Have you ever had plans to visit Kyoto but wanted to visit the local areas that aren’t listed on the guidebooks? Instead of the standard stuff found in tourist magazines, you prefer to go to some place where the locals gather… In that case, let me, born and bred in Kyoto, introduce my most recommended spots for local travels in Kyoto.
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How to enjoy solo travel?
This article may not suit people that are wanting to know Kyoto from end to end as the whole advantage of solo travel is the ability to tackle things slowly and at your own pace. Also, if you want to enjoy traveling alone to the max, take couple of weeks off if possible, find a good place with a service like Airbnb, and just forget about everything and focus on your holiday. Then you should be able to catch a glimpse of the honest, naked goodness of Kyoto.
Go for a stroll
Rather than going around all the famous shrines and temple, why don’t you just walk around the city, get a little taste of what Kyoto streets are like, and hop into places that seems interesting.
鴨川 (Kamo River)
The Kamo River slices through central Kyoto from North to South. Many people gather here during Spring and Autumn when the weather is nice and relaxiing. You can see people practicing instruments, boys playing soccer, people sipping coffee, and sunbathing. Everyone is enjoying their own rich slice of time along the banks of the Kamo River.
It’s nothing special, but I’d like you to take a walk along the Kamo River saturated with its own and unique atmosphere.
The Kamo River is right outside Keihan Demachiyanagi Station. Exiting the station, there’s a point where two rivers merge. Begin from here and head South towards Kawaramachi. You can walk at a comfortable pace and take a break at a nearby cafe when you’re tired.
岡崎公園〜清水寺 (Okazaki Park ~ Kiyomizu Temple)
This course is recommended for those greedy people who wants to see the Kyoto-like places while still taking a leisurely walk.
Walk through the giant red Torii gate at Okazaki Park, which is surrounded by Heian Shrine and the Kyoto Museum of Art. Then cross a similar red-lacquered bridge and head South. Follow the road straight for a path that leads to Kiyomizu Temple.
Pass by Chion-in, Maruyama Park, and Kodai-ji while looking over at traditional shop fronts, gift shops, tea houses, and restaurants before finally reaching Kiyomizu Temple. Just this walk alone is enough for a travel plan already!
To get to Okazaki Park, get off at Higashiyama Station on the Kyoto Metro Tozai Line and join the flow of people.
General Store
lleno
This tall, western style building is located at North from the Kyoto Shijo-Karasuma intersection. Inside the building you can find a shop called lleno that sells good like notebooks. Some of them are originals that are only available in the store. Stop by here for a stylish gift only found in Kyoto, for a friend or for yourself.
Map : Google Map
Website : lleno
ハンカチベーカリー kyoto (Handkerchief Bakery Kyoto)
Choose handkerchiefs like you would select bread from a bakery. This peculiar combination of bread and handkerchiefs comes from the belief that if there’s bread artisan, there should be a handkerchief artisan too.
To visit this Handkerchief Bakery, it’s not far from Hankyu Kawaramachi Station and you can find it right before the giant Shijo Ohashi bridge that lies over the Kamo River.
This shop is a must visit for travellers looking for something a tiny bit classier than the standard souvenirs that you get elsewhere.
Map : Google Map
Open : 10:30 ~ 20:30
Close : –
Map : Google Map
Website : http://kyoto-souvenir.co.jp/brand/hankachi_bakery/
ANGERS（アンジェ） 河原町店 (ANGERS Kawaramachi)
In an eye catching old building in Kyoto’s Kawaramachi area, you can find ANGERS. With branches in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, this general store carries varieties of items ranging from stationeries, books and CDs, to kitchen items, clothing and watches. The main branch is here in Kawaramachi. Their stylish collection of items transcends culture. Even just browsing around the shop is a delight.
Travel enriches the heart, but I believe that the little things like this do too. If you find somehing special you like, your own peculiar tastes become clear and refined. Perhaps that special item is waiting for you at ANGERS.
Open : 11:00 ~ 21:00
Close : –
Map : Google Map
Website : http://www.angers.jp/index.html
Record Shops
100000tアローントコ (100000t alonetoco)
Long time ago, Kyoto was a city of folk, blues and rock. This may be the influence of countless live performances that were held at places like Kyoto University’s Seibu Auditorium, Jittoku, and Maruyama Park but Kyoto actually has quite a few record shops still existing. These aren’t your commercialized big stores like HMV or Tower Records, these shops are small and privately-owned. In an age where it has become normal to download music from the internet, why do such shops offering physical music in the forms of CDs, records and cassettes still remain?
Surely that ‘coincidental’ moment of discovery is one of the reasons. When I was a high school student, I visited a record store for the first time and asked an employee whether they have the CD I had been looking for. He answered nicely, “We may or may not have it…. But, the one you pick up randomly might interest you.” Just like window shopping, the chances of discovering are important source of pleasure.
The most cutting-edge music services like Pandora, Apple Music, Spotify and SoundCloud have all incorporated this spontaneity, so the disadvantages of record shops probably won’t change, but the interesting part is how you can find unexpected things like you can with radio. Maybe record shops have other advantages over online music services, or maybe they are destined to be overrun. At first, it seems that the more convenient services will inevitably take over, but it’s interesting how thing aren’t quite so simple.
If you visit 100000t alonetoco, you will certainly discover some new style of music, and you’ll also find books in the store. The reopened HMV in Shibuya now sells books, but 100000t alonetoco has been doing that for years. Has this store been lost with the changing time? Or is it actually a new trend selling old stuff? I want you to come in and experience that interesting atmosphere that only 100000t alonetoco can create.
Open : 12:00 ~ 20:00
Close : –
Map : Google Map
Website : http://100000t.com/
ART ROCK NO.1
After 100000t alonetoco, let’s hop over to ART ROCK NO.1. This store is located at a short walk from Sanjo-Dori street, a street full of clothing shops, cafes and other various stores. (For detailed location, see the above link.)
This shop carries records, CDs, and LPs of all genres. As an example of something rather recent, they have the tofubeats’ 7-inch record.
Open : 12:00 ~ 21:00
Close : Tuesday
Map : Google Map
Website : http://www.artrock-1.com/
Movie Theaters
京都シネマ (Kyoto Cinema)
You might think that there’s no need to go out of your way to watch a movie while you’re traveling, but don’t you think that a solo trip to the theater is rather classy? My recommendation is Kyoto Cinema for the quality of the movies and its convenient location.
Along with movies such as Kick-Ass, Amour and 500 Days of Summer with worldwide acclaim, the theater also plays classics such as Life is Beautiful and Buena Vista Social Club.
How about stopping by for a classy movie and rest your feet and your mind from all the walking on the streets of Kyoto?
Map : Google Map
Webiste : http://www.kyotocinema.jp/
みなみ会館 (Minami kaikan)
A short walk from Kyoto Station lies paired with a five-storied pagoda. Beyond that, you can find Kyoto Minami-Kaikan, a fancy theater that continues to play classic movies just like the olden days.
Although it retains the atmosphere of a classic movie theater, it plays movies from varieties of genres ranging from animated movies such as; Genius Party, A Country Doctor, and East of Eden to low-budget movies like; The Human Centipede 3, Grindhouse, and Death Race 2000.
Put sightseeing and movie together with a trip to Toji temple and this theater.
Map : Google Map
Website : http://kyoto-minamikaikan.jp/
Galleries
同時代ギャラリー (Dohjidai Gallery of Art)
1928building was built by Goichi Taekda and registerd as Cultural Property designated by Kyoto City. It was named 1928 building simply because it was built in 1928. Dojhidai gallery is located on the first floor of this building. They have put up many famous arts and pictures.
This gallery is in the center of the town so it’s easy to slot it into your plan.
Open : 11:30 ~ 0:00
Close : –
Map : Google Map
Website : http://www.dohjidai.com/
kara-S
kara-S is a gallery space for students studying at Kyoto Seika University. You can buy cute crafts made by the students at the store next to the gallery. You can also enjoy this gallery while you’re waiting for the film showing for the Kyoto Cinema, a movie theater on the same floor.
Open : 11:00 ~ 20:00
Close : 定休日なし
Map : Google Map
Website : http://www.kara-s.jp/
be-京都 (be-Kyoto)
Quiet residential area spreads out around the Shinmachi campus of Doshisha University.
be-Kyoto is an art gallery that uses Kyoto Machiya (traditional style house in Kyoto).
If you go through the entrance of a historical building, you’ll see a modern style gallery and many art pieces.
When we visited this gallery several years ago, they displayed a silver-hailed photo taken by a foreign photographer.
The mixture of Japanese and European style gave the place a bizarre, yet special atmosphere.
It’s a good place to visit whilst visiting some famous place nearby like, Koshoin Monzeki and Kyoto Gosho.
Open : 11:00 ~ 17:00
Close : –
Map : Google Map
Website : http://www.be-kyoto.jp/
Bookstores
恵文社 (Keibunsha)
Is there any other place easier than bookstores to go alone?
We want to add bookstores into the plan when you visit Kyoto for a holiday by yourself.
There’s many famous bookstores in Kyoto and Keibunsha is one of them.
Keibunsha is also one of The world’s 10 best bookshops selected by The Guardian. They claim the shop as Book store having a wide selection of books and goods. They introduce, not only the new books, but also the books and goods that may make your reading-life happier.
Open : 10:00 ~ 21:00
Close : –
Map : Google Map
Website : http://www.keibunsha-books.com/
ホホホ座 (Hohohoza)
Hohohoza, previously called Gake Shobo, is a Symbol of Kitashirakawa because of its unique appearance of a blue car crashing into its own wall!
It’s relocated in Apr 2015 because “the wall was going to collapse”.
This interesting bookshop has a theme of “A souvenir shop that also sell books” and does a lot of work for their original products like CDs, records , cookies, and other various kind of items.
Open : 11:00 ~ 20:00
Close : –
Map : Google Map
Website : http://hohohoza.com/
Cafes
ことばのはおと (Kotoba no Haoto)
Let’s take a quick stop at a café after you got something to read at Keibunsha, Hohohoza, or FUTABA+. Kotoba no Haoto also uses a Kyoto Machiya (traditional style house in Kyoto) and all seats are Tatami style.
Most customers usually come by themselves so it will perfectly suit people travelling alone.
You can schedule your time like this. Buy a book, spend time reading in a café, and then go out to eat when you feel hungry. That’s the advantage when you travel alone.
Open : 11:30 ~ 19:30
Close : Tuesday
Map : Google Map
Website : http://www.kotobanohaoto.net/
喫茶葦島 (Kissa Ashizima)
Kissa Ashizima is such a beautiful shop. You’ll really be relaxed with natural sunlight through the Shoji (paper door), the smell of their house blend coffee, unique arts, and kindness of their staff. You’ll surely be be attracted by Kissa Ashijima.
They also have counter seats so please take a short stop here after your long walk around Kawaramachi area with your favorite book.
Open : 12:00 ~ 19:00
Close : –
Map : Google Map
Website : https://ashijimablog.com/
月と六ペンス (Tsuki to roku pense)
You can find here by getting off at Karasuma-oike Station (Kyoto Subway) and few minutes walk towards North.
The area around here is very quiet, as it’s far from the bustle of Main Street.
The entire place is counter seats only with no tables, so it’s a perfect place to visit by yourself and enjoy reading and have a cup of coffee. That’s some quality time to yourself.
Please do not forget to get a original book cover designed by the owner.
Open : 12:00 ~ 20:00
Close : Sunday
Map : https://goo.gl/maps/cBHaSg7MM792
Website : https://tabelog.com/kyoto/A2601/A260202/26007712/
Ramen
天下一品 (Tenka Ippin)
Tenka-Ippin has numerous chain stores across nationwide and its flagship is located in Kitashirakawa, Kyoto. It is said that the Tenka-Ippin ramen you eat in Kyoto is much richer than the ones you eat in Tokyo. Would you like to try the taste of Tenka-ippin ramen in Kyoto and compare it to the other Tenka-Ippin?
Open : 11:00 ~ 3:00
Close : Thursday
Map : Google Map
Website : http://www.tenkaippin.co.jp/
鶏がらラーメン門扇 (Torigara Ramen Monsen)
You can’t miss ramen for lunch or dinner when you visit Kyoto by yourself.
However it seems like this is only common amongst males and we know some ladies will hesitate to eat ramen alone. Monsen is a best place for them. The chicken soup and the vegetable tastes so mild, and they also have mini size ramen in their menu.
Open : 19:00 ~ 7:00
Close : Monday
Map : Google Map
Website : http://monsen-taisyo.com/
大豊ラーメン (Taiho Ramen)
Most of the well known restaurants in Kyoto is located in narrow alleyway and so do ramen restaurants.
Taiho Ramen is hidden in a narrow street going through Kiyamachi area to Pontocho and it’s so hard for tourists to reach. We’ll tell you how to find it certainly and enjoy their very famous Chashu-men (ramen soup topped with slices of Braised black Pork). At the Intersection in Sanjo-Kiyamachi, stare at your left side and go toward Shijo street and turn into the narrowest alleyway.
Open : 18:00 ~ 6:00
Close : –
Map : Google Map
Website : Tabelog
極鶏 (Gokkei)
You can enjoy many kinds of Greasy ramen in Kyoto and the most Greasy ramen is Gokkei. You will regret it if you order some sides with ramen as you would always do. One bowl of this ramen must have a higher calorie intake then average daily intake. If you plan to go to Manshuin on the same day, we recommend you to visit Mansuin first because you might not be able to walk after this ramen. Anyway, enjoy this ultimate level of “Greasiness”.
Open : 11:30 ~ 22:00
Close : Monday
Map : Google Map
Website : Tabelog
Eating Solo
リンク (Link)
Link, a place you can reach from Kyoto City hall, is famous for fried chicken and highball.
There’re counter seats for 5 to 7 people and often see customers drinking alone. Chicken fried longer and at lower temperature is so tasty with juiciness and the smell is beautiful from the oil and herbs.
You can be stuffed with chickens as a final dish for your travel or order mini-sized chicken just for tasting. There’s so many choices here.
Open : 16:00 ~ 3:00
Close : –
Map : Google Map
Website : http://link-chicken.com/
BEER PUB Takumiya
You can’t miss the vivid blue door of this restaurant. There are only few tables and others are all counter seats that you can see beer server right in front. It feels like you are drinking in a street corner of somewhere in Western Europe and also will enjoy the stylish interiors. They prepare for various local beers (mainly for western Japan) so we recommend it for people who are interested in local craft beers.
Open : 16:00 ~ 24:00
Close : 定休日なし
Map : Google Map
Website : Tabelog
リド飲食街 (Rido drinking district)
If you plan to drink in Kyoto, many of you will choose to go around Kiyamachi, or Gion because there are so many bars and restaurants around there. Once you search for those near Kyoto station, it will be more and more difficult to find some places even to sit.
However, a short walk toward North to Shichijo-Street will take you to another drinking district.
Rido drinking district is at the corner of the streets and many stores in the narrow alleyway reminds us of the Shinjuku golden area.
Map : Google Map
Brasserie Café ONZE
If you’re looking for a nice restaurant, ONZE is the place to be. There’re so many Spanish restaurants and Italian restaurants these days, but ONZE is a French restaurant. Night of Kyoto starts here drinking local beers and wines with casual French dishes.
Do you know the NHK TV Program called Restaurants hard to enter? It focuses on a local bars that aren’t known amongst the tourists in the world and it has showed a restaurant in 11e arrondissement de Paris before. The atmosphere in Onze is very similar and they set up the store to have French dishes casually.
Open : 15:00 ~ 25:00
Close : –
Map : Google Map
Website : http://onze.blue/
京都ダイナー (Kyoto Diner)
“The place to wash off the daily tiredness with wines” located between Kawaramachi and Karasuma.
The owner worked for a company importing wines for more than 20 years and the store he has opened is stylish and has a relaxing ambience. Our recommendation is assorted cheese. Processed cheese, blue cheese, and so on. They have many kinds of cheese and the staff will choose his recommendation for you. They also have cafe menus like coffee, so you can visit here as a night cafe.
Open : 15:00 ~ 24:00
Close : –
Map : Google Map
Website : Gurunavi
Standing Pubs
傘（きゃさ） (Kyasa)
You’ll be surprised at the glass poured full for a reasonable price.
You can enjoy talking with other guests so you won’t feel alone.
Open : 18:00 ~ 26:00
Close : Sunday
Map : Google Map
Website : Tabelog
たったいす酒場 (Tatta isu sakaba)
This bar is located on the 2nd floor of a building, Takase Kaikan, in the narrow alleyway in Kiyamachi, where it gets busy with young people at night times.
Okinawa dining restaurant Akahige, the one mentioned in Yojohan Shinwataikei (by Tomihiko Morii) is nearby and there are many well-known bars and stores in Kyoto located in this kind of off streets.
This Bar changes to a Tachinomi (standing drinking style) bar only crowded with guests so may be we can call it Half-standing drinking style bar. Of course you can enjoy talking with other guests drinking next to you so please don’t hesitate to visit here alone.
Open : 17:00 ~ 23:30
Close : Tuesday
Map : Google Map
Website : Tabelog
すいば (Suiba)
Tachinomi (standing drinking style) pub has similar atmosphere.
How about Suiba? It’s like a casual dining restaurant and it is popular for its own stylish atmosphere.
One of the recommended point is the varieties of the menu. You’ll be thinking, How can they prepare all these dishes in that tiny kitchen?.
My style is to start with a tap beer and Fried Japanese horse mackerel (150 JPY). Even after you order few more dishes during the night, it’ll be very cost-friendly.
Open : 17:00 ~ 24:00
Close : –
Map : Google Map
Website : http://www.suiba.jp/
Bar
BAR Dylan-Ⅱ
There’s a bar in Kiyamachi that places a sign, Bob Dylan.
Rock and Folk music is played in the background and the owner’s jokes and witty talk will make time pass quickly.
Map : Google Map
きゃばぁ (Kya-Bar)
Next to Kyasa, mentioned previously, is a popular bar called Kya-Bar.
There’s a few waitresses so it is female-friendly bar for ladies travelling alone. It’s not like a relaxed bar where you sit down and drink by yourself. It has more like a “let’s-all-drink-together” atmosphere so newcomers and regular customers all have fun together.
Open : 18:00~26:00
Close : 定休日なし
Map : Google Map (Same with Kyasa)
Conclusion
Café, general stores, bars, walking trails, etc. There’re so many stores and restaurants to visit alone in Kyoto.
To visit all temples and shrines, you’ll spend much more time travelling even if you plan it.
However, the stores we introduced here will welcome people without any plans.
Please don’t think too seriously like you’re traveling and let’s just enjoy walking around Kyoto.
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