Tokyo Shinjuku Bar Hopping: Golden Gai & All-You-Can-Drink

Options for this experience

2 options

Guide in English5 departure times, from 17:00 to 19:00

Guide in English5 departure times, from 17:00 to 19:00

Options with the same name differ in details you'll see when you pick a date.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Three Bars, One Night: How Shinjuku's Locals Actually Drink in Tokyo

You'll visit three traditional izakaya bars across Shinjuku and Kabukicho, starting in Memory Lane alley and ending in Golden Gai. Dinner and four drinks are included: two at the first bar, unlimited at the second, one at the third. A certified MagicalTrip guide handles ordering and introductions, so you don't have to navigate menus or language barriers. The tour runs in the evening and keeps groups small enough that locals actually talk to you.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Memory Lane1h
2. Godzilla Headpass by
3. Shinjuku Golden Gai40m

Tokyo Shinjuku Bar Hopping Tour

• Meet at Black pillar near Uniqlo
• Visit izakaya in Omoide Yokocho
• Enjoy all-you-can-drink izakaya in Kabukicho
• See Godzilla head at Toho Building
• Stop at bar in Golden Gai

The Experience

Your guide meets you at the black pillar next to Uniqlo on Shinjuku Nishiguchi, and within minutes you're walking into Omoide Yokocho: the narrow alley locals call Memory Lane. The air smells like grilled chicken and soy sauce. Your guide orders for the table: two drinks come out, and the bartender starts talking to the group without waiting to be asked. This is how it works in these small izakaya bars. You're not a tourist passing through. You're someone who showed up, and that matters. The first stop is about watching how office workers unwind after their shift, packed shoulder-to-shoulder at counters that fit maybe six people.

After that, you move to Kabukicho for the all-you-can-drink bar. The one where the pace picks up and the group starts to loosen. Your guide handles the ordering, which is the only way this works when you don't speak Japanese and the menu is handwritten on a board. You pass the Godzilla head on the Shinjuku Toho Building's 8th floor terrace on the way, and someone always stops to take a photo. It's a real landmark, not something they built for tourists. The second bar is where you actually feel the difference between a pub crawl and a bar hopping tour: the guide knows the owner, knows what's good that night, and knows how to keep the group moving without it feeling rushed. You get as many drinks as you want here, which changes the whole rhythm of the evening.

The final stop is Golden Gai, the warren of tiny bars where you could spend hours just walking the alleys. Your guide takes you into one specific bar: the kind with maybe five seats and a owner who's been there for twenty years. One drink, your choice from what they have. By this point you've eaten a full dinner across the stops, had four drinks total included, and you're standing in one of Tokyo's most famous nightlife spots with people who actually live here, not just tourists like you. The whole thing takes about three hours. Your guide sends photos after you leave.

What’s included

Your evening includes a certified MagicalTrip guide who meets you at the Shinjuku Nishiguchi starting point, a full dinner across three stops, two drinks at the first izakaya in Memory Lane, all-you-can-drink at the second bar in Kabukicho, one drink at the third bar in Golden Gai, and photos taken during the tour sent to you afterward. Public transportation is available near the meeting point.

Days and timesDaily · 5 departure times, from 17:00 to 19:00

AgesAges 20+ · Under 20 — No ticket type: can't be added to a booking

Meeting point and pickupNo pickup · ends elsewhereMeeting point, per the operator: “In front of Black pillar (In front of "Omoide Yokocho; Memory Lane" entrance) Your guide will be holding a red/orange sign saying "Magical Trip" Please refrain …”

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

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearby

Operated by MagicalTrip Inc.

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see how Tokyo's office workers actually spend their evenings without arranging bars, ordering in Japanese, or figuring out the unwritten rules of tiny izakaya. The guide handles all three, which is what makes a real night out possible in a single evening.

Traveler reviews

4.92★★★★★★★★★★

4,039 verified traveler reviews

5 ★3,851

4 ★115

3 ★31

2 ★17

1 ★25

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What time does the tour start and how long does it last?

The tour meets at the black pillar next to Uniqlo Shinjuku Nishiguchi and runs for approximately three hours in the evening. Exact start time should be confirmed when booking.

Is the all-you-can-drink really unlimited?

All-you-can-drink is included at the second bar only. The first bar includes two drinks and the third bar includes one drink, all from the tour's selections.

What if I have dietary restrictions or allergies?

The food is prepared in kitchens outside MagicalTrip's control, so allergy-free meals cannot be guaranteed. The guide will make efforts to find alternatives at different stops, but substitutions are not always possible.

Can I choose what bars we visit?

The itinerary is set: Memory Lane alley, an all-you-can-drink bar in Kabukicho, and a bar in Golden Gai. The guide selects the specific bars based on the night.

Is this tour wheelchair accessible?

No. The itinerary includes locations that are not accessible by wheelchair or stroller.

What's included in the full dinner?

A full dinner is included across the three stops from the tour's original menu. You choose what to eat at each bar with your guide's help.

Do I need to speak Japanese?

No. Your certified MagicalTrip guide handles all ordering and communication with bar staff and locals.

What's the minimum age?

You must be at least 20 years old to join. Children cannot participate.

Will I get photos from the tour?

Yes. The guide takes photos during the tour and sends them to you afterward.

How big are the groups?

Groups are kept small to allow real interaction with locals and bar staff. Exact group size varies by departure.