The 4 Best Market and Sake Tours in Japan

1.Outer Market Walking Tour & Sake Tasting Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 81 reviews · 3 hours · from $70Our pick

Meet your English or Japanese-speaking guide at Tsukiji Hongwanji Temple, learn local prayer customs, then walk through Tsukiji Outer Market to discover food stalls and produce. The afternoon ends at a private sake salon, where a sommelier explains sake-making and offers unlimited tastings from 50 to 60 varieties. Market food costs extra, while snacks are included.

“Amazing! Exceeded my expectations! Guide was knowledgeable, welcoming and social! 10/10 stars! Tour started in a Buddhist temple and then a walk through the market where we tried different food! After we met up with a Sake expert where we sampled 20 different Sake’s to find our perfect match!”

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2.Tsukiji Market Eating Tour, Authentic Sushi & Sake Comparison

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 52 reviews · from $30Best value

Spend about three hours exploring Tsukiji with an English-speaking guide, including Ariel when assigned. Taste market snacks, compare three sakes, visit Tsukiji’s temple and shrine, then sit down to a fresh sushi lunch. Groups are capped at six, and the tour begins near Tsukiji Station.

“What a fantastic tour! Our family of four thoroughly enjoyed every minute and we probably would have been lost in terms of what to try had it not been for Ariel, our amazing guide. The stalls we visited and foods we tried were diverse (skewers, desserts, sake, sushi) and Ariel's energy and kindness made the experience all the better. Highly recommend this tour!”

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3.Cooking Class & Sake Tasting with Local Market Visit

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 31 reviews · 4 hours · from $90

Meet your English-speaking guide near Minami Morimachi Station and shop for ingredients at a local supermarket before cooking niku-sui, okonomiyaki, and gyoza. Guides such as Chie, Eri, Emi, Akko, Ayu, and Linda lead the relaxed class. You’ll eat lunch, enjoy three canned drinks, receive recipes and photos, and leave with dishes you can make at home.

“My adult daughter and myself did this activity on our last day in Osaka. Emi, our host was great. She took us to a supermarket, where she purchased what we would be needing to make all our meals. She talked us through the correct method of making the three items, a beef soup, okonomiyaki and gyoza. So much food, it was all really yummy! Emi was lots of fun and also could answer any general questions we had. I would highly recommend this activity, all levels of experience.”

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4.Private Nishiki Market Food & Sake Tour by Young Local Guides

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 12 reviews

Explore Nishiki Market with a private local student guide, beginning at Nishiki Tenmangu Shrine. Taste grilled seafood, yuba, rolled omelet, pickles, wagashi, mochi, and matcha sweets, then sample Kyoto sake and browse food gifts. Hiyori is one named guide praised for her local tips. Vegetarian and vegan choices are available.

“My wife and I had an incredible tour of the Nishiki Market with Hiyori!!! She was very knowledgeable of the market and local trends!! We learned a lot about the culture and had some great bites!!! Be sure to bring cash as some of the vendorRead more”

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