Asakusa Food Tour: 12 Dishes at 4 Local Eateries

Taste 12 dishes across four neighborhood spots and learn what locals actually eat in Asakusa.

A 2.5-hour guided food tour in Asakusa that takes you to four local restaurants and a sake bar to sample 12 Japanese dishes including monjayaki, yakisoba, okonomiyaki and taiyaki, with a local guide who explains the food and its place in Tokyo's old downtown. The tour is conducted in English; children are welcome from age 2, and all venues are wheelchair accessible. You'll meet other travelers along the way and end with a stroll through Hoppy Street.

Step-by-step itinerary

Asakusa guided food and sake tour

• Visit Senso-ji Temple at night
• Try several kinds of sake
• Enjoy okonomiyaki cooked by chef
• Eat Taiyaki fish-shaped pancake dessert

The Experience

Twelve dishes across four stops means you're not sampling a menu—you're eating the way Asakusa residents do. The tour moves through a local-favorite izakaya, a sake bar where you try several kinds and learn how they pair with food, and restaurants where chefs cook in front of you. Monjayaki, the savory pancake that is soul food of old downtown Tokyo, sits alongside yakisoba and okonomiyaki. A fish-shaped taiyaki arrives warm at the end. Your guide walks you through Hoppy Street between stops and explains what each dish is, how it's made and why it matters to the neighborhood.

The pace is built around eating, not rushing. You spend real time at each place instead of photographing and moving on. Two drinks are included; anything beyond that you pay in cash. Bring enough yen for extras if you want them. The tour works for solo travelers and groups alike—you'll meet other people on the tour, which is part of how these neighborhood spots work. All restaurants and the sake bar are wheelchair accessible, and the tour can be modified if you need specific accommodations.

What’s included

• Twelve Japanese dishes across four local restaurants and a sake bar.
• two drinks.
• a local guide who speaks English and explains the food and its history.
• a stroll through Hoppy Street.
• all transportation between venues.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transport

Operated by Japan Guide Star

Is this one for you?You end the tour having tasted what Asakusa residents actually eat instead of tourist versions of Japanese food, which is what a guide who knows the neighborhood and chooses the restaurants makes possible.

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Top questions

What kind of food will I actually eat on this Asakusa food tour?

You'll taste 12 dishes including monjayaki (a savory pancake that is traditional soul food of old downtown Tokyo), yakisoba (stir-fried noodles), okonomiyaki (another savory Japanese pancake cooked in front of you), taiyaki (a warm fish-shaped waffle with filling), and several kinds of sake paired with food. The guide chooses restaurants where locals eat, not tourist spots.

How long does the tour take and what's included in the price?

The tour runs 2.5 hours and includes all 12 dishes, 2 drinks, and a local English-speaking guide. Any additional food or drinks beyond what's on the itinerary are paid separately in cash, so bring yen if you want extras.

Will I have time to actually sit and eat, or is this mostly walking between places?

You spend real time at each restaurant and sake bar instead of quick stops. The tour is paced around eating, not sightseeing. Walking between venues includes a stroll through Hoppy Street, but the focus is on the food and the guide's explanation of what you're tasting.

Is this tour suitable for children?

Yes, children are welcome from age 2. The tour includes a mix of dishes, and the pace works for families. All venues are wheelchair accessible if you need that accommodation.

What is monjayaki and why is it important in Asakusa?

Monjayaki is a savory pancake and considered soul food of old downtown Tokyo. It's a dish locals grew up eating in Asakusa, and tasting it on this tour gives you a window into what the neighborhood actually eats rather than what tourists are usually served.