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Monzen-Nakacho Tour: Hidden Izakayas and Temples
4.9
34 Ratings
Koto City
Discover Monzen-Nakacho’s hidden gems: izakayas, historic temples, and vibrant ceremonies. Experience Tokyo’s ancient spirit and modern creativity on this immersive tour.
Discover Monzen-Nakacho’s hidden gems: izakayas, historic temples, and vibrant ceremonies. Experience Tokyo’s ancient spirit and modern creativity on this immersive tour.
Duration:
6 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Fukagawa Fudodo - Explore the charming backstreets of Monzen-Nakacho, visiting quaint storefronts and tucked-away izakayas and bars to meet the artisans who keep the neighborhood’s appetites and glasses satisfied. This journey is more than just an izakaya crawl; it delves into the spiritual aspect of sake drinking and its significance in Japanese…
- Fukagawa Fudodo - Explore the charming backstreets of Monzen-Nakacho, visiting quaint storefronts and tucked-away izakayas and bars to meet the artisans who keep the neighborhood’s appetites and glasses satisfied. This journey is more than just an izakaya crawl; it delves into the spiritual aspect of sake drinking and its significance in Japanese culture and religion, offering a taste of some exceptional versions of Japan’s traditional spirit.
Begin the day with a visit to a classic local spot for sushi and fukagawa meshi, a regional dish featuring clams served over rice. As the journey continues towards the Fudodo Temple to witness a daily fire ceremony, take a detour to a lively shopping street dating back to the early 20th century. Here, visit several traditional food shops and sample a variety of artisanal specialties, including anju from a bakery with roots tracing back to 1850.
- Tokyo - After paying respects at the temple and experiencing the multisensory ceremony, follow the locals to the neighborhood’s popular watering holes, where drinks are paired with expertly crafted bites. As afternoon turns to evening, visit a sake specialist, stop by an oyster shucker supporting fishermen recovering from the 2011 tsunami by purchasing directly from them, and squeeze into a hidden tachinomi, or “standing bar,” where the small kitchen produces culinary wonders. Before concluding the adventure, visit several more spots to mingle with locals and gain a deeper appreciation of what makes Monzen-Nakacho such a magical place.
What's Included
- Alcoholic beverages
- Snacks
- Dinner
- Tea and coffee
- Alcoholic beverages
- Snacks
- Dinner
- Tea and coffee
What's Not Included
- Private transportation
- Private transportation
Additional Information
Monzen-Nakacho offers a delightful array of experiences, from secret izakayas to age-old food shops and historic temples featuring taiko drum and fire ceremonies. This Tokyo neighborhood has everything one could wish for – and more. Join this afternoon-to-evening tour to discover this enchanting part of traditional Tokyo, where the city’s rich history…
Monzen-Nakacho offers a delightful array of experiences, from secret izakayas to age-old food shops and historic temples featuring taiko drum and fire ceremonies. This Tokyo neighborhood has everything one could wish for – and more. Join this afternoon-to-evening tour to discover this enchanting part of traditional Tokyo, where the city’s rich history and contemporary innovation coexist harmoniously.
- Travellers need to be 18 or older
Location
Monzen-nakacho Station
On the street by Exit 1 of the Tozai line.
If using the Tozai line - Follow the signs to Exit 1, and go up the stairs where you'll find a mailbox and the entrance gate for the temple.
If you're taking the Oedo line, Please use Exit 5 and walk on the street to the meeting point outside Exit 1.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.9
(34 Ratings)
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Leovannyf
Jul 17, 2025
Food Tour in Tokyo! - This was probably one of our top three highlights of our trip to Japan and I would highly recommend this experience. This was so awesome because Michelle, our guide, was simply phenomenal. She was incredibly knowledgeable on not just the food but also culture and customs. She was thoughtful, kind, and went above and beyond the call of duty by recommending more delicious eating opportunities and experiences. When I come back I will be doing this again, and I will be specifically requesting Michelle.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Vacation100368
Jul 5, 2025
Always a good time with culinary backstreets - Fantastic trip , guide and so much history and culture learning about the area . Highly recommended for anyone who is interested in both culture and food and go on , experience something off the beaten track
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Meander49745949139
Jun 30, 2025
Great way to experience Japanese food and drink - Excellent guide, great experience. Great to get into the Buddhist temple and see their ceremony. Enjoyed the bbq, local beers and sake.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Rebeccalawrence
Jun 10, 2025
Excellent insight into life in a small Tokyo neighbourhood's food and religion - This Tokyo tour combines food and religious rituals in a neighbourhood that's not frequented by many foreigners. The tour starts off with a special meal of clam "chowders" served on the grounds of a shrine and moves on to a temple where you can see and participate in a fire ceremony, a standup (sake) bar, an shop specializing in ume-shu (plum wine), a restaurant specializing in toro (tuna), a grill-your-own okonomiyaki-type pancake, and traditional sweet and rice cracker shops. The food experience was excellent, as are all Culinary Backstreets walks, but this one really shone because of the religious sites we visited. Our guide Michelle has lived in Tokyo for 20 years and was able to convey her knowledge of the rituals to our group, ensuring that we were respectful and committed no faux-pas during our visit. Her affection and understanding of Japan added greatly to our experience. There's no question that's too obscure to ask her, she said, and we put her to the test, asking about daily life, social habits, and general questions about living in the country. As with the tour of Kichijoji, this tour truly enhanced our enjoyment and understanding of Tokyo life. There are certainly less expensive tours available, but with a huge influx of tourists in Japan these days, there are also some tours which don't meet a very high standard. This Culinary Backstreets tour delivers excellent value for money -- in terms of the generosity of what is offered food-wise, and the terrific knowledgeable guide who knows her stuff and how to create a great atmosphere for learning. Highly recommended!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Bbcasvil
Jun 1, 2025
All that you could hope for in a food tour. - We knew that taking a food tour was a great way to learn basic cultural insights.
Michelle our guide for this tour was so informative, easy to talk to, and fun.
More than just the food and drinks we leant about the people, history, their customs and traditions.
A highlight was the fire ritual performed at the Fukagawa Fudou-do Buddist Temple and the deeply respectful way in which Michelle guided us through the ceremony.
The food and wine places we visited were all unique experiences. For me the back story behind the Oyster Man restaurant was fascinating, the oysters were great as well.
We can highly recommend this tour, and if you're lucky enough we hope that you get Michelle.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Clairem984
May 28, 2025
Six star experience - If I could give this six stars I would. Diana our guide was exceptional and such an interesting, friendly and well informed person. I absolutely loved the mix of culture, food and history of this area. We were so lucky to be given an up close look at a very beautiful golden shrine which is paraded every year. The fire ceremony blessing the rice was amazing either Taiko drumming. Great tour companions in Danny and Madeleine who were also super interesting to spend time with. I would never have found these places by myself! Cannot recommend more highly. The only downside was tourists talking during the fire ceremony despite requests not to.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
618gregoryg
May 27, 2025
Outside the guidebook - My wife, sister, brother-in-law, and I had a fantastic time on this tour. It gave us a chance to explore a less publicized side of Tokyo that felt more local and less touristy. From the fire ceremony to the plum wine and street snacks, each stop added something unique to the experience. Although this is a food tour it wasn’t just about the food, it gave us a feel for the culture and everyday life in the area.
Our tour guide Michelle truly elevated the experience beyond your run of the mill food tour. She gave us a bit of an education in Japanese customs, etiquette, and cultural nuances. It felt like taking your favorite class from high school and she scratched that itch for knowledge when it came to the why, what, and how of Japanese food and customs. This knowledge allowed us to have a deeper sense of awareness and appreciation for the rest of our time in Japan. Michelle also brings a warmth and humor to the tour that makes the day feel personal, like you're spending time with a friend while visiting Tokyo.
If you're looking for an experience that goes beyond your typical food tour make sure you book this one and make sure Michelle is your guide.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Paulaci3878an
May 16, 2025
Amazing experience—book it now! - This tour was one of the highlights of our time in Tokyo!! Diana was an amazing tour guide and selected carefully curated places for us to eat and drink. The owners of the establishments were so warm and welcoming and the food and drinks were perfection! It was also a true bonus to have a guide in training on our tour, Nikki, who made the day even more lovely. I was on a backstreet tour in Portugal this past October and while it was wonderful too, this one was even more special!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Brendabg6186ti
May 14, 2025
Highly recommend - Michelle led an excellent tour! We ate and drank interesting things and got to see a Buddhist fire ceremony. Highly recommend!! This is our 3rd culinary backstreets tour and we'll keep doing them as we travel
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Pioneer28232469913
May 10, 2025
A wonderful way to experience a slice of Tokyo! - This tour was well worth the price. Six hours of culture, history, food, and drink went by in a flash. Our guide Michelle was the best. She was incredibly knowledgeable and fun. We enjoyed the other members of our small group as well. The food was all delicious, and it was great to try things I would never think of or know to order. We also learned about sake and plum wines. It was interesting to see a Buddhist fire ceremony, and we also visited a Shinto shrine. I highly recommend this tour!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
