The night you arrive by shinkansen, or a night when your hotel is by Kyoto Station. What you can choose depends on whether you stay by the station or move a little.
Kyoto Station has plenty of restaurants, but few activity venues that run late. Here is how to choose with the journey and the last train in mind.
Decide whether to stay by the station or move
Inside and around Kyoto Station there are plenty of places to eat, and for a meal alone the station area is enough. Late-opening bars and activity venues, though, cluster towards Shijo.
If you want to do something after eating, build the evening around moving from the start. Deciding to move only after you have started looking by the station wastes time.
Know how long it takes to reach Shijo
From Kyoto Station to Gion-Shijo Station, reckon on a subway and Keihan connection, or about ten minutes by taxi. Buses can be crowded even at night.
For Kawaramachi, the Karasuma subway line to Shijo Station and then a short walk is another route. Allowing around twenty minutes including the change keeps the plan intact.
- Kyoto Station to Gion-Shijo, about ten minutes by taxi
- The subway and Keihan connection time
- Buses run less often late at night
Settle where your luggage goes first
On the night you arrive you may still have a suitcase. Station lockers fill up in the late afternoon, so plan on the assumption that they may not be available.
If your hotel is near the station, checking in and leaving your bags before you move is the most certain thing. Whether a venue can hold luggage is worth asking in advance.
Decide the way back at the same time as the way out
The last trains towards Kyoto Station run around midnight, depending on the line. Coming back from Shijo, you have to leave counting back from that.
Miss it and there are two choices: a taxi, or staying until the first train. Taxis are easy to hail along Shijo-dori, so the way back is not hard to secure in that area.
- Last trains to Kyoto Station around midnight
- After that, a taxi or the first train
- Taxis are easy to hail on Shijo-dori
Moving from Kyoto Station to spend the evening in Gion
Gion Country Club is an indoor golf and bar lounge three minutes on foot from Gion-Shijo Station, open from 5pm until 5am. From Kyoto Station it is about ten minutes by taxi.
Simulation golf, the bar, darts and karaoke share one space. Equipment is lent free of charge, so you can come as you are, business luggage included.
Frequently asked questions
Can you stay out late near Kyoto Station?
Late-opening activity venues are mostly towards Shijo. Building the journey into the plan is the certain way.
How long from Kyoto Station to Gion-Shijo?
About ten minutes by taxi, or by a subway and Keihan connection. Check the time on the day.
Can we come with a suitcase?
Where luggage can go varies by venue. Tell them the size and number in advance.
