Small Town in the Big City: Tasting Tokyo’s Kichijoji
Overview
6 hours
Mobile ticket
The 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
Alcoholic Beverages
Snacks
Lunch
Coffee and/or Tea
Meals
Private transportation
What To Expect
Kichijoji
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.
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.
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Small Town in the Big City: Tasting Tokyo’s Kichijoji
Reviews
15 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Michelle is Amazing - This is a 10/10 Tour!
erinfD4434UU,
Nov 11, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was hands down the best food tour I have ever been on. The choices were unique and the city was authentic and charming. Michelle was the absolute best host, she was knowledgeable, engaging, and fun. She knew everyone and cared deeply about their stories which really added to how genuine she/this tour was. Thank you and I really hope I can enjoy this tour again with more friends.
A true highlight of our week in Tokyo
gbevan,
Nov 6, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Everything about our tour was perfect. Ken, our guide, was engaged and engaging. We ate wonderfully and, thankfully, not excessively. And seeing a lovely , fascinating neighborhood we never would have gone to on our own was great. I can't recommend this tour too highly.
Another great tour by Culinary Backstreets.
navodhis,
Nov 3, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great experience. Small group nearly and all day tour - knowledgeable guide and brilliant food. Found hidden gems off the beaten path.
So much deliciousness!
V8446NWrobertal,
Oct 31, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The tour was absolutely awesome! We went with 3 couples and they are still raving about it. It was a highlight of our trip to Japan.
Outstanding tour.
F6639TMwhitneyb,
Oct 30, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Outstanding tour. Ken was engaging, prepared, and always checking in to ensure everyone was happy. The stops were all great. The food was excellent and really enjoyed seeing some longstanding experts in their craft. It was a great day. Loved seeing the neighborhood and a small slice of Tokyo life.
Love kichjoji!!
A8172XAjessiec,
Oct 17, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The your was amazing. We got to experience a wonderful neighborhood that really felt like a neighborhood - the real Japan. We visited small family restaurants and vendors learning as we went. Michelle was wonderful.
Great experience
Musken,
Oct 13, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great day with Michelle who was so knowledgeable, energetic and full of great stories about food, culture, and life in Tokyo. I was a bit sceptical about such a long food tour and also that it would be tasting food we could have tasted on our own, but I was very very wrong. This was just fantastic and I would highly recommend the tour. In particular, I enjoyed the experience of tasting puffer fish and the visit to the rice cracker shop, but everything was great.
Worth doing
janel0w,
Sep 30, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Ken was a fantastic guide. Full of information. Took us to places we would have never gone to. We covered a lot of ground with ease. Everything well organised
Amazing cultural and culinary experience!
Emiliano L,
Sep 24, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Amazing experience! Elly was a great guide. Thank you for an unforgettable, cultural and culinary experience. Great food, great people, great core memories.
journey through food into the layers of the culture
753aysed,
Sep 13, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our guide Diana was amazing and the tour itself provided not only a delicious experience but such an insight to the culture and the city that I wished we had done it as the first thing after we arrived. As always culinary backstreets experience provided a revealing journey through food into the multilayers of the culture. and as always with an expert guide who takes through this journey in an elegant way
From $195.00
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