14 Dining Experiences in Japan to Build a Day Around

1.Tokyo Bar Hopping Tour in Shinjuku (All-You-Can-Drink + Dinner)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3,587 reviews · from $106Our pick

Spend about three hours with a small group of up to seven people, moving through three Shinjuku drinking spots with food and drinks included. Your local guide leads you through Omoide Yokocho, Kabukicho, and Golden Gai, explaining local customs and helping you order with ease. Stops can change, and a sake bar may replace Golden Gai.

“Ramesh was an excellent guide. He was very knowledgeable and took us to all the fun places to have good drinks and good. Thank you. A+++. Highly recommended”

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2.Sumo Show and Dining Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 2,742 reviews · 90 minutes - 2 hours · from $79

At Tokyo Sumo Room in Kiyosumi-Shirakawa, former Makuuchi wrestler Tokitsumi presents a lively introduction to sumo with English explanations, demonstrations, bouts, and optional audience matches. You can watch former rikishi up close, learn the rules and rituals, and choose a meal option featuring Japanese dishes and chanko-nabe-style food. Check the time carefully, since the 3:00 PM show has no meal plan.

“Excellent demonstration! We learned a lot about the sport and its history. The "Show with dinner" does NOT include dinner.”

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3.Samurai Restaurant Show Ticket with 2 Drinks

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,307 reviews · 1h 30m · from $55

In Kabukicho, take your seat inside Tokyo’s lavish Samurai Restaurant for a loud, colorful stage show featuring samurai, ninjas, dancers, elaborate costumes, neon effects, and live-style musical energy. Your ticket includes two alcoholic or non-alcoholic drinks. The venue is 18-plus, food is extra, and late arrivals wait until intermission.

“the show was a lot of fun and the perfirmers and staff all looked really happt to put on the show”

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4.Deep Backstreet Osaka Tours (Option to add Dinner)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,290 reviews · from $53

Start near Daikokucho Station at 5:30 pm for a three-hour small-group walk through Osaka’s old alleys, retro shopping areas, former ghetto, and historic red-light district. Guides such as Mari, Knox, Josh, and Rudy explain local customs, class, religion, homelessness, and organized crime. Add an izakaya dinner with Osaka soul food.

“Traveled with friends and wanted to have a night out in town doing something unique. Bennett was great at pacing the tour and giving us all the local info in an insightful and honest manner. I was a bit apprehensive that we would be led by Read more”

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5.Deep Backstreets Walking Tour with Dinner Option

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 902 reviews · 3 hours - 210 minutes · from $40Best value

Spend 210 minutes with an English-speaking guide such as Knox, Rudy, Mari, or Bennett, moving through retro arcades, old markets, shadowy backstreets, abandoned properties, and a preserved Taisho-Era red light district. You’ll taste two local side dishes, discuss difficult subjects, and may finish with a full Japanese dinner.

“This tour is truly a different kind of tour where you will learn of things about Japan that are not typically covered by a “site” tour. Our guide, Rudy, with his humor and amazing way of storytelling, was able to shed some light on some of the everyday going ons of Osaka, its history and some of its forgotten people. He showed us areas of the city that no one really talks about or knows about. If you are interested in this type of information, this tour is for you. And the snacks and dinner (if you so choose) provided was DELICIOUS! I highly recommend Rudy as he does not…”

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6.Sumida River: Japanese Traditional Yakatabune Dinner Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 779 reviews · 2h 30m · from $103

From Azumabashi in Asakusa, you’ll spend 150 minutes aboard a traditional yakatabune, dining on about 14 Japanese dishes while cruising the Sumida River to Tokyo Bay. You’ll stop at Odaiba and Tokyo Skytree for rooftop photos. Drinks, including beer, sake, wine, whiskey, plum wine, tea, and soft drinks, are included.

“Delicious food and a great atmosphere! One of our best experiences in Tokyo so you MUST do! The food is wonderful and you get unlimited drinks, which is wonderful. The boat itself is super cool and the sightings are great as well.”

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7.Kyoto Gion Cultural Walk & Geisha Show with Dining Options

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 518 reviews · 3 hours - 210 minutes · from $108

Walk Gion with an English-speaking guide such as Kenta, Ken, or Akari, then meet a maiko for questions, photos, and one or two traditional dances. Choose lunch, afternoon tea, or an eight-dish dinner. The small group, usually limited to eight, makes this a thoughtful way to learn about Kyoto’s living geiko culture.

“Our tour with Ken was enlightening and enjoyable. He was quite passionate about bringing geisha culture. His knowledge of geiko/maiko culture, training, and history was considerable. He cleared up many myths. The maiko’s presentation was really a pleasure. She was a young lady of considerable poise and talent. The meal - while not that filling - was beautifully arranged and tasty. This tour was worth the time and money. I recommend taking the tour during daylight hours.”

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8.Kyoto Gion Cultural Walk & Geisha Show with Dining Options

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 483 reviews · from $121

Spend about three hours with guides such as Ken, Kenta, or Akari, walking through Gion’s shrines, theaters, and geiko districts before meeting a maiko apprentice. The 45-minute gathering includes tea, questions, and one or two dances. Dining may be available with selected options, so check exactly what your booking includes.

“Kenta was a fabulous tour guide with a clear passion for the geiko culture and spreading knowledge and love of it to visitors from overseas. The tour itself was varied, engaging, and culminated in having tea and meeting a meiko-san who performed two lovely dances for us all. Absolute highlight of our trip to Japan, can't recommend any more highly!”

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9.Tokyo Bay Yakatabune Dinner/Day Cruise with Japan Show and Drinks

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 473 reviews · from $65

Board a traditional yakatabune at Etchujima for about 1 hour 40 minutes of Tokyo Bay views, sukiyaki, soft drinks, and live Japanese music. Hosts such as Karen, Yoyo, and Sheila help with the evening, while performers including Hibiki and Hinako may provide shamisen music and songs. Seating is random, shoes come off, and tables may be shared.

“This was an amazing experience. Host, Karen, Musician, Hibiki, and the rest of the crew were wonderful and so accommodating. Karen was extremely friendly and helped take beautiful pictures. Hibiki played and sang for us throughoRead more”

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10.Shinjuku Bar Hopping with All-You-Can-Drink & Dinner

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 440 reviews · 3 hours · from $108

Join an English-speaking guide such as Yuki, Naoki, or Mao for three hours of food, drinks, and small-bar culture in Shinjuku. You’ll visit Omoide Yokocho, Kabukicho, and Golden Gai, with dinner, two drinks at the first stop, all-you-can-drink at the second, and one drink at the last.

“Absolutely awesome experience! Our guide Uma was super friendly and knowledgeable, she was so helpful with all of our questions. The food and drinks were amazing, plenty of both and well worth the price :) I would highly recommend this experience!”

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11.Tokyo Dinner Cruise & Tradition Show & Drinks & Tokyo Tower

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 315 reviews · 1h 40m · from $95

Spend 100 minutes aboard a traditional yakatabune houseboat with a sukiyaki meal, unlimited soft drinks, live shamisen music, and a cultural performance. English-speaking guides such as Karen, Yoyo, and Lulu help with photos and explanations. The cruise returns to Etchūjima Pier, while Tokyo Tower’s 150-meter deck is included only with the selected option.

“Our guide Yoyo is such a lovely person. Food was delicious, shamisen music was a truly unique experience. On top of that, we all participated in traditional Japanese songs. Shinnami company did a great job taking care of us and we highly recommend this trip. We were also very lucky to see the "rainbow bridge", usually it's white.”

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12.Tokyo Bay: Traditional Japanese Yakatabune Dinner Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 243 reviews · 3 hours · from $108

Spend about three hours aboard a traditional yakatabune departing from Funasei Pier in Shinagawa. Enjoy a multi-course Japanese dinner, unlimited beer, sake, shochu, wine, whiskey, plum liqueur, and soft drinks while cruising Tokyo Bay and the Sumida River. The boat pauses for rooftop photos of Tokyo Skytree and Rainbow Bridge. Commentary is mainly in Japanese.

“It was great. You sit on tables in the floor. Beautiful view”

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13.Professional Ramen & Gyoza with Ramen Chef in a restaurant!

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 223 reviews · from $159

At Baba Ramen in Meguro, you make restaurant-quality ramen from scratch, including noodles, broth, toppings, and gyoza. English and Japanese-speaking chefs guide the small group, with instructors including Andrew, Eric, Jae, and Leo. Expect about four hands-on hours, a full meal, and an e-book for cooking at home.

“Our family of five had the best time at Baba Ramen! We always do cooking classes on our vacations and this one ranked right up there with the best. Unlike many other classes, they really put you to work. We were doing something for the entire time, in the kitchen with hot pans and oils, breaking chicken bones, rolling out noodles. We really felt like we cooked the meal and it was delicious! Also very personable chefs to help guide us! Highly recommend!”

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14.Food and Culture Guided Walking Tour with Dinner

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 212 reviews · 3 hours · from $94

Join an English-speaking guide such as Ken, Kensuke, or Alex for a three-hour evening walk through Hiroshima’s Hondori and Nagarekawa districts. Eat at three local tachinomi-style restaurants, try at least ten dishes, and enjoy three drinks, including sake, beer, cocktails, or non-alcoholic choices.

“A fun, informative and delicious evening. Ken selected a fantastic selection of local cuisine and looked after us brilliantly, ensuring reservations at authentic restaurants in the neighbourhood. Ken was attentive, knowledgeable and friendly. We highly recommend this tour to anyone who likes food and learning about local delicacies and culture.”

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