Magical Trip Tokyo is a unique and immersive experience that allows visitors to dive deep into the vibrant and enchanting world of Tokyo. This guided tour takes participants on a journey to some of the city's most hidden and enchanting gems, providing a truly magical experience. One of the highlights of Magical Trip Tokyo is wandering through the bustling streets of Shinjuku at night. This area is known for its vibrant neon lights, towering skyscrapers, and lively atmosphere. The guide takes participants to hidden izakayas and drinking spots where locals gather to unwind and enjoy delicious food and drinks. Not only does this give visitors a taste of authentic Tokyo nightlife, but it also allows them to immerse themselves in the local culture and make new friends.
Magical Trip’s Tokyo Bar Hopping Tour won 1st place in TripAdvisor’s Tokyo Nightlife category!
Libra. Inc (located in Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Yasuhiro Suzuki) would like to announce that the company’s “Tokyo Bar Hopping Tour” for overseas travelers visiting Japan has ranked first in TripAdvisor’s Tokyo Nightlife category.
“Tokyo Bar Hopping Tour” gained high praise from overseas travelers
“Tokyo Bar Hopping Tour” which is the No.1 tour of Magical Trip has received high ratings from international travelers visiting Japan on TripAdvisor, the largest travel review website in the world, and has moved to the 1st place out of 1002 activities in the Tokyo Nightlife category (as of April, 2018).
Magical Trip provides a cool Japanese culture experience for overseas travelers visiting Japan
Magical Trip (https://www.magical-trip.com/) from Libra. Inc, a venture company founded in 2013, has been offering sightseeing tour services for overseas travelers visiting Japan since 2017. Magical Trip offers a variety of tours with the aim of having overseas travelers experience cool Japanese culture such as the “Tokyo Bar Hopping Tour” (https://www.magical-trip.com/product/59afbefb-b0d9-4e10-9273-b6c59b81e345) which takes travelers on a hopping adventure to enjoy Japanese foods and sake at traditional izakayas.
Friendly and Knowledgeable Guides is the reason for such high ratings
The biggest reason for being awarded first place in this highly competitive sector is the quality of the tour guides. The guides are composed mainly of university students who are serious about academics, job hunting, and have experience of studying abroad or traveling overseas. Libra, Inc. puts the utmost importance on recruitment interviews, providing practical hands-on training, and giving the candidates the necessary tools to become a great guide. As a result, Magical Trip produces high quality guides that are not found in other tours. In TripAdvisor reviews, there are many voices of appreciation for every tour guide from Magical Trip. It is the result of the company’s effort towards building a great quality foundation so that travelers can enjoy their trip to Japan.
Complaints from Overseas Tourists about the Lack of Nightlife Tours in Tokyo
Many of the complaints about Japanese tours revealed that from interviews with over 200 foreign travelers visiting Japan, was the lack of nightlife themed tours available. While many of the overseas travelers who have visited Japan are satisfied with Japan’s high hospitality and historical cultural content, there are however complaints such as “I wanted to experience Japan at night more”, “I want to talk with local people in Japan”, and “I wanted to play at night, such as drinking at a pub but I could not experience these activities as many shops could not understand English”. In response to those voices, Magical Trip created a tour where you can experience bar hopping in izakayas (Japanese bars). You can enjoy a unique experience in Japan, “Inside a crowded narrow shop” “Meat that you do not normally eat (but tasty and safe!)” “What serious Japanese office workers do after work”.
The average age of tour participants is late 20s to early 40s. Tour representing the “want” based consumption
The average age of the participants is as young as the late 20s to early 40s, and their nationalities are from the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom. It can be said that Westerners of younger generations have a high interest in traditional Japanese food and the culture of sake/izakaya. Tokyo Bar Hopping is a tour that represents the “want” based consumption from overseas tourists, especially Westerners who think “I want to experience something I cannot do without coming to Japan” or “I want to go to a place that is ‘super local’ as well as going to sightseeing spots”.
Top Local Tours in Japan with Magical Trip
Anna is a co-founder of Adventure in You and has been traveling the world for the last 9 years. She has spent time living in Thailand, Mexico, Indonesia, and Spain and is our local expert in these areas. Her expertise on travel, gear, and building businesses have been featured on Foundr, Business Insider, Yahoo Travel, and more.
Whenever we travel to a new country, meaningful interaction with the locals is a must-do! Why?
Because after 4+ years of non-stop travel, we realized that no matter how many articles or guidebooks that we read, nothing beats the information and perspective that locals can give.
With that in mind, as much as possible, we try to go on as many local tours as we can whenever we’re in a new place. During our recent trip to Japan, we stumbled upon a local tour company called Magical Trip who had a variety of food and cultural tours all over Japan.
Given that our mission for the entire trip was to stuff our faces with eat as much good food as we could, it made sense for us to try out these local tours while we’re in Japan.
- Local Tours in Tokyo
- Local Tours in Kyoto
- Other Local Tours in Japan
Not only does this give visitors a taste of authentic Tokyo nightlife, but it also allows them to immerse themselves in the local culture and make new friends. Another stop on the Magical Trip Tokyo is the quirky neighborhood of Harajuku. Known for its eccentric fashion, vibrant street art, and trendy shops, Harajuku is a haven for creatives and fashion enthusiasts.
Local Tours in Tokyo
Shinjuku Bar Hopping Tour
What’s included- 3 drinks & 3 dishes (you can select from our menu)
- Hopping 3 local izakaya bars with a local guide
- Photos during the tour
If you want a taste of Tokyo’s nightlife, I highly recommend going on this local tour while in Tokyo. It was such a great way to meet other travelers while gaining insight into their local culture. We had so much fun with our guide Rika who took us around small local restaurants and bars that we never would have found on our own.
Prior to beginning the tour, we were emailed clear confirmation details for the Shinjuku Bar Hopping Tour as well as a detailed map (with photos) on the tour meeting point.
We’ve been on tours before where the meeting points aren’t clearly specified which is why I think this was important to mention.
During our tour, we went to three local bars/restaurants where we were presented with a menu. We started off by going to a traditional izakaya bar in Omoide Yokocho Alley. Walking along the alleys, we followed our guide as we observed the mouthwatering smell of various meat skewers being grilled.
The first izakaya bar we went to served amazing gyozas (Japanese dumplings) which we washed down with a cold beer.
For our next location, we went to a seafood restaurant which served a delicious sashimi platter as well as tempura.
As we had our beer fill, we moved on to highballs which are essentially a mixture of Japanese whiskey and soda. For non-beer or whiskey drinkers, you also had the option to order sake or Japanese plum wine.
Our last stop was a sake bar where we tried a variety of different drinks. Coming from someone who loves sake, I enjoyed this stop the most! Throughout the evening, the conversation flowed really well with Rika filling us in on local Japanese traditions and culture.
Every location that we went to, we were presented with a menu where we could select a drink and some food. Although your selection was limited from what was on the menu, you could always order additional food and drink in each place.
We enjoyed everyone’s company so much that we ended up going to Golden Gai for a few more nightcap drinks. Going on this Shinjuku bar hopping tour was a great introduction to the city and the vibrant nightlife that it is known for.
Traditional Tokyo Foodie Tour
What’s included- 4 food plates, 2 drinks, and 1 dessert (enough to fill your stomach)
- Tour photos
- 3 hours with a local guide
If you love food and want a quick insight into some of the best places to eat in Tokyo, this foodie tour in Tokyo is for you. We selected this particular tour as we haven’t explored the area of Akasaka yet but heard great things about it. This night foodie tour takes you to three different restaurants where you can really sit down and enjoy each dish.
Coming from someone who loves food, this was one of our favorite tours as we got to sample a variety of dishes in each place, trying things that we were unfamiliar with.
Our guide Mana (the banana) took us to the first restaurant which specialized in sushi. Here, we sat right in front of the chef which is always a treat as we got to watch him prepare our food right in front of our eyes.
The restaurant we went to was lively and was full of locals (which is always a good sign!) We ordered a variety of dishes from sushi, temaki, to blow torched nigiris. It was delicious! The restaurant staff was also super wonderful, helping us to dress up in local kimonos to complete the look.
For our next stop, we went to a kushiage place. If you’ve never heard of kushiage, join the club! We’ve never heard of the word until we joined the tour and by the time we left the second restaurant, we’ve been questioning where it’s been all our lives.
Traditionally from Osaka, kushiage is essentially skewers made up with a variety of things) that is deep fried, dipped into some sauce, and washed down with a cold beer.
In this particular restaurant, we got to choose from a variety of fish, jumbo prawns, vegetables, and even camembert cheese! We were then given matcha salt, dashi, as well as Worcestershire sauce to complete the experience.
The food here was so good but the chefs and servers were even lovelier. Don’t forget to ask for their homemade chili sauce and to try their highballs which I might even say were some of the best we’ve had on our entire trip!
We ended our local Tokyo food tour with a visit to a local Japanese dessert shop which has been open since 1948. Here, we got to drool over a variety of Japanese style Western desserts.
It was nearing 10 pm and the place was packed full of both locals and foreigners who were all lining up to have some cake.
Overall, this food tour was well worth the price and was something we really enjoyed. Mana was super fun to be with and gave us so much insight into the local food culture which we loved.
Looking for tips on traveling Japan? Take a look at our Japan Travel Tips Guide for the best recommendations!
✨The 1 Thing We Never Leave Home Without…✨
Joined Vegan Food Tour of Magical Trip!!
I thought it was rare to find a tour focusing on vegan food while there are many tours to enjoy Japanese historical spots or anime spots.
The tour I joined this time was held in Shimokitazawa from 4 pm to 7 pm.
And I could enjoy vegan foods at 3 spots there.
I’ll introduce how the tour went!
The guide takes visitors to hidden shops and alleyways, where they can discover unique and one-of-a-kind fashion pieces. This is a great opportunity for visitors to tap into their creative side and embrace their individuality. No trip to Tokyo would be complete without a visit to the awe-inspiring Meiji Shrine. The guide provides historical and cultural insights into this sacred place, helping visitors appreciate its significance to the local community. Surrounded by lush greenery and towering trees, the Meiji Shrine offers a peaceful refuge away from the bustling city. One of the most magical moments of the trip is experiencing a traditional tea ceremony. The guide takes visitors to a serene tea house where they can witness the intricate rituals and customs associated with this ancient art form. Participants get to taste the fragrant matcha tea and learn about its cultural significance. Overall, Magical Trip Tokyo offers a unique and unforgettable experience for those looking to delve into the hidden treasures of Tokyo. Whether it's exploring the vibrant nightlife, embracing the eccentric fashion of Harajuku, or immersing oneself in the rich cultural heritage of the city, this trip is sure to leave visitors with magical memories to last a lifetime..
Reviews for "A Magical Journey Through Tokyo's Unique Neighborhoods"
1. John - 1/5 - This Magical Trip Tokyo experience was a huge disappointment. The tour guide seemed uninterested and lacked enthusiasm throughout the trip. The itinerary was poorly planned, with not enough time to fully explore the attractions. Additionally, the guide's English language skills were subpar, making it difficult to understand the historical and cultural information being shared. Overall, I would not recommend this tour to anyone looking for an enjoyable and informative experience in Tokyo.
2. Sarah - 2/5 - My experience with Magical Trip Tokyo was underwhelming. The guide rushed through the attractions, barely allowing us enough time to truly immerse ourselves in the surroundings. The group size was also too large, which made it difficult to hear the guide's explanations and ask questions. The tour lacked personalization and depth, leaving me feeling like just another tourist being shuttled around the city. I had higher expectations for this tour and was ultimately disappointed with the overall experience.
3. Mike - 2/5 - I was quite unimpressed with the Magical Trip Tokyo tour. The guide seemed unprepared and lacked knowledge about the attractions we visited. The group moved at a fast pace, not allowing enough time to explore and appreciate each location. The experience felt rushed, and there was little opportunity for interaction or personalized attention. Considering the cost of the tour, I expected a much more engaging and informative experience. Unfortunately, I would not recommend this tour to others.
4. Emily - 1/5 - I had a terrible time on the Magical Trip Tokyo tour. The guide was disorganized, often forgetting details and struggling to keep the group together. The locations visited were crowded, and the guide made no effort to navigate around the crowds, resulting in a frustrating experience. Additionally, the guide's explanations were brief and lacked depth, leaving us with little understanding of the cultural and historical significance of the sites we visited. Overall, this tour was poorly executed and not worth the money or time.