- 3.5 hours
- English
- Up to 10 guests per booking
- In front of Black pillar (Next to Uniqlo Shinjuku Nishiguchi shop) (7-8 minute walk from JR Shinjuku station West Exit – Our guide will be holding a red/orange sign ) – Nearest exit from)
Highlights
- Taste Japan’s classic pairings across 5 local stops, from izakayas to sweets.
- Easy, early, and fun: bite-sized tastings with guide support, not a heavy night.
- Learn why ramen and lemon sours work so well, plus other local combos.
- Explore Shinjuku’s famous streets, local food culture, and postwar history.
Itinerary
- Meet your guide in Shinjuku and begin the tour
- Walk through Omoide Yokocho and enjoy your first local pairing
- Try highball with karaage and yakitori
- Pass famous Shinjuku landmarks including the 3D cat billboard, Kabukicho, and Godzilla Head
- Enjoy lemon sour with mini clam-broth ramen
- Walk through Golden Gai and Hanazono Shrine
- Try sake paired with sushi
- Enjoy beer with gyoza and edamame
- Finish with a Japanese convenience store dessert and end the tour
Times are estimates and may change on the day of the tour because of weather, sea and traffic conditions, or other factors.
About this experience
Explore Shinjuku through bite-sized tastings, culture, and local favorites
Ease Into Shinjuku Through Local Streets and First Pairings
Meet your guide and ease into Shinjuku before the streets get too crowded. This first chapter introduces the five-stop experience through bite-sized tastings and your first local pairing, while showing how today’s lively atmosphere grew out of postwar street culture. Walking through Omoide Yokocho, you’ll feel the nostalgic energy of narrow alleys, tiny shops, and old Tokyo charm.
Discover Why These Pairings Work in Real Local Food Culture
As you continue to the next stops, you’ll learn why certain pairings feel so natural in Japan. Discover why Ramen and Lemon Sour work surprisingly well together, and how Sushi and Sake create a more delicate balance of flavor and aroma. This chapter also takes you through famous areas like Golden Gai, where Shinjuku’s layered postwar history still lingers in the narrow lanes.
End With Casual Comfort and Everyday Japanese Sweets
The final chapter highlights the relaxed, everyday side of Japanese food culture. You’ll experience the easygoing comfort of casual local dining, enjoy more bite-sized tastings without getting too full, and see how pairings can be fun even with soft drinks. The tour ends with convenience store sweets, offering a taste of Japanese life that feels simple, familiar, and surprisingly special.
Good to know:
- Vegetarian requests cannot be accommodated on this tour.
- We are also unable to accommodate most food allergies or other dietary restrictions.
- We cannot guarantee allergy-free meals, as food is prepared in partner kitchens outside of ’s control.
- Everyone is welcome to join this tour, including friends and families.
- You do not need to cover the guide’s food or drinks.
- Please bring some cash if you would like to order any additional food or drinks.
- By Japanese law, only guests aged 20 or older may consume alcohol.
- Some venues may allow smoking. In such cases, please understand that we may not be able to change the tour locations.
- Certain stops on this tour may not be accessible by wheelchair or stroller. For guests with mobility concerns, we recommend booking a private tour.
- Japan’s climate can be extreme, with summer highs reaching 40°C (110°F) and winter lows around -5°C (20°F). Please dress accordingly.
- To provide the best experience for everyone, the tour will start on time. If you are late and miss the group, unfortunately we cannot offer refunds or rescheduling.
- Venues may be adjusted depending on the number of participants and their ages.
Included
- English-Speaking Guide – A local English-speaking guide will lead the 3.5-hour tour.
- Pairing 1: Highball, Yakitori, and Karaage – Enjoy a highball with 2 skewers of yakitori and 2 pieces of Japanese fried chicken (karaage).
- Pairing 2: Lemon Sour and Half Ramen – Try a lemon sour paired with half-sized ramen.
- Pairing 3: Sushi and Japanese Drinks – Enjoy a small shared portion of sushi with sake, plum wine, or another drink.
- Pairing 4: Beer, Gyoza, and Edamame – Savor 3 pieces of gyoza and a half portion of edamame with beer or another drink.
- Pre-Tour Liver Support Drink – A Japanese herbal supplement drink containing turmeric to help your body process alcohol during the tour.
- Soft Drink Alternatives – Soft drink alternatives are available for every pairing stop.
- Photos During the Tour – Your guide will help take photos during the tour.
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the tour starting time.
Free date/time rescheduling up to 24 hours before the tour starting time (depending on availability).
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