Bar Hop, Free Flow Full Dinner

Three-hour Shinjuku bar crawl with MagicalTrip, rated 4.9 across 4086 reviews. From $109.35 per person.

Overview

This three-hour bar hop run by MagicalTrip starts at the black pillar outside the Omoide Yokocho entrance in Shinjuku, where a guide holding a red and orange sign collects the group. From there the route works through the alley itself, the Kabukicho district and a short pass by Godzilla Road and its sculpted head, before finishing in Shinjuku Golden Gai. The tour ends at the last bar in Golden Gai rather than returning to the start point.

Drinking and eating are built in rather than optional. The first bar comes with two drinks from the tour's selections, the second bar runs all-you-can-drink alongside a full dinner chosen from an original menu, and the final bar includes one more drink. Photos taken during the night are sent to travellers afterwards, and a MagicalTrip certified guide leads the way throughout.

The format suits people who want an introduction to Shinjuku's nightlife with company rather than a solo search. Reviews repeatedly mention meeting fellow travellers, and one said a guide's help made smaller izakayas feel approachable after feeling intimidated about visiting them. The group is capped at seven, and only travellers aged 20 and over may join.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet at the black pillarMeet your guide in front of the black pillar at the Omoide Yokocho entrance, at 1-chome-2-8 Nishishinjuku. The guide holds a red and orange Magical Trip sign.
2. Black pillar of Kyu-Ome-kaidoThe route passes by with a short stop at the black pillar of Kyu-Ome-kaido.
3. Omoide YokochoAround an hour in the alley itself, with two drinks at the first bar chosen from the tour's selections.
4. Kabukicho DistrictAbout an hour in Kabukicho, taking in Godzilla Road and the Godzilla head as a pass-by or short stop.
5. Shinjuku Golden GaiThe tour ends at the last bar.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points before booking, drawn from the listing and from what multiple travellers reported afterwards.

• Drinks included. Two drinks at the first bar, all-you-can-drink at the second and one at the last are all in the price. Several reviewers said the drinks flowed freely and one described leaving with a proper buzz. The drink menus at each stop are the tour's own selections rather than the full bar list.
• Full dinner. Dinner at the second bar is a full meal chosen from the operator's original menu. Reviews frequently call the food good or decent, and one noted there was more than enough of it.
• Group feel. The group is limited to seven travellers. Many reviewers singled out the social side, from meeting new people to drinking together with fellow travellers.
• Walking and alleys. The night involves walking between bars through Shinjuku streets, and the listing warns some stops are not accessible by wheelchair or stroller. Reviewers describe the route taking in alleys and bar districts rather than a single venue.
• Summer heat. The listing advises bringing water and wearing a hat in summer to prevent heat stroke, as Japanese summers are hot and humid. This matters most for the stretches between bars.
• Photos afterwards. Photos taken during the tour are sent to travellers after it ends, so there is no need to juggle a camera at every stop.

Common issues. The listing is upfront about dietary limits: the kitchens do not belong to MagicalTrip, so allergy-free meals and dietary restrictions cannot be guaranteed, and substitutions may not be possible at certain stops, though the operator tries to compensate elsewhere. The tour is not wheelchair accessible and children must be accompanied by an adult, with the whole tour restricted to those aged 20 and over. One reviewer noted every location offered the same drinks menu, so anyone expecting the fullest range at each bar should temper that expectation. Cancellation is free only up to 24 hours before the start time; after that no refund or change is accepted.

Questions Diners Ask First