For anyone that knows Ross & I well, it goes without saying that a big draw to Japan was the food.  Normally we do our own research and plan most of our trips around what and where we will eat. However, we only have 6 days in Japan and let’s be honest, Japanese cuisine (和食, washoku) offers an abundance of gastronomical delights with a boundless variety of regional and seasonal foods and we were concerned we would not get to experience everything.  So, we booked on to the Shibuya Food Tour.

We met our guide outside Shibuya station at 5pm.   This 3-hour walking tour of Tokyo’s Shibuya district at night allowed us to escape the tourist hordes and eat like a Japanese local, sampling ‘takoyaki’ (octopus balls), ‘okonomiyaki’ (savory egg pancakes), ‘oden’ (hot pot stew) and other delicious dishes in off-the-beaten path eateries and hangouts. (The tour was expensive,  however I don’t think we would have ever found the restaurants we ate at without our guide).

While Shibuya is known as being at the forefront of culture and fashion, it is also a culinary hub. It’s easy to get caught up in the neon lights and loud sounds of Shibuya, and on our tour we walked through the central shotengai (shopping street), weaving in and out of alleys and streets and getting a feel for the hustle and bustle of the area. Our first stop was Hiroshima-inspired eatery. We sat opposite the chef as he made delicious Hiroshima-style oknomiyaki (savory pancake).

 

We tried both a vegetarian,  and a seafood and meat version, this was a huge portion and would have been enough for the evening, but obviously we pushed on and were eager to try some more traditional food.

We ended up in central Shibuya to a local spot known for its appreciation for cuisine from the Hokkaido region. We spent about an hour enjoying a pre-selected menu of traditional Hokkaido food, including yakisoba (noodles), miso paste, gyoza nabe (hotpot), ramen salad, chargrilled chicken, and Hokkaido cheese.

We finished our tour with a walk down Nonbei Alley. An old friend of mine who lives in Japan suggested ‘Piss Alley’ in Shinjuku, also known as Memory Lane as a must-do and ‘the’ place to relive post-war Tokyo over beer and yakitori.  I would describe Nonbei Alley a smaller version of this. Even though it’s located in crowded Shibuya, Nonbei Alley is a place where visitors can immediately forget the hustle and bustle of the city. This small area allows older people to remember their young years, a way to experience the Showa period while listening to the sound of the Yamanote Line in the background. There are many famous yakitori (grilled chicken) restaurants. Nonbei Alley is recommended as a place to relax and enjoy drinking in Shibuya.

Book the Tour via Viator at: https://www.viator.com/tours/Tokyo/Walking-Food-Tour-of-Shibuya-at-Night/d334-31383P5?pub=vcps