Where to Go Bar Hopping in Japan: 15 Guided Izakaya Nights

Best of Shinjuku: Izakaya Food Tour (4 Stops, 14+ Tastings) - Kabukicho adds street life and another local stop

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,863 reviews · from $92Our pick

Join a local guide such as Taiga, Yusuke, Nobu, or Chi for 3.5 hours of food and walking through Shinjuku. You’ll visit four izakaya stops, try 14 or more tastings, enjoy three drinks, and pass through Kabukicho, Golden Gai, and Omoide Yokocho.

“Tiaga was a great host. Great mix of food and a walk around Shinjuku. Food was really tasty and met a nice group of people. Was recommended to us by friends.”

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Tokyo: Shinjuku Local Bar and Izakaya Guided Walking Tour

2.Tokyo: Shinjuku Local Bar and Izakaya Guided Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 1,794 reviews · 3 hours · from $34

Join an English-speaking local guide such as Nao, Naoya, or Toshi for three hours through Shinjuku’s drinking districts. Visit Omoide Yokocho, Kabukicho, and Golden Gai, pay venue fees upfront, then buy your own food and drinks with cash. Karaoke closes the evening.

“Had a blast! great fun for my 1at night in Tokyo and. As a solo traveller I felt welcomed and included. The group size was not too big so I could really get to know everyone. Our guide was fun and informative.”

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Tokyo: Shinjuku Local Bar & Izakaya Crawl Tour

3.Tokyo: Shinjuku Local Bar & Izakaya Crawl Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 890 reviews · from $39

Join an English-speaking guide such as Rika, Nao, Ken, or Yoshi for a three-hour walk through Omoide Yokocho, Kabukicho, and Golden Gai. You will visit small izakaya and bars, order with local help, meet other visitors, and may finish with sake tasting or karaoke. Food and drinks cost extra.

“It was very difficult to find the starting point and the guide. He had no sign. The group was too large to hear what he was telling us. We lost some of the group because too large. Also we didn’t realize we would be sitting down at each spot. We expected a quick stock try a local drink then move on.”

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Kyoto: Izakaya Bars Guided Walking Tour

4.Kyoto: Izakaya Bars Guided Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 815 reviews · 3 hours · from $25

Spend three hours walking Kyoto’s Kawaramachi and Kiyamachi districts with an English-speaking local guide such as Moto, Taiga, Mia, or Lyou. Expect several izakaya and bar stops, sake tasting, local food, cultural tips, and an international small-group atmosphere. Food and drinks cost extra.

“Moto was an amazing tour guide! Took us to a really good izakaya and sake tasting bar. Ending the night in a karaoke. 100% would recommend”

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Osaka: Izakaya Bars Guided Walking Tour

5.Osaka: Izakaya Bars Guided Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 385 reviews · 3 hours · from $19Best value

Spend three hours walking from Dotonbori to Uranamba with an English-speaking local guide such as Taiga, Seina, Kosuke, or Naoko. Visit small izakayas and bars, try sake and local drinks, meet a group of about 5 to 10 people, and learn how Osaka’s nightlife works. Food and drinks cost extra.

“Had a wonderfull time touring the local Izakayas sampling some metcha oishi food and sake. Seina our guide for the tour was kind, informative and made the night a truely fun time. Thanks for the impromptu karaoke session to finish off the night! Okini!”

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Shibuya: Local Bar & Izakaya Crawl

6.Shibuya: Local Bar & Izakaya Crawl

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 354 reviews · 3 hours · from $29

Meet your English-speaking guide at Mizuho Bank in Shibuya, then walk to three local bars and izakayas. Expect Japanese food, sake tasting, conversation, and often karaoke. Guides such as Tomomi, Kento, Shota, Miyabi, and Yuna shape the evening around the group.

“booked this tour super last minute due to a change in plans. So glad I did! Shogo was an amazing guide and spoke perfect English. We started off with food and drink in one izakaya and then moved onto a sake bar before ending at karaoke. Our group gelled so well and we had so much fun together that a few of us even went to a club together after! Hghly highly recommend this tour - ask for Shogo you won't regret it”

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Kyoto: Afternoon Japanese Izakaya Cooking Class

7.Kyoto: Afternoon Japanese Izakaya Cooking Class

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 241 reviews · 3 hours · from $67

Spend three hours at Cooking Sun in central Kyoto learning home-style izakaya dishes with English-speaking instructors such as Yumi and Yumiko. You cook in two rounds, eat what you make, and take home clear recipes for dishes including okonomiyaki, dashi-based foods, savory plates, and dessert.

“This was so much fun! Our instructors were so nice and helpful, the food was delicious, and very authentic. I would highly recommend to anyone that is interested in a Japanese cooking class!”

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Tokyo: The Best of Izakaya in Shinjuku Food & Cultural Tour

8.Tokyo: The Best of Izakaya in Shinjuku Food & Cultural Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 221 reviews · 3 hours · from $129

Spend an evening with an English-speaking guide such as Joe, Max, Chizuru, or Ayaka, walking through Shinjuku before eating 14 or more Japanese dishes at local izakayas. Expect sashimi, chicken skewers, croquettes, sake, and enough food for dinner in a group of no more than 10.

“Sabian was a great and hilarious guide! highly recommend tour to anyone interested!”

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Izakaya Style Cooking Class

9.Izakaya Style Cooking Class

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 219 reviews · from $71

Spend three hours at Cooking Sun in Kyoto learning dashi, sauces, and seasonal izakaya dishes with an English-speaking instructor. You prepare several home-style recipes, eat the meal together, and take the recipes home. Groups are capped at eight.

“Lots of fun cooking many dishes. Well thought out with plenty of cooking assistance. I have allergies and they accommodated me perfectly.”

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Tokyo: Shibuya Local Bar & Izakaya Crawl Tour

10.Tokyo: Shibuya Local Bar & Izakaya Crawl Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 218 reviews · from $39

Meet your English-speaking guide at 8 p.m. near Shibuya Station for a three-hour walk through Shibuya Crossing, Miyashita Park, and Center-gai. Expect local bars, izakaya dishes, sake, and possibly karaoke. Guides such as Kota, Ken, Riku, Sora, and Momoko are often praised for energy and personal help.

“Kota was an incredible guide! He was really energetic and kept the mood of the tour high from minute one. He was definitely the best tour guide we've had in Tokyo. He was also really knowledgeable about everything we did and & gave some awesome travel tips for the area afterward. Definitely book this tour when you're in Tokyo!”

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Tokyo: Shinjuku Local Bar Hopping Walking Tour

11.Tokyo: Shinjuku Local Bar Hopping Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 186 reviews · from $118

Join a local guide such as Haru or Yo for three hours of Shinjuku food and nightlife. Visit izakayas near Omoide Yokocho and Kabukicho, then finish with four sake tastings in Nishishinjuku. Dinner, drinks, and a small group are included.

“We really enjoyed this tour - Haru took us to some great pubs we wouldn’t have otherwise found, in a neighborhood that we found to be confusing to navigate on our own.”

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Shinjuku Izakaya and Golden Gai Bar Hopping Tour

12.Shinjuku Izakaya and Golden Gai Bar Hopping Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 147 reviews · from $99

Spend about two hours eating and drinking through Shinjuku with a small group of up to eight. Expect yakitori, sake, whisky, fish, vegetables, three alcoholic drinks, and 6 to 8 food items, with guides such as Hiro, Ryota, Tak, and Tetsu leading the way. Golden Gai may be customized.

“I had an amazing time with my tour guide ChiChi, she showed me many parts of Shinjuku and made sure we were all comfortable the whole time. I'd highly recommend to tour guide and tour.”

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Tokyo The Izakaya tour

13.Tokyo The Izakaya tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 131 reviews · from $198

Meet your guide at Shake Shack Ebisu for a three-hour evening of yakitori, fish dishes, alleyway izakaya food, drinks, and Japanese dessert. Your guide, possibly Fuyu, translates menus and conversations while leading you through three local-style pubs. Food is generous, but vegans and people with serious allergies should choose carefully.

“The food was amazing and each stop had an interesting and different vibe. Fuyu was a wonderful and gracious guide. Highly recommend!”

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Osaka Authentic Local Izakaya Hopping Experience: Food & Drinks

14.Osaka Authentic Local Izakaya Hopping Experience: Food & Drinks

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 99 reviews · from $39

Join English-speaking guide Tetsu for a three-hour walk through Namba, Dotonbori, and Ura-Namba. In a group of no more than three, you’ll visit three or four small izakayas, bars, or food stalls, try local dishes and drinks, and learn the unwritten rules of Osaka nightlife.

“I was traveling solo and am so happy I decided on this tour! Tetsu was so friendly and helpful. I even got to explore some less touristy neighborhoods and try many new dishes. Everything I tried was absolutely delicious! I loved meeting the frieRead more”

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Tokyo: Shinjuku Izakaya and Golden Gai Bar Hopping Tour (2h)

15.Tokyo: Shinjuku Izakaya and Golden Gai Bar Hopping Tour (2h)

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 67 reviews · 2 hours · from $96

Join a local English-speaking guide for an evening walk through Shinjuku’s Omoide Yokocho, Kabukicho, and Golden Gai. You’ll try three alcoholic drinks and six to eight Japanese foods while visiting tiny izakaya pubs and bars. Guides may include Hiro, Ryota, Shuji, Sean, or Ash.

“The destinations and eats along the way were amazing! Ash, our tour guide did an amazing job giving us recommendations as a local as well as provide great insight into the area! Highly recommend!”

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