Shinjuku Izakaya Hopping: Journey Through Japanese Drinking
LOCATION:
TOKYO
TOUR TYPE:
Food Tour
HOUR:
3.0 hours
Discover Shinjuku After Dark — A 3-Stop Journey Through Japanese Izakaya Culture
Join us for a fun and authentic evening in Shinjuku, exploring three very different local drinking spots with an English-speaking guide.
Our journey begins at a beloved izakaya dating back to 1936, where you can experience the atmosphere of one of Shinjuku’s long-standing local establishments. We then move to a lively neighborhood izakaya to enjoy Japanese comfort foods such as kushikatsu, gyoza, and Japanese-style Napolitan pasta, before finishing the night at a casual standing bar.
Along the way, enjoy a variety of Japanese dishes and drinks while your guide shares stories about izakaya culture, Japanese food, and everyday life.
This is more than a food tour. It’s a chance to walk through Shinjuku at night, eat and drink at local spots, meet fellow travelers, and experience a side of Tokyo that can be difficult to discover on your own.
Come hungry and experience the real atmosphere of Shinjuku after dark!
SCHEDULE
10
min
Tour Meeting
Meet your guide in front of the entrance of the adidas Brand Core Store Shinjuku. Your guide will be holding a sign that says "IKIGAI Tour." Please arrive on time so we can start together.
19:15
50
min
Stop 1: Where the Izakaya Began (Since 1936)
Begin at a historic izakaya that has watched over Shinjuku for about 90 years. Learn what "izakaya" really means: a place where people stay and drink, born from the sake shops of the Edo period. Enjoy your first drinks and classic izakaya dishes, and discover otoshi, the small appetizer served at every table.
19:30-20:20
60
min
Stop 2: The Casual Izakaya for Everyone
Move on to a lively, casual izakaya loved by locals. After the war, affordable izakaya like this became the place where ordinary people gathered to eat, drink, and forget their worries. Enjoy an all-you-can-drink hour with a variety of dishes, including crispy fried skewers (kushikatsu), and hear how coworkers came to talk openly over food and drinks.
20:30-21:30
60
min
Stop 3: Standing Bar, Tokyo Right Now
Finish at a popular standing yakiton bar, where office workers, students, and travelers stand shoulder to shoulder. Enjoy grilled pork skewers and drinks in the most modern and casual izakaya style, and put on a salaryman-style necktie for a fun group photo.
21:30-22:30
Farewell
22:30
OVERVIEW
Objective
On this tour, you will explore three different sides of Japanese izakaya culture in the heart of Shinjuku.
From a historic izakaya founded in 1936 to a lively neighborhood restaurant and a modern standing bar, each stop offers a different atmosphere, style of food, and way of enjoying drinks.
Along the way, your English-speaking guide will introduce you to the culture behind izakaya, Japanese food, and the everyday social life that takes place around the dining table.
Rather than simply visiting restaurants, you’ll experience Shinjuku through food, drinks, stories, and conversation — discovering a side of Tokyo that many visitors miss.
Meeting Place
In front of the entrance of adidas Brand Core Store Shinjuku.
Your guide will be waiting there, holding a sign that says "IKIGAI Tour."
Schedule
19:30–22:30
Participants
2-10（Age 20 and over only.）
What'a Included
・Food and drinks at all three izakaya (each stop has a set limit of food and drinks selected by your guide)
- Stop 1: 2 drinks per person and a selection of dishes
- Stop 2: 1 hour of all-you-can-drink and a selection of kushikatsu and other dishes
- Stop 3: 2 drinks per person and a selection of yakiton skewers and dishes
・Otoshi (table charge) and all seat charges
・English-speaking guide
What's not Included
・Additional food and drinks beyond the included amount (at your own expense)
・Transportation to the meeting place. Pickup service is not available.
・We can only accommodate vegetarian guests. We are unable to accommodate vegan, gluten-free, or other dietary restrictions.
Available Date
Available all year round
Additional Information
・Guests must be 20 years old or over.
・Please arrive at least 10 minutes before the scheduled start time. If you have not arrived and we have not heard from you by the start time, your booking will be treated as a no-show, and the tour will be considered canceled.
・The tour is confirmed by 18:00 the day before. If the minimum number of participants is not reached, we will contact you.
・Please let us know about any dietary restrictions when booking.
Cancellation policy
・We will charge a cancellation fee of 100% if booking is cancelled 1 day or less before the event
・We will charge a cancellation fee of 50% if booking is cancelled 2 days or less before the event
・We will charge a cancellation fee of 30% if booking is cancelled 7 days or less before the event
・We will charge a cancellation fee of 0% if booking is cancelled 8 days or less before the event
