Wagyu & Sake 8 Course Tasting Dinner in Shinjuku

The main event here is the pairing: several cuts of Japanese wagyu arrive alongside craft sake chosen to suit the meat. The meal runs for 150 minutes at Ushinobi Sake Bar, where an English-speaking guide explains the beef, the sake, and the logic behind each match.

I like the small group of up to eight, which gives the guide room to answer questions. I also like the chance to taste sake in more than one form, including cocktails made for wagyu. The catch is that the advertised eight-course meal may include only three or four courses that are actually wagyu, with other dishes filling out the menu.

Key points

• Several wagyu cuts from different Japanese regions: The menu follows the best available beef in Tokyo rather than one fixed cut list.
• Sake served in several styles: You may try traditional craft sake as well as cocktails designed for the beef.
• English explanations from an expert guide: Chizuru and Joe have led sessions praised for clear teaching and warm hosting.
• A compact Shinjuku setting: Meet at Ushinobi Sake Bar on the second floor, near Okubo Station’s South Exit.
• A 150-minute tasting dinner: This is a sit-down food lesson, not a quick restaurant stop.
• Important dietary limits: The meal has no vegetarian, vegan, pescatarian, or child-friendly option, and it is not suitable for pregnant women.

What the 150-minute dinner is really about

This experience is less about eating a huge steak and more about learning how beef changes with preparation, cut, fat, and drink. You sit down for a long tasting meal that builds a picture of wagyu as a Japanese food tradition rather than treating it as a single luxury ingredient.

The menu is based on the best wagyu cuts available in Tokyo at the time. That gives the chef some freedom, but it also means you should not expect an exact list of cuts in advance. One evening might feature a different balance of lean and fatty pieces than another.

The meal is described as eight or more courses. In practical terms, that includes wagyu preparations, appetizers, and dessert. A past participant found that only three or four courses were actual wagyu, so I would book this for the full food-and-sake lesson, not for eight separate beef servings.

Arriving at Ushinobi Sake Bar in Shinjuku

The meeting point is Ushinobi Sake Bar, on the second floor near Okubo Station, South Exit, station code JB09. You enter the venue directly on the second floor rather than looking for a street-level restaurant entrance.

Allow extra time to find it. The entrance is somewhat concealed, and the supplied directions specifically warn you to check the venue image before setting off. This is the sort of small detail that can save you from circling a Shinjuku block while the dinner is getting started.

The location works well if you are already exploring Shinjuku or the Okubo area. It is not presented as a sightseeing walk, so the value comes from what happens inside the bar. Plan to arrive ready for a seated meal rather than expecting time to browse the neighborhood as part of the activity.

The opening lesson: what makes wagyu different

The first part sets the stage for the food. Your guide explains the background of wagyu, including regional differences and why Japan treats it as a premium delicacy.

That context matters because the label wagyu covers more than one regional style. The menu may draw from different parts of Japan, and the teaching helps you pay attention to the differences instead of treating every fatty slice as the same.

Guides such as Chizuru and Joe have received especially strong praise for this part of the evening. Chizuru has been described as welcoming and full of useful facts, while Joe used slides and notes to explain both wagyu and sake. The guide is not just placing plates on the table. You get a running explanation of what you are tasting and why it has been prepared that way.

The small group format helps here. With no more than eight people, you can ask about a cut, a serving style, or a sake you do not understand. That is a better setup for learning than a large bus tour, though the experience still depends partly on which guide leads your session.

Tasting the wagyu in several preparations

The beef is served in different ways to bring out its natural flavor. The exact menu changes with the cuts available in Tokyo, but the purpose is consistent: compare how preparation affects the meat.

Some servings may be leaner and more structured, while others can be very rich. That variety is useful if you want to understand wagyu, but it can also test your appetite. One person found some cuts too fatty, which is a fair warning for anyone who prefers lean beef.

The richest pieces may be the most memorable, but they are not automatically the best match for every palate. If you already know that heavy marbling is not your thing, you may prefer the educational side of the meal to the food itself.

The menu also includes appetizers and dessert. These courses break up the beef and give the meal some rhythm. They are important to the overall eight-course count, but they also explain why the dinner should not be priced in your mind as eight wagyu tastings.

How the sake pairings work

Sake is not served as a side drink with no explanation. The guide shows how different styles can alter the taste of the beef and other foods.

You may try Japanese craft sake in several ways, including original cocktails made for pairing with wagyu. This is one of the more unusual features of the dinner. It gives you a chance to compare sake in a more traditional presentation with a mixed drink designed around the food.

The pairing is limited to the included sake selection. Extra drinks are not part of the price, so budget separately if you want anything beyond the planned tasting. Limited soft drinks are available, but this is clearly an alcohol-focused experience.

The guide explains why a particular sake works with a particular dish. A fuller, richer serving may need a drink that can keep pace with it, while another pairing may aim to refresh your mouth between bites. You do not need prior sake knowledge. The value is in learning how to taste the connection rather than guessing the names of every style.

Still, sake is personal. If you already dislike it, the lesson may not change your mind. One participant enjoyed trying the different variations but did not care for the drink itself. That is a good reason to choose this dinner for curiosity, not simply because you want a guaranteed favorite beverage.

What the course count means for value

At $145 per person, this is an expensive dinner. You are paying for high-grade wagyu, a multi-course meal, a limited sake pairing, a small group, and an English-speaking guide who teaches throughout the evening.

The price makes more sense if you want three experiences in one: a premium meal, a sake tasting, and a focused lesson on Japanese food. It is less convincing if your only goal is to eat as much wagyu as possible.

Keep the advertised course structure in perspective. You get eight or more courses, but not every plate is wagyu. Appetizers, dessert, and other food make up part of the meal. Because the menu follows market availability, you also cannot judge the dinner solely by expecting a particular famous cut.

I would compare it with the cost of booking a high-end dinner and a separate sake class in Tokyo. If you would enjoy both, bringing them together in a two-and-a-half-hour session is convenient. If you are a serious beef specialist seeking a long succession of different wagyu cuts, this may not deliver enough actual beef for the money.

The guide can make or break the evening

The strongest part of the experience is the host. Past sessions led by Joe and Chizuru were praised for warmth, clear explanations, and an ability to answer questions without making the lesson feel stiff.

Joe’s use of slides and notes is especially useful if you want more than a basic introduction. His focus on matching different sake with different foods gives the tasting a practical purpose. Chizuru’s style has been described as friendly and welcoming, with plenty of facts about wagyu and sake.

That human element also helps with the social side of a small-group dinner. You are not simply eating in silence while a server drops off plates. The guide keeps the meal moving and gives you a reason to notice changes in flavor.

There is a small risk here: the exact feel of the evening will depend on the guide assigned to your date. The experience is conducted in English, but individual presentation styles may differ. The consistently high rating of 4.9 from 20 ratings suggests that the hosting is a major strength, though no food experience is identical from one session to the next.

Who should book this Shinjuku tasting?

I would recommend it to you if you are interested in Japanese food and want a clear introduction to both wagyu and sake. It suits couples, friends, and solo diners who enjoy guided tastings and do not mind sharing a table with a small group.

It is also a good choice near the start of a Japan trip. You can use the lesson later when ordering beef or sake elsewhere, since you will have learned basic ideas about cuts, regional differences, and pairing.

This is not a good fit for vegetarians, vegans, or pescatarians. No alternative menu is provided. It is also restricted to adults, with no children under 18, and the activity is not suitable for pregnant women.

You should think twice if you dislike fatty beef or are not interested in sake. The menu includes different levels of richness, and the drinks are central to the experience rather than a minor extra.

Practical details before you reserve

The activity lasts 150 minutes, so keep your evening fairly open. A rushed dinner would undercut the best part of the experience, which is the time spent comparing dishes and asking questions.

The group is limited to eight people, and the language is English. The price includes the eight-course meal and limited sake pairing, with soft drinks available. Additional drinks cost extra and are not included.

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund. A reserve-now, pay-later option is also available, which is useful if your Tokyo schedule is still taking shape.

Check the entrance image before leaving for Ushinobi Sake Bar. The venue is on the second floor, and the entrance is easy to miss if you rely only on a quick glance at the street.

Should you book the Wagyu and Sake dinner?

Book it if you want a guided food lesson with premium beef, a close look at sake, and a small group setting. The teaching and hosting appear to be the strongest reasons to choose it, especially if you can appreciate the kind of details Joe and Chizuru have brought to past sessions.

Do not book it expecting eight separate wagyu courses or a meal built around large portions of steak. The menu includes several non-beef dishes, and some cuts may be very fatty. At $145, the dinner earns its price through the explanation, pairing, and overall format as much as through the meat itself.

For curious adults who want to understand two important Japanese specialties in one sitting, this is a sensible Shinjuku splurge. For strict dietary needs, sake avoidance, or a narrow focus on maximum wagyu, choose a different meal.

FAQ

Where does the wagyu and sake dinner take place?

It takes place at Ushinobi Sake Bar in Shinjuku. The venue is on the second floor, near Okubo Station’s South Exit, station code JB09.

How long does the experience last?

The dinner lasts 150 minutes, or two and a half hours.

What is included in the $145 price?

The price includes an eight-course meal featuring multiple wagyu cuts, appetizers, dessert, and a limited sake pairing. Limited soft drinks are also available.

Are extra drinks included?

No. Drinks beyond the included sake pairing are not included in the price.

Is the activity conducted in English?

Yes. The activity has an English-speaking live guide.

Can vegetarians, vegans, or pescatarians join?

No alternative menu is provided for vegetarian, vegan, or pescatarian diets.

Can I cancel or pay later?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. A reserve-now, pay-later option is also available.