3 Pub Crawls in Kyoto to Build a Day Around

1.Kyoto Bar Hopping Night Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 613 reviews · from $105Our pick

Meet near Gion Shijo Station and follow a MagicalTrip guide through Pontocho or Kiyamachi for three local bars. You’ll enjoy 3 to 4 drinks, a full dinner of izakaya dishes, and Kyoto-made sake, with guides such as Nami, Yumi, Noriko, and Yaya bringing local context to the night.

“We had an amazing night wandering through the backstreets and alleyways of Kyoto. Our host guided us to hidden gems, where we sampled a variety of local dishes—some we loved, others not as much, but that’s the thrill of trying new things. I also discovered a newfound appreciation for the Japanese Highball! If you ever find yourself in Kyoto, this experience is a must.”

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2.Bar Hopping Tour in Pontocho Alley at Night

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

Meet at Gion Shijo Station and follow an English-speaking local guide through Pontocho and Kiyamachi. Visit three Japanese bars, enjoy 3 to 4 drinks and enough small dishes for dinner, and learn how to order, chat, and drink like a local. Groups are limited to six people.

“The tour, Hide, was the defining feature of the night. Warm, confident and knowledgeable, easy to speak with Hide genuinely made the night enjoyable with his conversation and engaging manner. Each stop was interesting and each venue visited had amazing food and good drink, each being charming in their own way and the staff of each establishment gracious with their hospitality. The tour selected well, the night enhanced by the guide, meaning it fell much like a friendly get together than anything else. Would recommend my friends to this night, confident their experience would be as amazing as mine.”

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

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · from $52Best value

Join Takeshi for a private, three-hour evening through Kyoto’s WAKUWAKU area. Visit three local drinking spots: a standing bar, an izakaya, and a whisky bar. You choose the company, while Takeshi handles the local introductions. Food and drinks cost extra, with spending capped at about ¥6,000.

“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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