Bar entertainment in Japan
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A
A-Bar
This is a raucous student izakaya with a log-cabin interior located in the Kiyamachi area. There’s a big menu to choose from and everything’s cheap. The best part comes when they add up the bill – you’ll swear they’ve undercharged you by half. It’s a little tough to find – look for the small black-and-white sign at the top of a flight of concrete steps above a place called Reims.
reviewed
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Yasai Bar Miruya
Tiny and cheerful, with veggie-inspired specials often paired with local sakes or shōchūs (distilled spirits). The sweet, energetic hostess proudly produces a well-thumbed Japanese-English dictionary and will pass it around for anyone to share - but plan on practicing your Japanese. Get off the tram at Uoichiba-dōri and continue for two blocks, looking on the right for the pastel yellow sign. If you reach the next tram stop you've gone too far.
reviewed
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B
Gael Irish Pub
A cosy little Irish bar on the doorstep of Gion. It offers good food, excellent beer and friendly staff, as well as occasional live music. It's a great place to meet local expats and see what's going on in town. It's up a flight of steps.
reviewed
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C
Dark Room
Dark, rocky and loud, this is a cool urban rock oasis with a killer sound system, pool table, foosball, friendly dudes behind the bar and a spiral staircase leading to a fun, summer-only rooftop patio.
reviewed
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D
Bobby's Bar
One of Tokyo's longest-standing and best-known gaijin bars, perfect for those in need of a warm barstool, a dartboard and reasonably priced drinks (from around ¥500). The crowd here is always international - a good mix of long-time expats and travellers.
reviewed
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E
Voodoo Lounge
Chilled-out and spacious, Voodoo is known for good live bands and DJs most nights, quality drinks at the long wooden bar and ¥100 beer on Thursday nights from 21:00 to 22:00.
reviewed
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F
Murphy's
This is one of the oldest Irish-style pubs in Japan, and a good place to rub shoulders with local expats and Japanese. It's on the 6th floor of the Reed Plaza Shinsaibashi building, a futuristic building with what looks like a rocket moulded on the front.
reviewed
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Yoramu
Named for Yoramu, the Israeli sake expert who runs the place, this is highly recommended for anyone who wants an education in sake. It's very small and can only accommodate a handful of people. By day, it's a soba restaurant.
reviewed
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SWLABR
After the Bikan area closes down, relax with the good music and friendly staff at SWLABR. It's the green weatherboard house on the corner, a couple of blocks southeast of the station. Cocktails cost ¥600.
reviewed
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G
Recife
Arty and cool, this mellow multipurpose bar-restaurant also has DJ decks and hosts occasional parties. It's popular with locals and expat groovers, and has Latin-American eats.
reviewed
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Atlantis
This is one of the few bars on Pontochō that foreigners can walk into without a Japanese friend. It’s a slick, trendy place that draws a fair smattering of Kyoto’s beautiful people, and wannabe beautiful people. In summer you can sit outside on a platform looking over the Kamo-gawa. It’s often crowded here so you may have to wait a bit to get in, especially if you want to sit outside.
reviewed
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I
Rub-a-Dub
At the northern end of Kiyamachi-dōri, Rub-a-Dub is a funky little reggae bar with a shabby tropical look. It’s a good place for a quiet drink on weekdays, but on Friday and Saturday nights you’ll have no choice but to bop along with the crowd. Look for the stairs heading down to the basement beside the popular (and delightfully ‘fragrant’) Nagahama Rāmen shop.
reviewed
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J
Marble Room
The Marble Room is what a lot of people in the 1950s imagined the year 2000 would look like. It’s a mod space that draws Kyoto’s fashionable young set for decent drinks and snacks. If you’re over 30 here, you’ll probably feel like an antique. It’s on the 4th floor of the Pontochō Building, which has a white front.
reviewed
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K
McLoughlin's Irish Bar & Restaurant
With a fine view over the city, free wi-fi and good food, this bar is a nice place to spend an evening in Kyoto. There's a great selection of local and international craft beers. It's also a good place to meet local expats and Japanese. It hosts music events as well.
reviewed
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L
Asahi Sky Room
Spend the day at religious sites and end at the Asahi altar, on the 22nd floor of the golden-tinged Asahi Super Dry Building. Directly adjacent to the infamous Flamme d'Or sculpture (aka 'The Golden Turd') on the east bank of the Sumida River, the venue itself isn't noteworthy, but serves up Asahi brews and a spectacular view, especially at sunset.
reviewed
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M
Kamiya Bar
Kamiya holds the title of Tokyo's oldest Western-style bar, and it remains perennially popular among locals despite the rather faded atmosphere, which feels somewhat like an outdated hotel lobby.
reviewed
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N
Polé Polé
In the same building (and sharing the same owners) as Legian restaurant, this dark, grungy and friendly bar has been an institution for decades for gaijin and locals – look for the signatures of foreign exchange students. The narrow floor is littered with peanut shells (proceeds from peanut sales go to charity), and the reggae music is loud.
reviewed
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O
Agave
This amiable spot, all dolled up in warm Mexican hues and design, is more about savouring the subtleties of its 400-plus types of tequila rather than tossing back shots of Cuervo. Walking west from Roppongi Crossing, find it on the small alley on the north side of the street.
reviewed
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Safari
Hardly surprising given its name Oyafuko-dori (Disrespectful Children), this area has an interesting mix of temples, restaurants and bars. Come to Safari at 02:00 and the party's just starting; you'll want to stay till it's light outside. During weekdays it's an unassuming izakaya (Japanese version of a pub/eatery).
reviewed
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P
500 Bar
Pronounced 'gohyakubaa' this place is usually packed even on weekdays with a mix of foreign and local clientele. Every drink on the menu is ¥500, hence the name, and you can order food as well. This is one of the franchise's several locations in Sapporo, right across the street from the Susukino subway station's Nanboku line.
reviewed
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Q
Doma Doma
This easy-to-find izakaya along Jingū-dōri serves a younger crowd than the salarymen boozing it up at its Shinjuku counterparts. Order a pitcher of nama biiru (draft beer) and a few Japanese dishes off the picture menu, but beware of the more fusion-style offerings that are less hit and more miss.
reviewed
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Backgammon
On a little alley north of Sanjō-dōri, this is a late-night Kyoto institution. Small, dark and loud, it's a place for serious drinking. Check out the crow's nest drinking area at the top of the ladder - if you don't want to climb down for the next round, staff will send it up to you in a special drinks lift.
reviewed
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Dish & Bar After Glow
A few blocks east of the Ōkaidō tram stop (look for the English sign) is this excellent bistro, which boasts more than 200 varieties of wine from all over the world. Although it's tempting to choose some of the more familiar names, you can't go wrong with a chilled white from Yamanashi-ken.
reviewed
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R
Bon's
There's a sign reading 'American Bar' out front, but Bon's is about as American as anko (azuki bean paste). Look for this cosy dive on the Golden Gai's southeast corner, next to the police box. It's one of the few bars in the neighbourhood that will accommodate the odd nonregular patron.
reviewed
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S
Aux Amis des Vins
Both the informal indoor and small outdoor seating area at this wine bar feel welcoming in all seasons. A solid selection of mostly French wines comes by the glass or the bottle. You can also order small plates or full prix-fixe dinners.
reviewed
