Local Craft Beer Tour by Train from Shinjuku with Ex-JR Conductor Discount Tickets

Overview

Escape central Tokyo’s crowds by train with a former JR conductor, and discover western Tokyo through local craft beer taprooms that rarely appear on tourist maps. The “passenger” on this journey is you. Samurai Guide Sho served as a JR Chuo Line conductor for 22 years. From Shinjuku, he guides you by JR Chuo Line Green Car (premium seating), making the train ride part of the experience. This is not simply a craft beer crawl. The train ride, changing towns, local taprooms, food found along the way, and each glass of beer are connected into one journey. Choose the beers you want, pay only for what you drink, and enjoy them at your own pace. As you move from town to town by train, the scenery outside the window begins to gently shift. Step off, enter a local taproom, and the flavor changes with the streets, the air, and the people around you. No beer expertise is required here. Just enjoy the rhythm of the Chuo Line, the character of each town, and a local craft beer in your hand.

Meeting and Pickup

Language Offered

Japanese-GUIDE

English-GUIDE

Itinerary

Inclusion

Former JR Chuo Line conductor (22 yrs): his firsthand perspective brings the train ride to life

Guided visits to multiple carefully selected local taprooms in Western Tokyo

Former JR East employee (23 yrs): help with stations, tickets, Suica, transfers and rail disruptions

Exclusion

Round-trip train fares and Green Car fees

Craft beer at each taproom (around ¥1,000 per glass; credit cards accepted)

Takeaway craft beer (credit cards accepted)

Food (optional; credit cards accepted)

Cancellation Policy

Refundable tickets

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

• 100% refund if cancelled 1+ days before the start date
• 0% refund if cancelled less than 1 day(s) before the start date

Additional Info

Public transportation options are available nearby

Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap

Not recommended for pregnant travelers

Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

This tour is independently operated and is not affiliated with JR East.

All photos featured for this tour were taken at the actual locations visited during the tour and are unedited, so you can see the real atmosphere of the experience.

For peace of mind, we recommend loading about ¥3,000 per person onto your Suica or PASMO card. Credit cards are accepted at every stop for additional food and beer purchases.

Please bring a physical Suica or PASMO card for a smoother Green Car experience. If you are not sure how to charge it, please bring cash on the day and I will help you.

This tour uses JR Green Car premium seating for the train ride both ways.

The Green Car has seat tables, drink holders, power outlets, a restroom, and trash bins, so you can enjoy your own meals or drinks on board, and it is also convenient for charging your phone or other devices.

Since this tour starts at 12:00, some guests choose to have lunch on the outbound Green Car train ride.

After arriving at the station nearest the taproom, you can also purchase local food and snacks that pair well with craft beer. Credit cards are accepted. You may bring your purchases into the taprooms I guide you to.

This is not a detailed brewery or brewing facility tour, but a tour where you visit selected taprooms in West Tokyo and enjoy fresh craft beer on tap in the local atmosphere of each area.

The organizer is not responsible for illness, injury, or loss or damage of personal belongings during the tour.

While the guide takes great care to ensure safety throughout the tour, guests are responsible for managing their own condition and personal safety, especially when consuming alcohol.

The tour may be terminated without refund in case of disruptive behavior.