Arrive in Aki, a town in Kochi Prefecture on Japan’s Shikoku island, where a compact and walkable drinking scene sits close to the town center. Meet your local guide and step into a part of Kochi that moves at its own pace — where izakayas and small local bars line the streets and regulars gather after work.

The guide orients you to the area and sets the tone for the evening ahead. From there, move through up to three different drinking spots across Aki’s bar districts, each within walking distance of the last. At every venue, settle in, order from the menu, and take in the atmosphere at your own pace before moving on.

The guide helps bridge any language gap and points out what makes each spot worth visiting, from the style of drinks served to the character of the crowd inside. By the end of the route, finish the night having visited three separate local venues, each with its own feel and place in Aki’s drinking culture.

The food and drinks you order along the way are yours to choose — the experience closes with a genuine cross-section of how locals in this corner of Kochi spend their evenings.