Izakaya food tour Tokyo: 7+ dishes in Shinjuku with local guide

Japanese pub food is not what you think it is

A 3-hour food tour through two izakaya restaurants in Tokyo's Shinjuku neighbourhood, where you taste 7+ gourmet dishes and drink sake or Japanese beer guided by a local expert. The small group stays under a dozen people, and the guide speaks English or Japanese. You'll eat your way through an evening in one of Tokyo's most popular dining districts, sampling both casual bar snacks and elevated versions of pub classics.

Step-by-step itinerary

Izakaya food and drink tour in Tokyo

• Visit first Izakaya restaurant
• Enjoy 7+ Japanese food tastings
• Drink 2 alcoholic beverages
• Visit second Izakaya restaurant
• Continue tasting dishes and drinks

The experience

What makes an izakaya different from a Western pub is the food: casual, informal, and built around small plates meant for sharing and drinking. On this tour, you move between two carefully chosen establishments in Shinjuku, eating enough courses to make a full dinner. The 7+ dishes you'll taste are a step above typical bar fare: gourmet takes on the snacks and grilled items that define Japanese pub culture. Your local guide leads the group through the streets, explaining what you're eating and why these two spots matter in the neighbourhood.

Drinks are part of the experience: you'll have two alcoholic beverages included, whether that's sake, Japanese beer, or another local choice the restaurants offer. The informal setting means you're eating and drinking the way locals do, not watching from a distance. The group stays small, so there's room to ask questions and move at a pace that lets you actually taste what's in front of you.

The tour runs 3 hours and works best if you arrive hungry. The guide meets you at a set point in Shinjuku and handles the route between the two restaurants, so you're not navigating on your own. If you have food allergies or dietary restrictions, let the operator know when you book. The restaurants can accommodate requests when they know ahead of time.

What’s included

• 7+ gourmet Japanese food tastings across two restaurants.
• 2 alcoholic drinks (beer, sake, or local choice).
• small group tour with a local guide speaking English or Japanese.
• insider tips and recommendations from your guide.
• meeting other travellers from around the world.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 17:00

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (8 and older) · Under 8: can't be booked

GroupUp to 6

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.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by eatwith

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to eat the way locals do in Tokyo: casual, informal, and built around small plates and drinks rather than a sit-down meal. The fixed route and timing mean you're not planning the evening yourself. The guide handles where you go and what you try.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Japanese.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What kind of food will I actually eat on this izakaya tour?

The 7+ dishes are gourmet versions of Japanese pub classics: grilled items, small plates, and bar snacks that sit somewhere between casual and refined. The exact menu depends on what the two restaurants are serving that night, but everything is designed to pair with the sake or beer you'll drink alongside it.

How does a small group tour work in Shinjuku's crowded streets?

The group stays under a dozen people, which means you move as a unit between the two izakayas without getting separated. Your local guide leads the way and handles the timing, so you're not figuring out the route yourself or waiting around between stops.

Are the drinks really included, or is that just one glass?

Two alcoholic drinks are included in the price: beer, sake, or whatever the restaurants have on offer. That's part of how izakaya culture works: the food and drink go together, and the tour reflects that.

What if I don't eat meat or have other dietary restrictions?

Tell the operator about allergies, vegetarian needs, or any other restrictions when you book. The restaurants can adjust the dishes when they know in advance, so you'll still get the full experience of both places.