Eat, drink, travel Japan.
Sake and snacks in Shinjuku can be surprisingly educational. This casual Kabukicho experience walks you through 8 types of sake in a way that’s easy to follow, and it pairs each pour with snacks so you can taste differences, not just sip alcohol. Two things I especially like: the snack pairings that make the flavors … Read more
Tokyo at 5pm has a second life. This Ginza izakaya hopping tour puts you into the after-work food world locals use, with a guide who helps you find the places you would skip or miss on your own. I especially like the small group setup (max 6), because you can ask questions while you eat, … Read more
Beppu steam plus Yufuin calm in one day. I like how this tour strings together Kamado Jigoku color-and-steam stops and Yufuin onsen-town browsing, so you get a real change of pace without planning transfers yourself. The one catch is the schedule is tight, so each major sight gets a limited window and you’ll be on … Read more
This workshop is all about making, not watching. You shape a pewter sake cup by hand with different hammers, then refine the rim so it feels good to drink from. I especially love that you get clear, friendly guidance from Kanako in a small, intimate setting, and that you can personalize your cup with letters, … Read more
Hungry in Osaka? This class makes it useful. I like the way it starts with a local market run, so you can spot fresh ingredients before you cook. I also like the small group size, which means your English-speaking guide can actually check what you’re doing. One thing to plan around: gluten-free options are unavailable, … Read more
Neon and alleyways make Shinjuku special. This 3-hour night walking tour uses a local guide to help you read what’s going on—where people actually eat, how the vibe changes after sunset, and what to try without guessing. I especially like how the tour leans on local know-how from guides such as Yoshi, Miambi, and Ken, … Read more
Kyoto at night has a hum. So does sake. This private tasting in central Kyoto is run at a small standing bar where you learn what you’re actually tasting, not just what to sip. You get a relaxed, one-to-four-person setting, plus a guide who can explain the stuff that usually stays hidden behind the label. … Read more
Hot-spring snow monkeys feel unbelievably close. This winter day trip from Nozawa Onsen strings together Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park, a warm lunch break, Zenko-ji, and a guided stop at Nishinomon-Yoshinoya Sake Brewery. I especially love the up-close monkey viewing—there are no barriers—and I also like the rhythm: cold morning outdoors, then culture and comfort indoors. … Read more
Zenko-ji plus sake tasting is a fun combo. This 2-hour Nagano walk mixes temple-area culture with tastings that focus on high-quality, unfiltered, unpasteurized sake and local favorites like plum wine. You’ll also get to sample classic Nagano flavors with nibbles and warm miso soup. Two things I love about this experience are the small-group feel … Read more
Sake in Tokyo is easy. Learning it well is the trick. This tour starts inside a legendary shop in Kanda that traces back to 1596, so you’re not just sampling alcohol—you’re getting the story and the context right from the source area that built a drinking culture for Japanese salarymen. What I like most is … Read more
Tsukudani can taste like comfort, or like a challenge. This private tasting at Shinbashi Tamakiya shows you where it comes from and how people actually eat it, with both traditional and modern takes on preserved seafood. Two things I like a lot: you get full tastings of the shop’s signature tsukudani style, and you’re guided … Read more
Shinjuku at night can feel like a maze. This private bar-hopping evening turns the chaos into a smooth, guided route, with Japanese phrases you can actually use and no getting lost. My favorite part is how the guide keeps things personal, so you can ask questions on the fly. One thing to plan for: the … Read more
![[Private]Shinjuku Golden Gai Bar Hopping w/ Japanese Local Guide - Kabukicho walk-through: the scenery shift you’ll notice](https://drinkingjapan.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/privateshinjuku-golden-gai-bar-hopping-w-japanese-local-guide.jpg)
Tokyo at night has a way of catching you. This private Shinjuku bar-hopping experience is built for the exact moment you want help finding places locals actually use. I like that you start with Omoide Yokocho (Memory Lane) for an easy first sip in a famous food alley, then move into the maze of Shinjuku … Read more
Mount Fuji can steal your whole day. This tour strings together the big hits: a Swan Sightseeing Boat at Lake Yamanaka, time at Mt Fuji 5th Station at about 2,300 meters, plus killer photo stops and a sake brewery visit. I like how it balances sightseeing with breathing room for photos. I also like that … Read more
Sake in Kyoto gets seriously fun. I love the Gekkeikan museum focus on how sake is made, and the kappa-themed visit that keeps things playful at Kizakura. You’ll finish with 18 tastings in the Fushimi brewery alley, but one drawback to plan for: this is alcohol-forward, and food isn’t included, so you’ll want to drink … Read more