One Night in Tokyo: Where to Eat, Drink and the Most Thrilling Way to Explore

Spending just one night in Tokyo means making every moment count. From a sleek arrival on a bullet train to go-karting through Shibuya's neon streets and sipping drinks in Golden Gai, here’s how we made the most of a night in Japan’s electric capital, before catching a flight home the next day.

If there's one mode of transport that's will help you arrive in Tokyo in good time to make the most of your evening there, it's the world-famous bullet train.

Our journey to Tokyo began in Kyoto, and the ride was as smooth as it was exhilarating. Once the train had pulled out of the station, we reached speeds of up to 200 miles per hour and covered 280 miles in 2 hours and 15 minutes. To put that into perspective, the journey from London to Newcastle is about 250 miles, yet with the UK's relatively slow trains, it would still take you an extra hour and 15 minutes!

Despite the incredible rate the train was travelling at, the carriages remained blissfully quiet, allowing us to enjoy in peace the scenic views of the countryside and snow-capped mountains.

If you're lucky enough to experience this ride to Japan's capital, you'll agree the real excitement begins when Tokyo's soaring cityscape comes into view.

The city's metro system is an easy way of getting around the city if you stay here for more than an evening. However, as we wanted to maximise our time, once we arrived at the station, we walked outside to the taxi rank and hopped in a cab to our accommodation.

The Knot Tokyo Shinjuku is a stylish and cosy hotel that perfectly balances modern design with Japanese aesthetics. The check-in is seamless and the location is a perfect walking distance from the Tokyo Opera City Tower, where we had chosen to go for dinner. The only thing left to do was to have a quick spruce-up before heading out!

For dinner, we walked 10 minutes from The Knot to Jojoen, an upscale spot on the fifty-third floor of Tokyo Opera City Tower, known for serving some of Japan’s finest Yakiniku (grilled meats).

The two standout meats we opted for were the Japanese delicacy of Wagyu and something a little more exotic... cow's tongue. Both were delicious and only enhanced when washed down with the crisp, native lager, Sapporo.

The menu isn't limited to barbequed meat. There are plenty of ramen dishes and vegetarian options to choose from as well! Whatever you decide to order, your eyes are in for a treat as you take in the sweeping views of the city as the sun sets. Our top tip is to book in advance and request a window table to ensure you secure the best views in Tokyo.

We had pre-booked a thrilling activity, which also served as an efficient way to see a number of Tokyo's iconic landmarks - go-karting through the streets of Tokyo with Street Kart!

From Tokyo Opera City Tower, it's a 20-minute bus ride to Street Kart's HQ in the Shibuya district. We caught the number 6 and for transport payment, we recommend downloading a Suica card on your phone and topping this up online - it's incredibly simple and this way you can seamlessly tap on and off the bus by using the digital card. You can also use these cards for other modes of transport and at many of the vending machines around the country.

Once at Street Kart, we had the option to choose a fancy dress costume - once we had carefully selected our attire, the group consisted of Nemo, Stitch and Angel (from Lilo & Stitch) and one of the aliens from Toy Story!

Following a quick safety briefing, we were zipping around Tokyo's neon streets and managed to pack a tremendous amount into 40 minutes of driving. The highlight of our tour was passing through the famous Shibuya Scramble Crossing and feeling like a celebrity with pedestrians waving and taking photos.

To finish the evening, we headed to Golden Gai, a maze of tiny bars packed with personality. Although this area of Tokyo is accessible by public transport, we chose a 15-minute cab ride from Street Kart to Golden Gai to save time.

Tucked away in Shinjuku, Golden Gai is a nightlife district that is a throwback to old Tokyo. It features dimly lit lanterns, vintage signage, and an intimate, almost secretive vibe. I thought there were plenty of pubs to choose from on most streets in England, but I'd never seen anything like this!

There are roughly 200 taverns and each has its own unique vibe. It's a place for locals and travellers to mingle over drinks in cosy spaces that often seat no more than a handful of people.

We quickly realised that This is a popular area, so if you haven't pre-booked and you’re lucky enough to find seats for everyone in your group somewhere, it’s worth savouring the experience there.  This shouldn't put you off trying to move onto another spot, but you may not be able to find space in a tavern on your first attempt, just keep trying!

In three hours, we visited two bars and enjoyed an authentic experience, chatting with locals - sometimes relying on hand gestures and Google Translate - and soaking up the atmosphere of each tavern before calling it a night and heading back to our hotel via a cab.

That was our example of how a well-planned itinerary can help you make the most of an evening in Tokyo!

To find out more about our multi-destination Japan ski holidays, enquire online or speak to our friendly and knowledgeable team on 01273 224060 (Monday to Friday). We're always happy to help!

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