Ajikoji Bar Hopping and Snack Bar Karaoke Tour

Discover Tanabe’s nightlife the way locals do, with a guided walk through Ajikoji, Wakayama’s most atmospheric drinking district. This tour removes the guesswork of where to go, what to order, and how to navigate Japanese nightlife, letting you relax, enjoy great food and drinks, and connect naturally with local culture in places you’d be unlikely to enter on your own.

Meet your guide at JR Kii-Tanabe Station and head into Ajikoji, Tanabe’s lively entertainment district and widely considered the best place for nightlife in Wakayama. Stroll through its narrow pedestrian-only alleys while your guide introduces the local dining culture and the history of this long-loved night spot.

Dinner is enjoyed at one of three carefully selected local restaurants, each offering a different style of cuisine and atmosphere. Guests may choose their preferred option in advance.

Hamayaki Taro

A lively seafood-focused restaurant specializing in grilled shellfish. Enjoy a course meal with all-you-can-drink, featuring highballs, Akadama wine, cocktails, chu-hai, umeshu (plum wine), shochu, sake, draft beer, non-alcoholic beer, and soft drinks.

Fukufuku

A creative Chinese-style dining experience with an extensive all-you-can-drink course. Drinks include draft beer, highballs, sour chu-hai, shochu, umeshu, wine, sake, Chinese wine, non-alcoholic beer, fruit liqueurs, and soft drinks.

Kakurega Jin

A cozy, counter-only hidden gem with a warm, home-like atmosphere. This option features the owner’s recommended course, including one drink of choice (draft beer, chu-hai, sake, shochu, or soft drink), an appetizer, sashimi, a fried dish, and a chef’s specialty item.

After dinner, continue deeper into Ajikoji and visit a traditional Japanese snack bar. Sit at the counter, chat with the friendly Mama-san, and experience an authentic side of local nightlife. Guests are welcome to join in karaoke, often alongside regulars, for a relaxed and memorable cultural exchange.

The tour concludes in the Ajikoji district, with guidance provided for returning to JR Kii-Tanabe Station if needed.

Length

4 hours

group size

Min 2, max 4

activity level

Easy

Itinerary

1. Izakaya "Ladder Drinking" – Round 1 (17:00 – 19:00) We enter the Ajikoji district. You can choose your restaurant to enjoy a 90-minute session of local dishes and drinks, soaking up the atmosphere of a Japanese tavern.

2. The "Snack Bar" Finale (19:30 – 21:00) For the final stop, we visit a Snack Bar. Sit at the counter, enjoy the retro atmosphere, and belt out a song on the karaoke machine. This is the true heart of Japanese rural nightlife.

4. Tour Conclusion (21:00) The tour concludes back near JR Kii-Tanabe Station.