MagicalTrip Inc. — Local services in Tokyo

I had an absolutely incredible experience on the Magical Food Tour in Shinjuku! This tour exceeded all my expectations and provided a perfect blend of culinary delights, cultural insights, and unforgettable memories.

Our guide, Natsumi, was truly exceptional. Her warm personality and extensive knowledge of Japanese cuisine and culture made the tour both informative and enjoyable. What really stood out was how she went above and beyond to make the experience special for everyone in the group. I was particularly touched when she took the time to teach my daughter origami during a brief lull in the tour. This thoughtful gesture not only kept my daughter engaged but also added a wonderful cultural element to our experience.

The tour took us through the vibrant streets of Shinjuku, including the famous "Piss Alley" (Omoide Yokocho). Despite its unfortunate nickname, this narrow alleyway was a hidden gem, filled with tiny eateries and an atmosphere that transported us back in time. Natsumi's insider knowledge allowed us to navigate this area like locals, sampling some incredible street food along the way.

One of the highlights of the tour was undoubtedly the sushi experience. We were taken to a hidden sushi restaurant where we enjoyed an "Omakase" style meal. The sushi chef's creations were nothing short of art, with each piece meticulously prepared right before our eyes. The freshness and quality of the fish were outstanding, and Natsumi's explanations about each type of sushi enhanced our appreciation of this quintessential Japanese cuisine.

Another unforgettable part of the tour was the Yakiniku experience featuring Wagyu beef. Grilling our own premium Wagyu on traditional Japanese shichirin BBQ stoves was not only fun but also resulted in some of the most tender and flavorful meat I've ever tasted. Natsumi guided us through the proper grilling techniques, ensuring we got the most out of this gourmet experience.

To cap off the night, we indulged in some traditional Japanese sweets and candies. This was a delightful way to end the tour, satisfying our sweet tooth while learning about the cultural significance of these treats. Natsumi's insights into the history and preparation of these desserts added an extra layer of enjoyment to the tasting.

Throughout the entire tour, Natsumi's enthusiasm was contagious. Her friendly demeanor and willingness to answer all our questions made us feel like we were exploring the city with a knowledgeable friend rather than a tour guide. She effortlessly bridged language barriers and cultural differences, ensuring that everyone in the group felt comfortable and included.

This Magical Food Tour in Shinjuku was undoubtedly a highlight of our trip to Tokyo. It offered a perfect balance of must-try foods, off-the-beaten-path experiences, and cultural immersion. From the exquisite sushi and melt-in-your-mouth Wagyu to the nostalgic Japanese candies, every bite was a new adventure.

I wholeheartedly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Tokyo. It's an excellent way to explore the culinary landscape of Shinjuku while gaining valuable insights into Japanese food culture. And if you're lucky enough to have Natsumi as your guide, you're in for an extra special treat. Her dedication, knowledge, and genuine care for her guests truly elevate this tour from great to...

We were assigned to a tour guide named Yuka. If you book a tour try to request for anyone but her. Either we had a terrible guide or it's just another tourist trap guide company (seemed like both). The guide spoke very little and we learned nothing from her. She simply took us through the usual tourist trap areas and rushed through the Omoide Yokocho. What made it awkward and worse was the fact that she actually took a call on her phone during the tour. The restaurants that she takes you to are usual tourist infested ones that they struck deals with in order to give you a limited menu that you select from.

You can literally benefit more from just going to the restaurant yourself because the restaurant staff spoke some English to help you through their ENGLISH MENU.

The guide did not provide any facts or knowledge throughout the trip. Learned absolutely nothing from this overpriced tour.

If you're interested in being brought to watch a screen big screen that broadcasts a bunch of Ads and be taken away right after we spot a 10 second clip of the cat knocking things over ... All while the tour guide is on her phone, this is the tour group for you. This guide uses an Alias to make you feel like she's actually Japanese. While she may be fluent in Japanese and somewhat fluent in conversation English, that's pretty much all you're getting.

She knows nothing about the sake that she's offering you at the last stop. I was hoping that she would have done some homework to learn a bit about the different types of sake, but don't expect answers if you were to ask any. The gyzoa restaurant was very subpar. Food was not that great. The drinks are repetitive.

I literally booked this trip with the intention to try local places, but instead was brought to more touristy areas and restaurants. I thought that they would help bring us to restaurant/pubs that doesn't have an English menu and help us translate through a very personal experience, however, it was just another tailored trip to trick tourists. I'm actually a bit disappointed that WhatThePato YouTuber sold herself out to this tour company. The video they they did for her looked like a privately tailored your, which I will tell you: that will NOT HAPPEN. You're better off paying s translator $100 to take you around for a...

do not book with them unless you can get to the meetup time ON THE DOT. They do not acknowledge that multiple groups use the same meet up spot as them, and the issues this causes , especially in crowded areas, even if they’re holding an orange sign. There is no way to contact your guide after you’re emailed their name.

Support was rude and talked in circles to me and didn’t give a refund.

More details below: We attepmted to do the shinjuku bar hopping night tour, but upon arriving to the meet up point barely 3 minutes late, the tour starts at 6 (so that should be fine) , due to getting a bit lost in shinjuku station even with magical trip’s directions , we looked around for our guide and his orange magical trip sign by the specified meet up spot a black pillar outside the neighborhood Uniqlo.

The magical trip guide wasn’t there, at least not one that looked like his photo so we joined the group that was right next to the Uniqlo black pillar outside.

There were no other groups around so we assumed the guide had put away the orange sign after checking us in.

Early in that tour, that guide realized we were on wrong tour, apologized for checking us in and let us know.

After a phone call and email from magical trip’s support we ran our tails off to meet the correct group, after settling up money owed and other matters with our incorrect guide, only to see the group wasn’t there.

I called support again; they said the group had left and “we don’t know the next location as that’s the guides choice. They don’t tell us.”

We were never given a way to contact the guide, and in every email since, Magical Trip contradicted themselves and repeated what I’d written to them.

We asked for a refund as no other group, as described, was at the meet up point, and we were there in plenty of time to still meet them (every other tour group we’ve done on previous trips with other companies waits until the start time) and were denied because the mishap...