29 food tours worth the trip across Japan, editor-ranked by TableJourney. All Japan guides.
Deep Osaka Food Tour ★ 4.8 · Osaka
Shinsekai and Nishinari
A 3-hour evening tour of Shinsekai and Nishinari with tastings at five stops across retro alleys, standing bars, izakayas, and restaurants; approximately 15.
★ 4.8 · Sapporo
A byFood-booked Matsuo Jingisukan course at the Sapporo Ekimae station branch, with marinated lamb shoulder loin and short rib on the tableside dome grill.
Tip: Meet under the giant NIKKA sign at Susukino Station; specific izakayas tailored to the group from the operator's bar map.
★ 4.8 · Tokyo
Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan
Arigato Travel's Classic Tsukiji Breakfast Tour walks Tokyo's Outer Market for three hours of stalls, tamagoyaki, sushi and the Namiyoke shrine.
Tip: Meeting time 08:15-08:30 at Turret Coffee. Bring cash for an extra round and an empty stomach.
★ 4.7 · Tokyo
Arakawa-ku, Tokyo 116-0013, Japan
Arigato's Yanaka walking tour in Tokyo covers Yanaka Ginza shopping street, the Yanaka Cemetery edge, a soba lunch and seven food tastings along the alley.
Tip: Meeting at Nippori Station west exit. Bring cash for an extra round. Family-friendly small group.
Hotspots and Hidden Gems of Osaka Tour ★ 4.6 · Osaka
Dotonbori and Namba
A 3-hour tour covering Dotonbori's landmark stretches and the lesser-visited backstreets of Namba; includes a light snack, a beverage and a guidebook.
★ 4.6 · Sapporo
Magical Trip's flagship local-food walk through Sapporo's nightlife, hitting must-eat dishes including ramen, jingisukan and seafood at locally favoured.
Tip: Higher-priced premium walking tour; reserve at least a week ahead.
★ 4.6 · Tokyo
Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0023, Japan
Magical Trip's Tokyo Bar Hopping Tour in Shinjuku visits three izakaya in Kabukicho and Omoide Yokocho, with all-you-can-drink and yakitori, gyoza.
Tip: Tripadvisor Best of the Best 2024. Look for the orange Magical Trip sign at the meeting point; guide leads from there.
Hakata Market Tour and Lunch ★ 4.5 · Fukuoka
Chuo-ku, Fukuoka 810-0003, Japan
byFood's Hakata Market Tour walks the Yanagibashi Rengo Ichiba for tempura and fried kamaboko, moves to Sankaku Market for udon, and finishes at the Bonet.
Tip: Book through byFood. Closed Sundays and holidays per the market schedule.
Hakata Yatai Hopping: Fukuoka Street Food Tour ★ 4.5 · Fukuoka
A 2.5-hour private yatai-hopping tour to two or three stalls in Nagahama and Neo-Nakasu, sampling about five dishes of ramen, gyoza, tamagoyaki and oden.
Tip: Book through byFood; private group format. Rain backup is an indoor izakaya tour with ramen.
★ 4.5 · Kyoto
nishiki-market
Arigato Travel's daytime Nishiki Market food tour in Kyoto. Around 10 vendor stops across the market plus a lunch and dessert stop, English-led small groups.
★ 4.5 · Kyoto
gion
Arigato Travel's evening Gion walk in Kyoto, ending in a multi-course kaiseki dinner. Starts at Yasaka Shrine, threads Hanamikoji and Shirakawa lantern lanes.
★ 4.5 · Kyoto
karasuma-kawaramachi
Context Travel's small-group Nishiki Market food walk in Kyoto with a scholar-guide.
★ 4.5 · Sapporo
Magical Trip's craft-beer evening sampling 10 Hokkaido and Japanese craft beers across Susukino specialist bars. English-speaking guide; small groups.
Tip: Drink-led format; eat dinner before the tour or order pairing snacks at each stop.
★ 4.5 · Tokyo
Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan
Tsukiji Cooking in Tokyo runs a market-tour plus sushi-making class since 2013, with English instruction and Tsukiji-sourced premium ingredients.
Tip: Class follows a 60-minute Tsukiji walk; vegan and gluten-free options on request when booking.
★ 4.4 · Fukuoka
Nakasu Yataigai, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka
Arigato Travel's Fukuoka Yatai Tour walks Nakasu Yataigai and Tenjin Yatai Row with three yatai tasting stops and a Hakata Issou tonkotsu sit-down closer.
Tip: Tours run Tue-Sat from 18:00; English-language guide; reserve a week ahead.
Kuromon Market Food Tour ★ 4.4 · Osaka
Kuromon and Nipponbashi
A guided morning walk through Kuromon Ichiba, Osaka's 200-year-old market, with 10 to 13 tastings from fishmonger and vendor stalls; pescatarian-friendly.
★ 4.4 · Tokyo
Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-8435, Japan
byFood's Tsukiji-Toyosu walking tour in Tokyo covers the Outer Market's standing counters and the Toyosu fish-market deck above the tuna auctions.
Tip: Combine the Tsukiji crawl with the Toyosu visitor deck. Tickets via byFood; English-speaking guide.
Yamaya Factory Terrace Mentaiko Tour ★ 4.3 · Fukuoka
Yamaya's Factory Terrace is a self-guided mentaiko experience facility: see the production line through a window, watch the videos, and finish at a tasting.
Tip: Self-guided; no reservation needed. The buffet includes all-you-can-eat mentaiko with rice.
Fukuya Mentaiko Factory Tour ★ 4.3 · Fukuoka
Fukuya's Aji no Mentaiko Factory reopened in July 2025 with a renovated visitor floor. Same-day mentaiko production visible on the second floor.
Tip: Open 10:00-16:00. Closed on irregular maintenance days; check ahead.
★ 4.3 · Kyoto
pontocho
byFood's evening Pontocho food walk in Kyoto with a local guide across four stops, including kappo counter dinner with sumi yakiniku and handmade noodles.
★ 4.3 · Sapporo
A morning seafood-brunch walk run by Magical Trip across Sapporo's two main markets (Nijo Market and Sapporo Jogai Market). Sashimi, crab and uni samples.
Tip: Bookable through the Magical Trip Hokkaido page; cash and card both accepted for in-market stall purchases.
★ 4.3 · Tokyo
Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0004, Japan
byFood's sake-tasting walk in Tokyo's Shimbashi visits a traditional sake brewery cellar, a craft-sake bar and an izakaya. Eight sakes with English narration.
Tip: English-speaking sake-certified guide. Bring stomach lining; the brewery offers honjozo through daiginjo.
Backstreet Osaka Tour ★ 4.2 · Osaka
Shinsekai and Nishinari
A 3-hour guided walk through the retro alleys of Shinsekai and Nishinari, stopping at a yakitori counter, a standing sake bar and senbero drinking spots.
★ 4.2 · Sapporo
A byFood-booked Matsuo Jingisukan course at the Sapporo Ekimae (station) branch. Marinated lamb shoulder loin and short rib on the tableside dome grill.
Tip: B1 floor of Nippon Seimei Sapporo Building, one minute from Sapporo subway exit; reservations through byFood.
★ 4.2 · Tokyo
Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0043, Japan
Magical Trip's Shibuya Food Tour explores three izakaya and snack rooms across Dogenzaka and Center-Gai with a local guide, drinks and 10-plus tastings.
Tip: Vegetarian-friendly version on request. Saturday evenings book out two weeks ahead.
★ 4.1 · Tokyo
Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0043, Japan
Arigato Travel's Shibuya evening food tour walks six tasting stops through the alleys behind Center-Gai, with sake, yakitori, soba and a sweets close.
Tip: English-fluent guides. Bookings open three months ahead; reschedule policy 48 hours.
Osaka Kitchen Cooking Experience ★ 4.0 · Osaka
Umeda and Kita
A market-and-cook experience with Osaka Kitchen: meet at KOHYO Supermarket near Minami-Morimachi Station, then cook okonomiyaki or sushi with miso soup.
★ 4.0 · Sapporo
A byFood reservation for Hokkaido Kani Shogun's Sapporo Susukino main branch crab course, with all three Hokkaido crabs (tarabagani, zuwaigani.
Tip: Reserve through byFood, cancellation is free up to 72 hours ahead.
★ 4.0 · Tokyo
Taito-ku, Tokyo 111-0034, Japan
Magical Trip's Asakusa walking food tour in Tokyo covers Nakamise-dori stalls, a traditional sukiyaki house, ningyo-yaki and a craft-sake stop. English guide.
Tip: Meet in front of the Asakusa Bunka Tourist Center across from Kaminarimon. Bring comfortable shoes.