If music is your "raison d'être," Kyoto is going to quietly blow your mind.  This city, with its blend of metropolitan culture and small-town vibes, has got an incredibly special music scene, filled with people who have devoted their lives to keeping music, and the surrounding community, alive.  The scene is best discovered by chance on long, rambling walks through tiny alleys, but if you’re short on time…

I present to you my shortlist, developed over years of getting wonderfully lost in Kyoto’s record stores, livehouses, jazz cafés, and tiny bars. 

Save it, share it, but only with those you deem deserving ;)

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Recommendations are sorted by genre/area and there’s a quick reference at the bottom. For the purposes of this list, ‘downtown’ refers to the Kiyamachi/Pontocho/Kawaramachi area- roughly Oike to Matsubara.

Gentle reminder: Most of these are tiny, independently run spaces. Order a drink, support the artists, be patient, and enjoy them the way locals do.

→ For a deeper dive on our favorite Kyoto record stores, check this out: Record Stores & River Walks: 48 Hours in Kyoto for Vinyl Lovers

Radio - First things first, if you want to truly feel embedded in the sound of Kyoto, you’ve simply gotta invest in a one thousand yen-ish radio from Yodobashi Camera or Don Quixote, then just walk everywhere with insanely catchy old Japanese pop, new bangers, traditional shamisen music, classical tunes, Thai community hour, et al, blessing your ears. I once chanced upon a You've Got Mail themed radio hour on a walk to work. Try it. It just might change your trip.

Stay - We recommend Kabin Koji because it's literally next door to the legendary livehouse Taku Taku, but honestly all of our Kabin hotels in Kyoto are well positioned to get you to any of these joints, on foot, by river walk, or a quick bus, train or taxi.

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Livehouses & Clubs

Downtown/Kiyamachi

Takutaku - Hosts bigger international and local acts but still indie at its core. One of Kyoto's most legendary stages. You will love the atmosphere. Downtown, close to Nishiki market. Map · IG: @takutaku_kyoto

Mingle - Tiny indie venue with its own cassette tape chandelier. Completely smitten. Feels like family. Kiyamachi area downtown. Map · IG: @minglekyoto

DNA Paradise - Underground DJ and dance capital, packed in a way that feels chaotic but friendly. Please respect this scene. Kiyamachi area. Map · IG: @dna_paradise

Urbanguild - Experimental, indie, and wonderfully difficult to categorize. Also serves surprisingly great curry. Downtown Kiyamachi. Map · IG: @urbanguild

Club World - When you just want to dance in a den that feels like a mix between the Flintstones’ cave and an underground amphitheater - this is your spot.  

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North/Northeast

Cafe Montage - Beloved classical music nook with at least a handful of serious classical performances each month. Doubles as a classical record cafe during the day.  Just north of downtown, close to Teramachi market / Imperial Palace Gardens. Map · IG: @cafemontage_kyoto

Club Metro - Epic club hosting everything from '80s DJ nights and artsy drag shows to pop and punk gigs. Bedecked in old school lockers to drop your gear in so you can dance hands-free. Under the stairs inside Jingu Marutamachi Station, hence the name. Map · IG: @metro_kyoto

Zac Baran - Kyoto live jazz mainstay~ Come for assorted jazz and other live music spectacles, cocktails, and oden in winter. Map · IG: @zac.baran.kyoto

Pop! Pizza - Punk & indie acts, film screenings, unhinged dance parties, and pizza, of course. It’s NY style and damn good - thanks to gregarious owner and NY native, Dan.  Occasional thick clouds of smoke that can be charming unless you are allergic. Up the street from Meditations, Honto Records. Map · IG: @poppizzakyoto

Socrates - Punk headquarters of Kyoto. This place is full of passion, friendly faces, and punk as hell. This venue/bar also doubles as a practice studio if you wanna get a session in.  Don’t miss it.  North of downtown, up the street from Pop!. Map · IG: @socrates_kyoto

Soto - Ambient nights, experimental DJs, eclectic live shows, and electronic music in one of Kyoto's most distinctive spaces, perched on its own corner of Sakyo-ku.  Owned and operated by the formidable experimental rock band Kukangendai. Quite northeast of downtown. Map · IG: @soto_kyoto

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West/Saiin

Negaposi - Indie everything with a ton of heart, in an izakaya setting. Oldest venue in Kyoto, or so I heard once. Map · negaposi.net

Jittoku - Local giants, folk sessions, and more - unforgettably staged in a restored sake brewery. West side. Map · jittoku.com

Submarine - Bursting-with-heart spot showcasing the very best up-and-coming punk & indie acts & more. Super cute bar as well. Saiin area — west side. Map · IG: @submarinerecords 

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Record Stores

Downtown/Kiyamachi

Vivrant Records - Newer shop with a nice selection of soul, funk, disco, and jazz. Close to  Teramachi shopping street. Map · IG: @vivrant_disc_store

Hitozoku Record - Only elite/rare records sold in their spellbinding crates. Kiyamachi area downtown. Map · IG: @hitozoku_record

Jet Set Records - Phenomenal selection of indie records, the latest dance music, brand new releases, as well as hip hop and more! Downtown Kawaramachi St. Map · IG: @jetsetrecords_

Parallax Records - Experimental record shop downtown in the heart of Teramachi market. Across from Movix movie theater. Map · IG: @parallaxrecordsjp

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North/Northeast

100,000t / Alonetoco - Originator of the, sadly in hiatus, Kyoto record matsuri and head honcho of the record store gang. He’s got everything: soul, classic, random, rock, jazz, music from Japan and beyond, also used books, cassette tapes and CDs. Lovely lovely vibes. On Teramachi just north of Teramachi shotengai. Map · IG: @100000t_alonetoco

Honto Records - Laidback.  Local music fans’ unofficial sanctuary & hangout. Best English literature selection of any used bookstore in Kyoto, in my (objectively correct) opinion. Jazz, soul, techno, disco, Japanese pop, world, house, rock, galore. North of downtown, close to the southeast side of the Imperial Palace Gardens. Map

Meditations - Eclectic, chill, exclusively fantastic stuff here: world, ambient, drone, psychedelic, folk, experimental, old, new, Japan, represses, cassettes, incense. North of downtown in the Marutamachi/Kawaramachi area, just across from Que Pasa, (top pick burrito spot). Map · IG: @meditations

Sixth Garden Records - Techno paradise, sprinkling of cassettes, as well as house, world music etc. Owner is a well-known DJ in the scene and frequent host of Sixth Garden shows with DJ acts and live performance parties at Club Metro. northeast of downtown, shares a building with a gallery and Zac Baran. Map · IG: @sixth_garden_

GG Records - Lovely arrangement of jazz from across the universe, pop, ambient, folk, rock,  Japanese and world music, and a ton of charm. Further north of downtown, super close to the northwestern entrance of the Botanical Gardens. Map · IG: @recordshop_gg

RRRRR Kyoto - One of our besties - not only does he have a fantastic selection of records and adorable antiques, but he also does repairs on all kinds of equipment, mostly electronic and music-related - and who knows what else, give him a whirl. He helped restore an old typewriter I once ill-advisedly dragged back from Hiroshima. Map · IG: @rrrrrkyoto

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Vinyl Cafes & Music Bars

Downtown/Kiyamachi

Impulse - Love the likes of Gerry Mulligan and sparkly, insatiable jazz? Slink into this smoky den and have a coffee or a cute triangle-cut sandwich and feel like you're absolutely in another era. In case it wasn't obvious, if you’re not into cigarette smoke, avoid this one. Downtown Kawaramachi / Sanjo. Map

Rokuyosha - Be prepared for a full house; this is an OG vinyl coffee shop with the most cinematic seating we've ever seen. P.S. non-smokers beware, handmade cake doughnut lovers rejoice. The owner is a famed folk musician. Wanna hear what’s on play, opt for the basement. Downtown Kawaramachi / Sanjo. Map

Oil - This sleek listening bar is straight out of a movie, with one of the most incredible sound systems we've ever heard, fantastic negronis, and a smoking terrace that looks out onto the Kiyamachi Takasegawa stream. Please enjoy respectfully, and be prepared to pay a cover charge. Map

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North/Northeast

Kawabata Nijo - This is not a name, as this is a bar with no name.  Kawabata Nijo represents the coordinates, or the crossstreets, if you’d like me to be literal.  A gentle note: this is a one-person operation running at its own pace, so settle in and enjoy it for what it is and be prepared to pay a cover charge to keep the lights on. They host superb DJ events, and the occasional live gigs and have flawless music taste, with great food to boot.  IG: @voatsipe

Bar Molly - A cozy little cave fully devoted to jazz with an enchanting owner and rare jazz sessions, magical little dive. Map

Yamatoya - Gorgeous old vinyl cafe with a PhD in jazz.  You will want to move in. Please note they may be full, but if they have seats available, it’s the perfect spot for a quiet date or catching up on that novel. North of downtown across from Sixth Garden Records and Zac Baran. Map · IG: @jazzspotyamatoya

Misora - Our favorite place for a slow Sunday brew. Quiet, minimal, and bright, with beautiful ambient vinyl playing low. Snag some beans as a souvenir to take home to your favorite coffee fiend. Sakyo-ku, northeast of downtown. Map

I hope you enjoy the Music of Chance in Kyoto.  Follow a drifting melody up some stairs, stay out later than you intended, talk to some friendly strangers, and if you need somewhere to rest that well-traveled head. Book direct with us to save up to 20% → kabinhotel.com

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Quick Reference: All Spots Sorted by Area: handy for “what's near me right now.” 

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Downtown / Kiyamachi 

• Takutaku 

• Parallax Records 

• Vivrant Records 

• Urbanguild 

• Mingle 

• DNA Paradise 

• Hitozoku Record 

• Club World

• Jet Set Records 

• Rokuyosha 

• Impulse 

• Oil 

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North/Northeast of downtown

• Cafe Montage 

• 100,000t / Alonetoco 

• Kawabata Nijo 

• Bar Molly

• Club Metro 

• Honto Records 

• Meditations 

• Pop! Pizza 

• Socrates 

• GG Records 

• Sixth Garden Records 

• Yamatoya 

• Zac Baran 

• Soto 

• Misora 

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West of downtown / Saiin 

• Jittoku 

• Negaposi 

• Submarine

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