Izakaya house (kaikan / 会館) is a machiya townhouse (machiya / 町屋) or a retro building that is crammed with tiny bars and restaurants (primarily izakayas / 居酒屋). It’s said to be more than 60 kaikans in Kyoto. Here are the most famous, top 1% of kaikans in Kyoto:
Yontomi Kaikan (四富会館)
The facade of Yontomi Kaikan.
At Teshima in Yontomi Kaikan. 7/10
Yontomi Kaikan (四富会館) is probably the most famous kaikan of all mainly because it’s located in a Shijo Kawaramachi area that is considered Downtown Kyoto. Yontomi Kaikan is known for tiny izakayas serving reasonable, high-quality food.
Yontomi Kaikan (四富会館) | 615 Nishidaimonjicho, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, 〒604-8054, Japan
Shinobu Kaikan (しのぶ会館)
The facade of Shinobu Kaikan.
At Tatsumi in Shinobu Kaikan. 7/10
Shinobu Kaikan (しのぶ会館) is also in Downtown Kyoto. It’s famous for an izakaya “Tatsumi (たつみ)” that is per se counted as one of the big three of Kyoto’s best izakayas.
Shinobu Kaikan (しのぶ会館) | 572 Nakanocho, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, 〒604-8042, Japan
Takase Kaikan (たかせ会館)
The facade of Takase Kaikan.
At Bar Kisaragi in Takase Kaikan. 9/10
Takase Kaikan (たかせ会館) is the second oldest building in the Kiyamachi (木屋町) area in Downtown Kyoto according to Takase Kaikan’s Facebook page. In Kiyamachi, the heaven/hell for dive bar lovers and nightclub-goers, Takase Kaikan accommodates chef-driven izakayas, hole-in-a-wall bars, good old karaoke bars, and more.
Takase Kaikan (たかせ会館) | 367-2 Kamiyacho, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, 〒604-8024, Japan
Shinjuku Kaikan (新宿会館)
Inside Shinjuku Kaikan.
At an izakaya in Shinjuku Kaikan.
Two stations and three minutes away from Downtown Kyoto’s Kyoto Kawaramachi Station (京都河原町) is Omiya Station (大宮) in Shijo Omiya (四条大宮) where Shinjuku Kaikan (新宿会館) is located. It accommodates Japanese snack bar-style karaoke bars and downright good izakayas for local commuters on a budget.
Shinjuku Kaikan (新宿会館) | 32 470 Shichikencho, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, 〒604-8366, Japan
Orizuru Kaikan (折鶴会館)
The facade of Orizuru Kaikan.
At a karaoke bar in Orizuru Kaikan.
One more station from Shinjuku Kaikan at Omiya Station is Saiin Station (西院) where Orizuru Kaikan (折鶴会館) is located nearby. It’s much less touristy than the other kaikans.
Orizuru Kaikan (折鶴会館) | 15 Saiinkozanjicho, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto, 〒615-0012, Japan
Rido Shokudogai (リド飲食街)
The facade of Rido Shokudogai.
At a karaoke bar in Rido Shokudogai.
Rido Inshokugai (“Inshokugai / 飲食街” means “eat and drink town”.) is at the Karasuma Shichijo (烏丸七条) crossing known for a KYOTO RAINBOW PRIDE route near Kyoto Station. Rumor has it that Rido Shokudogai was named after a musical theatre in Paris, which explains Kyoto’s unspoken nature of being an unconditional Francophile. Thus very Kyoto.
With the other two kaikans, Yontomi Kaikan in Downtown Kyoto and Orizuru Kaikan in Saiinn, Rido Shokudogai is considered one of the big three of kaikans in Kyoto.
Inside Rido Inshokugai. The archetype of what modern Japanese people consider as “deep/ディープ” is here.
Rido Shokudogai (リド飲食街) | 180 Higashisakaicho, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, 〒600-8217, Japan
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