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!
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
At your central Tokyo hotel or at any station convenient for you in central Tokyo
Pick up / meet up
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!
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 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, 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
End of the tour
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
At the place of last visit or at a pre-arranged place
This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
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)
・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.
・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.
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!
“A tour with Keiko is essential for understanding Japan!”
The morning with Keiko at Tsukiji Market was fascinating due to her perfect English and extensive knowledge of the culture and cuisine. She also shares a lovely relationship with some of the shop keepers in her kind and humble way. I am forever grateful for the memories of our tour.
Keiko O.
(37 reviews)Kym-san, thank you very much for your wonderful review! I not only enjoyed walking with you on the tour day, but also was excited to be shared some thrilling moments during your planning for the trip, like winning in the Toyosu lottery. You have indeed planned everything into minute details, so I'm sure you have fully enjoyed all your adventures. For your next trip to Japan, please be sure to include meeting manta rays in Okinawa!
“Keiko confirms the already amazing feedback received from other customers.”
I had no doubt we would have a great tour with Keiko. I enjoyed the fact we could personalise the tour according to our requests, ending it a watching a beatiful demonstration of bean desserts made by hand in front of us. Lunch was delicious, despite being in a very touristy area. I definitely recommend Keiko for more tours.
Keiko O.
(37 reviews)Lorenzo-san, thank you very much for your wonderful comments! Being a foodie, I felt the tour with your 'chef group' really challenging and rewarding. I really enjoyed not only walking with you on the tour day, but also in the planning process trying to figure out how best you can savour our food capital, Tokyo. The pleasure was mine, so please convey my gratitude to everyone in the party.
“First Day in Tokyo ”
Keiko is an excellent tour guide. Her English language skills are perfect! She is knowledgeable, flexible, intelligent and friendly. We highly recommend Keiko.
Keiko O.
(37 reviews)Thank you very much, Dorit-san, for your nice comments. I hope I did not tire you too much on your first day in Japan. You may have noticed that Japanese culture is quite different from yours. It is my pleasure if I could be of any help to you in filling that gap. Please continue enjoying Japan!
$299/ per group
Reserve