REAL, All-Inclusive Tokyo Food and Drink Adventure (leave the tourists behind)
Description
Ready for a small group Tokyo food tour that takes you deeper than what the Shinjuku or Shibuya areas can provide? Come with us and leave the canned, prefab tourist run behind, and instead get yourself a look into how locals unwind after work. Over the course of our 3-ish hours together, we'll visit three different standing bar restaurants (known as "tachinomi" in Japanese). We spread our tachinomi visits across two different neighborhoods, with a 6 minute train ride between the two. Adjunct to the tachinomi is a slightly more anthropological one, covering a bounty of cultural sights and topics, from nightlife to grocery shopping and more. With food, three drinks, and train fare included, you won't need to spend a single, shiny yen this carefree night. A note about our itinerary While we always try our best to adhere to the plan as set out above, please understand that tour routes, restaurant stops (as applicable), and timings may vary based on circumstances beyond our control.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Oimachi is just two minutes off the Yamanote (loop) Line from Shinagawa. Within moments we're snaking our way down the bustling, narrow backstreets that give this neighborhood the kind of character you just don't find in Tokyo's large-scale entertainment districts. It won't be long before we duck into our first tachinomi ("standing bar") for a cold beer and some tasty local, Japanese style pub grub. If beer's not your thing, there are other options. Also available, in case you are a little wary of some of the more "advanced" Japanese foods, are more classically Western palate-friendly options. Hunger staved for the moment, we embark on an educational walk, explaining (with visual aids aplenty) the vagaries of the Japanese nightlife scene. It's a lighthearted stroll, and we have fun with it; you needn't worry about it being raucous or off-color, and this tour is suitable for teens too, should you have them in tow. Then we eat some more.
Two restaurants and two drinks in, it's time to say goodbye to Oimachi. Fear not, though, because we're just a six minute ride to our next stop, Kamata. We've got a whole new set of sights for you here, and our guides go where most Japanese guides fear to take you (probably they're just afraid you'll be bored, but we feel confident you won't). Kamata has some great bubble era (1980s into the early 1990s) architecture with a smattering of fairly recent spruce-ups, and a classic old skool shotengai ("shopping street"). It's also got some good grub, and we have a spot with a chill vibe and friendly clientele all lined up. This is one of those endangered parts of Tokyo that's a bustling village with a distinct identity. While other parts succumb to chain stores and homogenization, Kamata stands strong, if perhaps not quite as classily.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required
- Minimum drinking age is 20 years
- All participants must be 18+ to participate in this experience
Reviews(26)
Excellent, would repeat it over and over again
Nos alegra enormemente que la constante ayuda del guía y la calidad de los platos hayan hecho que tu ruta por Tokio fuera tan especial. Brindar una atención atenta y un ambiente tranquilo durante todo el recorrido es fundamental para nosotros, y saber que logramos transmitirte esa comodidad significa muchísimo para todos nosotros.😊
Matt was awesome and knew the area and restaurants well. We had a great time! The food was excellent and the restaurants were very accommodating.
Thanks for joining our Tokyo food and drink adventure! We're glad you enjoyed the evening and appreciated the local spots we’ve handpicked — places you might not stumble upon on your own. Sharing good food and conversation in a relaxed setting is exactly what this tour is all about :)
The place is of incredible beauty; facilities from the hall through the common areas, restaurants, beaches, to the cozy rooms. It is an ideal place for families, young couples, and those of us who are not so much. Cassandra, manager in charge during our stay, has an infectious energy and is a great professional, who animates and organizes a place that we imagine is complex to manage. Her assistant Luisa assists and supports her. At night the shows are real stagings of unimaginable quality: dances, music, circus actors, games of lights that have nothing to envy to other high places. We cannot fail to name Yurbel, choreographer and dancer full of magic and contagious joy who was in charge of dances, every night. Luis Jose and Kimberly, together with Yurbel, proudly leave the Venezuelan gentile aloft, and made us feel like a dream. Many Congratulations, many successes, and we just wish we could come back very soon to meet. GRACIAS, GRACIAS, GRACIAS
Thank you so much for such a lovely message! We're delighted to know that you enjoyed every corner of the place, from the facilities to the evening entertainment. It was our pleasure to host you, and we look forward to seeing you again soon!
Yeman was our guide for this pleasant evening of colourful dining in obscure little, standing room only, restaurants with good food, interesting clientel, sweet and dry Sake and fascinating history. Ask about the “love hotels” which were news to us! Highly recommended.
A fantastic evening - best tour ever! Kristi is a wonderful guide and showed our group many interesting places including several tiny standup eateries with fabulous food! This tour was a highlight of my stay in Tokyo - fun, fascinating and delicious! I never would have explored the areas we visited on my own.
Thank you for your amazing review! We're happy to hear that Kristi made your evening so fantastic with her guidance. It's wonderful that you enjoyed exploring Tokyo's hidden gems and delicious food spots. We appreciate your kind words and hope to see you again for more fun and fascinating tours!
First night in Tokyo and what a welcome to the city. Great insight from our guide Andrew from the history of Japan, personal stories and of course sampling some of the local food as well as saki! For someone new to Japan and with a hunger to get away from the tourist traps and understand the local culture I can not recommend higher! Great intro, great food, great experience
Thank you for sharing your experience with Andrew! It sounds like you had an incredible introduction to Tokyo. We're delighted that you enjoyed the insights into Japan's history and culture, as well as the local food and sake. We appreciate your recommendation and hope you have many more great experiences exploring Japan with us!
First night in Tokyo and what a welcome to the city. Great insight from our guide Andrew from the history of Japan, personal stories and of course sampling some of the local food as well as saki! For someone new to Japan and with a hunger to get away from the tourist traps and understand the local culture I can not recommend higher! Great intro, great food, great experience
That sounds like such a fantastic way to start your time in Tokyo! Andrew seems like a gem of a guide, offering not just history but personal stories to make the experience richer. It's wonderful that you got to dive into local culture and cuisine right away. Here's to many more great experiences in Japan!
Andrew was fantastic and gave us an insight into the Japanese culture. He took us to small restaurants that were yummy and plenty of traditional bars. He even showed us how to purchase a train ticket home! I highly recommend this tour!
Thanks a bunch for the awesome review! We're stoked that Andrew was fantastic and gave you a real taste of Japanese culture. Sounds like you had a blast checking out those small restaurants and traditional bars together. And big props to him for showing you the ropes with buying a train ticket home! Your recommendation means a lot. Can't wait to hang out with you again for more adventures!
If you get the chance, ask for Mini as your guide. She was great! Very friendly, accommodating, and knowledgeable about the culture. We went to some off the beaten path spots and tried some very good food that I would have normally never tried. She even took time to help me set up a Suica card to my phone (no easy task as there were a lot of hoops to go through) and took me to a store afterwards to get flavored Kit Kats for souvenirs. Highly recommend!
Thanks for the awesome tip! We're thrilled to hear Mini was a fantastic guide—friendly, accommodating, and knowledgeable. Exploring off the beaten path spots and trying unique food sounds like a blast. It's great she went the extra mile to help with your Suica card and even took you to get flavored Kit Kats for souvenirs. Your high recommendation is much appreciated! Thank you for choosing Pinpoint Traveler and we look forward to seeing you again!
Ryuhki was an excellent your guide, was like renting a friend. He knew the areas well, had great history to teach us and was fun to bop around with. Book him you won't be disappointed
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear that Ryuhki was an excellent tour guide, providing not just information but also a friendly and enjoyable experience. It's fantastic to know he made your tour feel like renting a friend, and we appreciate your recommendation to book him. We look forward to the opportunity to welcome you again for another enjoyable adventure!