Tokyo: Sugamo Food, Culture, and Calligraphy Tour
Tokyo, JP
About this activity
Experience Tokyo’s best-known spots, getting away from the touristy areas in the process. Following some cultural hot spots and shopping, you will experience a unique Japanese calligraphy class which features a unique prize at the end.
Highlights
- Take a 4-hour cultural experience
- Enjoy lunch and local food tastings at 5 food stops
- Browse the shops at a local shopping arcade for souvenirs unique to the area
- Take an authentic Japanese caligraphy class
- Take home a t-shirt with your own kanji character from your personal brush work
Full description
Your Sugamo culture and food tour will begin with a local sweet treat from a shop that has been in the area for around a hundred years. This charming location has a great friendly atmosphere and creates original snacks and classics with a twist found no-where else in Tokyo.
Following that, head on to Jizo Dori, the famous local shopping arcade where you will have a chance to visit regional shops celebrating prefectures across Japan. Stop at a famous temple and learn about this haven for older Tokyo residents who are still quite young a heart, before heading to the district’s popular 800-meter-long street which is also affectionately known as the “Old Generations’ Harajuku”.
Browse pickle stores, snack stalls, and interesting shops, and take in the local vibe on your way to a favorite spot for a delicious lunch and dessert. Following lunch and an exploration of this colorful and fun area, you'll head to a hidden calligraphy studio and experience the ancient art of Japanese Calligraphy called Shodo.
There you can create your own Japanese kanji character with a fantastic teacher, and once you have written your Japanese kanji with a brush and ink there is a wonderful added bonus: you will get to take home your own high-quality t-shirt with your character on it.
Included / Excluded
- • Local dishes at 5 food stops
- • Lunch in a local restaurant
- • Dessert
- • 1 drink
- • Traditional calligraphy experience with professionals (all materials are supplied)
- • Customized t-shirt
- • Local English-speaking guide
- • Hotel pickup
- • Gratuities
- • Transportation costs
- • Additional drinks or food (not included but possible to purchase at guest expense)
Important information
Know before you book
- • Please wear comfortable walking shoes
- • Dietary options are available
- • If you join the tour as a single traveler, please email the supplier before booking
- • A copy of your passport information is required for all participants aged 10 and over
Know before you go
- Please arrive at the meeting time on time. A copy of your passport information is required for all participants aged 10 and over.
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.