Memory Lane (Omoide Yokocho)! A must-see icon just outside Shinjuku Station's West Exit: a maze of lantern-lit alleys that grew out of a black market right after the war. We skip the shops here and save your time (and appetite) for the places locals really go, but we do stop by, and your guide will bring the alley to life with the stories, history, and little details most visitors walk right past. A quick, photogenic stop, then on to the real local Tokyo!
Kabukicho! Step under the glowing red neon gate into Japan's best-known entertainment district, a dazzling maze of neon signs, izakaya, karaoke bars and late-night restaurants that never seems to sleep. It's also Tokyo's famous red-light district, with adult entertainment venues mixed in among the everyday bars and eateries. That's exactly what makes it so fascinating, and why it helps to have a local with you. Kabukicho is our home turf: we've been running tours in this neighborhood for almost 10 years, so we know the streets, the stories, and the people. Leave it to us. We'll show you which streets are fun and which to skip, the story behind the name (a kabuki theater planned after the war but never built), and the best spots for neon photos. Wild, loud, and pure Tokyo night!
1st hidden Izakaya that even Japanese people don't know! (Visiting 1st tavern) Completely-locals-only izakaya foreigners rarely get into, and we have exclusive access! This is a deep, hole-in-the-wall neighborhood spot with zero tourist vibes, and it normally doesn't welcome foreign visitors at all. But we've known the owner for over 10 years, and our guests have always been wonderful people, so after sitting down with the owner in person, we earned their trust. That's something a brand-new tour company can't copy overnight. It's right in the heart of tourist Tokyo, yet it's the opposite of touristy. Enjoy a full Japanese dinner with plenty of food: fresh sashimi, sake picked from all over Japan, dishes even many Japanese people rarely get to eat, and 1 hour of all-you-can-drink. Your guide will also share Japan's food and drinking culture along the way. Come see the real, deep, seriously cool side of local Japan!
Godzilla Head! A 12-meter-tall Godzilla peers down over Kabukicho from the 8th-floor terrace of the Shinjuku Toho Building, built in 2015 to celebrate the monster's 60th anniversary. He's so loved here that he's an official Shinjuku Tourism Ambassador and even holds a ward resident certificate! In the afternoon and evening he roars on the hour, his eyes glow, and smoke drifts from his mouth. We stop by with your guide's best stories and the perfect angle for your photo. Free to see, impossible to forget!
Hanazono Shrine! A calm vermilion oasis right next to Golden Gai and a short walk from Kabukicho's neon, it has watched over Shinjuku for over 400 years as the area's guardian shrine. Locals and entertainers have long come here to pray for success. The shrine's link to performers began when it staged plays and dances to fund its rebuilding after fires! Every November, the famous Tori-no-Ichi festival fills the grounds with lucky rakes and hundreds of thousands of visitors. We stop by so your guide can teach you how to pray the Japanese way and share the stories most people walk right past.
2nd hidden Izakaya that cheerful owner and welcoming local customers! (Visiting 2nd tavern)
Golden Gai! Six narrow alleys, over 200 tiny bars, some with only a handful of seats, squeezed into one corner of Shinjuku. It grew out of the postwar black market, then became the late-night hangout of writers, filmmakers, musicians and artists, and it still feels like old Tokyo frozen in time. Exploring it on your own can be confusing: every bar has its own rules and seat charges, and photo etiquette matters here. Your guide, who knows this neighborhood like home turf, will lead you through, share the stories behind the signs, and show you the best spots for photos. Curious to go deeper? Just ask! We're longtime friends with many local bar owners, so we're happy to recommend our favorite spots, or even visit a few locals-only places together after the tour. Atmospheric, a little mysterious, and pure Tokyo!
Shinjuku's giant 3D cat, the final stop of our night! Anyone can find this cat on a map, but its "naked-eye 3D" illusion only works from the right angle, and only a local friend knows exactly where to stand. We'll take you to the one spot where the huge calico cat really seems to leap off the curved 4K screen, snap your photos and videos, and share the stories behind this viral Tokyo icon. Then we say goodbye right here, because this is where the night ends and the memory begins. The next time we meet, we'll meet as friends, not as guide and guest. Our slogan is "Come as foreigners, leave as locals", and this is the moment you do!
What a memorable tour! Easily one of my favorite activities in Tokyo. It seemed as if each spot was better than the next. It was a large sized group but Ichi found a way to talk to all of us to make us feel included. Would highly recommend.
Suemi was an amazing host! She was outgoing, lively, and made the whole experience fun and welcoming. Had a great time exploring Shinjuku’s nightlife. Highly recommend!
Suemi is the best guide you can get if you want to experience how local japanese go out. She took us to Izakayas were the real japanese people go. Actually we were the only tourists in the place, and it was one of the highlights of my trip. She also is very knowledgeable and explained local costumes. And last but not least she is super fun and entertaining and most importantly she was always checking everyone on the group was comfortable. Highly recommend her
Amazing pub crawl experience in Shinjuku! We explored some fantastic local izakayas, enjoyed great drinks, and had a lot of fun. Our guide Suemi was absolutely wonderful – super friendly, enthusiastic, and made the whole evening extra special. Ending the night with karaoke was the perfect finale! Highly recommended! 🍻🎤🇯🇵
Ichi number 1. He was a great tour guide, loved listening to him. Would love to do another tour with him!
My husband and I enjoyed and incredible night on our trip. Guide was super courteous and knowledgeable. Would definitely do again.
The tour was amazing. There was so much that we learned. The places that we visited wouldn't have been discoverable on our own. With a local it got really easy. Kuddos Dan. He is a brilliant guide and an amazing orator. Keep up the good work. Thank you.
I had a great night out! The host was so much fun and really made an effort. We went to a few spots that I would have definitely not found otherwise! I would definitely recommend this, esp for solo travellers as a great way to get out and meet people!
Suemi and Sho are the best! Every about the tour are perfect, learnt so much about Japan drinking culture. Highly recommend this experience if you want a local's perspective and an unforgettable adventure!
Everyone should try this tour when visiting Tokyo. Dan and Ichi were incredible tour guides and provided a truly unforgettable experience. We had a great group and everyone bonded from the start. The tour was supposed to end at 1030 but we kept going way into the morning. Worth every penny
Understanding the density of bars and venues in Tokyo takes a bit of time. The majority of the really great locations are somewhere inside anonymous buildings almost impossible to just randomly get into. The experience was great to give context and to show us 2 great locations where non Japanese people would definitely not get. An insider tour, filled with info, food, drinks and fun. Our guide, Maaya, was the best!
Suemi was extremely knowledgeable and knew all of the really cool spots in Shinjuku. I recommend this tour to anyone who is interested in having a great night out in the area.
Dan is such a kind and welcoming person! Thanks to him, I learned so much more about Japan. The food he selected was local and delicious, and the vibrant izakaya atmosphere made the night really special. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment.
This was the highlight of my Japan trip! Suemi is an incredible guide and showed us local spots that we would not have been able to visit without her. We ate amazing food, danced, sang and left the night as friends. Would 100% book this tour again!!!
The tour was incredible. Aya did such an incredible job leading the group and explaining all of the hidden details behind the area. Her food and drink recommendations were fabulous!! The price was so reasonable for how much we drank and ate! The whole night almost went by too quickly. Would really recommend for those travelling solo or in a couple as a way to connect with others during your trip.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ We had an incredible tour and couldn’t recommend it more! Everything was so well organised, and we had such a fun day exploring. Our guide, Suemi, was absolutely fantastic—friendly, knowledgeable, and made everyone feel welcome. She shared so much about Japan and made the whole experience enjoyable from start to finish. Great company, great atmosphere, and an unforgettable experience. Thank you, Suemi! We’d definitely book another tour with you in the future. 🇯🇵💕
Manaka was great and made it a great experience. This is my 2nd tour and would do it again.
Our tour guide Reina was extremely knowledgeable and personable. He helped us learn about the culture and really brought us together as a group. This tour will allow you to visit more traditional Japanese bars and restaurants with someone familiar with the culture and language. I highly recommend!
After having been on a few tours like this in Tokyo and Osaka, I must say this is my favourite. Reina was an amazing and knowledgeable tour guide. He took us to some truly unique izakayas, where the food and drinks were delicious, the atmosphere was ecstatic, and we had opportunities to meet and cheer with locals. It still amazes me how so many amazing places can be hidden on random floors and corners of the urban jungle of Shinjuku. This is the tour I will recommend my friends who plan to go to Japan.
Dan was a great host. He took us to authentic Japanese places, which served great food and drink. He was very accommodating, giving us recommendations for the rest of our trip. We had individuals in our group who had very specific needs, and he handled them with respect and care. Thank you Dan!
This was an incredible opportunity to dive into authentic local Izakayas! Like the other reviews said, there’s no way we’d be able to replicate this experience, it’s truly unique. Our guide Naomi was fun, cheerful and very thoughtful. She made every effort to ensure our night as a group was going well. After the event ended our group continued the party with Karaoke and then a rave! This was my second night in Tokyo and it was an epic way to start my trip. Thank you very much Naomi and the other hosts/creators for creating this experience. You’ve allowed us be immersed in an authentic cultural experience. I will remember it forever!! 🙏🏻 🇯🇵 ❤️
Suemi is special. She took us to places we wouldn’t have had access to as non-Japanese, ordered us the best food and made sure the drinks kept flowing. She also made sure to chat with us all individually, helped us get to know each other and even helped us get a cab home at the end of the evening. A better tour guide you will not find. ❤️
Naomi was great! we had great time!
Had a brilliant time! Maaya was an excellent host. A fantastic evening sampling Japanese alcohol, izakaya food and getting to know a lovely bunch of people. Highly recommended for anyone with even a passing interest in Japan's nightlife. Optional karaoke at the end was fun too!
Dan was an excellent guide telling us about the city and answering questions we had the izakayas he took us to were also amazing with good food and drinks i would highly recommend this tour to anyone going to japan i will definitely be booking again!! 🥳
The Shinjuku tour was so much fun, and our guide Maaya was amazing. She was knowledgeable and made each of us feel included. The tour took us to restaurant/bar spots that tourists usually don’t visit. Great value for the money.
This experience was definitely one I think everyone traveling to Japan should have! Our guide Dan took us to places we would have never come across on our own and met so many amazing new people! Definitely worth the price, we ate and drank and even continued the fun after our tour! Planning on going back to Japan next year and will most definitely book this experience again, thank you to Dan and his team for creating such a memorable experience!
Amazing experience with Koki. I would highly recommend joining her on any experience possible. We loved getting information on Tokyo while doing a very fun activity.
Naomi gave us an amazing introduction to Tokyo nightlife! She introduced us to the Shinjuku spots where mostly only the locals go! She took us through the tourist trap areas. Showed exactly where to take pictures! Haha and then took us to some great little places. My favorite was the Okinawa beach vibe place. It was like she shared her heritage with us. Because that’s where she grew up?! Domo arigato Naomi-san!
Had the pleasure of having Suemi as our host and she was awesome. Very good experience and you get the see some corners / experiences that you usually don’t see as tourists.
Amazing and awesome. Had the greatest time of my life!
We had a wonderful time on the tour with Aya, our lovely guide! We were delighted to discover excellent local food and experience Tokyo's nightlife culture. The atmosphere was fantastic throughout the entire tour, making it a truly enjoyable and memorable experience. Highly recommended!
Amazing tour! It was so much fun! Dan is so kind and did us amazing and fun time
Our night with Suemi on the Omoide Journey tour was honestly one of the highlights of our entire Japan trip. As first-time visitors to Japan, we arrived feeling like complete foreigners but by the end of the night, we truly felt like locals experiencing the real heart of Tokyo. Suemi was absolutely incredible. Her energy, warmth, and passion for Japanese culture made the entire evening feel less like a tour and more like spending the night with an old friend who was showing us her favorite hidden spots in Shinjuku. Every izakaya we visited felt authentic and intimate places we never would have discovered on our own. We got to try amazing traditional foods, enjoy local drinks, listen to traditional music, and fully immerse ourselves in the atmosphere of Tokyo nightlife. The karaoke portion of the night was unforgettable and brought everyone together so naturally. The vibe throughout the entire experience was welcoming, fun, and genuinely special. What made this tour stand out was how personal and authentic it felt. It wasn’t about rushing tourists through popular attractions, it was about creating real memories, sharing culture, and making meaningful connections. For anyone visiting Japan for the first time, this is an absolute must. If you want more than sightseeing, if you want to truly experience Tokyo through the eyes of locals, book this tour with Suemi. We came to Japan as visitors and left the night feeling like we had found a home there. Highly, highly recommended. Arigatou gozaimasu, Suemi we’ll never forget this experience! xoxo Laurah&Jenny
This tour is a perfect introduction to nights out in Tokyo. You visit some interesting places and Aya gave great information about the history and culture surrounding the areas we visited. The izakayas we visited were amazing and you wouldn’t find them on your own as a tourist, the second one was great fun with everyone singing and dancing! We tried some interesting foods and drinks from fish fin sake to whale. You can eat and drink as much as you are able to! Aya was really friendly and gave us a little gift at the end too! There were only 4 of us on our tour so it was almost like a private tour and we all had time to ask questions. Great tour for experiencing the real Tokyo nightlife!
I was SO bummed I couldn’t attend this experience on the account of my flight being delayed 6+ hours. I spent days online looking for events in Tokyo before my trip and landed on this awesome experience. Although I was not able to attend, I was a part of the group chat of 12-15 attendees. The back-and-forth indicated an amazing time was had by all! *Note: Management was so courteous and professional with my I could not have written my honest experience. Do yourself/ves a favour and book this or any excursion with this professional group! 5⭐️
It was an amazing tour full of spots that would've been difficult for most foreigners to get into! Dan was an amazing tour guide!
It was just an incredibly fun time and the guide suemi really knows her stuff. I felt like I was hanging out with a long time friend who was showing me the local places instead of a tour guide. Also the people who took the tour were also really nice people and the izakayas we went to were both local and very unique compared to the rest of my trip.
amazing group, great connections and great fun. dan is the best tour guide everrrr bless his whole heart♥️. drinks were delicious
Great tour guide. Delicious food. Good drinks.
Maya was a fantastic host. We had an amazing experience
Had a great time! The food was top notch and the company even better. Huge shout out to Naomi for being an excellent guide and a good friend. 10/10
Had a fun and informative night. It’s a great way to really understand shinjuku. I recommend booking with this tour company you won’t regret it!.
My family and I had a such a great time with Nami and our group! It was such a great experience with some newly made friends ☺️ definitely a 10/10 experience would recommend!!! If you’re looking for an authentic izakaya experience I would highly recommend this experience!
Best night in Tokyo! Explored hidden gems and got to experience Shinjuku City like a local. Book this experience with Naomi she is a lovely, informative and accommodating tour guide! You will have a BLAST.
Do it DO IT. Absolutely must try, amazing experience with my group and host went above and beyond!
Great evening in Shinjuku. Naomi was a great host, and the atmosphere, food, and drinks made for a good time.
I was a last minute reservation and was so happy I made the decision. The event was amazing with Nanase at the core of a welcoming and friendly environment. I would do this tour again with her if I had the chance, like two of the other party members had done. Can’t thank Nanase enough for such a wonderful tour.
It was really perfect, thanks to Naomi! The 2 izakayas are really good, great vibes ! Naomi is really nice, we have a great time
Awesome tour! Food was top notch and the drinks free-flowing all night. Dan, our tour guide couldn't have been nicer, a very cool guy! Highly recommend this tour!
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