Eat like a local in Nagoya
Eat like a local in Nagoya
Eat like a local in Nagoya
Eat like a local in Nagoya
Eat like a local in Nagoya
Eat like a local in Nagoya
Eat like a local in Nagoya
Eat like a local in Nagoya
Eat like a local in Nagoya
Eat like a local in Nagoya
Eat like a local in Nagoya
Eat like a local in Nagoya
Eat like a local in Nagoya
Eat like a local in Nagoya
Eat like a local in Nagoya
Eat like a local in Nagoya
Eat like a local in Nagoya

What you'll do

Nagoya’s style of miso paste is rich, salty, and extra-umami, so miso soup and miso katsu  (deep-fried pork cutlets served with earthy miso sauce) are must-tries. Chow down on hitsumbushi, a local delicacy of grilled eel, or try on-the-go tenmusu – chewy rice balls with a dollop of tasty shrimp tempura in the center. At one of the city’s cozy, wood-built izakayas, you could sample small plates of takoyaki – fried octopus balls under a blanket of unfurling bonito flakes – or test an old Nagoya trick: ask the chef for “today’s best”, and that’s what you’ll get! And don’t miss grilled cochin – a local breed of chicken so superb, locals will tell you to set aside your sake and drink the eggs raw with a pinch of salt!

Where you’ll go

In central Nagoya, all roads lead to food – and with a local insider as your own personal GPS, all roads will only lead to the very best! You’ll stroll the high-rise-lined streets of shopping and entertainment district Sakae at the heart of the city, where restaurants are as common as convenience stores, and all of Nagoya’s specialties can be found. Swivel your head between the neon lights, noodle bars, karaoke bars and izakaya, but not so fast! Don’t get too carried away, because 12 minutes north, the secret Fushimi Underground Shopping Mall is overflowing with cozy izakayas and tiny, traditional serving quality Kuheiji sake and authentic eats. 

  • Private & 100% personalized tour

  • 3 hours

  • Matched to your ideal host

  • Walking tour (may use public transport)

  • Hosted in English (On request: Japanese, Korean, Spanish)

  • Your hotel/apartment or any other central location

Experience outline

  • Go on a tasty three-hour tour of Nagoya’s foodie hotspots with a knowledgeable host to lead the way.
  • Explore the famous Sakae district, and a popular local haunt – Fushimi Underground Shopping Mall.
  • Taste several of the city’s specialties, like grilled eel (hitsumbishi) and shrimp tempura rice balls (tenmusu)
  • Try Nagoya’s Kuheiji sake at an intimate izakaya or an underground bar (or both!)
  • Have a local host on hand to tell you about Nagoya’s food history and answer all your questions

Things to know

What’s included

  • Private and personalized experience
  • 3 hours with a host
  • 6-8 tastings of various local food specialties
  • A glass of wine, beer or soft drink
  • Walking experience (other transport can be arranged at an additional cost)

What’s not included

  • Food and drinks other than the ones included in the experience
  • Tickets to any attractions
  • Transportation costs
  • Gratuities (optional)

Cancellation

  • Cancel 14 days before the experience for a full refund
  • Worry-free cancellation terms: book with peace of mind knowing that you can cancel for free up to a day before the experience and receive a full refund.

Reviews

    We used City Unscripted for a private food tour in our recent trip to Nagoya. It was a seamless experience from beginning to the end. I appreciate the thoughtful process where they ask a series of questions to try to match us with the guide that suit our indvidual needs and preference. The guide that was allocated to us, Saki, was wonderful and had all the attributes we had asked for. We had a fun night out with her, she was excellent in her communication and was very organised. She checked with us on our preferences, made booking arrangement ahead of time and informed us a long the way. Despite being organised, she is also flexible and was more than happy to make last minute change to the plan when our little son preferred something specific to eat. She is very personable and the entire time just felt like we were hanging out with a friend. It was an overall positive experience with City Unscripted and we cannot recommend Saki highly enough as a guide! Our trip has become that extra more memorable because of her.

    October 2023

    Kim R

    We had a great time on our food tour with Marco, who showed us what it’s like to eat with the locals. He was flexible and tailored the evening to include some dishes we wanted to try, such as eel and steak. Everything was delicious! Marco is well travelled and has good knowledge of other countries including Australia. He was very easy to talk to and we would gladly be guided by him again when we next visit Nagoya.

    July 2023

    Jenny S

    Great experience, good restaurants and guide us to the next destination

    July 2023

    Jordi V

    Koharu was able to tailor our tour perfectly to meant out needs so that we saw as much as possible while here in Nagoya. The theme of the lunch experience was to "eat like a local" and that is just what we did at a small and characterful seafood restaurant at the Fish Market. Not only did we eat like locals, but we also ate with locals! That's always a good sign that the experience is both genuine and worthwhile. We highly recommend this tour and Koharu as a guide. Greg & Kym

    May 2023

    Greg D

See more reviews

Meet our local hosts in Nagoya. One of them will tailor this experience to your wishes!

We’ll expertly match you to your best suited host based on your interests, personality and the experience vibe you’re after.

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