Tokyo Street Food Tour - A feast for the senses!

A Street Food Tour in Tokyo

This was the best and our favourite part of visiting Tokyo!

This shared street food tour is the perfect way to get acquainted with the excellent food of the capital. A food-loving local will take you through the narrow streets to establishments that might not be on the foreigner radar.

Tokyo comes alive in the evening with lots of different foods on offer and can be tricky to navigate. So, with the help of a local guide, you will take to the streets. Of course, this all needs washing down with a nice cold draft beer or whatever your tipple may be.

The guide also explains Japanese etiquette at certain meal times or regale you with anecdotes. All in the lively hub-bub of real Japan!

Fish Izakaya

There, really is nothing like experiencing a city’s culinary delights with a local through the narrow alleys of Ebisu . This was such a unique experience and the fact that we were in a group, added to the experience.

We visited 3 different destinations and authentic Japanese-style restaurants. The selection of restaurants change often with the tour company as they constantly explore and discover new, unique culinary experiences. As they find new places, they add it, replace another or substitute seasonal hot spots. But the concept and ‘off-the-beaten-track’ experience always stays the same with local Japanese izakayas. Ours started at a fish Izakaya.

We were welcomed by the hosts, removed our shoes (customary in Japan) and guided to our long table. After a brief introduction, the finest sashimi, tuna and sake tasting followed.

Tour Recommendation:
We booked with the wonderful Oishii Tours company.

Yakitori

Moving on to Yakitori we sat right at the counter. We were able to watch as the dedicated chefs prepare mouthwatering ‘yakitori‘ – grilled chicken skewers. This was like theater! Accompanied by local beer, we were in our element.

“Piss Alley”

We then made our way to sample Okomiyaka in the funnily named, “Piss Alley”. This area is a really quirky and almost secret alley where multiple restaurants/stalls share the same eclectic space. It started as an illegal drinking area, post world war II, and became known for its yakitori and cabaret-style hostess bars.

Having no restroom facilities at the time, people had to relieve themselves close by. Hence the name (thankfully not like this today!)

The idea is that you move along the eight dining options, sampling a little of this and a little of that. The smells are inviting, the colours captivating and the overall atmosphere, festive. In true Japanese style, we experienced a side of Tokyo we would never have discovered in any other way. We got to taste a variety of food and drinks that local Japanese people eat on a daily basis. We sampled Japanese cocktails, fried noodles, grilled tuna and plum wine with absolutely no tourist in sight.

After eating and drinking our hearts out, we topped the night off with Japanese ice-cream at the a street stall. Bliss! The perfect end to a perfect evening and it certainly had whet our appetites for more!

Well done Oishii Tours, a stunning experience all round!