Vegetarian Yakitori Food Experiences(5)

Russ and H were great and the food was amazing

Our guide, Eduardo was really great! We had so much fun and tasted so many local dishes that we hadn’t tried. We had sweets for the kids and adults, tried food at different restaurants with sake and drinks and Eduardo gave us some history on the Gion and Pontocho districts as well as so much information about Kyoto that was really interesting. He was an excellent guide and I highly recommend this tour. Thanks Eduardo!

Spencer exceeded our initial expectations as our tour guide for the evening. The tour started a bit awkwardly, but Spencer’s eclectic knowledge helped spark conversations which connected us as a group. The tour started at the bridge overlooked by the popular Glico man where Spencer provided history on the origins of the company and mascot. At the first food stop, we had 4 different types of takoyaki which was the best we’ve ever had - piping hot crispy crust, decadent gooey insides, and juicy pops of chewy octopus. The tour continued through some cute alleyways where Spencer highlighted art work depicting the history of Osaka and a tiny shrine for the 1 inch-high samurai. The next food stop, which we never would have discovered on our own, was a quiet restaurant featuring homestyle cooking. Here we had tonjiru (pork-based soup), agedashi tofu, and a tsukune skewer. Spencer also bought us a round of drinks. We then walked through the busy streets of Dotonbori and marveled at the oversized mascots and kitschy decor above the restaurants. Spencer pointed out the restaurant where conveyor belt sushi was invented, which we went back to try later. The next stop was a busy izakaya packed with locals that would be intimidating for foreigners to enter unguided. We had 2 types of okonomiyaki, chicken karaage, and more drinks. We felt like we got a taste of being a local. Last was a taiyaki stall with hot fish shaped cakes - the perfect street dessert capping a fun night in Osaka!

Sae was our guide and she was amazing. She knew the intricate history of the whole area. She picked fantastic restaurants for our dishes which included the best Ramen we have had In Japan. She made my son feel so special because she picked foods that she knew he would like. This is a food and history tour. Come ready to eat!

Great guide, beautiful night, and a great way to start our tour of Japan. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a “first night” experience in Kyoto, as not only does the walking tour feel good after the long flight, the introduction to language and etiquette has proven useful during our time in Japan.