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Offered languages
- Japanese
- English
Ride into the night of the JR Chuo Line with a former conductor.
Tonight’s passengers are limited to 4 guests.
This is not simply about visiting bars.
This experience brings you closer to how people in Tokyo move through the city at night by train, stopping casually for a drink along the way.
With Samurai Guide Sho, a former JR Chuo Line conductor who worked on trains for 22 years, travel comfortably from Shinjuku on a JR Chuo Line Green Car (premium seating) and escape beyond the crowded usual sightseeing areas.
The stage is the drinking spots along the JR Chuo Line, a route Sho watched from the train for 22 years.
What matters is taking your time to enjoy the view from the train window, the air when you step into each neighborhood, and the atmosphere of each place where you stop for a drink.
Drinks are not a fixed set. At each stop, you can choose what you feel like drinking at your own pace, while pairing it with the dishes served there.
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
Meet at Suica Penguin Square, directly in front of JR Shinjuku Station’s New South Gate. Search “Suica Penguin Square” on Google Maps. The address is shown as Shibuya City, but it will take you to the correct meeting point. Your guide Sho will wear modern samurai attire and be easy to find.
After the tour, I can guide you to the train platform for your return journey if needed. I will support you depending on your destination, such as Shinjuku, Shibuya, or other areas. Even after the night tour ends in Kichijoji, I will help you avoid getting lost on your way back by train.
Itinerary
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1
The tour begins at JR Shinjuku Station. Samurai Guide Sho, a former JR Chuo Line conductor who worked on trains for about 22 years until March 31, 2026, will guide you smoothly through the complex station and assist with purchasing Green Car tickets. The journey begins before you even arrive at the first bar. You will board the JR Chuo Line Green Car (premium seating) and travel west toward Kichijoji. The evening train ride itself is an important part of the experience. As the scenery gradually changes outside the window, the journey builds anticipation for the Chuo Line night ahead.
5 minutes • Admission ticket free -
2Hamonika Yokocho Kichijoji
1st Stop: Chuo Line Drinking Alley The Chuo Line night begins in a retro drinking alley. In this narrow maze of small places, you will enjoy local-style food and a drink while stepping into a side of Tokyo that feels different from the usual sightseeing areas. Because the tour is limited to 4 guests, it is easier to enter smaller places that large groups may find difficult to visit.
40 minutes • Admission ticket free -
3Kichijoji
2nd Stop: Another Side of the Neighborhood Rather than staying in one place, the tour continues through the neighborhood. Depending on the night, Samurai Guide Sho may combine craft beer, sushi, small local drinking spots, or other selected places along the JR Chuo Line. As each stop changes, the food, drinks, atmosphere, and mood of the neighborhood also change little by little.
40 minutes • Admission ticket free -
4Hamonika Yokocho Kichijoji
3rd Stop: Final Drink or Sushi Depending on the flow of the night, there may be a third stop. The evening may end with sushi, a final drink, or another small stop that suits the mood of the night. Rather than simply moving from bar to bar, the focus is on taking your time and enjoying the Chuo Line night until the end.
40 minutes • Admission ticket free -
5Kichijōji Station
End of the Tour After experiencing the Chuo Line night, the tour ends at the nearest station. If needed, Samurai Guide Sho will help you find the right train platform or route back toward Shinjuku, Shibuya, or other areas. Rather than simply visiting sightseeing spots, you leave with the feeling of having stepped a little closer to how people in Tokyo spend their nights.
5 minutes • Admission ticket free
Additional info
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- This experience is ideal for travelers who enjoy small groups and conversation, want to explore food and drink pairing, and are looking for a real local night in Tokyo beyond the usual tourist spots.
- Please inform us in advance of any allergies or dietary restrictions. Vegetarian, vegan, halal, and similar dietary requests cannot be accommodated.
Additional info
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- This experience is ideal for travelers who enjoy small groups and conversation, want to explore food and drink pairing, and are looking for a real local night in Tokyo beyond the usual tourist spots.
- Please inform us in advance of any allergies or dietary restrictions. Vegetarian, vegan, halal, and similar dietary requests cannot be accommodated.
- The Chuo Line night can be flexible. Depending on crowd conditions and other factors, the stops or route may be adjusted.
- As this tour takes place on city streets at night, every reasonable effort will be made to ensure safety. Guests are also asked to take responsibility for their own health and personal belongings. The tour may be terminated in case of disruptive behavior.
- This tour is independently operated and is not affiliated with JR East. Samurai Guide Sho’s railway background is part of his personal story and guiding style.
- The guide travels to the meeting point by train. Due to train delays or service suspensions on the day of the tour, the guide may not be able to arrive exactly at the scheduled meeting time. In that case, the guide will contact you as soon as possible and adjust the itinerary with safety as the top priority.
- A physical Suica or PASMO card is recommended for a smoother Green Car experience. If you use only Suica in Apple Wallet, you cannot purchase a Suica Green Car ticket, so you will need to buy a paper Green Car ticket with cash. This costs ¥260 more than the Suica Green Car fare.
- If you are not sure how to top up your Suica card, I will guide you at the start of the tour.
- The Green Car has seat tables, drink holders, power outlets, a restroom, and trash bins, so you can enjoy your own snacks or drinks on board, and it is also convenient for charging your phone or other devices.
Tags
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
Rating
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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