Shinjuku Golden-Gai

What a completely different experience for nightlife. A must go if you are someone who likes trying different things and putting yourself in different situations. These tiny little alleyways have bars lined on each side, most of which seat only 2-6 people. A few of them have a tad more room, for maybe 12 people. Some of them seem to hate foreigners, while others promote the English speaking aspect. We visited two different spots and each time, you're right up against another person where you are almost forced to interact with them. There is a single bartender, and a limited selection of drinks in each place. Definitely not something for someone who doesn't want to interact with humans.

Fun area with hundreds of small themed bars, e.g. Harley-Davidson, Jazz, Rock, Death Metal etc. Most places have a cover charge (like entry fee) but then the drinks are cheaper. The free entry bars are more expensive per drink, but you only break even at three drinks or more - so if you are hopping... This area is notorious for massive tourist crowds and adjacent to the entertainment district in which some passive aggressive (predominantly black) tourist touts what to drag you into girl bars.

Shinjuku Golden Gai is a great spot to experience Tokyo's nightlife, especially for tourists. It's a collection of small, cozy bars, each with its own unique vibe. Keep in mind that most bars here charge a table fee, and drinks range from ¥500 to ¥1000. If you want to have a more budget-friendly night, I recommend grabbing some drinks from a nearby convenience store before heading in, so you don’t have to order too many small drinks inside. Many bars offer karaoke, which can cost around ¥100 per song, adding to the fun atmosphere. It's a perfect place if you're looking to chat with locals and other travelers. Definitely worth a visit if you're in Shinjuku!

Shinjuku Golden-Gai is composed of a network of six narrow alleys, connected by even narrower passageways which are about wide enough for a single person to pass through. Over 300 tiny shanty-style bars, clubs and eateries are squeezed into this area. The vibe you can breath here is really charming, feeling the real Japanese atmosphere and coming back to the old time of which this district was built. Despite I suggest to visit one of these bars to get a beer or other drinks, I strongly recommend to avoid tourist scams as many activities charge unreasonable amount of money in addition to drink cost. Moreover, please make sure to have some cash with you as 90% of places here do not accept any electronic payment.

Good selection of small intimate bars with various musical themes. The bars are VERY small 4-8/10 seated at one. Most but not all have a approx 1k Yen (5 GBP) cover charge. Drinks are priced up accordingly (1k per drink). A friend and I chose a slightly cheaper option. No cover charge, 800 Yen beers, a friendly, and drunk Peruvian Japanese resident barman 😂. Good experience to try if in Tokyo. Chat to strangers, the barman and relax.

cut & funny experience! However, prices are high / cover fee (but i guess the pubs are just so small that they might need to). Area around with the guys standing outside trying to get u in the pubs is the sketchiest we have seen so far in Japan. Found a lil‘ fun bar ourselves.

Beautiful place. Can be crowded with tour groups early in the day. An afternoon visit might be less crowded with tour groups. This is in Kyoto, not Shinjuku.

One of our favorite places to visit in Japan at night especially on weekends. It’s a little area with tons of tiny little bars to explore. Some have cover fees to discourage you from bar hopping too much, but you can find others that don’t if you want to check a bunch out in one night. If you’re looking for our go to, it’s the question bar - Ken is usually working there and he is such an awesome person, and always treats us with so much love and respect, so don’t hesitate visiting him! There’s always something funny happening here and in the 4 times I’ve been, the vibes have always been so great and everyone (though often pretty drunk) is always so happy and respectful.

What a completely different experience for nightlife. A must go if you are someone who likes trying different things and putting yourself in different situations. These tiny little alleyways have bars lined on each side, most of which seat only 2-6 people. A few of them have a tad more room, for maybe 12 people. Some of them seem to hate foreigners, while others promote the English speaking aspect. We visited two different spots and each time, you're right up against another person where you are almost forced to interact with them. There is a single bartender, and a limited selection of drinks in each place. Definitely not something for someone who doesn't want to interact with humans.

Fun area with hundreds of small themed bars, e.g. Harley-Davidson, Jazz, Rock, Death Metal etc. Most places have a cover charge (like entry fee) but then the drinks are cheaper. The free entry bars are more expensive per drink, but you only break even at three drinks or more - so if you are hopping... This area is notorious for massive tourist crowds and adjacent to the entertainment district in which some passive aggressive (predominantly black) tourist touts what to drag you into girl bars.

Shinjuku Golden Gai is a great spot to experience Tokyo's nightlife, especially for tourists. It's a collection of small, cozy bars, each with its own unique vibe. Keep in mind that most bars here charge a table fee, and drinks range from ¥500 to ¥1000. If you want to have a more budget-friendly night, I recommend grabbing some drinks from a nearby convenience store before heading in, so you don’t have to order too many small drinks inside. Many bars offer karaoke, which can cost around ¥100 per song, adding to the fun atmosphere. It's a perfect place if you're looking to chat with locals and other travelers. Definitely worth a visit if you're in Shinjuku!

Shinjuku Golden-Gai is composed of a network of six narrow alleys, connected by even narrower passageways which are about wide enough for a single person to pass through. Over 300 tiny shanty-style bars, clubs and eateries are squeezed into this area. The vibe you can breath here is really charming, feeling the real Japanese atmosphere and coming back to the old time of which this district was built. Despite I suggest to visit one of these bars to get a beer or other drinks, I strongly recommend to avoid tourist scams as many activities charge unreasonable amount of money in addition to drink cost. Moreover, please make sure to have some cash with you as 90% of places here do not accept any electronic payment.

Good selection of small intimate bars with various musical themes. The bars are VERY small 4-8/10 seated at one. Most but not all have a approx 1k Yen (5 GBP) cover charge. Drinks are priced up accordingly (1k per drink). A friend and I chose a slightly cheaper option. No cover charge, 800 Yen beers, a friendly, and drunk Peruvian Japanese resident barman 😂. Good experience to try if in Tokyo. Chat to strangers, the barman and relax.

cut & funny experience! However, prices are high / cover fee (but i guess the pubs are just so small that they might need to). Area around with the guys standing outside trying to get u in the pubs is the sketchiest we have seen so far in Japan. Found a lil‘ fun bar ourselves.

Beautiful place. Can be crowded with tour groups early in the day. An afternoon visit might be less crowded with tour groups. This is in Kyoto, not Shinjuku.

One of our favorite places to visit in Japan at night especially on weekends. It’s a little area with tons of tiny little bars to explore. Some have cover fees to discourage you from bar hopping too much, but you can find others that don’t if you want to check a bunch out in one night. If you’re looking for our go to, it’s the question bar - Ken is usually working there and he is such an awesome person, and always treats us with so much love and respect, so don’t hesitate visiting him! There’s always something funny happening here and in the 4 times I’ve been, the vibes have always been so great and everyone (though often pretty drunk) is always so happy and respectful.

Super fun place to visit if you're looking for something unique and different. It's a bunch of tiny bars that are all crammed together in two/three alleyways. Most bars here seat a max of 5 - 10 people and will charge a seat cover of a couple dollars, so if you're looking to save your yen, you might not think it's worth all of the seat charges. For us, we were all about the experience, so we loved wandering the alleyways, looking for random tiny bars to pop into. Most of the bars here will give you welcome snacks that are "included" in the seat charge. Nothing fancy, just some typical bar snacks. We ended up popping into a bar, would take a shot or two, eat the snacks, then would continue on and pop into another bar, and so on and so forth. The most unique shot that we took was at Reno bar, where they had a snake inside a glass of liquor. It tasted like watered down fireball, but was a fun experience nonetheless!

An assortment of narrow alleyways and taverns cuddled up into a festive night-life district. Most bars here have a cover charge and the flux of foreigners is intense. Things you should know: I. SERVICE You'll notice all taverns charge you a cover fee before entering the door II. QUALITY Quirky area with utmost character. It's worth walking through. III. CAPACITY If you want to meet a diverse array of travelers and make friends, this is the place to be.

This places seems to have a massive reputation. So much so that it comes up as a must see in Shinjuku. Last night me and my family went along to check it out and to be honest I came away wondering what all the fuss was about. I honestly think its a great place to go at least once and immense yourself in the culture on how the locals "Japanese" have a great time on how we American bar hop. However, at this case, when you barhop especially at this location, the place is too small to host a party of 10. LOL! It gets immensely crowed and is only good to bar hop and see what their specials are specifically on drink shots of the night. It's basically some narrow streets with some tiny pubs in between and some tiny restaurants that houses up to 4 people comfortably here and there all all rammed together in the one area/vicinity. LOL! They all tend to have 5 seats max, have different themes or feels and some can tend to be quite smokey. The idea is you bar hop from one to another downing beers or sake and leave the golden gai in much drunker condition than when you arrive. The problem is there is no edge to the place, until you hear everyone "Screaming in excitement in a drunken state in so many different foreign languages," that it actually draws you in to this venue and check it out. Yes it looks quite cool, but it all feels extremely placid and a wee bit subdued. If you go here and have been to any other drinking areas in big city Asian places like Bangkok Ho Chi Minh or Hanoi, you will know what I mean. Not a site to rush to, but a decent novelty place for a beer of you fancy a drink or two TO GO ONCE! However, if you connect pretty well with the bar/restaurant owners and had a great time, then it is indeed best to keep stopping by at your next visit to Japan and SUPPORT FAMILY OWNED BUSINESSES! :) Namm sayinn.. Now will I be back, off course. Most definitely! In my most honest humble opinion, I truly enjoyed my time here. Thanks for treating Joey-san like your son.

Golden Gai is "a collection of mismatched, tumbledown bars lining alleyways in a darkened corner of Shinjuku." It is a cool place to visit once just to see, but overall not somewhere I'd actually like to dine or return. I felt claustrophobic with all the people in the small space. It was intimidating to choose a bar to eat or drink at, given they have so few seats and it's hard to tell what they serve while walking by. If the area had a map of restaurants, it would be easier but then perhaps it would lose some of its charm. So, my recommendation is to give it a visit but be prepared with a backup plan for dinner!

Maybe 100+ tiny little bars tightly packed together down several narrow alleyways...Very intimate, good fun and good way to make friends...Many places charge a steep entry fee and prices for drinks varies widely so check before you order! Definitely a must see when in Tokyo

A fun drinking experience for a night out on the town. The 4 blocks of micro-bars fall into two categories: one caters to the locals with members only signs outside (no gajin please "x") and the other is super touristy and won't have a cover charge for foreigners. We had a local with us who had to pretend to not be Japanese. Hah. On cover charges - some places won't have one but many will do (500 - 1000 yen). You'll have to do the math on the drinks you consume at each place. If a shot of Hakushu is only 600 yen and you'll at least have two, then a 500 yen cover doesn't seem that bad. Also a note on the bar called "Reno." It's really Ren-O as its origin doesn't have to do with the State in USA but rather after the owner's name: Ren Ojima.

Located next to the red light district, Shinjuku Kabukicho, lies Golden-gai. Alley after alley of tiny bars. Maybe 500 bars in a tiny little part of town. So fun trying to find the right one to grab a drink. Some are smokey, some are loud, some are crowded.... or not. Keep looking and you'll find a place to grab a beer, sake, whiskey or shochu. Some charge a cover charge some don't. Our favorite was Rincon Flamenco Nana. Others will have different tastes or your preferred spot may be full. Like Piss Alley, if the place is empty, it's less inviting. If it's full, it looks awesome but they have no room for you. Just deal with it, grab a drink and have fun.

BACK ALLEY CATS This pre-WWII area of Tokyo certainly lives up to its (rather unflattering) name of "Piss Alley". Not far from the bright lights of Shinjuku, Golden Gai is a series of dark alleyways, tiny restaurants, and members-only bars. Some find its quirks charming, others believe it to be filthy and restrictive. Consider me in the latter grouping. More than half of the bars we walked past featured a cover charge of 500-1000￥. One divey place we stopped at charged 700￥ (USD $6.50) for a normal bottle of Sapporo. That was the most we paid for a beer all trip! Keep in mind, that's a domestic akin to Budweiser in the heartland of the USA, so prices like that were really discouraging. There's lots of signage saying "no photographs".....yeah I'm not about to challenge Japanese customs and wind up in a Tokyo jail cell, so no pictures for moi. To be honest, I was too flustered/intimidated to remember to check-in. On top of this, numerous places explicitly forbid foreigners -- their doors say "members only" and they have no problem being blunt about it. Most of these places are SUPER small, with 4-8 seats max. The first place we stopped at had absolutely no room for one's legs: in order to let a businessman through, everyone had to stand up, suck in their stomach, and pull in their miniscule barstool just to let him pass by. Smoking is allowed in all Golden Gai pubs, which is great news for those of you with a nicotine addition, but bad news for those (like me) who prefer not to get cancer whilst on holiday. Secondhand smoke isn't much better than firsthand, something I'd rather do without. Maybe the funniest part (or saddest, depending on how you feel about public urination) was seeing two guys who I presumed were locals, casually taking a whizz next to a very open walkway. Just standing there, peeing in full view of everyone. THE F*CK?? Did I suddenly get transported to Bourbon Street?? Shameful. * TL;DR * Going against the grain with this one, and I don't really care. I'm likely not the target audience for Pee-Pee Street, and again, I don't really care. In stark contrast to the clean, well-lit areas of Tokyo, Golden Gai is dirty, dingy, and expensive. "Unique" is the most polite term I can think of. Everything struck me as being less-than-friendly to visitors. I didn't feel safe or welcomed in the 1-2 hours we spent here. You know what, Golden Gai? Keep your elitist asshole-ish ways and overpriced beers. I'll happily take the alternative lifestyles of Harajuku and cheap 'izikayas' of Akihabara anyday. Like the nasty parts of Chicago's Ukranian Village, I'm better off passing through and not stopping......or pissing.

Golden Gai is my new favorite nightlife area/bar scene. This place is seriously LEGIT! Located in Shinjuku, Golden Gai should not be missed when traveling to Tokyo. Definitely worth going out of the way for. After our first meal, we started wandering around the streets of Shinjuku. Golden Gai came up in conversation, so we decided to go check it out. It was only a 5 minute walk or so from where we were at. Once we arrived, I was immediately impressed by the network of narrow alleyways and the tiny bars within. Rumors are true, this is a top notch place for pictures and bar exploration. With hundreds of establishments cramped into such a small area, each place is tiny! Most only have 5-6 bar seats. Definitely an intimate experience. We met quite a few people and everyone was super friendly. Bar hopping here was definitely a great experience. I highly recommend all tourists that enjoy drinking to visit Golden Gai. I was initially concerned that we may not be able to get into many places, but it was more tourist-friendly than most reviews make it seem.

One of the must go when in Tokyo. Golden Gai is another 'alley' where you can experience drinking at all times. Pretty common to have a cover charge, but part of coming is for the experience.

Do not try going here with a group of 10!!! We knew it would be difficult but we actually did find a place without a cover charge that fit all 10 of us + 2 strangers. The cover charge is annoying because it limits how many of the hundreds of bars you want to check out because it doesn't make sense to pay cover and get at least one drink at several stops. I think it's a cool area to walk around and check out once but I personally rather get cheap alcoholic drinks from 7-11 and walk around adjacent areas because Golden Gai is very touristy haha watch out for people trying to lure you into sketch businesses nearby!

What a fun and great place to explore at night. This is a pure drinking experience and if you are a smoker you can smoke at all these establishments. There is a cover charge in most places. They range around $5-$10 US. We loved talking to the locals and talking about the US and Japan. They are so charming to foreigners which makes it so much better. Give it a try if you are in the Shinjuku area.

I love all the tiny bars here! It's so cute and intimate! It's interesting how each bar is very small so they can literally fit 40 of them on one alley way. Most places have a cover charge of 800-900 yen, but there are a few spots that don't, you just have to be on the lookout for signs. Golden Gai bars are very intimate and most of them have around 5-6 seats at the bar. Literally when you walk in, there's the bar. This means there's little to no space to stretch your legs and it's just you, a few other guests and the bartender. It can be quite intimidating to some people, especially if you do not speak Japanese. And it's nerve wrecking to walk in and have everyone immediately stop what they're doing and stare at you. BUT, if you're looking for a one-of-a-kind experience, Golden Gai is it, easily. Despite how it seems, bartenders love foreigners and they enjoy hearing about where you come from. Because it's so intimate, it's very easy to strike up a conversation and hear about where everyone's from or what they do. Not sure what to order? They'll definitely provide recommendations to your liking! Or, just ask them to bring you whatever and I'm sure you won't be disappointed!

There isn't much more to be said about Golden Gai. It's one of Shinjuku's most popular tourist attractions for the sheer number of tiny dive bars and meeting of foreigners and Japanese nationals alike. Everyone wants to come in to stay, and not everyone makes it out completely sober. One thing's for sure- do not come here if you are claustrophobic. It's a charming area that lets you run wild if it's a nice summer weekend. Come in the Winter and it will be a lot quieter given the colder weather. Similar to izakayas, there is going to be a cover charge at nearly every single bar you hit up. If you find one that's ¥500, you've got a deal. Last time I went and paid ¥1000 cover for a plate of chips and candy. Laughable really, but I appreciate our bartender trying. If you are a smoker and a drinker, you'll find home here in Golden Gai. Otherwise, be prepared to inhale a lot of second hand no matter where you go. Most places serve one of the main Japanese beers on tap for ¥600 or more. If you're up for some tight-knit conversations and booze, then be sure to place Golden Gai on your list of spots during your time here in Tokyo.

I'm sure this area caters to tourists, however, I fell in love with the Golden Gai. With approximately 200 microbars (4-6 seats in each), in 6 small alleys, you select a bar that feels right for you. Our first visit, a cat jetting up the stairs led us to a perfect bar, 4C's Bar Rosso. We joined 2 patrons, 3 tail-less cats, the owner and the bartender. The drink selection was strong, and our cover ($8) included light appetizers which was nice. Our second visit had one goal. Find good music. We scored with a bar (name unknown) that had two record players and walls filled with records. The bartender was amazing, both in his cocktail creations and his turntable skills. The records showed no viable names on their sides, completely worn out covers....yet as I requested artists, he would promptly pluck from hundreds of records, and grab the right one. It was like magic. This 4-seat bar was phenomenal. This is the place I'd go to time and again, for sure.

November 2018. Pros: - nostalgic of an older Japan - many bars and shops within walking distance, lots of options - back streets open up to a busy major street - commuters are friendly and aware of tourists taking photos Cons: - can be smokey (bars) - not all eateries have English menus Verdict: a fun place to visit at least once

Golden Gai has to be one of my personal favourite places in Tokyo. 257 bars tucked away in 5 little alleys, on top of each other, seating between 4 - 8 people only, densely packed with history, art and friendly owners are guaranteed to make your night unforgettable. Bars like Nana, KURO and Lonely have been open for 44-55 years. NaNa is the worlds most famous spanish flamenco bar where all the big names of this art have been many times and where experienced japanese flamenco artists make me think I am back home in spain. KURO is a nice 70 year old lady that sings over her own music or has amazing Jazz on, is an installation artist and personal friends with Daido Moriyama who is there himself sometimes, Japans most famous photographer. The whole bar is full of Moriyama prints, the list goes on and on. It is not the cheapest place in Tokyo but always so worth it. Many bars are members only / japanese only, understandeable if you have only 5 seats availeable, you want to save these for your regulars. Nowhere will you find atmosphere like here. Locate right in the center of bustling Kabukicho in Shunjuku, Tokyos red light district, you completely forget about the bright lights and dive into 60 year old history and enjoy good drinks with locals and tourists alike. I spend many nights here and meet the most amazing array of people from all over the world and cool locals. Try it and fall in love

It's definitely a different experience that you should try at least once. It's a very fun place to bar hop as you never know what you'll walk into. Hopefully you end up in some with cool, quirky bartenders, but be aware there are some boring ones too. Drinks aren't cheap for how run down some of these bars look. My only big complaint would be the ratchet American and European tourists who dwell on the streets near closing time. Your experience gets totally ruined when someone's drunk ass just wants to pick fights for no reason.

Ultra touristy labyrinth of tiny dive bars in the bustling Shinjuku district of Tokyo. Most of them charge a cover, some as high as ¥1,000 per person and the drinks are over priced as well. Some are members only and some will only serve locals, not tourists so beware. However, you'll wind up drinking here like me anyway just because it's an experience. I still had a good time here even though I wrecked up a hefty bar tab.

Just like "piss alley", "Golden Gai" is cool to check out once for your first time in Tokyo or if you're showing people around in Tokyo. Maybe stop in one of the few places that don't charge a cover. So I'll get with the good then on with the bad about this not so "Golden Guy". The good: Fun place to check out for sure. Very impressive the amount of tiny little bars crammed in a 4 block radious. And the throw back of old Tokyo. That's all. The Bad: Ultra touristy as you would imagine and its really not all that to go to many of these bars. So many of these places charge a cover charge upwards of 1000 yen. REALLY?!? So I can join the canned tuna club? GIVE ME A BREAK. Sike. And some bars charge either only foreigners a cover or won't allow foreigners at all. So just be aware of that. Overall: Definitely check it out on your first time but like piss alley the novelty wears off. Many other Tokyo bars to check out.

Golden Gai is a series of four narrow alleys running between a bunch of two story buildings packed with a variety of dive bars, many having room for just four or five guests. It's very picturesque, and the atmosphere is truly unique ... but I'm not sure I'd spend much time there again. My husband and I just wandered through, peeking inside the bars, along with a hundred other tourists. This is the only part of Tokyo where we caught a sketchy vibe. There are a lot of foreigners just hanging around, and the area was kind of dirty. We didn't travel halfway around the world to hang out with other English speakers, so we checked it off our list and moved on.

Thoroughly enjoyed Golden Gai. There are something like 240 tiny bars in a four block radius. We made our way through a handful and couldn't have had a better time. Well made cocktails and 40's-60's jazz at most of the bars made for a great experience. Will definitely be back next time.

Golden-gai, while definitely on the touristy side, is such a freaking blast! Made sure to visit on two different nights because the ambiance, food, and drinks were so great. Make sure to get lost among the countless bars and drink several highballs, as they are de rigueur. Also, try to hop into a couple of the live music bars and belt your heart out. Don't forget to have your phone at the ready to record the hilarity that will ensue. Added bonus: Almost everyone speaks English (or will attempt to meet you halfway), so no need to be wary if you don't speak the language.

And I thought that NYC apartments were small... Just to put things into perspective: 200+ tiny bars and eateries crammed into a maze of six narrow streets. Each place is the size of a small living room, with enough room to sit 6-8 people on average. During our visit we tried 3 different places: - Bar Plastic Model[1]: a shrine to the plastic culture of the 1980s, from toys to action figures (think Gundam and Urusei Yatsura figures), to Manga heroes of the period (think Doraemon and Lupin the III). Lots of records are stacked by the bar, and you can ask the bartender to play the soundtrack from your favorite Japanese cartoon when you were a little kid. In fact, you can actually request the cartoon itself, since there's also a projector by the bar. - Death Match in Hell[2]: I'm not sure this is the correct name, but this is a shrine to horror movies from all over, and heavy metal music. During our stay we got to watch Evil Dead while listening to by Pantera. - Some random teppanyaki eatery suggested by the bartender of Death Match. The name was written in Japanese, and the menu was only in Japanese too. This place is actually on two floors, with the kitchen downstairs, and a small room upstairs. We can't read Japanese, so we just asked the people at the bar (all locals) what to eat. The food was delicious; just be warned that, since everything is cooked over an iron griddle and the place is tiny, you'll smell like food. Interesting bathroom upstairs, in which the sink is on top of the toilet tank... Be warned that it can get expensive: drinks aren't cheap, and most places have a cover charge. Since the neighborhood is basically designed for bar hopping, the tab can run really high at the end of the night. All things considered, however, this is a well worth experience for the adventurous traveler who likes to drink, try new places, blend with the locals, and interact with strangers. 4 stars instead of 5 because, since everybody smokes, you are forced to inhale second hand smoke and you'll reek of smoke for days afterwards. -------------------- [1] https://www.facebook.com/barplasticmodel?fref=nf [2] https://www.facebook.com/deathmatchinhell

Just go. You will never see anything like it anywhere. Little tricky to find, but you'll get there. Super fun and not scary or seedy.

Japan is a safe country to travel, so that is why we did not hesitate to walk into these small narrow alleys at night for food. There were bars everywhere, but people knew their limits on how much to drink, so there was no commotion at all. The shop owners as well as customers were very nice and friendly, welcoming us though many could not speak English. These tiny shops only had a few seats so people had to wait, but no worries! There were many other stalls that offered similar ones with different prices. We eventually dropped by a ramen shop, where we ordered from a machine, paid, and got seated. The chef prepared the food right in front of us; he and another assistant were both very nice. We had a memorable, unforgettable time!

Shinjuku's Golden Gai consists of six narrow alleyways packed with the coolest tiniest bars (more than 200!!) that are only a few feet wide and only cater 5 to 6 customers. Imagine how intimate it could be! A good place to meet local people or fellow tourists and hear their stories. The bartenders were really friendly and passionate about what they do. You get a drink in one and move on to the next bar. It's one of my favorite experiences in Tokyo, a real gem. Drinks are kind of expensive though, and some you must even pay 1,000-2,000 yen just for the door charge but still definitely a must see cos it is one of a kind experience and feels that you can only find in Tokyo.

A great little collection of dive bars on a couple of side streets. If you are looking to "engineer serendipity" - this is a good place to go since you never really know who you are going to run into or how your night will turn out. I would stick with straight up drinks (sake if you like) since the quality of the cocktail making can vary a great deal from bar to bar. The one thing that irks me (in general in japan) is the foreigner cover charges that they put in place. You would never think of paying $5-15 USD to walk into a dive bar in most parts of the world (unless you are in some tropical beach resort area)

A must visit for all you touristy folk! This place is a world in itself, have to be here to experience it. Wonderful area to bar hop. Don't be intimidated by the fact that some establishments won't take you in because you're a foreigner - just go on to the next place and try again!

Tucked away in the bustling entertainment area of East Shinjuku is the inconspicuously located Golden Gai. Here, there are rows of narrow alleyways filled with tiny dive bars. The term hole-in-the-wall takes a literal meaning here with each bar seating only an average of 6 people at a time. Walking along the quiet alleyways feels like there's nothing much going on here but in fact there's an interesting world that exists behind these narrow doors and walls. Think of it as alleys and alleys of speakeasies all congregated together. Every door is narrow; some are left open and some are close. All doors are opaque which means that for those that are closed we are unable see what is behind them. Closed doors, however, do not mean that the bar is shut for the evening. We see someone opening one of the closed doors to a bar and we quickly catch a glimpse of what's inside: there's life going on in there. This is a speakeasy scene at its best. Bars located on the second floor are accessible via narrow stairs. The bars may look shanty from the outside but word is that Golden Gai attracts even the rich and famous with many bars having their own regular customers. Space is incredibly tiny in each of these bars but the number of them in existence (about 40) along the narrow alleyways is impressive. The sheer thought of the whole lot of speakeasy bars congregating together in this small area brings a new meaning to "nightlife" + "speakeasy" + "bar hopping".

We stopped in at Mongolian Drunk, had some whisky, wine, beer, and my brother was brave enough for a shot of Habushu (snake liquor). The bartender was the best, the atmosphere of the place was perfect. I highly recommend stopping by if you're in the area!

No one could say that they've been to Tokyo if they have never been to Golden Gai. One of my most favorite places in T-Town. Probably, even in Japan. There is something in the place that is just too amazing for words. Golden Gai has about 200 ramshackle bars, tightly squeezed in on 6 dimly lit narrow alleys, that are connected with even narrower alleys. This could be one of most rundown (scruffiest even) part of Tokyo. But even so, for me, this is one of the best places to meet people, socialize with locals and just go nuts! Most bars would be asking for seating charges. I don't really go for that kind of plan. I drink, That'd be enough to cover whatever they need for one customer (or even 6. Seriously! :P). I advice you haggle. If you could, you'd be fine! Actually, doing so would add more to the fun.

Most epic section of bars I've ever seen. Tiny dive bars, side by side, in multiple alleys in Shinjuku. Each with its own charm and theme, some have karaoke, and all of them have sake and fun drinks. Can't recommend this area enough for a night of bar hopping.

I love Golden Gai! It's a must for those visiting Shinjuku and Japan in general. This strange strip of tiny bars is definitely a unique experience. Beware that many of the bars charge a cover of 800-10000 yen and some only allow locals. You'll probably end up spending some money, but it's totally worth it. Come when the bars start opening if you have a larger group of people so that everyone has an opportunity to sit down. I recommend Reno for larger groups as well because it is a bigger space. If you're visiting Japan or new to the area, absolutely give this place a try! You won't regret it!

This was a very unique experience. All these tiny bars, each with their own distinct personality. I wish I had more time to spend here, enough so I might find my favorite bar and become a regular :)

This places seems to have a massive reputation. So much so that it comes up as a must see in shinjuku. Last night we went along to check it out and to be honest I came away wondering what all the fuss was about. It's basically some narrow streets with some tiny pubs all rammed together in the one area. They all tend to have 5 seats max, have different themes or feels and be quite smokey. The idea is you bar hop from one to another downing beers or sake and leave the golden gai in much drunker condition than when you arrive. The problem is there is no edge to the place. Yes it looks quite cool, but it all feels extremely placid and a wee bit subdued. If you go here and have been to any other drinking areas in big city Asian places like Bangkok Ho Chi Minh or Hanoi, you will know what I mean. Not a site to rush to, but a decent novelty place for a beer of you fancy a drink or two.

Golden Gai is a row of several small alley ways. There's tons of bars and restaurants here, but they're all super tiny. It's cozy and intimate as some bars only have a 3-5 seats, and restaurants can be cramped. Nonetheless, the places I've been to here served legit food and drinks.

We crawled into a pub and a scene that seemed more like something we'd find in the next sequel of Harry Potter: An old Japanese man who (too) closely resembled Ollivander (wand-making man) serving not wands- but beers to a bundle of drunk British women who kept yelling "PLAY COLDPLAY!!" He put his cigarette down, gestures me and my friend to sit at the only two remaining spots by his electric guitars and amp...and of course, waves his hands at the British bundle and grabs his live nirvana DVD from the bookshelf in front of me and loads it into the TV behind him. As I'm laughing with my friend, I order our two nama beers. Japanese-Ollivander-bartender man happily gives us beers and a complimentary bowl of Japanese rice crackers. My friend and I hunch over the bar counter and play the old board games and etch a sketch while this British bundle and the Japanese-Ollivander-bartender man are bobbing heads to Kurt cobains "Apologize." Two beers + complimentary rice crackers in a packed room with drunk British ladies + nirvana = 700 yen. Really? We left this grand night and back down the steep (totally ADA disapproved) staircase and back into the alley. We'll be back. Our evening ended too soon!

Go for the gold! This was the setting for our last night in Tokyo. In a city already so densely packed, it's hard to imagine getting cozier still, but with its famed 200-bars-per-city-block quotient, Golden Gai delivers. Ts s vry cmpct, t mks m wnt t wrt ths rvw n shrthnd. Bt tht'd b rlly shrt. Gldn G: wrthwhl. It's a fascinating crazy quilt of tourist traps and working-class dives, though not necessarily working-class prices. Both are likely to charge covers (￥600-1000) and drink prices to match. The ones that welcome tourists are easy to see because there's either some sort of theme, or English signage, or both. You'll find loads of young folks looking for a good time here, and the bars appear larger, in that they miiiiight accommodate more than 4 people at a time. The after-work joints are more dimly lit and either keep the doors closed with the only English saying "private club" (aka "we don't serve foreign jerks"), or they seem slightly hostile and generally disinterested in folks who aren't regulars. This, of course, is where we wanted to be. We spotted a dark doorway with a middle-aged chain-smoking bar lady glaring out at passersby. We knew we'd found our bar, and once making it past the initial glare, we reveled in the company of the delightful and animated proprietress, Mika. We drank shochu, we learned a new way to cheer, we sang along to songs we didn't know, and in exchanging our few words of each others' vocabularies, we had the best (albeit most expensive) night of our trip. It sounds like folks want to bar crawl here, and I guess that makes sense, given the wealth of choices, but I'd vote quality over quantity. The cover charges alone could get you bankrupt before tipsy. My advice: from the 200 bars, walk around first, get a feel for the place, and choose the one that calls to you. Settle in, plunk down your cash and assets, and you'll be golden, too.

I went to GG on a Monday in January 2016, and I had read a ton of these reviews saying what a riot it is! I think maybe because it was so cold and maybe because it was Monday, this place was a ghost town. The bar we went to was called kangaroo court decision, which I think is a hilarious story. The owner opened an English dictionary and flipped through until he found a word that sounded cool. So... The bar was decked out with little kangaroo statues (which was nothing to do with a kangaroo court decision). I found this translation error hilarious. Anyway, the bar seats about 5 people. The two bartenders were hilarious and friendly and we just chatted the whole time. It cost 500¥ cover, which is standard if on the cheaper side. It felt annoying to pay a cover because, like I said, the whole district was a ghost town. The only beer they had was Asahi for 600¥ each, and I ordered a couple weak gin & tonics for 600¥ each. I left not that drunk, and having felt like I spent a lot of money and didn't get there experience. If you come try to come on a weekend starting at around 8-9pm.

An area of alleys on alleys on alleys of tiny bars on bars on bars. 6 seaters, 8 seaters, 10 seaters and maybe 12 seaters. The only tricky bit is making a choice. Which gets easier as more sake slides down your gullet. Might I suggest Bar Nana. It's on a corner. That's really the best I can do with directions. I can't emphasis enough how packed with holes in the wall this place is which is part of the spontaneous whirlwind. Before you know it you'll enter a spot, be instant pals with whoever is there, be high-fiving a cat, and stumble on to the next for who knows what the increasingly blurry night will bring.

If you like bars (bar hopping) and interactions with random and interesting people, the GoldenGai is for you. I got drunk and had an absolute blast. I met individuals I will definitely keep touch with and see when I go back to Japan. Don't even worry if you don't speak Japanese because fun has no language barrier.

Like walking through a living art gallery. Be sure to check out Spade which is near the Family Mart. Unique dive bars all around, places that feel familiar and evoke a memory, maybe one you had or saw in an old film.

Check it out, it's a pretty wild scene and unlike anywhere else i've ever gone out. Think tons of 7-10 seat bars. Some joints charge cover, but not all of them so just shop around. I can't remember the specific bars I went to for... reasons but I had a great time.

Great place to experience as a tourist looking for local drinking spots. It's a hidden gem in a section of Tokyo that hasn't been renovated. Tightly packed bars with very little seating. Find one you like and stick around. Anthony Bourdain recommended Albatross on his Tokyo episode of Parts Unknown. There are three stories and the waitress we had was very attentive and gave recommendations for next bars to go to. There's a good selection of hard alcohol and cocktails they recommend at Albatross. Foriegnors are welcomed at albatross. Another good spot to start is the bar with Jim Beam mural on the wall, it has free cover and 500 yen mixed drinks. There is even a Lawson nearby to pick up beers and snacks at. I'd come back for the atmosphere.

After wandering around Shinjuku, my dude and our friend went to drink in Golden Gai. There were plenty of little tiny bars (seating about 8-10 people with no extra space), which was a little hard to choose from because some of the immediate ones we look at were already full. However we did see a sign that said "jazz bar" which was upstairs and had only one customer. There was a wall full of vinyls, CDs, and cassettes. Once we sat down, the bartender changed the music and gave us the CD cover so we knew what was playing. With every music change, he gave us the album. This guy really knew his jazz, and we enjoyed his music selections. We enjoyed a few drinks, which included jack and cokes and plum wine. Along with the drinks we were giving snacks, which included chips and pickled cucumber. More people came to the bar as the night went on. The bathroom situation was pretty cramped and small, which had a Japanese style bathroom. The bill ended up being kind of high, as drinks in this area are usually higher and they charge a cover for each person. Overall, we had a great experience wandering around Golden Gai and really enjoyed the tiny jazz bar we visited. Some main points to end my review: the bars are tiny, drinks are a little more higher than most places, and most places do a cover charge per person. As for safety, be careful of those who are around Golden Gai and pressure you to come to their bar; I won't say too much but just do some research on it if you want to find out, haha. Be careful and have fun!

Fresh off the plane and checked into our AirBnB, we were five minutes from the Golden Gai. Though we said we'd just go out for a beer, this turned into meeting people from all over the world and hanging out all night. Great place to go. The bars are small and cozy. If I ever go back to Tokyo will definitely revisit the Golden Gai!

Golden Gai is so much fun! But don't go in a large group or you'll never find a bar that will fit your party! 2-4 people is prob the maximum. Tiny little bars line the streets each one with a different atmosphere and selection! Very fun to walk around and bar hop. The only problem is each bar is so tiny so they've got to charge an entrance fee usually between 500¥-1500¥ just to enter the bars. On top of the drink prices it can get expensive really fast. BUT it's such an interesting and unique place to visit I think everyone should go at least once !! I love Golden Gai but I only go there maybe once a year!

Very unique experience for some close quarter drinking. Down side is that just about everywhere has smoking so as a non smoker this is an issue when in a room the size of a snooker table. Everyone is friendly and like most Tokyo bars, the drinks are good. Tricky part is choosing which mini bar to go to as there is a $5 ish cover charge, not too much money but gets you thinking none the less. Not many folks speak English but copious use on iphone and google translate means a digital conversation can be had and friends made. A must do for trip to Tokyo if you a bar crawl type person. Loved it.