Tokyo After 5

Tokyo is renowned for its vibrant food scene, and what better way to experience it than touring the culinary hot spots with a local? Your English-speaking guide will explain the history of the food and places that you visit and share local food traditions and customs.

Your journey into all things delicious begins in Yakitori Alley, near Yurakucho. The birthplace of yakitori, this area offers up many casual bar-style restaurants serving up Japan's favorite appetizer. Rub elbows with the off-hours working professionals at one of the many restaurants and sample yakitori (skewered BBQ chicken) with the house specialty tare (sauce) along with saki or a local beer.

From there you will make your way to Tsukishima, or Monja Street, so named due to the local creation of Monja-Yaki, a type of pan-fried batter. You will have the opportunity to chat with your cook as he finely chops ingredients and adds them to the batter before grilling. Sample your monja-yaki in true local style as you use a small metal spatula to chop your food into pieces and eat them right from the grill with chopsticks.

Conclude your tour at Ginza for a quick lesson in Japanese sweets and drop into a confectionary shop to try a wagashi. Using rice and red beans as a base, these wagashi usually change ingredients and shapes depending on the season.

Please Note: Your tour includes five assorted skewered yakitori, monja-yaki, one wagashi, and two local drinks (sake or beer).