Arigato Travel Japan have been in operation for many years (I took my first tour with them in 2018 when I did a Shibuya Food Tour at night and then again recently in May 2026 where I took a food tour of Tsujiki Outer Market.) This is the exact tour I did while in Tsukiji.
I love how they keep the groups small and weave in stops at traditional landmarks, cultural etiquette tips as well as high and low end food options.
For example, on my Shibuya food tour we stopped for wagyu, incredible sushi but then they also walked us through a local department store deli to try some raw ingredients, past the high-end gift wrapped fruit and then we were able to try some delicious traditional sweets.
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I recommend taking kids along on a Arigato Travel Food Tour if your kids are foodies, adventurous eaters or if they just like to ask lots of questions about Japanese culture, etiquette or where produce comes from. The tour groups are kept nice and small which keeps the chat intimate and means the tour guide can easily stop for questions or restroom breaks etc.
I, personally, recommend a food tour like this for families with children who are young enough to babywear (for full flexibility) and also children who are 8 or older as a group tour like this does require being able to follow the group and also listen to the history and general tips from the tour guide.
Who do I think and Arigato Travel Japan Food Tour is best for?
I would recommend an Arigato Travel Japan food tour to:
– travellers who have boxes to check and not a lot of money or time
– solo tourists who are looking to do something different and meet others
– first timer business travellers with a limited amount of time in Tokyo
– those living in or visiting Tokyo who find the smaller hole-in-the-wall type places to be a bit too daunting to just ‘walk in and see’ (the tour price includes all the food so it’s great if you’re watching your budget as you don’t need to be concerned that you’ve walked into a restaurant that charges a small fortune)
-those families who like to know more than the average tourist – they don’t just want to buy and eat the food – they want to hear about where the food came from, when this food is enjoyed by Japanese locals and want to lean into the “proper” way to eat all the dishes
-those who feel a bit flustered when trying to order in Japanese and also get a bit stressed out worrying “does this shop accept cash?” “does that price mean this is included?” “is this a touristy gimmick or is this the real deal?”
I really love how the tour guide doesn’t just sort the food – they also can tell you the lesser known photo spots, where to get a good view of famous spots that differ from the standard “tourist angle.” In a time where Japan is experiencing such over tourism this really means your time in Japan will be different to the majority of people just checking boxes when they are sightseeing.
After both of the tours I have taken with Arigato Travel Japan, I have actually gone back to their recommended spots again as I was so excited to re-try an eatery that I previously would never have known about.
I love how the whole tour is paid ahead of time and then you’re just literally handed or dished up the most amazing things to eat!
For example, my tour guide handed us all the BEST Japanese strawberry OF MY LIFE in Tsukiji!
An Arigato Travel Japan tour is also be the ideal way to start a trip as your tour guide can talk you through tfood etiquette in Japan – so it’s kind of like a mini-starter course – making the dining for the rest of your trip a lot less daunting.
For example, our guide showed us how to properly make (and flip) an okonomiyaki.
During the Shibuya Food Tour – just before the tour came to an end ( 3 hours later) we walked through a department store food hall and sampled a traditional Japanese dessert.
