Top 13 Dining Experiences in Tokyo

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 local guide such as Yusuke, Yohei, Mao, or Nao, visiting three Shinjuku drinking spots. You’ll sample izakaya food, drinks, and backstreet nightlife in Omoide Yokocho, Kabukicho, and Golden Gai, with a group capped at seven people.

“We enjoyed our tour, but it would have been more fun I think if we'd had a bigger group. There were 4 participants, and my family was 3 of those! I'm not sure it made it too much fun for the one other person either. Also, while we very much enjoyed meeting our guide and spending time with her, she admitted she was young and not really a drinker, which I think had something to do with us not actually drinking much on the tour. At least, not the drinking one expected on a something called a "drinking tour." We did feel we got plenty of food, which was nice…”

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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 90-minute to 2-hour sumo show with English instruction, demonstrations, audience participation, and optional wrestling practice. Choose a meal session for chanko-inspired Japanese food, or attend the 3:00 PM show without dinner.

“This was a fantastic experience! The information provided about everything Sumo was great, and to be served a delicious meal while listening was very organised. They also let you order as many serves of food as you wanted. Many laughs were had as each of the wrestlers had fun with each other and joked with the audience. A fantastic night I’d highly recommend.”

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3.Sumida River: Japanese Traditional Yakatabune Dinner Cruise

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

From Asakusa, you’ll spend 150 minutes aboard a traditional yakatabune, enjoying about 14 Japanese dishes and free-flow beer, sake, wine, spirits, tea, and soft drinks. The boat pauses near Odaiba and Tokyo Skytree for rooftop photos. Staff use translation tools rather than providing an English guide.

“My wife and I did this on our trip and it was such a great experience. You cruise around the bay for a couple of hours and the views of the city at night are just amazing. It's a totally different feeling seeing it from the water. I was a little worried the food might be mediocre, like on some tours, but it was actually delicious! We were both really impressed with the quality of the whole meal. It's a bit of a splurge, but for a unique, romantic night out, we thought it was 100% worth it. Just a really memorable part of our trip.”

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

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

Board a traditional yakatabune at Etchujima for an approximately 1-hour-40-minute Tokyo Bay cruise. Enjoy sukiyaki if selected, unlimited soft drinks, live Japanese music, and views of Rainbow Bridge, Odaiba, Fuji TV, and Tokyo Tower. Seats may be tatami-style or Western-style.

“Departed right on time and checked on me over the phone to make sure I was making it on time and had the right address. Excellent dinner with a musical show and really kind and enthusiastic staff. Yoyo was amazing !”

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5.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 local nightlife in Shinjuku. Visit Omoide Yokocho, Kabukicho, and Golden Gai, with dinner, two drinks at the first bar, unlimited drinks at the second, and one drink at the last.

“Icchan was the highlight of this. He has the best sense of humour and is beyond knowledgeable about the area and kimonos.”

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6.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 cultural performances. English-speaking guides such as Karen, Yoyo, Lulu, and Sheila help with photos and explanations. Add Tokyo Tower’s 150-meter deck, but arrange your own transport from the pier.

“The organization is very good, the food is very tasty and the show is very lovely! Yoyo was our guest and she helped me organize my husband's birthday. We had a lot of fun and had a chance to see some landmarks like the Rainbow Bridge and the Statue of Liberty! Thank you all for such a great experience!”

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

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

At Baba Ramen in Meguro, you’ll spend about four hours making restaurant-style ramen and gyoza with bilingual chefs, using commercial kitchen equipment. The small group, capped at six, lets you work through the noodles, broth, toppings, and dumplings with plenty of guidance. Recipes are sent home in an e-book.

“Very well organised. Great bunch of guys. Very knowledgeable on all things Ramen. Had a great day and lunch, enjoying our mornings work.”

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8.Experience all of Japanese culture and Japanese food experience classes “origami, udon, Japanese food, green tea, calligraphy” in 4 hours

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 105 reviews · from $92

Spend four hours with Taka and Keiko in their Tokyo home, beginning with origami and handmade udon before preparing sushi, gyoza, tempura, and Japanese side dishes. Enjoy free drinks, matcha with sweets, and a calligraphy souvenir. This private, family-friendly experience also welcomes vegetarians and vegans.

“Taka and Keiko were amazing from start to finish. They communicated from the time we booked until we arrived. They are really so warm. informative, gracious, knowledgeable, caring, and professional. We learned so much about the food and culture and we can’t thank them enough. They know how to engage people of all age groups. From making origami, cooking udon, cooking tempura, learning calligraphy, and so much more, we had an outstanding and memorable time. Truly one of the best Viator excursions, and we have done a lot of them. Please check out this excursion while in Tokyo, you will not regret it. We plan to keep in touch and…”

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9.Authentic Geisha Performance with Dinner in Tokyo

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 101 reviews · from $239

Spend about two hours at Sansyūya in Asakusa with a geisha, an English interpreter, and a traditional Japanese dinner. Expect dance, music, questions, and playful drinking games. Chair seating is standard, group size can reach 15, and only one geisha may attend.

“Very entertaining and informative session with our Geishas. The food was challenging but it showed us a different culture as long as you keep an open mind.”

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10.Traditional Japanese Performing Arts Show and Dinner

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 99 reviews · 2 - 3 hours

At SUIGIAN beneath Fukutoku Shrine in Nihonbashi, you’ll enjoy a seasonal omakase-style Japanese dinner with three short performances of kagura or nihon-buyo. The Noh-style stage, historic tableware, English explanations, and four seat choices make this a polished introduction to Japanese arts.

“This dinner show is a great way to have a slow and relaxing evening after a busy day of running around Tokyo. Don’t come here if you want a quick bite to eat, as this multi course dinner is purposely served in a slow and deliberate manner by the most kind and gentle people that I have ever met (seriously). The menu might not suit all westerners, or those without an adventurous spirit, but I left completely full and satisfied. I especially enjoyed the pampering. Between some of the courses there is traditional music and dance, which adds to the fun and interest. Note that this event is located in…”

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11.Traditional Geisha Experience Show & Japanese Dinner

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 59 reviews · 1h 30m · from $141

At Benitsuya, near Shimbashi Station, you’ll enjoy a seasonal Kyoto-style kaiseki dinner, watch a geisha dance to live shamisen music, play ozashiki games, ask questions with English-speaking staff, and take photos in a traditional tatami room.

“This was a wonderful experience! The Geisha are wonderful and very pretty and friendly. The meal is fantastic and tasted very fresh. Great atmosphere.”

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12.Japanese Food Experience Night Tour in Ueno

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 47 reviews · from $105

Spend about three and a half hours eating through Ueno with a local English-speaking guide. You will visit three or four neighborhood spots, try about nine dishes, enjoy roughly five drinks, and finish with ramen. Guides such as Lyu and Kazuki may add local insight along the way.

“Really great tour for foodies! We walked around visited places we would never hand found - fantastic food/drinks (and SO much of it!!) - we had a great night and even re visited one of the restaurants again a few days later.”

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13.Tokyo Traditional Geisha Show and Japanese Fine Dining Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 35 reviews · from $144

At BENITSUYA in Shinbashi, you’ll eat Kyoto-style kaiseki under chef Naoki Okumura’s supervision, watch authentic Tokyo geisha perform traditional dances, ask questions through translation devices, and join classic geisha games. The 90-minute experience is limited to adults age 20 and older.

“Be careful when booking this show. I didn’t realise there were 2 types of dinner???? We got a different dinner than the rest of the group .. .. and when we asked about it they said that’s what we ordered 🤷‍♀️ Geisha girls very good. An opportunity to see Japanese dance and hear music but very pricey. Also only lasted an hour and a half and not 2. A bit disappointing.”

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