Entertainment in Japan
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Pasela
Pasela boasts decor that is a cut above the other yodelling parlours, as well as six floors of karaoke rooms including swanky VIP suites. There's an extensive selection of Western songs, wine and sweets on the menu, and a decent Mexican bar-restaurant in the basement. From 5pm to 7pm it's karaoke happy hour – ¥400, including one drink.
reviewed
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Session House
Dance aficionados consider Session House one of the best traditional, folk and modern dance spaces in the city. The theatre seats only 100 people, ensuring an intimate and memorable performance. Exit right from Kagurazaka Station, make a right into the first narrow alley, and turn left where it dead-ends. Session House will be a few metres on your right.
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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Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra
Founded in Nagoya in 1911, the Tokyo Philharmonic is Japan's oldest and largest orchestra with 166 members. Featuring distinguished foreign soloists and conductors and a perennial presence on the NHK TV New Year's special, the Philharmonic is based at Tokyo Opera City in Shinjuku but also performs at Suntory Hall in the Ark Hills complex in Akasaka ( M052C) and at Bunkamura Orchard Hall (M04FD) in Shibuya.
reviewed
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Za Kōenji
Za Kōenji stages Japanese and foreign contemporary plays, dance, music and storytelling events. Designed by Itō Toyō, this architecturally splendid venue in western Tokyo opened in May 2009. It houses three theatres, a literature archive and the very sleek cafe Henri Fabre. A rehearsal hall here is set aside for the neighbourhood’s summer Awa Ōdori dance parade.
reviewed
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D
Sasashū
Sasashū is a highly respected sake specialist maintaining a dignified old facade amid west Ikebukuro's strip joints. If you lack Japanese-language ability, ask for omakase (chef's choice).
reviewed
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Zappa
Unbeatable if you’re looking for a more intimate venue. It’s a cosy little place that once played host to David Bowie (he’s said to have discovered the place by chance and decided to drop in for a drink). Zappa serves savoury Southeast Asian fare and a few Japanese titbits for good measure. It’s down a narrow alley; turn south at the wooden torii (shrine gate).
reviewed
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China
This hip izakaya offers a great deal - for the first 45 minutes, frosty Orion beers and awamori cost ¥100 assuming you order one food plate per person. With the full range of Okinawan delicacies on offer, you shouldn't have too many problems choosing what to eat. China is 100m off Kokusai-dōri on Ichigin-dōri - look for the English sign and hanging red flags.
reviewed
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Beer Bar Bitter
This mellow Euro-bar in Kagurazaka has a super selection of Belgian beers from around ¥900, as well as snacks such as Iberico ham (¥1300). Going up Kagurazaka hill, look for the fourth lane on your right, called Honda-yokochō ( 本多横町 ). Go down it until you see a pale, three-story building on your right with a red yakitori lantern hanging outside. Take the stairs on the right.
reviewed
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Gion Corner
The shows presented here are a sort of crash course in Japanese traditional arts. You get a chance to see snippets of the tea ceremony, koto music, ikebana, gagaku (court music), kyōgen (ancient comic plays), Kyōmai (Kyoto-style dance) and bunraku (puppet plays).
reviewed
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National Bunraku Theatre
Although bunraku (puppet theatre) did not originate in Osaka, the art form was popularised at this theatre. Today it is attempting to revive the fortunes of bunraku. Performances are only held at certain times of the year: check with the tourist information offices. Tickets normally start at around ¥2300; earphones and programme guides in English are available.
reviewed
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Kokuritsu Nō-gakudō
The National Nō Theatre stages its own productions (for which written English synopses are provided), but also hosts privately sponsored performances of nō (stylised dance-drama). To get there, exit Sendagaya Station with Shinjuku to your left and follow the road that hugs the railway tracks. The theatre is on the left.
reviewed
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National Nō Theatre
The National Nō Theatre stages its own nō (classical Japanese musical dramas) performances on weekends only, for which it provides printed English synopses, but it also hosts privately-sponsored performances. Exit Sendagaya Station in the direction of Shinjuku on the left and follow the road that hugs the railway tracks; the theatre will be on the left.
reviewed
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K
Minami-za Theatre
This grand theatre in Gion is the oldest kabuki venue in Japan and it's a great place to get acquainted with this most beguiling of Japanese theatrical arts. The major event of the year is the Kao-mise Festival (1 to 26 December), which features Japan's finest kabuki actors. Other performances take place on an irregular basis. Ask at the tourist information centre or at your lodgings for help with ticket purchase. Tour companies can also help with tickets.
reviewed
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Chakura
In the heart of Kokusai-dōri, Chakura is a celebrated 'live house' run by local music maverick Kina Shōkichi. Kina-san and his band, Champloose, perform here nightly (when not touring). Although there is a small English sign, Chakura is fairly non-descript, though it's famous enough that most locals can point it out to you if you're having problems finding it.
reviewed
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Pig & Whistle
The Pig is a British-style pub with darts, pint glasses, and fish and chips. While many of its patrons have moved on to other venues, we still like this place for its relaxed layout and homey interior. The two main drawcards are Guinness on tap and friendly bilingual staff. The Pig’s on the 2nd floor of the Shobi building near the Sanjō-Kawabata crossing.
reviewed
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Jumbo Karaoke Hiroba
Expats love this place as it’s in the same building as the Pig & Whistle – and more than one drunken evening has started at the Pig and moved on to this place! There’s a decent selection of English songs and the price includes all drinks. There’s also a Sanjō Kawaramachi branch in Downtown Kyoto.
reviewed
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Kyō Odori
Held at Miyagawa-chō Kaburen-jō Theatre (宮川町歌舞練場), east of the Kamo-gawa between Shijō-dōri and Gojō-dōri; from the first to the third Sunday in April.
reviewed
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Osaka Nōgaku Hall
A five-minute walk east of Osaka Station, this hall holds nō (stylised dance-drama) shows about twice a month, most of which cost ¥5000 to ¥6000.
reviewed
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Sake Plaza
Sake Plaza isn’t a bar, but who cares when you can get five thimbles of regionally brewed sake for only ¥525. This showroom and tasting space is a perfect way to start the night while learning about the national drink. It’s on the ground floor of the Japan Sake Brewers Association Building ( 日本酒造会館 ).
reviewed
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Green Plaza Ladies Sauna
Women also have a place to wash and crash in Kabukichō. This central, 24-hour sentō (public bath) and spa for women is a calming refuge, where you can get a massage after you bathe, have a bite to eat, and then blissfully snooze away until the morning trains begin running. Best of all, there's a rooftop rotemburo (outdoor bath).
reviewed
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Medata-ya
Located in the older part of town, this bar recreates the mid- to late-Shōwa period, some 40 years ago. A selection of canned food including sardines, spam, and unusual items such as bees in oil are stacked across the bar and can even be purchased as a light snack. There's plenty of ales to choose from, though Sapporo Red Star is the preferred lager.
reviewed
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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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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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Eggman
Follow the spiral staircase to the basement to hear blues, rock or light jazz musicians get down low. Most acts are local and of the lighter, sweeter variety. Show up to see whether tickets aren’t completely sold out on a given night, and be sure to take a quick listen at the door to sample before committing. Most shows commence at around 7pm.
reviewed