Nagoya Food Tour: Taste Local Specialties in Sakae

Sakae's food scene: five dishes, four ways to eat eel, one underground department store

A 3.5-hour walking food tour through Nagoya's Sakae district where you sample five local specialties: Miso Nikomi Udon, Ebi Senbei, Oni Manju, Hitsumabushi, and Tebasaki (dinner only), with a knowledgeable local guide who explains the history and technique behind each one. Nighttime tours include one drink at a local izakaya. Food selections may change based on availability.

The experience

Sakae is where Nagoya's food culture lives, and this tour moves through it on foot with a guide who knows the restaurants, the stories, and the reasons these dishes matter. You'll taste Miso Nikomi Udon (thick noodles in a rich red miso broth), and learn why shrimp rice crackers (Ebi Senbei) and sweet potato cakes (Oni Manju) are iconic here. The walking covers real ground, but stops at restaurants give you time to rest and eat properly, not just grab and move.

Hitsumabushi, the grilled freshwater eel served on rice, is where technique becomes part of the meal: your guide walks you through eating it four different ways, each one changing the flavor. You'll also explore the underground level of Japan's oldest department store, a detail most visitors miss. For evening departures, the tour shifts into Nagoya's drinking culture at an izakaya, where you order Tebasaki (deep-fried chicken wings with a peppery Nagoya spice blend), and wash them down with a cold beer or non-alcoholic drink of your choice.

The guide speaks English or Spanish and delivers the background stories that make the difference between tasting food and understanding it. Start times are 11:00 (morning) or 17:00 (evening). Confirm your preferred time when you book.

What’s included

• All fees and taxes.
• a knowledgeable local guide speaking English or Spanish.
• five foods and snacks (Miso Nikomi Udon, Ebi Senbei, Oni Manju, Hitsumabushi, and Tebasaki at evening tours).
• one drink at the izakaya on nighttime departures only (alcoholic or non-alcoholic of your choice).

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (4 to 12 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48h

Paid on siteJP¥ 3,500

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearby

Operated by Nagoya is not boring

Is this one for you?The guide delivers commentary in English or Spanish, so you follow the stories and context comfortably in your language. Morning tours suit anyone who wants to eat and learn without the evening drinking culture. Evening departures are built for travelers who want to experience an izakaya and Nagoya's social drinking scene as part of the meal.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 12 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What is Hitsumabushi and why does the guide teach four ways to eat it?

Hitsumabushi is grilled freshwater eel served over rice, a Nagoya specialty. The guide shows you how to eat it four different ways (each preparation changes the flavor and texture), so you experience the dish as locals do rather than one fixed way.

How much walking is involved, and will there be time to rest?

The tour covers the Sakae district on foot, so there is quite a bit of walking involved. Breaks at restaurants are built into the 3.5-hour itinerary so you can sit, eat, and recharge between stops.

What happens on the evening tour that's different from the morning one?

The 17:00 departure includes a stop at a local izakaya where you join Nagoya's drinking culture, ordering Tebasaki (spiced deep-fried chicken wings) and one drink (beer, sake, or non-alcoholic) as your final course.

Can I request different foods if I have allergies or dietary restrictions?

The tour is not suitable for vegans and vegetarians because all five dishes center on meat, seafood, or animal products. If you have specific food allergies or dietary restrictions, let the operator know in advance so they can discuss options with you.

What's inside Japan's oldest department store that the tour visits?

The tour explores the underground level of the department store, a part of Nagoya most visitors don't see. It's included as part of the walking route through the Sakae district.