Private Tour
Sangenjaya Back Alleys Private Food and Drink Tour
Overview
Available languages
4 hours
Mobile ticket
•Private, fully inclusive and customizable experience.
•Explore the narrow lantern lit back alleys of funky Sangenjaya, a central neighbourhood not often visited by tourists.
• Try traditional foods such as kushikatsu, charcoal grilled meat, sashimi and much more.
• Cook your own okonomiyaki or monjayaki in a local institution.
• Visit three off the beaten track izakayas specially selected by your guide.
• Meet the locals in a tiny but raucous kushikatsu standing bar.
• Try unusual Japanese drinks such as Hoppy, shochu and sake.
• Experience Tokyo's real nightlife away from the tourist crowds.
• Eat and drink what you like.
• Flexible start times.
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
The legal drinking age: in Japan is 20. Soft drinks will be served to those under the age of 20
Dietary Requirements: Please let us know if you have any dietary requirements and we will make sure you are catered to.
Sharing: We will be experiencing izakaya the Japanese way and so sharing plates between the group. (Don't worry you will be full!)
Group Size: To keep things friendly and allow us access to some of the smaller and more unique places we prefer to keep group sizes from 2-6 people although we are able to cater to large groups to
Smoking is permitted in most bars and restaurants in Japan and therefore we don't advise pregnant travelers to join this tour
There will be some light walking involved on this tour through narrow back streets so comfortable footwear is recommended.
Solo travelers are very welcome
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
Guided tour of Sangenjaya
Visit three off the beaten track izakayas where you'll experience a wide variety of dishes
Dinner
Try a minimum of 10 delicious Japanese delicacies recommended by your guide
Experience an array of traditional drinks including beer, sake, shochu, hoppy and umeshu
Transport to and from Sangen-jaya station.
Gratuities (optional)
What To Expect
Sangenjaya
Spend the evening in the funky and charming neighborhood of Sangenjaya (just 5 minutes from Shibuya). Explore the area's labyrinth of tiny lantern lit back alleys packed with tiny and hidden bars, restaurants and izakayas. Experience 3 different Japanese cuisines in 3 different izakayas during the course of the night with a local guide. Learn how to cook okonomiyaki and monjayaki in a local institution. Get friendly with the locals in a tiny but raucous Kushikatsu bar while enjoying delicious kushikatsu and trying the retro drink 'Hoppy' Try delicious seafood and nihonshu in hidden sake restaurant. Get the real taste of Japanese food culture away from the tourist crowds on this 4 hour all inclusive food and drink tour of one of Tokyo 'best kept secret' neighborhoods.
Options
Sangenjaya Back Alleys Private Food and Drink Tour
Reviews
116 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
A fun and delicious night out in a cool area.
J5521EEeddyb,
Oct 28, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We really enjoyed this food tour around the back alleys of Sangenjaya. The area was charming and the food and drinks were delicious and plentiful. Simon was really personable and fun. Really appreciated the tips and phrases he gave us which came in handy for the rest of our stay in Tokyo. Recommend!
Absolutely recommended
Niki K,
Oct 26, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00This was already our second food tour we booked with Simon. He knows his stuff very well, is a really fun guy to hang out with and shows you the places you would usually not be aware of as a tourist. The area is fun and off the (most) beaten track. Simon also takes care of food preferences, while still making the experience an authentic Japanese one. Absolutely 100% recommended.
Fun food and drinks
Julie C,
Oct 8, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00This was the most fun tour we had in Tokyo. Our guide, Simon, was extremely personable and knowledgeable. He took us to unique, small restaurants in the back alleyways of Sangenjaya, where he lives. The proprietors all knew him so we had fantastic service. With him we tasted authentic local Japanese delicacies and drinks. His choices were spot on. We loved everything he introduced us to. We never could have had such an experience on our own. I would like to do this again tonight!
Delicious delicious
783herrk,
Sep 18, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Simon was great - a very entertaining evening. Highly recommended. The tour is worth your money! Book!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A highlight of our two week trip in Japan!
christopherpT3317TI,
Sep 10, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00My partner and I were in Tokyo for the second part of our honeymoon after starting with 3 nights there. Our tour with Simon showed us not only a part of the city we had not yet seen but some unique and delicious food and drink that we had missed in our first segment of our trip. All of our stops were incredibly thoughtful and Simon did an excellent job of taking our preferences into account and ordering accordingly. Beyond the ambience and the incredible food and drink, Simon's company was amazing! He was a wealth of information not only that night, but for the rest of our trip. We look forward to seeing him again next time we are in Japan or if he is state-side :) This is a PERFECT activity for friend groups, families, couples and could even be fun if you are in town for a work trip. It is also one of the most LGBTQ-friendly experiences that we had in Japan!
Best Tour Ever
goddamnyouryan,
Aug 30, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Simon is the best! He is truly the kindest and most friendly person and so easy to talk to! He's lived in Japan for forever so he know's all the small little local places that no other tourists ever go to. Go with him for the real authentic Tokyo experience, you won't regret it!
Great tour, very local...
Darnell A,
Jul 27, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Great tour, very local and authentic. Guide was awesome! Was able to get an understanding of the local culture we would have otherwise missed.
Must do tour!!
Georgia G,
Jul 14, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Absolutely brilliant food tour! Simon met us at the station and from there we had the most wonderful evening. The variety of food and drink that we tried was amazing, just make sure that you are ready for plenty of food! Simon was a brilliant host, incredibly welcoming, friendly and informative and made the rest of our stay in Tokyo so much better with all his recommendations and advice! We could not recommend this tour enough - our highlight of Tokyo!
Izakaya tour in Tokyo
emilydD785SN,
Jul 13, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Simon was an incredible source of knowledge and experience. He took my husband and I to vibrant places where he knew the owners/cooks and we sampled the most delicious foods and drinks. We went to about 4-5 places. Simon also provided us guidance on the rest of our Tokyo trip, introducing us to off the beaten path neighborhoods that ended up being the highlight of our trip. It was one of the best nights we had in Japan!
Awesome Experience!
Zach K,
Jul 11, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Our izakaya tour with Simon was the highlight of our trip. It was such a fun evening and felt more like spending time with a good friend than an actual tour. The food was excellent (and some of our most memorable bites from our time in Tokyo - we would never have tried monjayaki otherwise and LOVED it), but the company was even better. We truly enjoyed visiting a more local neighborhood and trying out some of the restaurants far from the usual social media hotspots and crowd. On top of that, we learned a bit about Japanese culture and what expat life is like, and I can't imagine a better opportunity to do that than through this experience. If you're looking for a fun night out that's off the beaten path and you're open to trying some new foods and beverages, absolutely book this. We can't recommend it enough, and we'd do it again without hesitation just for the lovely conversation.
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