Samurai Guide Sho’s Craft Beer Train Tour by Former JR Conductor

The tour begins at JR Shinjuku Station. Samurai Guide Sho, a former JR East train conductor who served on the JR Chuo Line for about 22 years until March 31, 2026, will guide you smoothly through the complex station and assist with purchasing Green Car tickets. The journey begins before you even arrive at the first taproom. You will board the JR Chuo Line Green Car (premium seating) and travel west toward Western Tokyo. The train ride itself is an essential part of this experience. As the scenery gradually changes outside the window, the journey builds anticipation for the craft beer waiting ahead in Western Tokyo.

After stepping off the train, you will visit multiple craft beer taprooms along the JR Chuo Line in Western Tokyo, carefully selected by Samurai Guide Sho as the best options for the day. The exact route may vary depending on opening hours, seat availability, the pace of the group, and the best taproom options on the day. This tour is about tasting locally brewed craft beer in the neighborhoods where it is made. At each stop, you can enjoy a freshly poured beer from the tap while discovering the different atmosphere and character of each place. The movement from one taproom to the next is also part of the journey. As you walk through the area and notice the changing atmosphere, the scenery, mood, and impression of the beer shift little by little. Rather than simply visiting bars, this tour lets you experience the flow of Western Tokyo itself.

After visiting the taprooms, you will return to Shinjuku Station by JR Chuo Line Green Car (premium seating). If you purchase takeaway craft beer, you can enjoy it from the comfort of your Green Car seat while looking out at the Western Tokyo scenery and the neighborhoods where the beer was brewed. The return ride is not just transportation. It becomes a time to look back on the neighborhoods you visited, the beer you tasted, and the changing scenery along the Chuo Line. This tour is not just about drinking craft beer. It is a small train journey with a former JR train conductor, taking you along the Chuo Line to experience a quieter and less familiar side of Tokyo, slightly away from the usual tourist areas.