Food Experiences(853)
Tsukiji Fish Market Tour with Breakfast
Immerse yourself in the sights, sounds, and smells of one of Tokyo’s most famous markets: Tsukiji Market. From a variety of seafood vendors and street food stands, your guide will take you to four can’t-miss spots for the freshest seafood!
High-End Omakase Tempura Course Meal at Tempura Ono
Expert tempura Japanese course menu by a world-class chef. A fine dining experience with a traditional fried tempura menu. Personalized luxurious omakase dinner. Famous VIP and overseas guests recommended organic washoku dining.
UNESCO Recognized Washoku Cooking Class
Learn how to make the UNESCO-recognized “washoku” (traditional Japanese cuisine) during a cooking class in central Tokyo! Learn the fundamentals of Japanese cooking while making 4 different dishes with an English-speaking culinary instructor.
Kyoto Sushi Class: Nigiri, Gunkan & Maki
Become a sushi-making expert in Kyoto! Learn the art of crafting sushi in a 90-min class led by masters with over 10 years of experience. Once you’ve rolled, savor your mouthwatering creations alongside your hosts and classmates.
Miso in Matsumoto: Fermentation Factory Tour and Lunch
Learn all about miso in this tour of a miso factory in Matsumoto, Nagano! The factory has been in business since 1868 and ages its miso for up to three years. Try this rich miso in a variety of foods available after the factory tour like miso soup.
Sushi-Making Experience in Tokyo (Cooking Class in Asakusa)
Make authentic Japanese sushi from scratch at a cooking class in Asakusa, a historic district in Tokyo! Your expert hosts will guide you from rice to roll, teaching you about the history and culture surrounding sushi and the famed Asakusa district.
Absolute Osaka Food Tour
Join this tour in Minami Osaka, where gleaming lanterns light the path from restaurant to restaurant, and larger-than-life food signs indicate glorious gyoza and seafood within. Explore 4 food stops and a local restaurant with a knowledgable guide.
Tea Ceremony Experience in Asakusa
Experience a time-honored piece of Japanese culture in Asakusa, Tokyo’s traditional district. Learn about the art and history of Japanese tea ceremonies, and try your hand at preparing and serving your own matcha!
Farm-to-Table Matsusaka Beef Sukiyaki at a Farmer’s Inn
Spend the night at a farmer’s inn, harvest veggies, collect spring water, and make a luxurious sukiyaki hot pot with Matsusaka wagyu. This rare beef is native to Mie, and only 2500 Matsusaka cattle are available each year, making it highly coveted.
Private Ramen Tour in Tokyo by Local Ramen Expert Hiroshi
Join ramen expert Hiroshi, who comes from a family with generations in the business of ramen-making, and take a personalized tour in Tokyo, trying two different styles of ramen at two of his recommended ramen shops.
Ramen Shop Kitchen Experience
Visit a ramen shop for a mini tour that introduces the tricks and tools of the trade. After learning about the inner workings of a ramen kitchen, you’ll make your very own bowl of ramen from scatch!
Gion Tour with Kaiseki Meal in Kyoto at Night
Join a local guide as you stroll the cobbled streets of Gion and the Pontocho alley, and take in the atmosphere and local culture and history. After exploring, sit down to an elegant, multi-course kaiseki dinner.
Kyoto Decorative Sushi Cooking Class (Private)
Learn to make creative decorative sushi rolls called kazarimaki in this private sushi-making class at your instructor's home near Nijo Castle in Kyoto. Made with plant-based ingredients, these colorful sushi rolls are vegetarian and vegan-friendly.
Seasonal Home Cooking Class in Kyoto
Delve into Japanese home cooking at a family house located only 10 minutes from the Kyoto Botanical Gardens. Guided by a local cooking instructor, you’ll prepare an appetizing lunch using seasonal and organic ingredients.
Traditional Kyoto Udon Making from Scratch
Experience making Kyoto udon and savoring it in the same prefecture where the dish’s name originates. Fun, family-friendly hands-on cooking class.
Kyoto Sake Brewery Tour in Fushimi Sake District
For over 400 years, Kyoto’s Fushimi Sake District has been producing some of Japan’s most premium sake. During this sake brewery tour, visit a sake museum, tour a historic brewery, and taste a variety of sakes with a guide.
Traditional Sweets (Nerikiri) Making with Tea Ceremony
Spend a delightful afternoon crafting tiny edible works of art! During this wagashi class in Tokyo, you’ll make three Japanese confections with designs that are inspired by the current season. Then, whip up a bowl of matcha to pair with the sweets.
Traditional Japanese Wagashi Making Class in Kyoto
Japan’s cultural capital is the perfect place to learn to make “wagashi,” the traditional Japanese confections made of sweet bean paste and mochi. Join this workshop with an experienced wagashi teacher and make your own artistic and delicious sweets!
Totally Tea: Ceremony, Tasting, & Making Experience in Kyoto
Observe, savor, and brew at this tea ceremony experience in Kyoto! Guided by a professional tea ceremony instructor, you’ll witness a tea ceremony, taste premium tea from Kyoto, then try your hand at brewing some of your own.
Geisha Show & Lunch in Gion (Kyoto)
Join Ken, a professional guide, to uncover Gion's history, culture, & landmarks during this walking tour. Experience a Japanese lunch (tempura, sushi, or karaage) & a captivating geisha show on this journey through Kyoto's historic district.
Tokyo Yakitori and Ramen Tour in Shinjuku
Embark on a culinary journey through the busy streets of Shinjuku. Savor the smoky, succulent skewers of yakitori, and a steaming bowl of hearty ramen—all while learning about Japan's iconic food and drinking culture.
Osaka-Style Okonomiyaki Cooking Class in Osaka
Osaka’s iconic savory pancake, okonomiyaki is calling your name! With Yoko-sensei, a certified food coordinator and licensed guide, you’ll learn how to make Osaka-style okonomiyaki along with two side dishes and the Japanese omelet, tamagoyaki.
Evening in Kyoto Pontocho Food Tour
Strolling through Kyoto’s Pontocho and Gion is like entering another era—all cobbled streets, amber lighting, and traditional architecture. Visit 4 stops and taste the delicate Kyoto cuisine, notable for its seasonal ingredients and presentation.
Osaka-Style Kitchen: Sushi, Tamagoyaki, & Miso Soup
Join Saeko, a professional food stylist & recipe developer, for a home cooking class in Osaka! Learn how to make 3 types of sushi, tamagoyaki (Japanese rolled omelet), & miso soup. Enjoy your meal and take home an English-language recipe booklet.
Tuna Cutting Show with All-You-Can-Eat Fresh Tuna Sushi
See how these giant tuna are transformed from fish to sashimi! Groups will be taught different aspects of tuna preparation and history in Japan with unlimited food and drink and the opportunity for light audience participation.
Nishiki Market and Culture Walking Tour in Kyoto
This tour combines the cultural hotspots of Kyoto with its famous Nishiki Market, home to hundreds of shops selling everything from premium sake, to crunchy pickles, to savory rice crackers. Sightsee and snack your way through the area with a guide!
Cooking in Kyoto: Original Recipe Ramen & Gyoza with Nariko
Join Nariko (a professional cooking instructor) for a hands-on home cooking class in Kyoto! Make shoyu (soy sauce) ramen, gyoza, & a side dish from scratch, & then enjoy your handmade meal.
Table-Style Tea Ceremony at a 100-Year-Old Machiya in Kyoto
Pick your favorite tea bowl, experience a tea ceremony and learn how to make your own tea, then enjoy it together with traditional sweets in this unique tea ceremony experience in a machiya house in Kyoto that’s over 100 years old!
Recent Reviews from GuestsFind The Top Gourmet Experiences in Japan
At byFood, we believe that one of the best ways to experience Japanese culture is to dive in with your chopsticks! Food is a universal human experience, something that people from all walks of life can talk about with joy and fond memories. While some might associate the smell of freshly-baked chocolate chip cookies with Christmas, the Japanese might be reminded of Japanese New Year by the smell of sweet red beans and toasted mochi. Japanese food is inextricably linked to culture and history, and it’s the celebration of these traditions that make each culture unique.
On a trip to Japan, you’ll likely plan to visit temples and shrines, Japanese parks and gardens, amusement parks and shopping districts. These areas are packed with tourists, and you could probably go back to your country without even speaking with a Japanese person, without feeling in touch with the culture at all. That’s why byFood offers hands-on, immersive food experiences in Japan with local guides, such as food tours, cooking classes, tastings, and dining experiences.
During a food tour in Japan, you can learn about the food scene in a particular area by visiting several different Japanese restaurants and establishments, or touring one place in-depth. This might be a tour of a specific neighborhood, shopping street, or market such as a fish market. Food tours also include bar hopping experiences and bike tours in Japan, which get your heart pumping as you burn off the calories from your meals (or your drinks!).
ByFood also offers cooking classes in Japan, which are hands on cooking experiences that vary in intensity. While there are many cooking classes suitable for home cooks and children, there are also intensive courses with lessons that take place over several days and offer a certificate of completion. Cooking classes can take place in cooking studios, restaurants, or homes.
Dining experiences are sit-down food and drink experiences that include experiential dining experiences like intimate dinners with a personal chef, creative themed restaurants, casual dining experiences at little eateries and izakayas, and home dining with locals.
Our food experiences also include tastings in Japan, which allow you to try different varieties of a beverage, such as tea and sake, with a local guide. You can enjoy everything from sake tastings to beer tastings to whisky tastings during a byFood tasting experiences, but it isn’t limited to just alcoholic drinks. There are also dashi and tea tastings available. The category also includes tours of breweries and distilleries that culminate in a tasting.
Whether you’re visiting Japan for the first time or the tenth, there are always new things to be discovered! Browse food experiences in Japan on byFood and find your perfect food tour, cooking class, dining experience, or tasting.
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