Shinjuku: Private Bar Hopping
Description
Immerse yourself in the vibrant nightlife of Tokyo on a private tour guided by Yohei, an experienced Japanese teacher. This engaging evening combines practical Japanese lessons with the excitement of exploring hidden izakayas and local drinking spots. Begin your adventure in Shinjuku, where you'll learn essential phrases while navigating the bustling streets, then enjoy a series of izakayas where you can practice greetings, ordering food, and self-introduction—all while sipping on local drinks. Wrap up the night with a visit to Instagram-worthy locations, ensuring a memorable blend of culture, language, and fun. - Private night tour guided by Yohei, an experienced Japanese teacher - Learn practical Japanese phrases at three different izakayas - Enjoy local drinks, with options for non-drinkers available - Explore hidden nightlife spots and capture Instagrammable moments ⚠️ I will contact you through WhatsApp so please download WhatsApp prior to this tour for smooth meeting.
Tour Options
Itinerary
We will meet at Starbucks, just outside the south exit of Shinjuku Station.
You can enjoy a panoramic view of Shinjuku and the sunset from the observation deck.
Enjoy the world's best projection mapping reflected on the building.
Because there are so many foreign tourists here, we didn't stop here, but just passed by as a spot to take lots of photos.
1st Izakaya (Standing Bar) (60min) Learn Self-introduction, asking for recommendations and other useful Japanese phrases while drinking.
I will guide you to a hidden and fascinating shrine at night. The shrine is beautifully lit up at night and looks very fantastical.
Sweets are the best thing to have between drinks. I recommend trying the taiyaki, the most delicious in Japan.
Finally, let's drink a lot! Talk about your country and have fun drinking with the locals. As a souvenir, I'll give you a mini handbook that will be useful for traveling in Japan.
To finish the night, you can join an optional karaoke session. Your guide, a skilled singer, will perform J-pop and anime songs, and you’re welcome to share your own favorites too. It’s a fun way to end the evening with unforgettable memories. *This stop is optional and not part of the standard tour.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(47)
We had a great time on this tour with RYU. Went with our 3 kids in their 20s and all had a blast! We went to several hidden places and had wonderful conversations and learned about the bar scene in Shinjuku. I would highly recommend this tour.
hank you so much for the wonderful review☺️! We are absolutely thrilled to hear that you and your three children had such a blast on the tour with RYU! It’s fantastic that everyone enjoyed the hidden gems and the deep dive into Shinjuku's unique bar scene. RYU was also so happy to guide your lovely family. We truly appreciate your high recommendation, and we hope to welcome you all back to Tokyo again someday🇯🇵!
Ryu was excellent! We got to see some great bars we wouldn’t have come across ourselves along with some great food and beer! He was a joy to speak with and was a highlight of our trip!
Thank you so much for joining our tour🙏! It was truly a wonderful time, and we are so happy to hear that it became a highlight of your trip☺️❤️. Ryu was also delighted to read your kind words! We hope to see you again the next time you visit Japan. Safe travels🇯🇵!
This was such a fun tour! The guide was friendly, energetic, and high energy. We loved singing karaoke with him at the end 10/10 recommend doing that! The food he chose was awesome and he had great drink recs. Would definitely do it again!
Thank you so much for the perfect 10/10 rating! 🌟 We are so happy you had a blast! Singing karaoke together was definitely the highlight and a wonderful memory for us, too! 🎤🎶 We’re glad you enjoyed the food and drinks we picked out for you. 🍺🍚 There’s always more to explore (and more songs to sing!), so please come back and join us again! We truly can’t wait to see you for another round! 😀✨
This was SO FUN! Going out with ryu was like stepping into parts of Tokyo that was so hidden. So cool. He made the night memorable and he was a great vibe. Highly recommend!
Thank you so much! 🥂 It was such an amazing and energetic night, wasn't it? Thank you for your lovely feedback about Ryu — he’s a big part of our team! 🤝 Shinjuku still has plenty of hidden spots waiting for you, so we hope to see you again for another adventure! 🍺 We’re incredibly happy to have been a part of your best Tokyo memories! 🗼✨
Ryu was super a fun, knowledgeable guide for our Shinjuku bar hopping tour. Learned a ton and had loads of fun.
Thank you so much💐! We are so happy to hear that☺️.We’re thrilled that it turned out to be the best bar hopping experience for you🍻! It makes us very glad to know that the tour became one of your favorite memories of your trip to Japan. We look forward to seeing you again when you come back to Japan🇯🇵!
Fantastic experience. My wife and I visited Japan for the first time for our honeymoon and stayed in shinjuku. Ryu took us around to several local spots we would’ve never found on our own. Very fun night out in Shinjuku.
Thank you so much for your kind review and congratulations again on your honeymoon! 🎉 I’m really happy to hear that you both had such a great time exploring Shinjuku with Ryu. He truly knows how to find those hidden local spots that make the night special. It means a lot that you chose to spend part of your honeymoon with us. I hope the rest of your trip in Japan was just as memorable! We’d love to see you again someday—next time, we’ll show you even more hidden gems 😉
Signed up via Viator, cost was $70 to have a Japanese teacher take us private bar-hopping. Unfortunately on the day of the event, the organizer added another group of people, so it was no longer private. Then, the guide was changed, so our guide was no longer a Japanese teacher. I booked this experience with the expectations of a private experience and being able to ask questions about Japanese language. We did not have control over the menu selection so some seafood items were selected even though the other party didn’t like seafood. I would have been upset in their position. I still found a way to enjoy the experience, but it was not what I intended to book.
First of all, I sincerely apologize that the tour did not meet your expectations. You specifically booked a private experience with a Japanese teacher, and we did not deliver that as promised. This is completely on us, and I understand why this was disappointing. Regarding the group situation and the change of guide, this should have been clearly communicated in advance, or ideally, avoided altogether. I also appreciate you pointing out the issue with the food selection—you're absolutely right that all guests should feel comfortable with the menu, especially in a shared setting. That said, I truly respect that you still made an effort to enjoy the night despite these issues. That means a lot, and I’m grateful for your understanding. We are taking your feedback seriously and will use it to improve how we manage bookings, communication, and guest expectations—especially for private experiences. If you’re ever open to it, I would love the opportunity to host you again properly and provide the experience you originally expected. Thank you again for your valuable feedback, and I wish you all the best in your future travels.
Signed up via Viator, cost was $70 to have a Japanese teacher take us private bar-hopping. Unfortunately on the day of the event, the organizer added another group of people, so it was no longer private. Then, the guide was changed, so our guide was no longer a Japanese teacher. I booked this experience with the expectations of a private experience and being able to ask questions about Japanese language. We did not have control over the menu selection so some seafood items were selected even though the other party didn’t like seafood. I would have been upset in their position. I still found a way to enjoy the experience, but it was not what I intended to enjoy.
Thank you for taking the time to share your detailed feedback. I sincerely apologize that your experience did not match what you originally booked. You chose this tour expecting a private experience with a Japanese teacher, and we did not meet those expectations—this is completely our responsibility. The change from a private tour to a shared group, as well as the guide change, should have been clearly communicated in advance, or ideally not happened at all. I completely understand your frustration, especially since one of your main goals was to ask questions about the Japanese language. I also appreciate you pointing out the issue with the menu selection. In situations like this, we should ensure that everyone’s preferences are properly considered. That said, I truly appreciate your understanding and the fact that you still found a way to enjoy the evening despite these shortcomings. We are taking your feedback seriously and will improve how we manage private bookings, guide assignments, and communication to prevent this from happening again. If you’re ever open to giving us another chance, I would love to personally ensure you receive the experience you originally expected. Thank you again for your honest feedback, and I wish you all the best in your future travels.
Ryu is a really great guy. He is talkative and kind. I loved the experience from start to end. 10/10 would recommend
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! I’m really happy to hear that you had such a great time from start to finish. Ryu will be especially glad to hear your kind words—he truly loves connecting with guests and making each experience memorable. “10/10” means a lot to us—thank you for the recommendation! We’d love to welcome you back anytime for another fun night in Tokyo 🍻
Had a really good time with Ryu, who is a very fun, polite and chill person. He had a schedule planned beforehand, but we didn't even need it, since a lot of time just flew by while we were walking around and chatting. He responded to personal requests and gave many helpful insights culturally as well as considering Japanese. This is a great opportunity to experience Shinjuku, which you shouldn't miss out on!
Thank you so much for your thoughtful review! I’m really happy to hear you had such a great time with Ryu. He’ll be glad to know you appreciated not only the fun and relaxed vibe, but also the cultural insights and flexibility throughout the night. It’s great that you could enjoy Shinjuku in a natural way—just walking, talking, and discovering the area together. That’s exactly the kind of experience we hope to create. Thank you again for your kind words, and we’d love to have you join us again anytime! 🍻
