Nowadays, we know it’s hard to trust what a company or platform says about themselves. After all, they’re trying to sell you a product or service — of course, they’ve only got positive things to say about themselves!
So, we could tell you how the byFood platform connects you with local experts for unforgettable food tours, cooking classes and Japan’s best restaurants — all without needing to know a single word of Japanese — but we’ll let our customers do the talking.
Customer reviews on our popular food tours
Shinjuku After Dark Izakaya Tour
Included on our list of the best things to do in Tokyo, enjoy a guided tour of Tokyo’s best drinking alleys, hidden bars and tastiest Japanese dishes and drinks for a memorable night out.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Jacob Daniel (October 28, 2024)
“Yoshi was a great host and very charismatic with lots of local knowledge and experience. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a unique Izakaya experience!”
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ David W Fuller III (July 31, 2024)
“My family and I thoroughly enjoyed the food tour and Yoshi was an excellent and entertaining host! The experience was a great combination of food and drink and Yoshi expertly mixed in bits about the culture and people.
Overall, a great experience. I only wish we had done it sooner as the tips and understanding of when and where and what to eat would have been super handy.”
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Nat Wood (May 07, 2024)
“Highlight of our Tokyo trip. Would have never found the spots Yoshi took us to. He was very fun, but at the same time professional and organized.”
Fake Food (Food Sample) Making Workshop in Tokyo
If you know anything about Japan’s fake food culture, you may be interested in making your own fake food samples. You can choose between making an adorable model of ramen, a parfait, curry rice or fried rice.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Lars Weber (September 22, 2024)
“It was an amazing experience, super friendly and fun! Definitely coming back to try more different food!”
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Felix Ngooi (September 17, 2024)
“Had such a great time! Our host was clearly very passionate about his work and explained the history of sample food making before guiding us with the workshop. We also were kindly given a freebie after completing the workshop!”
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Annie Lothian (June 25, 2024)
“We absolutely loved this experience! It's a very cute, fun and unique activity to try in Tokyo. The hosts were incredibly warm and welcoming, and extremely helpful in guiding us through each step.
The food samples (we made ramen) were so fun to make. We would definitely recommend it!”
Ramen Noodle Making Experience in Kyoto
Featured in our list of the best Kyoto cooking classes for a reason, this ramen cooking class in Kyoto will have you making ramen noodles from scratch before sitting down to enjoy a flavorful bowl of ramen, crafted by your own two hands.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Laura Bonouvrie (October 14, 2024)
“This workshop was amazing! Shin and his wonderful colleagues explained everything about making ramen noodles and we got some hands-on experience as well. The kids (8 and 11 years old) were intrigued and enjoyed the workshop as well.
And the ramen we ate afterwards were fabulous! Best we had in Japan!”
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Julian Beier (October 14, 2024)
“We booked this course for our anniversary and couldn't be happier. We had a ton of fun, the owner was really nice and we were glad that we did not have to take photos ourselves, which also turned out super great.
In the end we learned a lot about making ramen and also got to enjoy very good meal.”
Customer reviews on our popular restaurants
Yakiniku Kappo Note
Featured in our best restaurants in Azabu-Juban and Tokyo restaurants for lovers of wagyu beef in Japan, people flock to this upscale yakiniku restaurant in one of the swankiest districts of Tokyo.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Cody Green (October 21, 2024)
“The whole experience, the service and the food, were wonderful. Highly recommend.”
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Theresa Lin (October 14, 2024)
“The best meal I've ever had. The service was great! Everything was amazing. Dinner runs about 3.5 hours so make sure you're well rested. We were so exhausted from being up at 5am for a day trip. We should have planned better but the food and service was amazing.
I will be recommending to all my friends to come when they're in Tokyo!”
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Darcy Corr (October 13, 2024)
“If you’re looking to have a special meal experience while in Tokyo, I would highly recommend this place. The atmosphere was intimate and welcoming. Watching the chefs carefully prepare the food was mesmerizing. Each dish was absolutely delicious.”
YAKINIKU 37west NY
Taking a well-deserved spot in our list of the best restaurants in Tokyo, YAKINIKU 37west NY blends the hustle and bustle of New York with the exquisite ingredients of Japan, creating another must-visit venue for wagyu beef.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Jerad Leigh (October 07, 2024)
“Exceptional food and a wonderful experience. We chose YAKINIKU 37 as the last dinner on our honeymoon and it was a perfect way to end our trip to Japan!”
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Raphael Defayes (September 22, 2024)
“Dear byFood Team and Yakiniku Restaurant, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks for organizing the dinner and the proposal to my girlfriend. It was an unforgettable evening, made perfect by your support.
The waitstaff was extremely professional, discreet, and friendly, which added to the wonderful atmosphere. The food was absolutely divine — creative, and exceptionally delicious.
Thank you for making this experience truly special!”
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Liam noonan (November 23, 2023)
“The food, staff and atmosphere were all incredible. The best way to round off our trip. Will definitely be back!”
Nishiazabu Sushi Shin
Sitting pretty alongside the famous Kill Bill restaurant (Gonpachi Nishiazabu) as one of the best restaurants in Nishiazabu, Nishiazabu Sushi Shin is one of the first sushi restaurants to win a Michelin Star, showing you just how seriously you should consider reserving one of their lunch, dinner or omakase sushi menus…
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Sheila Contreras (October 07, 2024)
“Amazing food and place. Everything was delicious, and we enjoyed a lot with the food, the atmosphere and the experience. Fully recommended.”
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Marian Gaston (September 09, 2024)
“My friends agree, this is one of the best meals we’ve ever had. The whole experience exceeded our expectations. Watching the chefs work was like watching an art performance. The atmosphere and the presentation were perfect. The multiple courses were sublime. We had asked for no octopus and the restaurant obliged. Highly recommend.”
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ John Le (August 18, 2024)
“The food was amazing, staff was very accommodating. The best sushi I had in my entire life and the experience was great. Highly recommend!”
Customer reviews on TripAdvisor
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Must do in Kyoto! - Dara W
“We loved this experience in Kyoto and learning more about the process of making ramen noodles. The owner himself and his colleague Yaya were outstanding! The experience is an hour long and ending with a bowl of delicious ramen in their restaurant.
We loved learning more about this cuisine and the heart and love that goes into making it. This is the perfect cultural experience to have while in Kyoto!”
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This Cultural cooking class is the best one! - Kona S
“Wow! On this 3 week journey of Japan, this has been the best thing! Chef Katsuji and his wonderful wife Mayumi are a perfect example of Japan and it's culture.
This class was more than cooking, and that in itself was awesome, these beautiful people opened their home to share their skills and culture and made you feel very welcome.
Thank you Chef and Mayumi we will never forget your generous hospitality. I will forever recommend this class as long as it is available.”
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Midnight Diners Tokyo Experience - FoxyRhino
“Took this tour with Alex and had an amazing time. As a single traveller on my own, I'd have never got to visit the small bars he took us. Would definitely recommend this as a great time that only finished when I had to catch the last train.”
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent experience - Marvy S
“Amazing experience! I recommend you if you want to learn the best wasabi and mochi classes in Japan.”
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Perfect Tea Tasting Experience - Emre G
“I have attended tea tasting experiment with Tokyo by Food thanks to Tokyo by Food. Place was lovely and warm. I have left with lots of information and a smile.”
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Really cool local experiences - William W
“If you are visiting Japan, I would suggest using this service. I actually live here and still sometimes book local experiences. Especially recommended if you enjoy cooking, obviously if you enjoy eating you will love it as well.”
Customer reviews on Google
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Andrew Bridges
“I booked with Tokyo by Food after finding their website as it is incredibly easy to use, especially for foreigners who aren't familiar with the neighborhoods in Tokyo. It was also nice knowing I helped feed children with their charity initiative.”
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Ashish Nangpal
“We took the Kyoto cultural and food night tour and were absolutely delighted with the decision. This tour served as our introduction to Kyoto as it was on our first night in Japan.
In addition to being a generally friendly and warm person, our guide, Kevin, was very knowledgeable about Japanese culture and history and took his time to walk our small multi-national group through interesting sights in the Gion and Ponchoto areas. The food experiences were well-curated and informative.
We would strongly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Japan for the first time.”
Tempted to explore Japan with byFood?
After seeing what everyone else is saying about us, don’t you feel like you’re missing out on some of Japan's best food tours and dining experiences?
Start browsing our food experiences and restaurants, and who knows… Maybe you’ll be the next person leaving a five-star review.
If you need any more convincing, take a look at our Is byFood Legit? article, telling you what we do, how it works and the trustworthy partners we work with.
To get to know byFood even better, you’re welcome to learn about us, get to know our Food For Happiness initiative, or even take a peek at our company information.
