I Went On a Luxury Cocktail Bar Tour in Tokyo. Was It Worth It?
I’ve spent about six months in Tokyo and, during all this time, barely penetrated its elite cocktail scene. 🍸
Why? Because without a local guide, a bar becomes just a bar. A bar without a story.
With a guide, though, a cocktail bar tour becomes something much more than about the alcohol or spirits being served. It becomes an entry point into Tokyo’s refined and tasteful bar scene beyond the tourist-crowded alleys of Golden Gai.
For example, there was a moment about twenty minutes into this tour when I realized I had no idea where we were. “Wait, where’s that Ginza clock tower?” I asked. Even though I’ve walked around Ginza a few times before, we turned down an alley and found a shrine that’s clearly been there long before the buildings rose up around it.
Then, before I knew it, we were in an otherwise unimpressive building in the heart of Ginza, ducking into what is arguably one of Tokyo’s cutest bars with a bartender’s award-winning specialty cocktail.
That is basically the whole appeal of Tokyo’s cocktail scene, and it’s exactly what this Luxury Tokyo Cocktail Bar Tour is curated around!
What to Expect on a Tokyo Cocktail Bar Tour
💡 This experience was hosted by Arigato Travel, who provides some of the top-rated walking food tours across Japan.
First things first, this cocktail tour is 100% not a “bar crawl.” If that’s what you’re looking for, this isn’t it.
This is a luxury Japanese whiskey and cocktail tour curated for travelers who want to go deeper with someone who’s lived in Tokyo for 20+ years.
Arigato Travel runs this as a small-group, curated 3-hour walking tour through the Shimbashi and Ginza area, hitting four stops over the course of an evening. Each stop has its own theme, and a guide who can explain what you’re drinking and why it matters.
Best of all? You’re not just handed a drink; you’re getting context and stories most travelers don’t!
Also, each tour is different based on availability. Meaning, even if you book the same tour as me, your venues might get switched due to group size or availability.
One thing I appreciated was that Arigato Travel intentionally keeps some venues private to preserve the experience—and after visiting, I completely understood why.
This is why, in my review, I’ve kept the names undisclosed to protect their curated tours (which could so easily get snatched up by other suppliers!).
However, if you’re skimming this post and want to know what to expect, here’s a quick outline of my evening:
- An underground standing sake bar near Shimbashi
- A walk through alleyways and shrines toward Ginza
- An unassuming, high-end cocktail bar with a signature drink worth the detour
- Tempura and Japanese wine under the train tracks
- A mixology bar built around Japan’s prefectures
This tour is a good fit if you’re curious about Tokyo nightlife but don’t want to spend your trip guessing which bars are worth finding!
Also, this is an ideal, splurge-worthy experience if you’ve already done the touristy izakayas and want something with more depth.
Sampling Sake in a Bar Near Shimbashi
Sake (the real name is actually “nihonshu“) is one of the highlights of any Japanese tour, in my opinion.
There are so many different types of sake to try! But this tour took me to a new place and the tasting itself felt new, even if I’ve tried quite a few sakes before.
💡 Did you know that sake more broadly just means alcohol in Japanese?
Standing bars have a different energy than anywhere with seats. And I was surprised by this location, hidden underground in a Showa-era hall that I guarantee most tourists don’t find on their own!
The Walk in Ginza Between Alleys, Shrines, & Snack Shops
As my guide Josh explained, Arigato Travel’s tours are more than just bar or food-hopping.
Which is why, as you meander between stops, you’re actually discovering hidden shrines, snack shops, and cultural or historical “Easter eggs” you’d normally look straight past.
These aren’t necessarily big detours but quick five- or ten-minute pauses, and it’s what makes the tour feel full and varied between drink stops.
A Hidden In Plain Sight Cocktail Bar in Ginza
My favorite part of the tour was our next bar! While I can’t disclose the name outright, what I can tell you is that stepping inside feels like a complete shift from the standing sake bar.
Real craft is on display here, and the bartender, Matsumoto-san, has a specialty cocktail that’s won awards, and it’s easy to see why the moment it’s in front of you!
This stop is the closest the tour gets to a “fine dining” moment, just in cocktail form, and it’s a true testament to Tokyo’s incomparable cocktail scene. 🍸
Tempura and Japanese Wine Under the Train Tracks
Our next stop rooted us right back into the hustle and bustle of Ginza, under the train tracks, where the trains rumble overhead while you eat.
I think this perfectly explains, in part, what makes Tokyo special. Always straddling worlds here, in the city of all cities.
The food at this stop was a refreshing and welcome break. The food is simple and delicious: tempura snacks paired with Japanese wine (which isn’t a combination I would’ve thought to seek out on my own).
As Josh suggested, it perfectly works as a “palate cleanser” between the cocktail bar and our final stop.
Ending the Night with A Mixology Bar
The night ends at yet another secret location with a unique twist: a hidden mixology and terroir-focused bar. Once again, in a completely unassuming spot.
The menu is crafty and cute, and instead of typical cocktail descriptions, it’s illustrated with hand-drawn watercolor artwork, each drink tied to one of Japan’s prefectures.
Rather than picking a cocktail based on the spirit, you’re essentially choosing a region of Japan and exploring its flavors. I chose a gorgeously fragrant cocktail, and it came paired with Wagyu jerky and smoked radish tapas. DELICIOUS!
It’s the perfect finale, making for a strong close to a lovely evening.
What Made This Tour Worth It
I think what makes this tour worth the cost isn’t really about any one cocktail or spirit; it’s the range.
In just three hours, we got to experience a standing sake bar, high-end cocktail lounge, a casual food-and-wine spot, AND a crafty mixology bar.
That’s four completely different styles of Tokyo’s drinking culture in one evening!
Doing this on my own would’ve meant either sticking to whatever bar had an English menu, or getting lucky. But I would’ve never managed to get reservations or have had the ease of access I did with Josh and the Arigato Travel network.
The tour trades that uncertainty for access to these places, and to context! ❤️
Practical Tips If You’re Booking
Pace yourself: Four stops with drinks at each adds up! The tempura stop helps, but plan accordingly and eat a decent meal before heading out!
Wear comfortable shoes: There’s quite a bit of walking between stops!
Timing in your trip: This works well earlier in a Tokyo trip, but don’t do it on your first day. It’s a good way to get comfortable entering spaces quickly and adds to your list of places you might want to return to on your own later.
Bri’s Final Takeaway
All in all, if you want a night that captures the full range of Tokyo’s drinking culture, this tour delivers.
I most enjoyed the experience of watching a bartender craft an award-winning signature cocktail, and choosing a drink because it’s tied to a specific prefecture rather than to a spirit I already know I like! 🍸
I’d recommend this experience to anyone visiting Tokyo who wants a night out that feels more about culture and craft than a drinking tour or bar crawl.
You’ll walk away sated and all the wiser, just enough to drop a fun fact about Tokyo’s cocktail scene to your friends and fam when you get back home. 😜
