Traveler Types
One evening. No volunteer needed.
November 12, 2025
3 mins read
Someone suggests it at dinner the night before, or in a Slack message that sits unread for hours: "We should do something together while we're here."
Everyone agrees. Then silence.
The problem isn't figuring out what to do in Tokyo. The problem is that someone has to be the one who researches the options, picks the restaurant, navigates the train system, figures out what to order, and decides when it's time to move on. In a professional context, that's a lot of uncompensated labor nobody signed up for.
A private guide removes this problem entirely. Not because they know secret places. Because they handle the coordination that nobody else wants to handle.
No facilitators, no exercises
If your mental image involves breakout sessions, icebreaker games, or leadership lessons—that's not this. This is colleagues having dinner together. The only activity is eating, drinking, and talking. No HR programming. No forced fun.
What Japanese colleagues actually do
In Japan, after-work drinking gatherings called nomikai are the recognized way colleagues build relationships. "Nomikai" literally means "meeting to drink." In traditional Japanese offices, socializing during work hours is minimal. Nomikai fills that gap—allowing colleagues to speak more openly, transcending the usual boundaries between boss and coworker.
You're not approximating team building. You're participating in the actual way Japanese professionals bond: shared food, drinks, and conversation at an izakaya.
Most business travelers have one free evening. That's enough. The question is whether anyone wants to spend it researching Shinjuku's 10,000 restaurants and hoping for the best.
Standing Room Only (4 hours)
Standing Room Only starts at 6:30 PM with a hotel pickup and ends around 10:30 PM in Kichijoji. The route moves through three neighborhoods in Suginami Ward—Nakano, Nishi-Ogikubo, and Kichijoji—each with its own personality.
You'll eat at standing bars and retro izakayas. Handwritten menus. No English. Places that seat 6-10 people and fill up with office workers after 7 PM. Your guide handles reservations, ordering, and the logistics of moving between venues. For more on what to expect during a tour, we cover the experience in detail.
Typical food and drink spend: ¥4,000-6,000 per person ($28-42).
Kushiyaki Confidential (6 hours)
If you have more time—say, a half-day that extends into evening—Kushiyaki Confidential starts around 4 PM and runs until 9:30 PM. The route covers Shibuya, Ebisu, and Nakameguro: standing sushi bars, yakitori joints, sake counters, and neighborhood izakayas.
Six hours means five venues instead of three. The pace is more relaxed. You catch the transition from late afternoon to evening energy as salarymen fill the alleys.
Typical food and drink spend: ¥5,000-8,000 per person ($35-55).
Both tours handle groups up to 6 people. Most local izakaya seat 4-8 people max, and popular spots are packed after work. The guide knows which places can actually fit your group.
The guide fee is a single line item—transparent and easy to expense. Food and drink are separate, giving you control over that budget. For a detailed breakdown of how private tour pricing works, see our pricing guide.
Tour | Duration | 3 people | 4 people | 5 people | 6 people |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Standing Room Only | 4 hours | $345 | $376 | $410 | $438 |
Kushiyaki Confidential | 6 hours | $489 | $552 | $625 | $678 |
What's included:
Guide with hotel pickup
Transportation coordination
Menu navigation and ordering
Concierge support
What's not included:
Food and drinks
Transportation costs
Tips (not expected in Japan)
Non-drinkers: Every stop has non-alcoholic options. Japan's zero-tolerance DUI policy means designated drivers are common—so non-alcoholic beer, mocktails, and soft drinks are standard at izakaya.
If your group knows the dates, get in touch. We'll confirm guide availability and answer any questions about which tour fits your schedule.
Where Hinomaru One Fits
No one in your group has to volunteer. Your guide handles reservations at venues that actually seat six, navigates the train system, orders from Japanese-only menus, and decides when it's time to move on. Per-group pricing means one clean line item on the expense report.
At Hinomaru One, we design culturally rich, stress-free private Tokyo tours for first-time and seasoned travelers. Unrushed. Insightful. Always customized.
