🍺 Bars & izakaya in Pontocho
12 well-rated bars spots within a 15-minute walk of central Pontocho, 10 of them open past midnight. Regular hours from Google; refreshed daily on demand. Confirm special hours before visiting.
Most bars in Pontocho are small — six to fifteen seats is normal — so the easiest way to drink here is to hop: one or two drinks per place, then move on. Izakaya (Japanese pubs) are the safest first stop if you also want to eat; standing bars (tachinomi) are the cheapest.
Expect a seat charge (otoshi) of roughly ¥300–¥800 at sit-down izakaya, which comes with a small dish. Cash is still common at older places, so carry some yen. Most bars open around 17:00–18:00 and many run past midnight.
Bars & izakaya near central Pontocho
Sorted by rating. Distances are from Pontocho's centre. Hours come from Google and can change — the "open past midnight" mark means the place closes between 00:00 and 06:00 on at least one day.
- Open past midnight1.OAGE★ 5.0 (806)457m · 6 min walk walkKyoto, Nakagyo Ward, Kamiyachō, 371 テナントビル 2階
- Open past midnight2.Sana★ 5.0 (742)724m · 9 min walk walkKyoto, Shimogyo Ward, Ichinochō, 240-1 河原町アペックスビル２ 4階
- Open past midnight★ 4.9 (645)773m · 10 min walk walk570-209 Gionmachi Minamigawa, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto
- Open past midnight★ 4.8 (529)262m · 3 min walk walkKyoto, Nakagyo Ward, 南車屋町２８８－２０１ 京都ロイヤルビル２階
- ★ 4.9 (423)474m · 6 min walk walkKyoto, Higashiyama Ward, Nijūikkenchō, 233 KONAビル ２F
- Open past midnight★ 4.8 (474)496m · 6 min walk walkKyoto, Shimogyo Ward, Shinchō, 97 京都イマージアムビル 3F
- Open past midnight★ 5.0 (352)111m · 1 min walk walkKyoto, Nakagyo Ward, Ishiyachō, 122番地7
- Open past midnight★ 4.9 (309)238m · 3 min walk walkKyoto, Nakagyo Ward, Ebisuchō, 424
- Open past midnight★ 4.7 (384)482m · 6 min walk walkKyoto, Shimogyo Ward, 小橋西入ル真町455 第一小橋会館ビル3F
- Open past midnight★ 5.0 (232)505m · 6 min walk walk347-98 Gionmachi Kitagawa, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto
- ★ 5.0 (163)565m · 7 min walk walkKyoto, Higashiyama Ward, Yamatochō, 6−5 ラテンビルⅡ 201
- Open past midnight★ 4.5 (272)241m · 3 min walk walkKyoto, Nakagyo Ward, Kitakurumayachō, 267 佐野ビル B1F
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Read before you go
Plan your night in Pontocho
First night in Pontocho? Go with a local guide
A guided bar-hopping or food tour gets you into the tiny places that are hard to walk into alone — and you learn how ordering works before you go solo the next night.
See tours in Pontocho on KlookStay within walking distance of the nightlife
The last train leaves around midnight. A hotel near Pontocho's bars means you can stay out as late as you like and walk home.
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Bars & izakaya in Pontocho: common questions
What time do bars in Pontocho close?
Izakaya typically close between 23:00 and 01:00; smaller bars often stay open until 02:00–05:00, especially on Friday and Saturday. The list on this page shows today's hours for each place, and marks the ones that run past midnight.
Do bars in Pontocho have English menus?
Chains and places near major stations usually have English or picture menus; tiny neighbourhood bars often don't. Pointing at what someone else is drinking works everywhere, and "nama biiru" (draft beer) or "haibooru" (highball) are understood at any bar in Japan.
Is there a cover charge at bars in Pontocho?
Many izakaya add an otoshi (seat charge) of about ¥300–¥800 per person, which includes a small appetiser. Some cocktail bars and Golden Gai-style micro-bars charge ¥500–¥1,000 instead. It is not a scam — but if a place has no posted prices at all, choose another one.