiko is far more than a guide. With her unique background (“English is made in London, life is made in Japan”), she brings global understanding and deep cultural insight. Her warm, thoughtful presence made our day extraordinary. My husband, who once lived in Tokyo for six years, was amazed by how much Keiko showed us that he had never seen. From a carefully timed visit to observe sumo training, to a peaceful tea ceremony, every moment was authentic and immersive. At midday, Keiko led us through a local street market where we lunched on delicious tempura, yakitori, and oden. Surrounded by locals picking up bento boxes and chatting with friendly vendors, we felt immersed in the real Japanese daily life. One of the highlights was meeting an 83-year-old origami master at his traditional shop and museum. This was not a show, but a sincere and moving exchange. Thanks to Keiko, I didn’t just visit Tokyo — I understood it. I carry home not only memories, but deep love of the Japanese culture and people, as represented by Keiko.. Keiko is truly the best guide you could wish for in Tokyo — not one of the best, but the best.
Keiko O.
Hans-san, Sharon-san, thank you very much for your wonderful comments. Looking back at our conversations which started in February, I am now feeling that the three months I spent on preparing for the three days with you was indeed a great challenge for me. The task was to provide an immersive experience of Tokyo to a first timer, and at the same time entertaining an old hand of this city who lived here for six years half a century ago. So, I began by taking a time-slip back to the good old 60s and 70s, recalling what it was like in those days and trying to find the traces still remaining around us in our daily lives. In the process, I learned a lot of things that I never would have noticed without the cause you provided me, so I am truly thankful to you for giving me this opportunity. Moreover, I feel myself rewarded to hear that I could contribute to increasing Japan fans. Please come back to find more of Tokyo and Japan in the not-too-distant future! Keiko
Hans L.
“After two very interesting days with Keiko O.”
I've spent my entire life in tourism and know a little something about guides :-)... Keiko-San is a very good guide! Her English is excellent, she is friendly and polite and knows what guides need to know - plus she knows everything about Japanese food! We had a very good time, ejnoyed her company and booked her again in a few days from now. She gets a 5 out of 5! Hans and Sharon
Keiko O.
Hans-san, Sharon-san, thank you very much for your kind words! The pleasure was mine indeed because I, too, enjoyed talking with you, comparing our cultures and customs. I hope I can live up to your expectation the next time and wish you a nice stay in Japan.
$321/ per group
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