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Eat Like a Local During These 8 Best Nagoya Food Tours

By Emily Suvannasankha
Updated: December 9, 2022

Travelers to Japan often look to Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka for the best tourism, and for good reason! But if you’re looking to take a step off the beaten path, the city of Nagoya in Aichi Prefecture is the perfect place to try unique regional variations on traditional Japanese cuisine. Get a scrumptious taste of the famous Nagoya miso, tebasaki chicken wings, fancy grilled eel, and more on your next trip to the industrial heartland of Japan. No need to wonder what to eat in Nagoya--simply follow a local guide’s expertise and enjoy a Nagoya food tour, where you’ll make delicious memories to last a lifetime!

8 Best Nagoya Food Tours

Here are the 8 best Nagoya food tour we recommend!

  1. Regional Nagoya Food Tour
  2. Ochobo Inari Tour and Sake Brewery Visit with Kaiseki Lunch
  3. Nagoya Food Tour at Night
  4. Sake Brewery Visit and Lunch at Lotus Root Restaurant
  5. Specialties of Nagoya Food Tour
  6. Fully Customizable Food Tour in Nagoya
  7. Osu Street Food Tour in Nagoya
  8. Bonus: Nishio Matcha Tea Tour in Aichi: From Farm to Teahouse

1. Regional Nagoya Food Tour

Do you have a big appetite for red aka miso? Then this Regional Nagoya Food Tour is for you! On this whirlwind tour, you’ll try three of Nagoya’s most famous dishes: misokatsu fried pork cutlet, miso nikomi udon, and peppery tebasaki chicken wings.

For travelers who want to follow in famous Youtuber Strictly Dumpling’s footsteps and try three of Nagoya’s miso-laden specialties all at once, this tour hits the spot!

Book the Regional Nagoya Food Tour >>

2. Ochobo Inari Tour and Sake Brewery Visit with Kaiseki Lunch

Tubs of fried kushikatsu meat on skewers in sauce

While you’re in the Chubu area, why not have a taste of the cuisine from nearby Gifu Prefecture? Luxuriate in this Ochobo Inari Tour and Sake Brewery Visit with Kaiseki Lunch that will treat you to a traditional Japanese banquet-style kaiseki lunch and sake tasting at a sake brewery! On this tour, you’ll also get to visit Ochobo Inari Shrine, one of three massive inari shrines in Japan, complete with Japanese food stalls and souvenirs.

Tourists who love historical architecture and upscale dining experiences should definitely make this tour a priority.

Book the Ochobo Inari Tour and Sake Brewery Visit with Kaiseki Lunch >>

3. Nagoya Food Tour at Night

Several plates of meat, sashimi on green leaves, leafy vegetables

Itching to explore the nightlife of Japan’s third biggest city? Eat, drink, and befriend the locals all night long at three tachinomi standing bars on this Nagoya Food Tour at Night! Navigating a foreign city can be stressful, which is why on this tour, a local expert will warmly guide you through the best sightseeing spots as you sample a seasonal selection of Nagoya’s delicacies.

If you’re eager to take a walking tour of the city and drink like an authentic local in busy downtown Nagoya, this tour is perfect for you!

Book the Nagoya Food Tour at Night >>

4. Sake Brewery Visit and Lunch at Lotus Root Restaurant

Many small plates of lotus root, vegetables, fish with sauce, tea, colorful vegetables

Are you looking for a healthy and delicious reprieve on your Japan trip? On this Sake Brewery Visit and Lunch at Lotus Root Restaurant, you’ll indulge in gorgeously presented renkon lotus root cuisine, tasting a variety of recipes bursting with nutrients, including renkon chips, stir-fry, tempura, and more. Then you’ll tour Mizutani Brewery, gaining deep insight into how Japanese sake is made and training your taste buds with a sake tasting!

Sake aficionados, as well as those with a taste (or curiosity) for beautiful lotus root dishes, shouldn’t wait to book this unique experience.

Book the Sake Brewery Visit and Lunch at Lotus Root Restaurant >>

5. Specialties of Nagoya Food Tour

Five tenmusu rice balls with tempura shrimp inside on dish

Have you ever heard of hitsumabushi, Nagoya’s famous grilled eel dish that locals save up to splurge on? You’ll get to try this hearty bowl of eel and other specialty dishes while exploring the streets of downtown Sakae on this Specialties of Nagoya Food Tour! Once you’ve seen the sights, delve into the basement of a Nagoya department store, known for housing the yummiest secret treats in the city.

Whether you’re new to Japan or a seasoned tourist, anyone eager to explore the underground hidden gems of Japan’s oldest department store and try some luxurious hitsumabushi, tempura rice balls, and other classic Nagoya snacks should check this tour out!

Book the Specialties of Nagoya Food Tour >>

6. Fully Customizable Food Tour in Nagoya

Travelers sat around table with dishes, one opening pot of miso nikomi udon

Which delectable local Nagoya delicacies most pique your interest? Pick and choose around 7-8 different snacks and dishes to sample on this Fully Customizable Food Tour in Nagoya! The local guide suggests standard favorites, such as misokatsu and tenmusu, as well as more unusual options, like sweet potato oni manju cakes and red bean ogura toast.

Travelers looking to customize their Nagoya food tour to their group’s personal food needs or preferences will love the freedom of this broad-ranging, flexible tour!

Book the Fully Customizable Food Tour in Nagoya >>

7. Osu Street Food Tour in Nagoya

Several skewers of meat with dark brown sauce on plate with maneki neko statues on window in background

No Japanese food tour would be complete without a stroll through an eclectic shopping street with food stalls galore! On this Osu Street Food Tour in Nagoya, you’ll gain profound insight into all Osu has to offer, including the 400-year-old Osu Kannon Temple, over 1000 shops and stalls in Osu Shopping Street, and omikuji fortunes at a Japanese shrine. Try specialty Chubu dishes like goheimochi rice cakes, miso kushi katsu fried meat skewers, and uiro, a traditional Japanese steamed rice treat!

Tourists with a sweet spot for Japanese yatai food stalls and colorful shopping experiences will feel full to their heart’s content after enjoying this tour of Osu.

Book the Osu Street Food Tour in Nagoya >>

8. Bonus: Nishio Matcha Tea Tour in Aichi: From Farm to Teahouse

Do you prefer the more traditional side of Japanese culture and tourism? While not in Nagoya, just a short one-hour train ride from Nagoya Station will bring you to Nishio City, the producer of 60% of the green tea sold in Japan! This unforgettable Nishio Matcha Tea Tour in Aichi: From Farm to Teahouse includes a visit to a tea farm, a hands-on tea-making tutorial, a simple tea ceremony, and delicious traditional Japanese sweets as you explore the beautiful parks and teahouses of Nishio.

If you want to deepen your knowledge of Japanese green tea, you’ve got to make this once-in-a-lifetime day trip to Nishio City on this unique tour!

Book the Nishio Matcha Tea Tour in Aichi >>

While Nagoya is often overlooked as a tourist destination, the scrumptious regional dishes alone make it well worth a visit. Whether you’re strolling through Osu Shopping Street, bar-hopping in downtown Sakae, or sipping green tea in Nishio, you’re bound to take away incredible insight into Aichi’s rich culture! Book a food tour in Nagoya now to ensure your trip to Japan includes some of the city’s famous delicacies and explore the city with a local guide.

Hungry for more? Discover what to eat in Nagoya or subscribe to our YouTube channel for more Japanese food and travel inspiration!

We strive to be as accurate as possible and keep up with the changing landscape of Japan's food and travel industries. If you spot any inaccuracies, please send a report.
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Emily Suvannasankha
Masquerading as a grad student in Linguistics, Emily can typically be found counting the minutes ‘til her next peach chūhai. She has two years in Nagoya before her need for jumbo peanut butter sends her crawling back to the US.
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