Entertainment in Kyoto
-
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
-
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
-
C
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
-
D
Ing
This bar/ izakaya on Kiyamachi is one of our favourite spots for a drink in Kyoto. It offers cheap bar snacks and drinks, good music, and friendly staff. It’s in the Royal building on the 2nd floor; you’ll know you’re getting close when you see all the hostesses out trawling for customers on the streets nearby.
reviewed
-
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
-
E
Metro
This is one of the most popular and vibrant clubs in town. It holds a variety of themed events and occasional live bands or international DJ events. It's inside exit 2 of the Keihan Marutamachi Station.
reviewed
-
F
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
-
G
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
-
H
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
-
I
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
Advertisement
-
J
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
-
K
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
-
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
-
L
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
-
M
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
-
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
-
Miyako Odori
At Gion Kōbu Kaburen-jō Theatre (祇園甲部歌舞練場), near Gion Corner; throughout April.
reviewed
-
Tadg's Irish Pub
Tadg's is our favourite bar in Kyoto. It's a delightfully convivial spot which plays host to a good crowd of expats and Japanese every night of the week. This is an easy spot for solo travellers to enter - you'll soon be drawn into the conversation. Some evenings there are open-mike nights and live Irish music.
reviewed
-
Kitano Odori
At Kamishichiken Kaburen-jō Theatre (上七軒歌舞練場), east of Kitano-Tenman-gū; 15 to 25 April.
reviewed
-
N
World
World is Kyoto’s largest club and it naturally hosts some of the biggest events. It has two floors, a dance floor and lockers where you can leave your stuff while you dance the night away. Events include everything from deep soul to reggae and techno to salsa.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
Kamogawa Odori
Held at Ponto-chō Kaburen-jō Theatre, Ponto-chō; 1 to 24 May.
reviewed
-
O
Kyoto Cinema
This new art-house theatre right downtown is a tremendously welcome addition to the Kyoto cultural scene. It rivals Kyoto Minami Kaikan as Kyoto’s best place for arty films. It’s directly connected to Shijō Station; take exit 2.
reviewed
-
Gion Odori
Held at Gion Kaikan Theatre (祇園会館) near Yasaka-jinja; 1 to 10 November.
reviewed
-
P
Kyoto Concert Hall
The Kyoto Concert Hall holds regular performances of classical music and dance (traditional and contemporary). Ticket prices average between ¥3000 and ¥5000. Check with the TIC for current schedules.
reviewed
-
Q
Café Bon Appétit
Not exactly a bar, not exactly a café, this is a fine spot to sip a drink and watch the characters of Gion stroll by. It’s near the Shira-kawa canal and right alongside some of Kyoto’s best cherry trees.
reviewed