Inside Kyoto

A Kyoto Travel Guide

Best Izakaya in Kyoto

Izakaya and sake specialists (they’re almost the same thing) are everywhere in Osaka. Spending an evening in an izakaya is one of the best ways to really experience this city – you’ll sample great food, meet the locals, and drink some fabulous sake or beer.

The entrance ot Akagakiya.
Akagakiya izakaya in Kyoto. – image © Florentyna Leow

There are quite literally thousands of izakaya in the city. You’ll find a high concentration of izakaya around every train station in town. They’re particularly abundant near Shin-Osaka Station, JR Osaka Station, Hankyu Umeda Station, Shinsaibashi Station and Tennoji Station. Here’s a list of our favorite izakaya in Osaka.

  • Kikkoya (Downtown Kyoto; mid-range)
    Eating out in Kyoto doesn’t have to be fancy, multi-course affairs all the time. We love obanzai places like Kikkoya in downtown Kyoto, which serve up homestyle cooking that’s heavy on the vegetables as well as flavour.
  • Suiba Shijo Kawaramachiten (Downtown Kyoto; budget to mid-range)
    For a fun, inexpensive night out with friends, try a standing izakaya like Suiba in Shijo Kawaramachi. Good, cheap food and drink – what more could you ask for from dinner?
  • Jojo (Kyoto Station; mid-range)
    A good casual izakaya (Japanese-style dining pub) within walking distance of Kyoto Station, Jojo is one of our favorite restaurants in the Kyoto Station area.
  • Renkon-ya (Downtown Kyoto; mid-range)
    Centrally located, friendly, and serves delicious homestyle food – what’s not to like about Renkon-ya? This izakaya in downtown Kyoto near Sanjo Station is a cozy little restaurant that’s popular with the locals.
  • Akagakiya (Downtown Kyoto; mid-range)
    If you’re into non-touristy dining, you’re in luck. Ultra-local Akagakiya near Sanjo serves up a slice of old-school Kyoto atmosphere along with its tasty izakaya classics.

Best Kyoto Restaurant Recommendations

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Chris Rowthorn

About InsideKyoto.com and Chris Rowthorn

  • Chris Rowthorn is the co-founder of InsideKyoto.com and has an unparalleled travel knowledge of Kyoto spanning three decades. Chris has written or commissioned and edited every page on the Inside Kyoto website.
  • A former author of Lonely Planet Kyoto and Lonely Planet Japan guidebooks, Chris is also the director of the Kyoto walking tour company Chris Rowthorn Tours, and Japan Travel Consulting, where you can get bespoke travel advice for your Japan trip.
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