Otaru izakaya bar hopping: Two venues, local guide, ¥3,000 credit

Counter seats, handwritten specials, and the clink of glasses at two owner-run izakayas

A 2-hour guided bar hopping experience through Otaru's historic canal town, visiting two izakayas selected to match your preferences. You receive ¥1,500 food and drink credit at each venue (¥3,000 total) and guidance on menu reading, etiquette and local context from an English-speaking local guide. Non-drinkers are welcome. Soft drinks count toward your credit.

Step-by-step itinerary

Guided izakaya bar hopping in Otaru

• Meet local English-speaking guide
• Explore historic canal town backstreets
• Visit first izakaya with ¥1,500 credit
• Enjoy food and drinks at first izakaya
• Visit second izakaya with ¥1,500 credit
• Enjoy food and drinks at second izakaya
• Learn local etiquette and cultural insights

The experience

Otaru's izakaya culture lives in small, owner-run rooms tucked between canal-side warehouses and backstreets near the station. These intimate spaces (shaped by the port town's past and Hokkaido's cold seas) serve glistening sashimi, grilled seafood, hearty stews and shareable bites. The guide leads you through atmospheric backstreets and lantern-lit lanes to two venues picked to match what you're in the mood for that evening, so you're not walking into a random spot but one that fits your tastes.

At each izakaya, you order a drink first (beer, highball, sake, or soft drinks all work), then share plates and try the day's specials. Your ¥1,500 credit per venue covers what you order, and the guide shares simple etiquette tips, menu navigation, and stories about how Otaru's scale makes hospitality personal. You learn how to read a handwritten menu, call "sumimasen" to the owner, and pair dishes with your drink. The evening moves at the pace of conversation: time slows at the counter, and you leave sensing you joined the neighborhood rather than watched it.

The 2-hour experience is relaxed and flexible, suitable for guests aged 20 and up. Whether you drink alcohol or prefer soft drinks, the credit works the same way, and non-drinkers find the cultural insight and food just as rewarding as the drinks themselves.

What’s included

• Visits to two izakayas selected to match your preferences.
• English-speaking local guide throughout the 2-hour experience.
• ¥1,500 food and drink credit at each venue (¥3,000 total to spend as you choose).

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day5 departure times: the first at 17:00, the last at 19:00

Book up to1d before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

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.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by DeepExperience

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English fluently, so you follow the cultural context and etiquette tips comfortably even if you don't speak Japanese. This suits anyone curious about how Otaru's locals actually spend an evening, whether you're a drinker, a non-drinker, or somewhere in between.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

1 verified traveler review

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What kind of food and drinks will I find at these izakayas?

Otaru's izakayas specialize in fresh seafood (glistening sashimi, grilled fish and shellfish) alongside hearty stews and shareable small plates shaped by the port town's cold-sea traditions. You order what appeals to you from the menu, and your ¥1,500 credit per venue covers your choices, whether that's beer, sake, highballs, soft drinks or food.

Do I have to drink alcohol to enjoy this experience?

No. Non-drinkers are welcome, and soft drinks count fully toward your ¥1,500 credit at each izakaya. The guide's cultural insights, the food, and the atmosphere of the backstreet venues are the heart of the evening.

How does the guide help me navigate the izakayas?

Your English-speaking local guide shares how to read menus, explains simple etiquette like ordering a drink first and sharing plates, and offers context about the dishes and Hokkaido's social traditions. The guide also helps you feel at ease in these intimate, owner-run spaces where regulars and newcomers mix naturally.

Can I choose which izakayas we visit, or are they set in advance?

The two venues are selected based on your preferences that evening (what you're in the mood for, your tastes and interests), so the guide tailors the stops to you rather than following a fixed route.