Beppu Sake-Tasting & Izakaya Bar Crawl: Guided Evening

Sake, local dishes, and the quirky alleys of Beppu's shitamachi after dark

A guided sake-tasting and izakaya bar crawl in Beppu takes you through three venues in the downtown shitamachi district over three hours, starting with sake education at Space Beppu, a renovated century-old house. Your English or Japanese-speaking guide handles all communication with staff and locals, so you navigate hand-written menus and authentic Kyushu service without the language barrier. Sake tastings, one drink at each of the two izakaya stops, and local speciality bites are included. Non-alcoholic options are available, and children from age 7 are welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Sake tasting and izakaya bar crawl

• Start at Space Beppu for sake tasting
• Visit local family-owned izakaya for drink and dishes
• Enjoy last drink at final izakaya

The experience

The crawl starts at Space Beppu, a community space housed in a century-old Japanese building, where your guide walks you through a sake-tasting with full explanation of what you're drinking. From there you move to two izakaya (casual bars where locals eat and drink) tucked into the narrow streets of Beppu's shitamachi. One is family-owned and serves food in authentic Kyushu style. The other is your final stop for a last drink. The whole thing runs three hours, which is long enough to feel the rhythm of the neighborhood without the night getting away from you.

Your guide speaks English or Japanese and does the ordering for you, which means you're not squinting at a handwritten menu or miming what you want to eat. They handle the back-and-forth with staff and can answer questions about what you're tasting or why a dish is made the way it is. If you don't drink alcohol, soft drinks are available at every stop. The food, local speciality bites, comes subject to what the izakaya have on hand that night, so it's never the same crawl twice.

What’s included

• Sake-tasting with guide explanation at Space Beppu.
• one drink at each of the two izakaya bars.
• local speciality bites at the izakaya.
• English or Japanese-speaking guide for the full three hours.
• non-alcoholic drink options available at all three stops.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day except SaturdayDepartures at 16:00, 16:30 and 17:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (20 to 80 years) · Child (7 to 19 years) · Under 7: can't be booked

GroupUp to 5

Live guideEnglish and Japanese

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Space Beppu

Is this one for you?This is a shared group tour with a guide who handles all the ordering and translation, so it suits anyone who wants to experience Beppu's nightlife and local food without navigating language or menus themselves. If you prefer to explore bars on your own or want a private group, this guided crawl is not the fit.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Japanese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (7 to 19 years). Children under 7 can't be included in the booking.

Can I do this tour if I don't drink alcohol?

Yes. Non-alcoholic options are available at every stop, and your guide can order soft drinks for you at Space Beppu and both izakaya. Children from age 7 are also welcome on the tour.

What's the difference between the izakaya on this tour and a regular bar?

Izakaya are casual neighborhood bars where locals eat and drink together, not just drink. They serve small dishes meant to go with alcohol, and the atmosphere is more about community than nightlife. The two on this crawl include a family-owned spot that serves food in authentic Kyushu style.

How much walking is involved in the shitamachi?

The tour moves between three venues in Beppu's downtown area over three hours, so there is walking through the alleys and streets, but it's not a long-distance hike. The pace is set by the group and the stops themselves.