Shinjuku Golden Gai Travel Guide

Shinjuku Golden Gai
A series of tiny themed bars seating just a few people each. Rub shoulders with locals in Golden Gai, while enjoying sake or beer. Golden Gai is an iconic drinking hole in Shinjuku.

Nearby Food Experiences

Nearby Restaurants

COURSE MENU
TOKYO

Merino Shinjuku

Merino Shinjuku is a shabu-shabu restaurant in central Tokyo that touts the health and beauty benefits of lamb and beef tongue – as well as their deliciousness.
Lunch: ¥1,000-10,000
Dinner: ¥1,000-10,000
SEAT RESERVATION
TOKYO

Yasaiya Kabukicho

Come enjoy masterful teppanyaki grilling and premium cuts of quality wagyu beef, with vegetable-only options available.
Dinner: ¥6,000-7,999
COURSE MENU
TOKYO

Shabushabu Okaka Shinjuku

By adding bonito flakes just a fraction of a millimeter thick at the last possible second, the specially-prepared dashi broth at Shabushabu Okaka Shinjuku receives a bright burst of flavor—a perfect match for creamy kurobuta shabu-shabu pork.
Dinner: ¥10,000-15,000
SEAT RESERVATION
TOKYO

Genchan Charcoal Grilled Meat

All-you-can-eat grilled beef dining in Shinjuku, with free-flowing alcohol and over 70 dishes to choose from.
Lunch: ¥999-999
Dinner: ¥3,000-3,999

A typical day in Tokyo's busy Shinjuku district: Skyscraper offices tower above while shoppers hustle in the high streets below. But come evening, a pocket of nightlife far away from traditional party culture can be found in the heart of the Golden Gai. A popular watering hole buried beneath the maze of department stores, restaurants, and arcades, Tokyo's Golden Gai is made up of alleyways filled with tiny bars, boasting different themes. Each has just a few seats, maybe 5-6 or so, making drinking here an intimate experience where locals and tourists share stories over a glass of sake or beer. For those hankering for a late-night feed, slurp some 24-hour ramen or snack on yakitori at the cozy izakayas of nearby Omoide Yokocho, a.k.a. “memory lane.” Suddenly feel like dancing? Head to the nightclubs of Kabukicho in Shinjuku’s red light district, or shamelessly sing your heart out at karaoke. Whether it’s starting the night out with a few casual drinks or sharing a heart-to-heart with a stranger before the first train, Shinjuku Golden Gai is the place to make new friends with a glass in hand. Hop through several bars or sit in the same one all night, Golden Gai always promises a unique night out.

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