Kyoto · KYOTO NIGHTLIFE & BAR TOURS
7 reviewed
The 7 kyoto nightlife & bar tours below are the ones worth a place on a Kyoto itinerary. Each entry gives the price, the running time and who it is right for, so the choice takes a minute, not an evening.
Kyoto izakaya bars walking tour from Kawaramachi to Kiyamachi. Small group, sake tasting, local-only spots, ends at a late-night bar.
“Really good food and drinks and an excellent atmosphere on the night out!”
Walk Kyoto’s Pontocho backstreets with a certified guide, sampling 3 bars, drinks, and dishes. Small group, big local vibe.
“Had a wonderful time with our guide walking along some of the small streets in the Gion area. The bars weren’t touristy, which is a plus in my mind, and there were plenty of options of food and drinks to select from.”
A guided Kyoto bar crawl through Kawaramachi and Kiyamachi with izakaya bites, sake vibes, and alley bars you’d miss alone.
“Very much enjoyed the tour, we had a large group but Tiga did great job taking us around and sharing information on the local food and drinks.”
Kyoto afternoon izakaya cooking class at Cooking Sun. Cook home dishes, eat what you make, and take recipes home.
“A completely brilliant afternoon of making local Japanese food which we could easily make again at home. Wonderful instruction, friendly staff and we loved the food we made. A really great experience. Thank you for helping to make Japanese food accessible. Delicious.”
Hands-on izakaya cooking in Kyoto: learn dashi and seasoning, make 5–6 dishes, eat your dinner, and take home recipes with an English chef.
“I had a wonderful time learning how to cook various Japanese dishes. The food was delicious. The hosts were kind and delightful. However, they offered us a glass of sake with our meal and I assumed it was already included with what we paid for, but at the end she unexpectedly said we owed 600 yen per glass. I don’t mind paying for it but I feel like they should have said the cost when offering it.”
Kyoto local gourmet night with guided izakaya stops in Gion, Pontocho, and by the Kamogawa River, plus dinner course, desserts, and drinks.
“We had a wonderful time with Ayane! The food from all three locations was great and each provided a unique experience. The small group setting made it feel more personalized.”
Kyoto’s Pontocho at night: a small-group English bar-hopping tour with 3–4 izakaya stops, dinner-scale food, and drinks.
“The tour was great and Miku, our guide was lovely. She took us to unique spots and had everything reserved/pre-arranged. It was a good way to get to learn the area on our first night in Kyoto and it included a lot of drinks and food, definitely worth the money.”
