7 Nightlife Experiences in Kyoto, Compared on Price

1.Izakaya Bars Guided Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 815 reviews · 3 hours · from $25Our pick

Spend three hours walking Kyoto’s Kawaramachi and Kiyamachi districts with an English-speaking local guide. You’ll hear about the area, visit izakayas and bars that can be hard to find on your own, and sample food and drinks at your own expense. Guides have included Moto, Taiga, Mia, and Lyou. The group is usually 5 to 10 people, and the tour is for ages 20 and over.

“Really good food and drinks and an excellent atmosphere on the night out!”

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2.Kyoto Bar Hopping Night Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 613 reviews · from $105Top rated

Spend about three hours walking Kyoto’s Pontocho or Kiyamachi backstreets with a MagicalTrip guide, stopping at three local izakaya and bars. The $105.42 price includes three to four drinks, three to four dishes, and tour photos. Guides such as Yumi, Noriko, and Josh have led memorable outings, though the guide and venues can vary.

“This is a fun experience with a knowledgeable guide. Plenty of food (light meals) and drinks to try. All three locations were nice and varied. Our guide was awesome! I even got a Japanese name.”

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3.Kyoto Private Night Tour with a Local – Bars, Bites & Culture

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 48 reviews · from $150

Take a private evening walk through Kyoto’s Gion and Pontocho with a local host, tailoring the route to your interests. Expect lantern-lit lanes, Tatsumi Bridge, Yasaka Shrine and, if you are lucky, a glimpse of a geisha. Two drinks are included, with food and extra drinks at your own cost.

“Gion area and the other part of the city center in the night time is so different. Although this night tour is more for the bar-hopping, but guide Kenya has adjusted the itinerary to show us various aspects of night Kyoto where only locals know.”

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4.Bar Hopping Tour in Pontocho Alley at Night

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 18 reviews · 3h 30m · from $120

Meet your English-speaking guide at Gion Shijo Station, then spend 3.5 hours around Pontocho and Kiyamachi, visiting three local bars for Japanese drinks and 3 to 4 dishes. The small group is limited to six. Guides have included Miku, J, and Hide, though you cannot count on a particular guide.

“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.”

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5.KITSUNE Nightclub Admission Ticket with Drink

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 13 reviews · 1 day · from $3Best value

KITSUNE KYOTO is a late-night club in central Kyoto, with SEA and LAND themed floors, DJ performances, and a ticket that includes one or two drinks depending on the plan. Bring your passport, check which date your ticket covers, and expect music and dancing from 10 PM until 5 AM.

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6.Izakaya Nightlife Tour with Local Guide

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · 3 hours · from $80

Join local guide Hiro for a three-hour private evening walk through Kyoto’s nightlife districts, with food and drinks at one or two izakayas. Expect help ordering, English-language conversation about Japanese culture, and a taste of dishes such as yakitori, gyoza, and kushiyaki.

“Tour meraviglioso! Hiro ci ha portato a spasso per le stradine di Kyoto proponendo izakaya non turistiche con piatti eccellenti. Lui vi saprà accogliere come un amico in una serata Nomikai indimenticabile, tra spiedini Kushiyaki e qualche birra di troppo 😄. Non avrete nessun problema con la lingua inglese in quanto il tour operator viene spesso in Europa per lavoro! Inoltre sarà molto presente in fase di prenotazione, ti metterà a tuo agio e non avrai nessun tipo di difficoltà: figuratevi che mi ha contattato tramite whatsapp per conoscerci meglio prima dell’incontro! Regalo di matrimonio riuscitissimo, non potevo fare scelta migliore”

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7.Bar Hopping Private Tour in Kyoto(WAKUWAKU area)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · from $52

Join Kyoto guide Takeshi for a private, three-hour evening of local bar hopping, with stops planned around a standing bar, a Japanese-style pub, and a whisky bar. The tour starts and ends at McDonald’s Shijo-Omiya, begins at 7 pm, and is limited to your group of up to four. Food and drinks cost extra.

“We loved exploring the small bars while we would never consider to enter on our own. Our host was very friendly and clearly enjoyed sharing his city with us. For a sense of how locals eat and drink we highly recommend this tour!”

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