Eating Our Way Through Tokyo’s Best Local Joints
One of our favorite first day activity in any location is to do a food walking tour. On our recent family trip to Tokyo it was the 3 kids, 2 parents, plus one grandparent and we wanted to experience the real local flavors – not just the tourist traps. After looking through reviews, we landed on Akira’s “Eat and Drink Like a LOCAL : Restaurant, Tavern & Ramen Tour” based in Ueno and let me tell you, and it absolutely exceeded expectations!
Over 5 hours, Akira brought our family (including our picky eaters) on a whirlwind tour of his favorite holes-in-the-wall that we’d never find on our own.
Our first spot started out with a bang with sushi and beer, another stop with an endless meats (including some mystery meats!) and sake. The highlight was the last stop, an incredible ramen spot where Akira ordered for us, explaining the different noodles and broths in detail. Not only did the broth blow our minds, but it’s an incredible hangover cure (wisdom I carry with me to this day). At every stop, Akira offered insight into customs around dining and drink in Japan.
Our only downside was that pricing the same for kids as adults — it’s hard to think they’ll get their “money’s worth” however space is so small in Tokyo restaurants that a seat is a seat no matter who is sitting in it. Kids got soft drinks at the stops instead of alcohol, and I would recommend being VERY honest with Akira about what the kids will and will not eat– in hindsight I should have just asked for plain rice and noodles for the kids, given 2 of the 3 aren’t as adventurous eaters (yet!). We ended up eating multiple meals on the kids behalf to not be rude (and the food was very generous!).
A consideration on your trip in the jetlag especially with kids can be pretty grueling the first couple of days. Since this tour starts later in the day, consider doing it on day 2 of your trip instead on day 1 to give time adjustments. A shoutout for your BFF to kick the jetlag- Melatonin kids.
Beyond the food and drink, Akira shared fascinating history and cultural tidbits that brought deeper meaning to the tastes. He has a deep knowledge in whiskey and studied hospitality abroad. The tour gave us a true insider’s perspective on Tokyo. We had wonderful discussion about culture, society, and covid’s impact.
If you’re heading to Tokyo, this tour is an absolute must-do! Akira’s deep local knowledge opens doors to authentic establishments and you’ll come away so much wiser about the cuisine thanks to his patient teaching. We’d book with him again in a heartbeat!
If you’re heading to Japan, see here for a list of favorite buys, especially these:
- Honeybunny the Unipuppy Visits Japan our book that gets kids excited for the trip ahead, eating new foods, visiting temples, and journaling on the trip. More on Honeybunny here.
- Pimsleur Japanese language program (listen to this in the car before your trip to get some quick basic phrases to stick, found this infinitely more helpful than Duolingo)
- Training chopsticks (get your kids used to chopsticks! We found ourselves without forks MANY times )
- Japan puzzle (fun activity before you leave)
- The Renata merino wool dress (soft, has pockets, stink resistant- I took this dress on a 5 week trip without having to wash it)
Have you tried starting your trips with family-friendly food tours? We found it to be a game changer. Share your recommendations in the comments below!
