Tokyo: Japanese New Year Food Tour in Shibuya
Tokyo, JP
About this activity
A 3-hour walking food tour in Shibuya to celebrate the New Year (shogatsu or oshogatsu), the most important holiday in Japan. You will encounter traditions, food, and symbols of this holiday before ringing in the new year.
Highlights
- Take a 3-hour tour of Shibuya, visiting local food stops
- Learn about Hatsumode, visiting shrines and temples according to New Year’s tradition
- Try some symbolically “good luck” New Year’s dishes
- Enjoy a dinner featuring the classic Japanese winter dishes Shabu Shabu and Sukiyaki
- Toast to the New Year with free-flowing sake, wines, local beer, and other beverages
Full description
New Year (shogatsu or oshogatsu) is the most important holiday in Japan, and on this special evening you can explore the traditions, food and symbols of the season during this walking tour. You will be shown this famous area from a different view, enabling you to discover the best of Shogatsu's culture and winter flavors.
Your evening will start off at the famous Hachiko crossing, from where you will head out to try your first “lucky” New Year’s dish, Soba (which according to Japanese culture provides you with a longer life). Next, you will discover a hidden shrine and learn about the customs of Hatsumode. You can then explore the symbolic dishes that make up Osechi (traditional Japanese New Year celebration foods).
Later on for dinner, your guide will take you to a favorite local spot for a table-side cooking experience. You can make your own hot-pot dishes, trying both Shabu Shabu and Sukiyaki, which are perfect as a cozy winter meal. After dinner, you can try some authentic Kobe beef, street-food style. Finally, finish up your evening with an amazing view of the Shibuya Scramble partnered with a traditional New Year's dessert. You can experience and learn all about this important Japanese holiday season all in one evening.
Included / Excluded
- • Dinner and free-flowing drinks
- • Shogatsu (New Years) in Japan
- • Traditional snacks and dessert
- • Local English-speaking guide
- • Hotel pick-up (can be arranged for an additional charge)
- • Gratuity
- • Transportation costs
- • Additional food and drinks (possible to purchase at the guest’s expense)
Important information
Know before you book
- • The tour starts promptly at 4:00PM and ends at 7:00PM
- • This tour has a 2 person minimum, and a 10 person maximum
- • This tour is vegan, vegetarian, pescetarian and gluten-free friendly
- • The operator reserves the right to expel any participant from the tour who is intoxicated, acting belligerently, endangering others or behaving in a way which may tarnish or act upon the operator’s reputation or cause distress
- • The operator and its guides reserve the right to refuse or withdraw guests that are unfit to take the tour for any reason, or act in a dangerous manner
- • You must be 21 years of age and present a valid photo ID in order to consume alcohol
- • Children must be accompanied by an adult/parent
- • A passport copy is required for children aged 10 and older
Know before you go
- There is a strict policy on the tour start time, guests who are late will be left behind.
Cancellation policy
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the activity starts
Up to 24 hours before the beginning of the activity: full refund Less than 24 hours before the beginning of the activity or no-show: no refund
Reviews
GetYourGuide traveler
Apr 20261.0
Very disappointing, far from town and no real food tasting.
Lisa
Apr 20265.0
This was the best market tour yet! Sebastian was a fantastic tour guide. Thoughtful, knowledgeable, a pleasure to spend time with.
Lai Ching
Apr 20265.0
EK was an amazing guide, super knowledgeable about both the food we ate, the culinary history of Osaka and the area in which the tour took place. He threw in some delightful surprises that we we were not expecting, a quick visit to a hideaway shrine and a Japanese cooking knife demonstration with the excellent people at Tower Knives. All in all a very enjoyable experience, that we’d highly recommend.