Tokyo Shinjuku Food Tour | 15 Dishes & Local Eats

Fifteen dishes across four rooms, in the part of Shinjuku that feeds itself.

Area: Tokyo
Duration: 3 hours
Language: English
Booking: Instant confirmation

From

¥16,000 per person

approx. US$104

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before

Instant confirmation

Overview

A Shinjuku food tour through four eateries around Omoide Yokocho and Kabukicho — the kind of places filled with people who work nearby rather than people passing through. Fifteen dishes and two drinks are included, and your guide orders in Japanese, so nothing depends on a picture menu.

Highlights

Fifteen dishes across four eateries in one evening
Two drinks included, alcoholic or not
Omoide Yokocho and Kabukicho, walked with someone who knows them
Rooms that fill with locals, not visitors
English throughout, no Japanese needed

Experience

Omoide Yokocho, where the evening starts

A lane of tiny counters left over from the post-war years, thick with charcoal smoke and lit by paper lanterns. Most visitors walk its length and photograph it. We sit down in it. The first dishes arrive here, and your guide explains what each one is and why it is served the way it is.

Into Kabukicho

Kabukicho is the loudest part of Shinjuku and the part most visitors are warned about. Walking it with a guide changes it completely. Between stops you get an explanation of how the district actually works — what the signs mean, which floors hold what, and why none of it is as intimidating as it looks.

Four rooms, fifteen dishes

The four places we use are chosen for what they cook rather than for how they look. Portions are izakaya-sized and shared across the table, so the evening builds gradually rather than arriving all at once. Fifteen dishes across an evening is more food than it sounds.

Itinerary

Omoide Yokocho

Meet your guide by Kitakata Ramen in the lane.
First eatery

The opening dishes and your first drink.
Kabukicho

A walk through the district, with an explanation of what you are seeing.
Second and third stops

More dishes, and the second included drink.
Final stop

The last of the fifteen dishes.

Meeting point

Kitakata Ramen in Omoide Yokocho, a short walk from Shinjuku Station. Your guide carries a Travel Japan Together sign and will contact you on WhatsApp beforehand.

Includes

English-speaking guide
15 Japanese dishes at 4 local eateries
2 drinks, alcoholic or non-alcoholic
Admission fee for each venue
Photos taken during the tour
Additional food and drinks beyond the included 15 dishes and 2 drinks
Transportation costs to and from the meeting point

Gallery

Important Information

The route is walked on foot, with standing at some counters.
Smoking is permitted in several Shinjuku bars.
Bring some cash if you would like anything beyond what is included.
Your guide will contact you through WhatsApp before the tour, so please install it in advance.
We can accommodate most dietary preferences with advance notice, but strict requirements such as vegan, halal or severe allergies are difficult on this route. If you have strict requirements, book our private tour instead and we will build the evening around them.

FAQ

What is included in the price, and what do I pay for on the night?

Fifteen dishes, two drinks, venue charges and your English-speaking guide are all included. You only pay for anything extra you order, so bring a little cash.

How much food is fifteen dishes?

Enough to count as dinner. They are izakaya portions shared across the table, spread over four venues, so nobody leaves hungry or overwhelmed.

Can I join if I don't drink alcohol?

Yes, and the price is the same. The two included drinks can be tea, soft drinks or non-alcoholic beer.

Where and when do we meet?

In Omoide Yokocho, by Kitakata Ramen. Your confirmation email includes a map pin and a photograph of the spot.

What is the cancellation policy?

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start time. Bookings are confirmed instantly.

Tokyo Shinjuku Food Tour 15 Dishes and 4 Eateries

Overview

Highlights