Evening in Kyoto, after a day of temples and gardens. Plenty of visitors find themselves thinking: dinner is settled, but what comes after it?
Rather than going straight back to the hotel, it is worth adding something that lets you experience a Kyoto evening, even briefly. Here is how to build a night that adults can enjoy without wearing themselves out.
Narrow the evening down to one area
After a day on your feet, keeping the evening's distances short matters. If you are eating around Gion or Kawaramachi, looking for a bar or an activity within walking distance saves you the rest of the tiredness.
Decide as well how you are getting back and by when. If you want to stay out late, plan around taxis as well as the last train.
A quiet walk and the night views
A short stroll after dinner shows you a Kyoto quite different from the daytime one. Around Gion, though, there are homes and private land, so please respect the rules on where you may walk and what you may photograph.
In rain, or in the harder months for heat and cold, it is worth having an indoor stop planned rather than relying on the walk alone.
A taste of the Kyoto evening at a bar
A quiet bar with Kyoto craft gin or whisky is one of the classics of the evening. Beyond what you like to drink, choose the seating, counter, sofa or private room, that suits how you want to spend the time with whoever you are with.
If someone in the group does not drink, checking the range of soft drinks and whether there is anything beyond the bar to enjoy makes it much easier for everyone to join in.
Choosing a night activity
If you want to do something together rather than only talk, simulation golf, darts and karaoke are all candidates. Because they do not lean heavily on language, they are easy to share with family or with guests from abroad.
Travelling, you rarely have the equipment with you, so a venue that lends what you need is convenient. A short plan of 60 or 90 minutes is also less likely to affect the next day.
Points to check when planning the evening
Dinner often finishes later than planned. Leave at least the travel time plus a little slack before the next booking, and check how a booking can be changed.
Confirming the number of people, whether anyone is drinking, the dress, the luggage and the closing time keeps you from hesitating once you are there. With a group, one person should share the map and the booking details.
- Travel time from the restaurant
- What the activity requires you to bring
- How long you have and when it closes
- How you are getting back to your hotel
Night golf to round off a day in Kyoto
At Gion Country Club you can spend the evening with drinks and simulation golf on courses reproduced from around the world. Equipment is lent free of charge, and anyone not playing can pass the time at the bar or on the darts.
The Kyoto Night Golf Experience plan runs for 60 minutes, which makes it easy to fit in at the end of a day of sightseeing. We are three minutes' walk from Gion-Shijo Station, open from 7:00 pm to 5:00 am.
Frequently asked questions
How late can you enjoy an evening in Kyoto?
Closing times vary a great deal between venues. If you are going after dinner, check both last orders and the closing time.
Can I play simulation golf while travelling?
At a venue that lends equipment, you can play without any golf gear of your own.
Does Gion Country Club have a short plan?
Yes, including the 60-minute Kyoto Night Golf Experience plan.
