Bars & Nightlife · Kiyamachi
Kiyamachi-dori Bar Strip 木屋町通
Willow-lined street beside the little Takase canal, packed with bars, izakaya and clubs between Shijo and Nijo. Kyoto's liveliest and most casual drinking district.
Seating charge (some bars): ¥500
About
Kiyamachi follows the Takasegawa, a shallow 17th-century canal cut to ship goods into the city, and the cherry and willow trees along it make it one of Kyoto's prettiest streets after dark. The southern section near Shijo is student territory with cheap izakaya chains, karaoke and standing bars; north of Sanjo it gets quieter and more grown-up, with craft-beer bars, whisky dens and good counter restaurants upstairs in narrow buildings. The cherry blossoms over the canal in early April are spectacular, and the lantern reflections on the water make for great night photos.
Highlights
- Takasegawa canal lined with cherry trees and willows
- Hundreds of bars, from student izakaya to whisky dens
- Quieter, more adult stretch between Sanjo and Nijo
- Cherry blossoms over the canal in early April
- Five minutes from Pontocho, so easy to combine
Tips
- Ignore street touts near Shijo; pick bars yourself
- North of Sanjo is the better area for cocktail and whisky bars
- Many bars charge a seating fee (otoshi or table charge)
- Last trains leave Kyoto-kawaramachi around 0:00
Open in Google Maps · Info checked 2026-10-09
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Open in the appNearby
- Pontocho Kaburenjo TheatreShows & Entertainment · 110 m away
- Umezono KawaramachiCafé & Sweets · 110 m away
- Kamogawa Riverbank (Sanjo to Shijo)Beach & Waterfront · 130 m away
- Bar Cordon NoirBars & Nightlife · 130 m away
- Rokuyosha CoffeeCafé & Sweets · 170 m away
- Bar Atlantis (Pontocho)Bars & Nightlife · 210 m away
- Don Quijote Kyoto Shijo KawaramachiUnique Store · 210 m away
- Sanjo Ohashi BridgeBridge · 230 m away