4.7 / 5Japan's Cultural Curiosities
- Immerse yourself in Japanese food and culture, sampling traditional delicacies like Ningyoyaki cakes and Wagyu beef croquettes.
- Explore Tokyo's historic neighborhoods, visiting century-old establishments offering unique, handmade Japanese goods.
- Discover spiritual Japan, stopping at one of the eight shrines that honor virtue, longevity, knowledge, and riches.
- Visit a traditional Japanese washi paper business, open since 1653, and browse through hundreds of antiquated papers from their museum.
- Unique stops include the Avatar Robot Cafe, and a shop selling handcrafted toothpicks since 1704, offering an authentic Japanese experience.
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An approximately 25 minute taxi (not included, approximately $18 US each way) is required to reach your departure location. Japan's Cultural Curiosities
Come spend the day with us browsing authentic, handcrafted Japanese items and mementos. We will visit many businesses that have been in operation for more than a century; many of which remain operated by families and focus on unique items that originate in Japan. Learn about the everyday items used by Japanese people in their daily lives as well as the foods and snacks they eat.
The journey will begin in the Ningyocho neighborhood, which is well-known for its historical sites and, as you will soon find out, its delicious cuisine. We'll start with some Ningyoyaki cakes, a real Tokyo delicacy. This is a little sponge cake that comes in various shapes and has a delicious red bean filling. Next, you'll go to a store that offers senbei, or rice crackers, a popular snack in many Japanese homes. This street is lined with several additional stores that provide Japanese snacks, beverages, and sweets. Imahan, a well-known sukiyaki restaurant, makes excellent Wagyu beef sukiyaki croquettes.
There is an old-fashioned ryokan, or Japanese-style hotel, on a small street where the neighbors frequent izakayas, or Japanese-style pubs. You will next journey to one of the eight shrines on your Tokyo tour, which honor virtue, longevity, wealth, and knowledge.
After exploring all aspects of Ningyocho, we'll head over to Nihonbashi, another adjacent neighborhood. During the Edo period, the Nihonbashi neighborhood served as a major hub for traders. Presently, it is primarily a financial district with the Tokyo Stock Exchange and trade companies. Additionally, despite being a predominantly modern neighborhood, Nihonbashi has a large number of traditional Japanese merchants tucked away among its department stores and alleyways.
Next stop is to a historic Japanese washi paper business, which dates back to the Edo Period (1653). You may go through their museum's archives, which have thousands of old records spanning 360 years of history, as well as traditional Japanese paper. Fine items utilized by discerning artists worldwide are available for purchase, as well as premium handmade paper goods.
The "Avatar Robot Cafe" is an experimental cafe run by workers who find it difficult to leave the house and who utilize a robot they can control remotely to perform tasks. Additionally, we will come across a toothpick shop that dates back to 1704 and offers a variety of handcrafted products carved from Kuromoji or Lindera umbellata trees, in addition to exquisite handmade toothpicks. We may also go to shops that sell culinary knives, brushes, gold flake, and Dashi (soup stock).
Please Note: The itinerary and locations that are included in the tour are subject to change. Vegetarian, Vegan, options are available on this tour. Unable to accommodate gluten-free patrons.