Golden Gai Crawl, 2 Hours

Shinjuku Izakaya and Golden Gai Bar Hopping Tour

★ 4.8 180 reviews

2 hours, free cancellation.

from $97.17 per person

Check Price & Availability →

Opens the live booking page with current dates. Book there; nothing is charged on this site. Free cancellation.

Duration: 2 hours
Group: max 8 travellers
Meeting point: Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku
Cancellation: Free cancellation
Meal: Included in the fare
Run by: Japan Wonder Travel

Overview

This two hour walk with Japan Wonder Travel links three of Shinjuku's most distinctive nightlife zones: Omoide Yokocho, the neon of Kabukicho, and the bars of Golden Gai. You meet your guide outside Tajimaya Coffee at the entrance to Omoide Yokocho, then move on foot from one district to the next, finishing inside Golden Gai itself.

Dinner is included, along with a local and professional guide. Many reviewers praised the food and drink, with several saying there was plenty of it, and the group cap is eight travellers. Guides got frequent praise for the background they gave on the food and on Japanese culture.

It suits first time visitors who want an orientation to Shinjuku's drinking alleys, and one reviewer specifically suggested doing it at the start of a trip so you can go back and explore on your own afterwards. The tour is aimed at international tourists, and the drinking age in Japan is 20, with soft drinks served to anyone younger.

What's Included

Dinner
Local and professional guide
Experience izakaya culture and drink like the locals do

Itinerary

Meet at Tajimaya CoffeeThe meeting point is in front of Tajimaya Coffee in Omoide Yokocho, at 1-chome-2-6 Nishishinjuku. Meet your guide here; hotel pickup is not part of the tour.
Omoide Yokocho, 1 hourYou spend the first hour in this alley of food and drink stalls.
Kabukicho, 10 minutesA short walk through Shinjuku's main entertainment district on the way to the final stop.
Golden Gai, 45 minutesAdmission ticket included.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points will shape whether this tour works for you, drawn from the listing and from what past travellers reported.

Come hungry. Dinner is included and several reviewers said there was more food than they expected. Drinks flow steadily across the stops, and reviewers said there was more than enough.
Walking and stairs. One reviewer reported a brisk pace between stops, with narrow alleys and narrow stairs along the way. The listing confirms the tour is not wheelchair accessible, though pushchairs are allowed and the route is near public transport.
Group feel. The cap is eight travellers. Many reviewers said the group gelled quickly and some continued to another izakaya together after the official end, though one solo traveller had booked a night when nobody else showed up.
Dietary limits. The operator does not accommodate vegetarian, halal, gluten free or allergy related requests. Anyone with those restrictions should pick a different tour.
Weather and timing. One reviewer ran the tour in steady rain and still had one of their best nights in Japan.
Age and audience. The minimum drinking age is 20, and anyone younger is served soft drinks. The listing asks Japanese nationals not to join, since the tour is designed for international visitors.

Common issues. The listing is blunt about dietary restrictions: no vegetarian, halal, gluten free or allergy requests are accommodated. The tour is not wheelchair accessible and involves brisk walking, narrow alleys and narrow stairs. One solo traveller felt uncomfortable when she was the only guest that night. The listing also asks participants not to arrive already drunk, and extras such as additional food and drinks beyond the included dinner are paid separately. Hotel pickup and drop off, and transport to the meeting point, are not included.

Common Questions

Is Food And Drink Included?

Dinner and a local professional guide are included, along with the izakaya experience itself. Additional food and drinks beyond what is listed, hotel pickup and drop off, and transport to the meeting point are not included, so bring some money for extras.

Where Does The Tour Meet?

In front of Tajimaya Coffee, at the entrance to Omoide Yokocho in Nishishinjuku. The full address is 1-chome-2-6 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku City. The tour ends inside Golden Gai, not back at the start point.

How Long Does It Take?

The listed duration is two hours.

Can I Join If I Have Dietary Restrictions?

No. The operator states that vegetarian, halal, gluten free and allergy related requests cannot be accommodated. Travellers with those needs should book a different food tour.

Is It Suitable For Children Or People With Limited Mobility?

Infant seats are available and pushchairs are allowed, but the drinking age is 20 and anyone under it is served soft drinks. The tour is not wheelchair accessible, and one reviewer mentions brisk walking, narrow alleys and narrow staircases.

What Is The Cancellation Policy?

A full refund is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Cancelling or requesting changes inside that 24 hour window forfeits the payment, and cut off times follow the local time in Japan.

Book Golden Gai Crawl, 2 Hours

Live dates, times and prices are on the booking page.

Check Price & Availability →

A tour takes care of one evening; the rest of the trip is yours, so we put together The Tokyo Food List with 980+ restaurants to pick by neighborhood.