Many travellers think that Kyoto has only a few things to do after dark. Absolutely not so! Kyoto turns into a quaint night town where locals hang out for drinks, all while beautiful, red lanterns glow. Worried about local-only eateries or the language barrier? Don't worry. We are here to share with you the best ways of making the most out of Kyoto nightlife: bar hopping at local izakayas!

Izakayas are a unique aspect of our culture, special places that are hard to translate. They are a combination of a diner and a pub, where people enjoy drinking with well-paired small dishes. A traditional izakaya is usually cosy, which naturally makes people start communicating with one another.

The master at the bar and other customers, for instance.
On this bar hopping tour, you'll experience the best izakaya in the Pontocho and Kiyamachi areas that are personally handpicked by me!

At first, stroll the street of Pontocho and take some good photos in the middle of the red-lantern-dotted lane. We'll stop by the first place, where you'll sample local specialities and recommended drinks, like cold draft beer, Japanese sake, or shochu.

What's next? We will be taking you to places only the locals know and recommend, making for a one and only experience!

MagicalTrip selected the best izakaya menus, enough for a full dinner meal served at each izakaya bar. As this tour is an All-in-one bar tour you can come to tour empty-handed.

You can get your favourite food and drinks from MagicalTrip's original menu that our local guides chose for you at each izakaya and bar! You can immerse yourself in different atmospheres and try different types of drinks and dishes, all in three hours!

Our meeting spot is in front of the Izumo no Okuni statue at Gion Shijo station. After meeting up, we'll spend the next three hours pub crawling our way through some of Kyoto's best local spots. To start, our local guide will take you to an izakaya bar (a local tavern) on Pontocho street, one of the most well known night streets, full of local izakayas to grab a drink or nibble on small dishes at. While we're there, we'll have fun conversations with our local guide about Kyoto nightlife, as well as the Kyoto lifestyle. What's next? We will be taking you to places only the locals know and recommend, making for a one and only experience!

We'll continue to hop to different bars in the backstreets of Kyoto. You can try some authentic izakayas that serve yakitori or sashimi with crisp, cold draft beer. Or, if you're a sake-lover, our guide will help you navigate through a sake standing bar that serves Kyoto-made sake. You'll love every single hole-in-the-wall place that would be hard to find on your own!

Our guide will give you some tips and insider info on how to enjoy your Kyoto night. Also, we'll play some local-style games and quizzes like the locals do during this tour!
Enjoy the great bars, talk with and make local friends, and have a memorable night out in Kyoto.