Small Town in the Big City: Tasting Tokyo’s Kichijoji

Overview

Available languages

English

6 hours

Mobile ticket

Our food tour of Tokyo — the world’s biggest city, and perhaps its most delicious — explores the exquisite culinary heritage of a single neighborhood, Kichijoji, sampling our way through old school yakitori joints, gleaming department stores, avant grade taverns, hopping street food stands and much more.

Additional Info

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller

Public transportation options are available nearby

Specialized infant seats are available

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What‘s Included

Bottled water

Lunch

Snacks

Coffee and/or Tea

Private transportation

What To Expect

Kichijoji

2 minutes • Admission Not Applicable

Inokashira Onshi Park

Our food tour in Tokyo neighborhood begins at a depachika to experience one of Tokyo’s incredible department store food halls, where food pays tribute to both tradition and the newest trends. Making our way past highly prized pickles, fruit fit for a king and the aisle of Japanese junk food, we arrive at the sushi bar of choice among locals. Along Kichijoji’s bustling shotengai shopping street, we’ll rub elbows with locals as they shop for daily needs, learning about the basics of Japanese cuisine and tasting some of them, such as skewers of yakitori and octopus balls prepared and served street-side. We’ll meet three generations of a family of artisanal senbei makers working side by side in their tiny shop and atelier and, further down the road, we’ll visit a restaurant dedicated entirely to miso. We’ll sample unusual food rarely served outside Japan, such as sake infused with the fin of fugu, the famous puffer fish, plus expertly-crafted old standbys like tea and sweets.

4 hours • Admission Not Applicable

Options

Small Town in the Big City: Tasting Tokyo’s Kichijoji

Reviews

4.97

187 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

183

FOOD TOUT TOKYO
CapeTownOle,
Nov 9, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Had an absolutely fabulous and fun time with Michelle. She took us to the most special tiny hidden away places. We visited a sprightly 90 year old lady who still makes rice crackers in the traditional way. We tasted and learned about all the different types of Miso. And man oh man did we eat a lot of fantastic local food. Loved Michelle’s energy and spent the day laughing and learning so much. Thanks for a great tour!
Tokyo Highlight
NinaBoydell,
Nov 7, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Just fantastic. Ken was a great guide. A perfect way to spend a day in Tokyo. Food was sensational! I would highly recommend this tour.
Wonderful food tour
lori l,
Nov 2, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
What a great experience! Michelle was a phenomenal guide. The choice of food stops, combined with the information, background, and her charm, were the perfect start to our vacation in Japan. We absolutely loved it.
Fascinating and delicious!
Jenna L,
Oct 28, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Ken was a fantastic leader! Very interesting and a lot of fun, he connected well with all of the group, and was very knowledgeable and flexible. All of the food we tasted was wonderful and the stories and experiences connected to the meals and products made it even more meaningful.
Worth the trek and the $$$
Amanda S,
Oct 13, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Really good experience. If you are interested in learning about local cuisine and culture, do not hesitate to book…this tour was valuable and worth the price. This tour has soul!! Thank you Michelle for being an excellent host.
A perfect day exploring Korea through a culinary lens.
Food-E,
Sep 28, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Spending the day with Dennis while learning more about Korea through their food and customs, was the highlight of my trip. Dennis was thoughtful, friendly, extremely interesting, and super fun. Traveling solo, there is no way I could have tasted the abundance of food that we enjoyed, starting with the freshest sushi, fried,meatball, and take-your- life -in -your -hands and try the famous puffer fish which was exquisitely prepared. He also introduced us to a myriad of fascinating people, including a master meso chef, a generations old family, who made, artisanal, crackers, and a guided sake tasting. It was an incredible day, not to be missed.
Magnificent deep dive into food, culture and people
PeterJ633,
Sep 24, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Truly a fantastic experience with our guide Elly, superbly taking my wife and I, along with another party of three, through the old and new of Kichijoji. It was casual, unhurried, informative and immersive. Each of the stops we made were carefully curated to showcase different elements of Japanese cuisine and at each one, we discussed the food —- preparation, history, varieties, etc. — to give fulfillment to our minds as well as our taste buds and stomachs. Meeting a 4th generation miso master and a 93 year old rice cake baker were special parts of the tour that connected us with the people, not just the food.
Great neighborhood, great food
calvincY6031NW,
Aug 4, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
This was an awesome food tour with every stop offering both excellent food and good stories. The tour also gave a great sense of what appears to be an incredible neighborhood within Tokyo. As I mentioned the food was excellent, there was not a bad stop. One of the highlights was visiting the shop of a man who has been producing miso for decades. We sampled a palette of different misos and then a selection of foods prepared with miso as an ingredient.
Wonderful experience, great food, amazing culture
311carleya,
Jul 30, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
My best friend and I participated in this tour 7/29/2025. It was an amazing experience and our guide Elly was simply fantastic. It ended up just being the two of us for the tour, which ultimately was perfect as we were able to really chat with our tour guide and the locals that she introduced us to throughout the day. As someone who found the Tokyo food scene a little bit overwhelming as a non-Japanese speaker, this tour was a fantastic overview of many of the interesting and delicious foods that this city has to offer. It was reassuring to be able to trust the places that we were going both to have safe and delicious foods. My favorite parts included being taken to small, family owned businesses that have been around for generations and learning about how they create their products. 10/10 would recommend., And will likely be taking a tour in another Japanese town while we are on our travels.
One of the highlights of our time in Japan!
Paradise51252565870,
Jul 16, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
This tour was recommended to me and I recommend it to you! What an incredible way to explore one of Tokyo's most charming neighborhoods through its incredible food scene. The "Small Town in the Big City" tour of Kichijoji delivered on every front. The sheer variety and quantity of food was impressive - there's absolutely no way you'll go hungry on this adventure. From traditional Japanese comfort foods to modern fusion creations, each stop offered something unique and delicious that perfectly captured the spirit of this bohemian district. What made the experience truly special were the interesting people we met along the way. The tour takes you to fascinating places you'd never discover on your own, tucked away in narrow alleys and hidden on upper floors of nondescript buildings. Initially, six hours seems like a lot of time to commit, but honestly, the time flew by! The pacing was perfect, allowing us to savor each location without feeling rushed while still covering substantial ground through Kichijoji's diverse food landscape. Our guide Mairi was absolutely exceptional. She expertly balanced and looked after the interests of everyone in our group to ensure each person felt included. Her knowledge of the neighborhood's history, culture, and culinary traditions added depth to every bite. We cannot say enough good things about her expertise and warmth. This tour is well worth the investment in time and money. It's not just a food tour, it's a cultural immersion that gives you genuine insight into Tokyo's neighborhood life. If you're looking for an authentic taste of local Tokyo beyond the typical tourist spots, this Kichijoji experience is absolutely essential. Highly recommended for food lovers, culture enthusiasts, and anyone wanting to see a different side of Tokyo!