Tokyo is a city that never sleeps. While its offerings during the day are endless, many travelers will tell you that, come nightfall, the nightscape of Tokyo seems to mysteriously come to life. If you’re wondering what to do in Tokyo at night, take your pick from our list of Tokyo night tours to experience Japan's capital as you never have before.
For foodies interested in having a taste of traditional Japanese cuisine, the Shinjuku, Shinbashi, or Asakusa tours will allow you to experience Japanese cuisine and drinking culture. You can even explore the famous Shinjuku Golden Gai and drink like a local, with locals! Featuring some of the best places to go, things to do, and foods to eat in Tokyo, these Tokyo night tours have something for everyone! Come explore the night scene of Japan's busiest city, and connect with other travelers and locals, making the most of your Japan trip!
8 Best Tokyo Night Tours
Here are the 8 best Tokyo night tours we recommend!
- Retro Shibuya Food Tour
- Asakusa Street Food and Drink Tour in the Evening
- Golden Gai Food Tour in Shinjuku Golden District
- Ramen and Izakaya Tour in Shinjuku
- Eat and Drink like a Tokyo Salaryman in Shinbashi
- LGBT Tokyo Eating and Drinking Tour
- Tokyo Yakitori and Ramen Tour in Shinjuku
- Tokyo Local Food and Drinks Tour
1. Retro Shibuya Food Tour
Shibuya is one of Tokyo’s busiest and most vibrant special wards. Although it is known for being a shopping and fashion hub, the dining scene of Shibuya is also home to some of the best food experiences in Japan. If you’re looking to experience local Japanese nightlife of old, this Retro Shibuya Food Tour brings you to explore a version of Shibuya that is still fondly reminisced about.
From a visit to an old tachinomiya (Japanese standing bar) where you'd imagine locals regale each other with nostalgic stories of bygone days, to a taste of local cuisine at an iconic ramen shop that's over 60 years old; you’ll be drinking and making merry with old-school mixed drinks, bar foods, snacks, and sweets!
Book the Retro Shibuya Food Tour >>
2. Asakusa Street Food and Drink Tour in the Evening
While many travelers to Japan are enamored by the dazzling nightlife in the cities of Shibuya and Shinjuku, Asakusa was once the place to be after nightfall. A beautiful area with the famous Sensoji Temple as its main attraction, Asakusa at night presents a calm and peaceful atmosphere for anyone wishing to experience an alternative to the hustle and bustle of more commercial areas of Tokyo.
Best explored on foot, Asakusa offers a plethora of Japanese street foods to sample and taste. Mingle with fellow travelers and locals as you explore local izakayas, enjoy Japanese drinks and have a taste of traditional monjayaki (a type of Japanese pancake that's quite unlike okonomiyaki, made of a looser batter). You will also learn about Japanese sake and get a chance to sample a cup or two!
Book the Asakusa Street Food and Drink Tour in the Evening >>
3. Golden Gai Food Tour in Shinjuku Golden District
Sitting in a corner of Kabukicho in Shinjuku, Golden Gai is famous for its nightlife and architectural landscape composed of small twisting and turning alleys packed with tiny hidden bars and restaurants. Known as the liveliest night spot in Japan, the bars in Golden Gai are often buzzing with tourists and locals alike. If you’re overwhelmed by the numerous bars around you, join this Golden Gai Food Tour in Shinjuku for a guided tour of the best spots with a local. You'll share stories over drinks and yakitori skewers as you bar-hop across the alleys!
Book the Golden Gai Food Tour in Shinjuku Golden District >>
4. Ramen and Izakaya Tour in Shinjuku
Led by one of Tokyo’s top ramen experts, this tour is made for ramen fanatics! The Tokyo food tour not only brings you to a couple of the best ramen spots in town, but also includes a visit to a local izakaya as well. Izakaya gastropubs are synonymous with Japan’s dining and drinking culture. These little bars are perfect if you want to unwind after a long day of work, or catch up with a group of friends. If you’re looking for delicious grub and drinks, look no further than the Ramen and Izakaya Tour in Shinjuku, hosted by a local guide!
Book the Ramen and Izakaya Tour in Shinjuku >>
5. Eat and Drink like a Tokyo Salaryman in Shinbashi
From tiny bars to hidden izakayas, the night scene in Shinbashi is the place for locals to hang after dark. If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to chill and unwind like a Japanese salaryman after work, join the Eat and Drink Like a Tokyo Salaryman in Shinbashi night tour! From delicious yakitori skewers to Japanese oden, you’ll be able to experience Japanese food and drinking culture and let loose like a hardworking Japanese office worker!
Book the Eat and Drink like a Tokyo Salaryman in Shinbashi Tour >>
6. LGBT Tokyo Eating and Drinking Tour
While Japan might be known for its reserved and conservative nature, many are unaware that it actually has a vibrant and thriving LGBT scene. Home to Japan’s largest queer community, Asakusa and Shinjuku Nichome are the most well-known gayborhoods where the LGBT community has firmly planted roots.
The LGBT Tokyo Eating and Drinking Tour explores the LGBT scene in these areas, where gay bars and cafes have popped up over the years. The tour also pays a visit to bookshops and video stores that cater to the queer community, and your guide will discuss some of the challenges that the LGBT community faces in Japan, as well as the impact of Japanese social and gender ideologies. If you’re interested in learning more about the birth and growth of Japan’s LGBT community, while having a taste of the Japanese food and drinks, join this tour!
Book the LGBT Tokyo Eating and Drinking Tour >>
7. Tokyo Yakitori and Ramen Tour in Shinjuku
If you love yakitori and ramen, come join the Tokyo Yakitori and Ramen Tour in Shinjuku, where you get to see how yakitori is made, cooked, and eaten! A simple grilled dish, yakitori can be eaten as a whole meal with rice, or devoured as a snack on its own. You’ll be able to taste both sweet and salty-sweet yakitori styles, and learn how to make your own variations at home, too! Best paired with a piping hot bowl of ramen, you’ll get to enjoy the best of both food worlds on this food tour in Tokyo.
Book the Tokyo Yakitori and Ramen Tour in Shinjuku >>
8. Local Tokyo Food and Drink Tour
If you’re looking to have a fun night out on the town, experiencing Japanese cuisine and drinking culture, then this is the tour for you. This Tokyo Food and Drink Tour showcases an area of Tokyo that’s probably not on your radar, making it a totally unique local experience. The tour guide will take you through a local neighborhood called Oimachi, located on the periphery of central Tokyo, which is filled with plenty of delicious local food stalls and bars where you can chill and drink the night away. With plenty of bars to visit and lots of snacks, including street foods to keep your tummy happy, this is the tour for you to soak in the authentic nighttime atmosphere of an off-the-beaten-path Tokyo neighborhood.
Book the Local Tokyo Food and Drink Tour >>
With loads of Japanese cuisine to sample and plenty of local areas to explore, nighttime in Tokyo offers plenty of choices. Join one of these night tours and experience the best of the city's night scene during your Japan trip!
For more things to do in Tokyo, check out our top Tokyo food tours or follow us on Instagram and Facebook!
