The Japan Food Festa Walking Tour is a free guided tour provided in English. With multiple start times, the Walking Tour takes participants through the Japan Food Festa on Marunouchi-Nakadori and in Hibiya Park. The Japan Food Festa will be held in central Tokyo on November 2 and 3, 2013, a celebration of food, forests and fisheries in Japan. With an English-speaking guide, the Walking Tour is a great opportunity to immerse yourself in Japanese culture and enjoy excellent Japanese foods. Reservations are not required. To join in, arrive five minutes before the tour begins.

Foods such as miso, soy sauce, tofu and pickled vegetables will be on display to represent the foods typically used in Japanese cooking. This venue allows visitors to try the variety and depth of traditional Japanese cooking, including rice, shoyu, Japanese green tea, local cider, cow and pig offal, tofu, fermented foods such as miso(bean paste) and pickles that Japanese cuisine has contributed to the world of cooking.

Jibamon is a national contest held to find the best local food for showcasing to the world. Attracting produce, seafood, forest products, processed foods and prepared dishes, the winner is selected by popular ballot. Many event booths from all over the country will gather to show off foods made from special local ingredients and incorporating regional food culture. Event visitors are welcome to sample the foods and cast a ballot to help decide who will take home first place.

From all over Japan, 518 submissions were received, and 15 finalists were selected by a panel of judges in a strict screening. To participate in picking the final winner, people can vote on Facebook or at the Japan Food Festa 2013 venue, where visitors can actually try finalist entries. We hope you will come and try these wonderful local foods from around Japan!

• http://www.foodfestival.jp/jibamon/index.html

Umaimon Koshien is a cooking contest for Japanese high school students majoring in agriculture and fisheries. They battle it out to see who can make the most original dish from local ingredients with the best presentation. Try their chefs d'œuvre and decide for yourself!

• http://umaimonkoshien.com/

Visit the Culinary Masters booth, where you can sample works of perfection prepared on-site by chefs recognized for excellence by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

With a 1300-year history of cultivating grapes, Yamanashi is a world-class producer of wine. Sample and purchase from more than 60 wine labels from 36 Yamanashi wineries made with care from grapes grown in vineyards for generations. Drop by the Yamanashi Nouveau venue and try out this year's selection!

• 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
• Saturday, November 2 to Sunday, November 3
• Water Fountain Plaza, Hibiya Park
• http://wine.jp/nouveau/

Come to the Enjoy Tohoku Booth, where you learn about what is happening in Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima Prefectures, along with some of the great cultural traditions and foods unique to the Tohoku area, and some of the great new attractions. These Tohoku prefectures are taking new approaches to agricultural, marine and forest products. Take a new look at the delicious traditional food culture in Tohoku infused with down-home flavors. Famous locations will also be on display, highlighting characteristics of the Tohoku prefectures. Enjoy Tohoku sightseeing without leaving Tokyo.

The College Food Market features dishes developed by agricultural university students using produce they grew themselves. Incorporating fresh thinking and ideas from the younger generation, their dishes embody new ways to enjoy food. Come and experience these dishes for yourself!