Uncover Kyoto at Night in 2023: Bar Hopping in Kyoto Made Easy With These 10 Tours

Kyoto is a historic place in Japan rich with traditions, culture and aesthetics. It is one of the few cities on the planet where the past and present coexist harmoniously. But the brightest highlight of Kyoto is probably its association with Sake, the world famous Japanese drink. The city has an entire district dedicated to the drink where you can learn about Sake making and its unique history. You can tour breweries as old as 400 years old and witness the traditional process of making sake. In short, Kyoto is a delight for those who love their drink. A bar hopping tour in this city will be a wonderful opportunity to learn and understand Japan’s drinking scene and to help you out, BP Guide has put together a list of bar hopping tours available in the city. Read on to learn more.

Following is a list of 10 best bar hopping tours in Kyoto. Each of these tours are unique and is capable of giving you an unforgettable experience of the city, but what is consistent across these tours is that all of them are excellent excursions.

Magical Trip takes you to a deep exploration of Kyoto’s drinking scene. You will have an in-depth experience of Japan’s iconic izakaya culture while sampling some food and drinks that are local favourites. The fare of this experience is $100 per person.

This customizable and private tour provided by City Unscripted is a great way to learn about Kyoto’s food and drink culture. You will discover food joints and bars that are no less than hidden gems, and savour some delicious snacks and drinks. The fare per person for this tour is $235.20

This tour is provided by Beauty of Japan and is essentially a tour to explore the hidden alleys of Kyoto and find local bars loved and frequented by locals. You will savour some local drinks and snacks at various bars and understand the drinking culture of Japan. The Tour is provided for a fare of $166 per person.

This is a private tour that is ideal for you if you love exploring the intricacies of a country’s culture but hate crowds. The host will take you to offbeat alleys near famous tourist spots in Kyoto. These winding alleys are sparsely populated and are lined by bars and restaurants. Your host Mayuka will take you bar hopping in these alleys while sharing interesting trivia of the place. This Air Bnb experience can be booked for $84 per person.

Kyoto is known for its Sake and Whisky and this tour lets you savour them in various forms. You will visit both street and luxury pubs, and sample classic alcohol and cocktails. The tour is provided by Arigato Travel for $250 per person.

This tour takes you to the famous Fushimi District. It is known for producing high-quality sake, which you will get several tastings of. Besides, you will get to know all that is there to know about sake production. You will also get to check out some remarkable arts and crafts of Kyoto. Tour 1 is hosted by Anne and Lauren for $165.55 per person. You can find it on By Food.

Get to savour Japanese food and drink in its authentic form on this tour. Additionally, you will enjoy the scenic beauty along the Gokawa river and explore the Fushimi district. The Private Tour is operated by With locals for $133 per person.

This casual bar-hopping tour might be just what you need to destress. The host, Ken, will be more of a friend than a tour guide, taking you to local bars and restaurants and even to his friends’ houses should you need a cozier environment than a bar atmosphere could afford. You can get this experience for $49.22. Book it on Air BnB.

This is a simple bar hopping and food tour provided by Yu and his team. You will visit some of the best bars and restaurants in the Pontocho area and eat and drink to your fullest. This experience is available for $128.20 per person, and you can book it on By Food.

This tour promises you an action packed evening where you explore the hidden side of Kyoto by bar hopping with a lively guide. The tour is provided by Japan Wonder Travel for $82.04 a person.

The following 5 Japanese alcoholic beverages are a must try on your visit to Kyoto.

The most popular drink of Japan, Sake, is simple in its manufacturing process. The basic Sake is made from brewing koji mold, yeast, polished rice and water, but many varieties of it erupt depending on age, pasteurization, filtration and addition of distilled alcohol. Some of the most popular varieties of Sake are genshu, namazake, junmai, ginjo, daiginjo, nigori, doburoku and otoso. Irrespective of variety, Sake is a great accompaniment to dishes, especially Japanese dishes.

Sochu has been in production in Japan since the 16th century and is the most popular spirit in the country. Fermented koji mold, and a variety of household ingredients like sweet potato, buckwheat, rice, barley, sesame, brown sugar, chestnuts, perilla leaves and carrots, are distilled to produce sochu. Top quality sochu is distilled only once so the type of koji mold and base ingredient is crucial in determining the flavour. Some varieties of sochu are awamori, mugi shochu and imo shochu.

Japanese highball is a cocktail made from just two ingredients - Japanese whisky and soda water. But unlike the simple ingredient list, the recipe is elaborate and arty. The bartender first places a perfectly shaped ice cube in a tall glass before stirring it. The stirring continues until the glass becomes frosted, then excess water is removed and an extra ice cube is added. Then whisky is poured slowly into it. The bartender finishes off with soda water and another ice cube. Sometimes, a lemon wedge or peel will be added as garnish.

Chuhai ( a portmanteau of shochu and highball) is low on alcohol content but high on flavour. The cocktail is a mixture of sochu and soda served in a tall glass with ice. The soda used is usually of lime-lemon flavour but newer versions use various fruit-flavoured sodas, syrups and fruit juices. Similarly, shochu is sometimes replaced with vodka.

Umeshu is a bittersweet Japanese liqueur that has a fruity aroma. It is made by macerating ume plums in alcohol. The base of the drink is a neutral spirit, usually sochu, with ume and rock sugar added on top. A variety of other sweeteners are also used like black sugar or honey. The best feature of Umeshu by far is its versatility; it can be downed on the rocks or after diluting with soda, tea or water.