About this tour
A 3-hour guided bar and izakaya crawl through Shinjuku's Kabukicho district with a local English-speaking guide. You'll visit three neighbourhood bars, eat and drink at each stop, and have someone handle ordering and recommendations in Japanese so you can focus on the food and atmosphere. Suits anyone curious about Tokyo's nightlife scene and keen to eat where locals do, rather than tourist-oriented restaurants.
Highlights
- Visit three local izakaya and bars in Kabukicho's backstreets
- Japanese guide handles ordering and translates menus
- Food and drinks included at each of the three stops
- Photos shared with you via mobile during the tour
- Suitable for all fitness levels and ages 15+
- Access public transport options near the meeting point
- Experience Tokyo's largest entertainment district after dark
What to expect
You'll meet your guide at the agreed time in Shinjuku — arrive on time, as the guide waits only 10 minutes past start time before beginning. From there, you'll walk through quiet backstreets and small alleyways, stopping at three separate izakaya or bars over the course of the evening. At each venue, your guide will recommend dishes and drinks, place orders in Japanese, and field any questions about what you're eating or the local drinking culture. You'll eat and drink at each stop — pacing is built in so you're not rushed. The tour wraps after the third venue, roughly three hours from start.
Group size and noise level will vary depending on how many are booked; these are working neighbourhood bars, not purpose-built tour venues. Your guide will take photos and share them via your phone.
What travellers say
- Local guide removes language barrier and ordering stress
- Three meals and drinks included across the stops
- Authentic backstreet bars, not tourist-focused venues
- Flexible pacing — time to chat and eat properly
- Photos captured and shared with you same night
- Busy evening venue — can be noisy and crowded
- Strict 10-minute grace period for late arrivals
- Limited ability to request dietary changes on the spot
- Small neighbourhood bars may have limited seating
Themes summarised by our team from public information about this tour. Verify specifics on the operator's page before booking.
Good to know
This suits anyone who wants to eat and drink like a Tokyo local rather than follow a guidebook, and anyone anxious about ordering in Japanese. The minimum age is 15, but only those 20+ can legally drink alcohol — younger guests can still attend and order food. Children must be with an adult. It's physically easy (walking and sitting), but the pacing depends on traffic and bar seating availability in a busy district. The tour runs in the evening when Kabukicho is busiest and noisiest; expect crowds in the streets and bars. Food and drinks are included at all three stops, but check whether specific dietary requirements can be accommodated — your guide can help, but these are small neighbourhood venues with fixed menus. Bring cash or confirm card payments are accepted at each bar. Arrive early to the meeting point; after 6:40 p.m. the guide starts without latecomers and no refund is issued.
Tour sold and operated by Viator via Viator. Descriptions on this page are original BookNow summaries written by our team — not copied from the operator. Prices and availability are confirmed at checkout.