Geishas walking down a Kyoto street
© 123fr.com / Naomi Hasegawa
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Kyoto Nightlife
The soul of Kyoto’s nightlife is between Shijo-dori and Sanjo-dori, sandwiched by the Kamogawa River to the east and Kawaramachi to the west. Pontocho is a narrow food street just east of Kiyamachi, with numerous restaurants and bars overlooking the Kamogawa River. You might spot a geisha apprentice (maiko) in Pontocho or Gion, another traditional nightlife district in Kyoto.
Kyoto also has a rich urban culture and an artistic and cultural scene second to none in Japan. Renewed local and international interest in the geisha tradition has helped preserve much of the city’s living arts.
Bars in Kyoto
A Bar
A Bar is a Kyoto classic, a Japanese pub (izakaya) and restaurant with a lively yet relaxed atmosphere, fun and friendly staff and an excellent selection of reasonably-priced food and drink.
2/F Reiho Building, Nishi Kiyamachi, Kyoto
Tel: (075) 213 2129.
Website: www.a-bar.net/p
Ace Café
Ace Café is a lounge bar with superb views of the eastern hills that attracts a young and funky crowd.
10F Empire Building, Kiyamachi Sanjo agaru, Kyoto
Tel: (075) 241 0009.
Website: www.ace-cafe.com
Ishimaru Shoten
Don't be put off trying to find Ishimaru Shoten down a narrow alley in the middle of the Kiyamachi nightlife district - look for the #13 sign at the alley entrance. This cosy Japanese-style bar is always crowded and welcomes tourists and locals alike.
13 Roji (Alley), Kiyamachi, Shijo-agaru, Kyoto
Tel: (075) 213 0966.
La Gallega
La Gallega is a Spanish tapas and standing bar near Sanjo station which looks out onto a Zen-style rock garden. Excellent value at Happy hour (1800-2000).
Kyouen Complex, Yamato-oji-dori, Kyoto
Tel: (075) 533 7206.
Website: http://kyouen.jp/english/shop/lagallega.html
The Gael Irish Pub
The Gael Irish Pub is another friendly place in Kyoto that is great for hearty food and drink as well as for socialising.
2/F Ohto Building (west of Nawate-dori) , Kyoto
Tel: (075) 525 0680.
Website: http://irishpubkyoto.com
Clubs in Kyoto
Club Metro
Club Metro is a friendly underground disco and music club at Jingu-Marutamachi station (by exit 2) on the Keihan line. Open to most musical genres, it draws a varied crowd.
B1F Ebisu Building, Kawabata-Marutamachi, Saykyo-ku, Kyoto
Tel: (075) 752 2787.
Website: www.metro.ne.jp
Club World
Club World is a cavernous Kyoto nightclub that hosts local and international DJs.
97 Shinmachi Shijo-agaru Nishi-Kiyamachi, Kyoto
Tel: (075) 213 4119.
Website: www.world-kyoto.com
Sam & Dave
Sam & Dave is a popular dance club with hip-hop and house music nights.
3/F FS-Kiyamachi Building, 179 Zaimoku-cho, Kyoto
Tel: (075) 211 8998.
Website: www.samanddave.jp
Live Music in Kyoto
Live Spot Rag
Live Spot Rag is a well-established jazz venue that attracts both international and Japanese acts.
5/F Kyoto Empire building, Kiyamachi dori Sanjo agaru, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto
Tel: (075) 255 7273.
Website: www.ragnet.co.jp
Taku Taku
Taku Taku is a great warehouse club that has been around since 1974 and occasionally hosts gigs by international stars. Most of the time it is local pop and rock acts that provide the entertainment.
Tominokoji Bukkoji sagaru, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto
Tel: (075) 351 1321.
Website: www.geisya.or.jp/~takutaku
UrbanGuild
UrbanGuild is an 'underground' live music venue hosting consistently interesting acts.
3/F New-Kyoto Building, 181-2 Zaimoku-cho, Kyoto
Tel: (075) 212 1125.
Website: www.urbanguild.net
Culture in Kyoto
Kanze Kaikan Noh and Kongo Noh Theatres
See traditional Noh performances to the west of Kyoto Imperial Palace at the Kongo Noh Theater and south of the Heian Shrine at the Kanze Kaikan Noh Theater. Noh - or Nogaku - is a major form of classical Japanese art combining dance, drama, music and poetry, that has been performed since the 14th century.
Kongo Noh Theatre
Karasuma-dori, Ichijo-sagaru, Kimikyo-ku, Kyoto
Tel: (075) 441 7222.
Website: www.kongou-net.com
Kanze Kaikan Noh Theatre
44 Enshoji-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto
Tel: (075) 771 6114.
Website: www.kyoto-kanze.jp
Kyoto Concert Hall
Kyoto Concert Hall, home to Kyoto Symphony Orchestra, has a lovely, very modern, exterior design and fantastic acoustics inside. The large hall is home to the city's symphony orchestra, while the smaller hall is more suitable for chamber music.
1-26 Hangi-cho Shimogamo, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto
Tel: (075) 711 2980.
Website: www.kyoto-ongeibun.jp/kyotoconcerthall_e
Kyoto Kaikan Hall
Classical music performances are also given at the Kyoto Kaikan Hall, a culture and conference centre with several big assembly halls, the largest of which can take more than 2,000 people.
13 Saishoji-cho Okazaki, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto
Tel: (075) 771 6051.
Website: www.kyotoconcerthall.org/kyotokaikan
Kyoto Prefectural Citizen's Hall
An excellent performing arts venue (for music, dance and theatre) is the 560-seat Kyoto Prefectural Citizen's Hall.
590-1 Tatsumae-cho, Karasuma-dori, Ichijo sagaru, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto
Tel: (075) 441 1414.
Website: www.alti.org
Kyoto Theatre
The Kyoto Theatre is located in the JR Kyoto Station building and puts on classic and modern western plays and musicals.
Kyoto Station building, Shiokoji-sagaru, Karasuma-dori, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto
Tel: (075) 353 3551.
Website: www.kyoto-gekijo.com
Minamiza Kabuki Theatre
Kyoto's most famous theatre and one of the city's cultural landmarks is the Minamiza Kabuki Theatre in Gion. It is the birthplace of kabuki, one of Japan's most famous traditional performing art forms, which combines high drama, dance and music in an extremely stylised manner. Not only kabuki plays, but also concerts and rakugo (traditional comic storytelling) performances are held here.
Shijo-ohashi-bridge, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto
Tel: (075) 561 1155.
Website: www.shochiku.co.jp/play/minamiza/index.html
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