16 small-group food tours in 12 destinations

Gift cards[email protected]

Ask about dates
Three nigiri of lean tuna, fatty tuna and gizzard shad on a lacquer tray, Tokyo

FF09 · Japan · 10 days · moderate pace

Japan food tour: Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, market to izakaya

Ten days from Tokyo’s fish market stalls to Kyoto kaiseki and Osaka street food

See dates and pricesDay by day

From $6,490 per person, shared double room

  • Hold your seat with a $300 deposit, by card or bank transfer
  • Balance due 60 days before departure
  • One free change of date or tour up to 45 days before
  • Next date Nov 9, 2026: guaranteed

Questions? [email protected], Monday to Friday, 9:00 to 17:30 Eastern. Booking terms

Nigiri sushi, Tokyo

Key facts

Length
10 days, 9 nights
Starts in
Tokyo Haneda
Ends in
Osaka Kansai
Group size
12 guests at most
Minimum age
18; drinks 20 and over
Pace
Moderate, 3 of 5
Tastings
32 tastings, plus 9 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 6 dinners
Tour code
FF09

Overview

What to expect on this Japan food tour

Three nights in Tokyo for the Tsukiji outer market, a sushi counter, ramen and a yokocho izakaya, four in Kyoto for tofu, kaiseki, Uji matcha and a home cooking class, then two in Osaka, the city that eats standing up, for takoyaki, okonomiyaki and kushikatsu.

Japan rewards a traveler who knows where to stand. The best tamagoyaki in Tokyo comes from a stall the size of a closet, the best yuba in Kyoto from a family that has been skimming soy milk for generations, and the best takoyaki in Osaka from whoever has the longest line of office workers at lunchtime. This tour puts you in front of those counters, with a host who orders, explains and makes sure nobody leaves hungry.

The route follows the classic line west by shinkansen. Tokyo shows the scale of Japanese food, from the depachika food halls under the department stores to six-seat bars in the alleys of Shinjuku. Kyoto is slower and more formal: Nishiki market, temple tofu, a kaiseki dinner, green tea in Uji and sake in Fushimi, where the brewers draw soft water from deep wells. Osaka ends the trip loud and greasy in the best way.

We forward your suitcase between cities by luggage service, so on travel days you carry only an overnight bag. Aiko Nakamura, who lives in Kyoto, hosts every departure in spring and fall.

More on the destination: Japan: Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka food tours. Tour categories: Street Food & Markets, Cider, Sake & Spirits, Cooking Classes.

Read first: Food tours with dietary restrictions, allergies and special diets

Cooks grilling yakitori under red paper lanterns in a narrow Tokyo alley at dusk
Yakitori alley, Tokyo

What you will taste

32 tastings on this Japan food tour

Tasting portions at the markets, producers, cellars and kitchens on the route, on top of the meals listed. Dishes follow the season, so one or two can change from date to date.

Drinks
Junmai and ginjo sake in Tokyo and Fushimi, Japanese beer and whisky highballs in the izakaya, plum wine. Alcohol is poured only for guests 20 and over, the legal drinking age in Japan, with ID; every pour has a non-alcoholic option.
Diets
Vegetarians are welcome with notice, but dashi made with bonito is in most broths and sauces, so strict vegetarians and vegans should talk to us first. Soy sauce contains wheat, which makes a strictly gluten-free trip very hard in Japan. Severe allergies: ask Lena before you book.
  1. 01Tamagoyaki and grilled scallopsTsukiji outer market
  2. 02Yakitori in Omoide YokochoShinjuku
  3. 03Nigiri at a sushi counterTokyo
  4. 04Shoyu ramenTokyo
  5. 05Pickles, dashimaki and soy milk doughnutsNishiki market
  6. 06Fresh yuba and yudofuKyoto
  7. 07A seasonal kaiseki dinnerKyoto
  8. 08Stone-ground matchaUji
  9. 09Takoyaki, kushikatsu and okonomiyakiOsaka

Itinerary

Japan food tour itinerary: 10 days, day by day

Day 1 is the arrival day: meet your host at the hotel in the late afternoon. The order of the days can shift with the weather, the harvest or a kitchen that closes early; the places stay the same.

  1. Day1

    Arrive in Tokyo

    A vendor slicing scallops beside king crabs on ice at the Tsukiji outer market in Tokyo

    Transfer at group times from Haneda, about forty minutes, or Narita, about ninety. Rest, then Aiko meets the group in the lobby and walks you to a private room in Ginza for the welcome dinner: sashimi, seasonal vegetables, tempura and a first glass of sake for guests 20 and over.

  2. Day2

    Tsukiji and an izakaya night

    Breakfast in the Tsukiji outer market, where the stalls stayed after the wholesale market moved: tamagoyaki on a stick, grilled scallops, tuna over rice. Late morning in a Ginza depachika for pickles, wagashi and fruit. Free afternoon. In the evening, Omoide Yokocho in Shinjuku: yakitori, highballs and small plates in bars of six seats.

  3. Day3

    Sushi, knives and sake

    Morning on Kappabashi, the kitchen supply street, for knives, bowls and plastic food. Lunch at a sushi counter, where the chef serves each piece by hand. In the afternoon a sake tasting with a certified sommelier for guests 20 and over. Dinner is a bowl of ramen in a shop with a ticket machine.

  4. Day4

    Shinkansen to Kyoto

    Tubs of daikon, cucumber and purple shibazuke pickles on a counter in a Kyoto market

    Your suitcase left the night before by luggage service. The bullet train to Kyoto takes about two hours and fifteen minutes, with a bento from the station for lunch and Mount Fuji on the right on a clear day. Afternoon in Nishiki market with Aiko. Evening free; Pontocho alley is a short walk.

  5. Day5

    Tofu, yuba and kaiseki

    Morning at a family tofu workshop to watch yuba lifted from heated soy milk and taste it fresh. Lunch is yudofu, simmered tofu, near the temples of Nanzen-ji. Free afternoon. In the evening a kaiseki dinner of eight or nine courses that follow the season, with Aiko explaining each one.

  6. Day6

    Uji matcha and Fushimi sake

    A short train ride south to Uji, the tea town, for a tea farm visit where you grind matcha on a stone mill and whisk your own bowl. On the way back, the Fushimi sake district: canals, old brewery warehouses and a tasting at a family brewery for guests 20 and over.

  7. Day7

    A Kyoto home cooking class

    Hands-on class in a Kyoto home: dashi from kombu and bonito, rolled omelet, miso soup and obanzai, the everyday side dishes of Kyoto families. Lunch is what you cook. The afternoon and evening are yours for temples, gardens or an early start at Fushimi Inari.

  8. Day8

    Osaka and Kuromon market

    A cook turning takoyaki in a cast-iron pan at a street stall in an Osaka arcade

    Bags go ahead again and the train to Osaka takes about thirty minutes. Lunch through Kuromon market: grilled eel, sea urchin, wagyu skewers and strawberries. After a rest, the evening is a street food walk through Dotonbori under the neon: takoyaki, gyoza and a beer for guests 20 and over.

  9. Day9

    Shinsekai and a farewell okonomiyaki

    Late morning in Shinsekai under Tsutenkaku tower for kushikatsu, fried skewers dipped once in the shared sauce. Afternoon free for shopping in Namba. Farewell dinner at an okonomiyaki restaurant where everyone cooks their own pancake on the hot plate at the table.

  10. Day10

    Depart from Osaka

    Breakfast at the hotel and the transfer to Kansai airport, about one hour, arriving around 10:30 am. Guests flying from Itami or staying on in Japan can take the train with directions from Aiko.

Route map of the Japan food tour: Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka
The route in order; lines are not exact roads. Base map: Esri, HERE, Garmin, © OpenStreetMap contributors

The route

Route and hotels: Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka

  1. 1Tokyo
  2. 2Kyoto
  3. 3Uji
  4. 4Osaka

Hotels on the route

Tokyo3 nights
Hotel in Ginza near the Tsukiji outer market, or similar
Kyoto4 nights
Hotel near Shijo-Karasuma, a walk from Nishiki market, or similar
Osaka2 nights
Hotel in Namba near Dotonbori, or similar

Hotels are listed by class and area; the names come with your confirmation and may be replaced by a hotel of the same standard.

What the price covers

What the Japan food tour price includes

One price covers 9 hotel nights, 9 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 6 dinners and the tastings listed, the tastings and classes in the itinerary, transport on the route and your host.

  • 32 tastings
  • 9 hotel nights
  • 11 items included
  • 5 not included

01

Included in the price

  • 9 nights in central hotels with breakfast daily
  • Six dinners, including a kaiseki dinner and welcome and farewell meals
  • Six lunches, including the sushi counter and the cooking class
  • Market walks in Tsukiji, Nishiki and Kuromon with all tastings
  • Home-style cooking class in Kyoto with recipes
  • Matcha grinding at a tea farm in Uji
  • Sake tastings in Tokyo and Fushimi for guests 20 and over
  • Reserved shinkansen seats Tokyo to Kyoto and train to Osaka
  • Luggage forwarding between all three cities
  • Airport transfers at group times and local transport on tour days
  • Aiko Nakamura or another of our hosts throughout

02

Not included in the price

  • Flights to Tokyo and home from Osaka
  • Travel insurance
  • The meals not listed and drinks outside the program
  • Temple and garden entry on free afternoons
  • Knives, tea and souvenirs you buy along the way

Tell Lena about allergies, diets or mobility needs before you book, and we will say honestly whether this tour suits you.

03

Getting there and rooms

Flights are not included, so you can use miles or fly from any airport. Arrive at Tokyo Haneda (HND) or Narita (NRT) by mid-afternoon on day 1 for the group transfer, and fly home from Osaka Kansai (KIX) after midday on the last day.

Single room
+$1,590
Deposit
$300 per person
Balance
60 days before departure

Dates and prices

Japan food tour dates and prices, 2026 to 2027

5 group departures, 12 seats each. Prices per person in a shared double room; the single room supplement is per person.

All deals
Departure dates, prices and seats for the Japan Food Tour tour
DatesLengthPriceSingle roomStatusBook
to 10 days$6,490 $6,240Last minute: save $250$1,590GuaranteedAsk about this date
to 10 days$6,540$1,590Sold outJoin the waitlist
to 10 days$6,590$1,590AvailableAsk about this date
to 10 days$6,640No single supplement$0AvailableAsk about this date
to 10 days$6,590$1,590GuaranteedAsk about this date
Private date, 6 or more guests10 daysPriced per groupAs bookedYour datesPlan with Grant

Guaranteed means the date runs: at least five guests have booked. Few seats means three or fewer seats are left. A deal price is shown next to the regular price.

Prices per person in US dollars: multi-day tours in a shared double room, flights not included; day tours paid when booked. Deposit $300 per person, balance 60 days before departure, one free change of date or tour up to 45 days before. Booking terms

Before you book

Before you book this Japan food tour: honest notes

Pace and walking
Moderate: three to five hours on foot most days, stairs in train stations and two train days with luggage forwarded.
Your host
Aiko Nakamura. Aiko grew up in Kyoto, cooked for six years in a Kyoto restaurant kitchen and then trained as a licensed national guide. She has hosted our Japan tour since it began in 2026 and still shops at Nishiki market every week. All our hosts
What can change
The order of the days can shift with the weather, a harvest or a kitchen that closes early. A stop of the same kind and value replaces anything that falls through.
Weather
Tours run in all weather. If a storm closes a boat trip or a farm visit, we move it or replace it, and if a serious weather warning stops the tour before it starts, you choose a new date or a full refund.
Arrival and departure
Arrive at Tokyo Haneda (HND) or Narita (NRT), leave from Osaka Kansai (KIX). Transfers are included at the group times on the first and last day.
Drinks and age
Adults only, 18 and over. Alcohol is poured only for guests 20 and over, the legal drinking age in Japan, with ID; every pour has a non-alcoholic option.
Diets and allergies
Vegetarian, pescatarian and gluten-free versions with notice when you book. Tell us about severe allergies first; we will say honestly what we can and cannot promise.
Luggage
One suitcase and a day bag. Leave space for olive oil, coffee or a bottle of wine, and check your home customs rules before you pack cured meat or fresh cheese.

Questions about this tour

Japan food tour FAQ

General questions on booking, flights, insurance and luggage are on the main FAQ page.

Ask Lena directly

Lena Ortiz in reservations replies within one working day, Monday to Friday.

How do we travel between cities?

By train. The shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto takes about two hours and fifteen minutes in reserved seats, and Kyoto to Osaka about thirty minutes. Suitcases travel separately by luggage service and arrive the next day, so pack a small overnight bag.

How much walking is there?

Japanese cities are walked, not driven. Expect three to five hours on foot most days, with stairs at train stations. We use taxis where it saves time, but comfortable shoes matter more than anything else you pack.

Can vegetarians join?

Yes, with notice, but it is harder than it looks. Dashi made with bonito flakes is in most soups and sauces. Kyoto is the easiest city, with temple-style tofu cooking, and we ask every kitchen ahead. Strict vegans should talk to Lena before booking.

Do I need a JR Pass?

No. Train tickets on the route are included and bought by us. A Japan Rail Pass only makes sense if you travel widely before or after the tour.

Can I join on my own?

Yes. About a third of our guests travel solo. A single room on this tour costs $1,590 extra, and some dates have no single supplement; we can also try to match you with a roommate.

What if I have a food allergy or a special diet?

Tell Lena when you book. Vegetarian, pescatarian and gluten-free versions are arranged with every kitchen before you arrive; for severe allergies we tell you honestly which stops we can and cannot make safe.

What if I need to cancel or change?

Your $300 deposit holds the seat, the balance is due 60 days before departure, and you can move once to another date or tour free up to 45 days before. The full scale is on the booking terms page.

Should we tip the host?

Japan has no tipping culture, so please do not tip anyone on this tour; a thank-you note is perfect. Restaurant service on included meals is already paid.

Dates and seats

Ask about Japan food tour dates

Tell us the tour, the date and how many of you are coming. Lena Ortiz in reservations replies within one working day with seats, room options, the total price and any questions about dietary needs.

Lena, Grant and Priya, Charleston

To[email protected]

SubjectJapan: Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, Market to Izakaya: dates and seats

Please include

  • Tour: Japan: Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, Market to Izakaya
  • Date
  • Guests (all 18 or over?)
  • Room type (double, twin or single)
  • Dietary needs or allergies
  • Message
  • Your name, email and a phone number
Write to Lena

Lena Ortiz in reservations replies within one working day. No payment now. A $300 deposit per person holds seats on a multi-day tour; day tours are paid when you book.

We use what you send only to answer you and to run your booking. Privacy policy

From $6,490per personCheck dates