MagicalTrip

MagicalTrip is a Tokyo-based tour company that says it has hosted more than 220,000 travellers since 2018, including more than 55,000 in 2025 alone. It specialises in small-group experiences led by local guides, with a strong emphasis on nightlife and food, and it is a popular choice for travellers who want an insider's introduction to areas that can feel hard to enter on their own.

Its best-known product is the Tokyo Bar Hopping Night Tour, a three-and-a-half-hour evening walk through Shinjuku's Golden Gai, Omoide Yokocho and Kabukicho, with all-you-can-drink included at the stops. It is a good way to get into small bars that can feel daunting alone, since the guides know which ones welcome visitors and how the cover charges work. Food options include the Shinjuku Perfect Pairing Food Tour, also around three and a half hours, and a three-hour tour built around sushi, wagyu and ramen, three of the dishes visitors most want to try.

Cultural options include an Authentic Sumo Experience lasting around four hours, in which visitors enter a training environment and learn about the sport's rituals, and a four-hour Tokyo Samurai Experience. There is also a two-and-a-half-hour Omotesando Architecture Walk for small groups, looking at the work of leading Japanese and international architects along one of Tokyo's best-known shopping avenues. Prices are listed on the official website in several currencies.

The night tours suit solo travellers looking to meet other visitors, groups of friends and couples, and the guides are used to explaining Japanese drinking etiquette. Participants on drinking tours must be of legal drinking age, which is 20 in Japan, so bring photo ID. Pace yourself on the all-you-can-drink tours, and eat beforehand or choose a food tour if you want a proper meal.

Tours are booked online through the official website, which lists inclusions, meeting points and start times for each tour. Meeting points are usually near a major station, such as Shinjuku for the night and food tours. Check the cancellation terms before booking, and book early for popular dates such as Friday and Saturday evenings or during the cherry blossom season.