The night before a business trip starts, the gap before you meet someone, an evening that ended earlier than expected. When time suddenly opens up in Kyoto, it is easy to be stuck for somewhere to go.
Killing time is not one thing: whether you want quiet on your own or something to do with a few others changes where you should go. Here we sort the options for a Kyoto evening by what you actually want from it.
Decide 'until when' first, and the choice gets easier
Kyoto reads as a sightseeing city, but evening hours vary widely between venues. Many restaurants close around 11pm, and past 10pm you are moving with last orders in mind.
Conversely, once you know whether you have one hour left or three, the field narrows fast. Thirty minutes to an hour means a coffee or a drink; two hours or more brings the activity venues into play.
- Under an hour left, or over two
- Check the closing time, not last orders
- The last train, or a taxi home
On your own, look for a counter
Killing time alone, the shape of the seating decides how comfortable you are. A counter puts you close to the staff, and even a short stay holds together. In a place with only tables, one person can feel unsettled.
Kyoto has many owner-run bars, and some are far easier to walk into for the first time than others. Whether you can see inside from the door, and whether prices are displayed, are useful signs.
With a few of you, somewhere with more to do than talk lasts longer
Killing time in a small group, conversation alone can run through its topics in about half an hour. With darts, karaoke or simulation golf, something physical to do, the time passes on its own.
Not everyone has to do the same thing. Where those playing and those sitting with a drink can be in the same room, a difference in interest does not split the group.
- Whether there is something to do besides talk
- Whether there is a place for those not playing
- Whether numbers can go up or down
To escape rain or heat, keep it indoors
A walk along the Kamo River or through the lanes of Pontocho is a very Kyoto way to spend an evening, but the weather decides. In the rainy season, high summer or deep winter, it is safer to secure somewhere that works entirely indoors.
Indoor venues also make availability easier to check. You avoid losing time by walking over only to find every seat taken.
Around Gion-Shijo and Kawaramachi, the options are close together
Around Gion-Shijo and Kawaramachi stations, restaurants, bars and activity venues sit within walking distance of each other. On an evening you cannot plan precisely, knowing the next candidate is a few minutes' walk away is reassuring.
Both stations have relatively late last trains, and taxis are easy to find. Counting the journey home, it makes a good base for an unplanned evening.
When you want to use the hours until late
Gion Country Club is an indoor golf and bar lounge three minutes on foot from Gion-Shijo Station, open from 7pm until 5am. Simulator golf, the bar, darts and karaoke share one space.
Clubs, gloves and shoes are lent free of charge, so you can drop in with nothing. We take single guests too, so keep us in mind when you are stuck for what to do with the hours.
Frequently asked questions
Is there anywhere in Kyoto that is easy to walk into alone at night?
Venues with counter seating and prices on display tend to be the easy ones. Gion Country Club also welcomes single guests.
How do I find somewhere open into the small hours?
Search on the closing time rather than last orders. In Kyoto, few venues stay open until morning.
Can I drop in without booking?
Sometimes, if there is space, but when your time is limited a quick phone call to check for a free seat is the certain way.
