After dark · JAPAN NIGHT TOURS

15 Japan Night Tours Worth Staying Up For

23 night tours  ·  from $18 a head

The good Japan night tours fill up days ahead and the evening slots go first. Below: the 15 worth booking early, what each includes and how they differ.

Tokyo Bar Hopping Tour in Shinjuku (All-You-Can-Drink + Dinner) - Omoide Yokocho: Shinjuku’s smoky first taste
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Tokyo Bar Hopping Tour in Shinjuku (All-You-Can-Drink + Dinner)

1.Tokyo Bar Hopping Tour in Shinjuku (All-You-Can-Drink + Dinner)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3,587 reviews · from $106Our pick

Spend about three hours with a local guide such as Yusuke, Yohei, Mao, or Shiori, visiting three Shinjuku drinking spots. You’ll eat Japanese dishes, try included drinks, walk through Omoide Yokocho and Kabukicho, and finish near Golden Gai or a sake bar. Groups are capped at seven, though the exact bars depend on availability.

“Best first night in Tokyo! Momo was fantastic! Went above and beyond! We all had a blast and would highly recommend!”

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Kyoto: Gion Magical Night Walking Tour with Geisha Trivia - Meeting at Minamiza Theatre
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Kyoto: Gion Magical Night Walking Tour with Geisha Trivia

2.Kyoto: Gion Magical Night Walking Tour with Geisha Trivia

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 2,393 reviews · 1h 40m · from $24

Walk for 100 minutes from Minamiza Theatre through Hanamikoji and Gion with an English-speaking guide such as Hina, Shino, Masami, or Sho. Learn geisha and maiko customs, visit illuminated shrines and a Buddhist pagoda, and hear local stories in a group of up to 10 people.

“The night walking tour was awesome! The best way to explore the main spots but also the hidden gems of Gion area. Our guide Sho was very friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. We had a great time!”

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Night Walk in Gion: Kyoto's Geisha District - Following the stream through the geiko districts
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Night Walk in Gion: Kyoto’s Geisha District

3.Night Walk in Gion: Kyoto’s Geisha District

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,003 reviews · 1h 40m · from $21

Meet near Gion Shijo Station and spend 100 minutes walking Gion’s lantern-lit streets with an English-speaking guide. Learn how geiko and maiko dress, train, and work, hear practical etiquette tips, and look for them heading to evening appointments. Guides such as Mia, Mie, Chako, and Mai bring local stories and visual aids.

“I loved the stories our guide told us throughout the tour - we learned so much about an important part of Japanese culture. We got lucky and saw Geiko and Maiko departing from their boarding houses to the tea house parties. Great experience!”

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Kyoto Night Foodie Tour in Gion (9+ dishes + 6 Sake tastings) - Gion Shirakawa: a graceful start with Kyoto vegetables
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Kyoto Night Foodie Tour in Gion (9+ dishes + 6 Sake tastings)

4.Kyoto Night Foodie Tour in Gion (9+ dishes + 6 Sake tastings)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,762 reviews · from $163

Join a small group of up to seven for a 3.5-hour evening walk through Gion and Pontocho. You will visit three food and drink stops, taste nine or more Kyoto dishes, and sample local sake, with guides such as Jimmy, Kumi, Rika, Yuki, and Emma sharing food tips, neighborhood history, and practical advice for the rest of your stay.

“A great combination of history and food. We walked through Gion and had dinner at a place that I would never have found myself. And two fun bars in Ponto”

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Tokyo Night Foodie Tour in Shinjuku - Seasonal Sushi, Wagyu Beef - Meeting in Nishishinjuku and finding your bearings
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Tokyo Night Foodie Tour in Shinjuku – Seasonal Sushi, Wagyu Beef

5.Tokyo Night Foodie Tour in Shinjuku – Seasonal Sushi, Wagyu Beef

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,161 reviews · from $111

Spend about three hours eating through Shinjuku with a local guide such as Aoi, Mimi, Molly, Yuma, or Yosh. You’ll visit a sushi restaurant, taste Japanese Wagyu grilled over a shichirin stove, walk through Kabukicho and Godzilla Road, then finish with dessert or a drink. The group is limited to seven people.

“Great experience with awesome tour guides. All the food was amazing and we got great recommendations for the rest of our trip.”

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Osaka Backstreet Nightlife & Street Food Walking Tour - Hozen-ji Temple: ten quiet minutes in the middle of Minami
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Osaka Backstreet Nightlife & Street Food Walking Tour

6.Osaka Backstreet Nightlife & Street Food Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,011 reviews · from $109

Spend three hours in Osaka’s Namba and Shinsaibashi districts with an English-speaking guide such as Danyk, Paul, Kevin, or Trey. Eat izakaya favorites, enjoy four included drinks, visit Hozen-ji Temple and Dotonbori, and get introductions to small backstreet bars that are hard to find alone. The mood leans social and drink-focused.

“Trey was stellar - excellent tour, magnificent hidden gems all off the beaten path, and some lovely flavors (all with explanations and stories behind them). Thanks to this tour I was able to enjoy the true taste of Ōsaka and met all sorts of wonderful people.”

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Osaka Bar Hopping Night Walking Tour in Namba (3 bars, 6 tastes) - Stop one: three local bars, or three versions of the plan
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Osaka Bar Hopping Night Walking Tour in Namba (3 bars, 6 tastes)

7.Osaka Bar Hopping Night Walking Tour in Namba (3 bars, 6 tastes)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 958 reviews · from $98

Join a local guide for three hours through Namba’s alleys, Hozenji Temple, and Hozenji Yokocho. You’ll visit three bars, sample six tastes of Japanese food and drink, and learn how to order at izakayas. Guides such as Mina, Taku, Mari, and Yuko have helped make the evening social, though venues and drink choices can vary.

“We took the tour on 5/7 and had a wonderful time! Shuta was a knowledgeable and fun tour guide and one of the best we have ever encountered! We appreciate his recommendations and great taste. We highly recommend you to do this tour with Shuta.”

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Tokyo: Dark Side of Tokyo Shinjuku Red Light Walking Tour - Finding your guide at Shinjuku Station
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Tokyo: Dark Side of Tokyo Shinjuku Red Light Walking Tour

8.Tokyo: Dark Side of Tokyo Shinjuku Red Light Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 862 reviews · 2 hours · from $29

Spend two hours exploring Shinjuku after dark with guides such as Dani, Loc, Polina, Gray, Huy, and Daniel. See Omoide Yokocho, Kabukicho, Golden Gai, Hanazono Shrine, and 2-Chome while learning about nightlife, local customs, and the district’s changing identity. The tour ends with useful food and bar suggestions.

“This was an amazing tour! Polina was an excellent guide — very knowledgeable and super helpful with any questions we had. She made the busy Shinjuku area easy to understand and gave us great insights into what’s happening there. It’s a perfect way to get a good overview of the district and know where to come back and explore more on your own. Highly recommended!”

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Kyoto Gion Night Walk & Geisha District Guided Tour - Gion: the first two hours among lanterns and narrow lanes
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Kyoto Gion Night Walk & Geisha District Guided Tour

9.Kyoto Gion Night Walk & Geisha District Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 786 reviews · from $18Best value

Walk through Gion after dark with an English-speaking guide such as Naoki, Jasmine, Miyake, or Raphael. Expect lantern-lit lanes, Hanamikoji Street, Yasaka Shrine, cultural stories, and possible maiko sightings. The walk lasts about three hours, includes water, and costs $18 per person, with private and premium options available.

“Not sure what Gion is like during the daytime but overnight lights are quite remarkable. Only hard part with family was the timing of the tour right over dinner hours so we were starving by the end of the tour. And cold because it is winter.”

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Kyoto Bar Hopping Night Tour - Food, drinks, and the real value of $105.42
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Kyoto Bar Hopping Night Tour

10.Kyoto Bar Hopping Night Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 613 reviews · from $105

Meet near Gion Shijo Station, then walk through Pontocho and Kiyamachi with a MagicalTrip guide such as Yumi, Nami, Noriko, or Yaya. Visit three local izakayas and bars, enjoying 3 to 4 drinks and enough food for dinner. Expect small-group conversation, Kyoto-made sake, possible karaoke, and a few stairs.

“I had a phenomenal time! The guides were well informed about the city. They were extremely friendly, and I could tell that they just wanted me to have a great time. We talked a lot about our two different countries, our families, and they even let me practice the little bit of Japanese that I know. I would definitely do this tour again!”

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Tokyo After 5: Authentic Japanese Food & Drink Night Tour - Cooking monjayaki on Tsukishima Monja Street
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Tokyo After 5: Authentic Japanese Food & Drink Night Tour

11.Tokyo After 5: Authentic Japanese Food & Drink Night Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 560 reviews · from $122

Start at Mitsukoshi Ginza with wagashi, walk through Ginza, then ride the subway to Tsukishima for sizzling monjayaki and on to Yurakucho for yakitori with beer or sake. Guides such as Yuko, Mizuki, Rocky, and Shoehi have led this tour. Expect local food, translation help, moderate walking, and a small group capped at eight.

“Yuko was a very good guide,she not only enlightened us but also made our movement from one area to another very smooth.We started our Tokyo tour with this culinary trip to utilise the half day we had in hand.It turned out to be a delightful experience that introduced us to the city with a local,it's food and it's soul. Unforgettable.”

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Tokyo: Shinjuku Historical Walking Tour & Secret Backstreets - Meeting at Shinjuku East Exit
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Tokyo: Shinjuku Historical Walking Tour & Secret Backstreets

12.Tokyo: Shinjuku Historical Walking Tour & Secret Backstreets

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 530 reviews · from $25

Join a local guide such as Mao, Akari, Ai, or Naoto for a 90-minute walk through Shinjuku’s narrow lanes, neon streets, tiny bars, and quiet shrine grounds. You’ll see Omoide Yokocho, Kabukicho, Kabukicho Tower, Golden Gai, and Hanazono Shrine, while picking up useful food and nightlife tips. A vending machine drink is included.

“Great tour! Super informative. Saw a side of Tokyo I would've never seen.. Hannah and Nana did a great job! Thank you, ladies wonderful day.”

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Kyoto Nighttime All-Inclusive Eats and Streets, Gion and Beyond - Pontocho and Kiyamachi: Kyoto changes across the river
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Kyoto Nighttime All-Inclusive Eats and Streets, Gion and Beyond

13.Kyoto Nighttime All-Inclusive Eats and Streets, Gion and Beyond

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 464 reviews · from $119

Start at Minamiza Theater at 6:30pm for a guided walk through Gion, with stories about geiko, maiko, Kabuki, shrines, and modern hostess clubs. Stop at two local bars or restaurants for regional dishes and one drink at each. Guides including Laura, Hugo, Jamie, Joshua, Maya, and Bryan lead groups of up to six.

“Informative guide and great restaurant choices. Brian made the evening very enjoyable. Our dietary requirements were all taken care of.”

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Gion Walking Tour by Night - Shirakawa River and the streets of Gion
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Gion Walking Tour by Night

14.Gion Walking Tour by Night

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 429 reviews · from $19

Walk Kyoto’s Gion district after dark with an English-speaking guide such as Mia, Mai, Cheko, or Mae. Expect cobbled lanes beside the Shirakawa River, stories about geiko and maiko life, kimono and makeup customs, and places linked with Memoirs of a Geisha. The group tour lasts about two hours, with a smaller private option available.

“After meeting up we followed the tour guide throughout the different geisha districts. Our guide made many stops along the way and pointed out history.”

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Kyoto Foodie Night Tour - Two or three Kyoto restaurants and the main meal
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Kyoto Foodie Night Tour

15.Kyoto Foodie Night Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 376 reviews · from $102

Start at Nishiki Market, sample Kyoto specialties, then visit two or three local restaurants for obanzai, izakaya dishes, seven tastings, and two drinks. Guides such as Chikako, Sora, Leandra, and Taishi add food tips, cultural context, and personal restaurant picks. The tour ends near Pontocho after a short look at Kyoto’s geisha district.

“This tour turned out to be a visit to various izakaya restaurants around the central part of Kyoto and a couple of food stalls. Go hungry because there will be a good amount of food served. I would recommend the tour.”

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New in Japan Night Tours

★ 5.0Kyoto Private Night Tour with a Local – Bars, Bites & CultureFrom $15048 reviews
★ 4.9Osaka: Private Vibrant Nighttime Photoshoot (Dotonbori)80 reviews

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