3. Tokyo: Shinjuku Drinks and Neon Nightlife Tour
Head to Shinjuku, Tokyo’s entertainment area, and join locals as you grab a bite and a drink on a walking tour in the evening. Taste local flavors as you try different drinks and snacks, learning about the area from your local guide along the way.
Kick off your evening at a Japanese izakaya-style gastropub for their happy hour. As this is a favorite pastime of many Japanese, spend some leisurely time chatting with your fellow tour mates over drinks and snacks.
Then, meander through Omoide Yokocho, a collection of alleyways full of tiny bars and eateries. Get a peek at the different type of food joints locals usually eat at, from yakitori restaurants and soba shops to cafes and bars.
If you'd like to come visit again on your own time, Omoide Yokocho is a great place to sit and eat elbow-to-elbow with local businessmen. See how they unwind after working hours.
Later on, reach Kabukicho, an area full to the brim with over 3,000 shops, restaurants, nightclubs, and karaoke. Awash in bright neon lights, Kabukicho is one of Tokyo’s most photogenic areas. With streets filled with people and music blaring from every corner, you are sure never to have a boring evening in Kabukicho.
End your evening in Golden Gai, a compact neighborhood full of tiny bars that can usually only seat six to eight people at a time. It is here in Shinjuku’s most popular drinking spot where you will stumble upon one of your guide’s favorite bars and say kanpai (cheers!) over more drinks.
From here, your guide can either give you directions back to your hotel, your next destination, or leave you chatting through the night with new friends.