Japan · best-of list
The 7 Best Bars & Cafés in Japan
All 7 bars & cafés our route editors picked in Japan, across 6 destinations, gathered in one list. Expect bars, cafés and tasting rooms, with Kyoto contributing the most (2).
Our curated picks
7 bars & cafés in Japan, grouped by destination. Destinations with the most picks come first; this is not a ranking.
Kyoto 2 picks
Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum
Kyoto · On our Japan Golden Route
Sake brewer's museum in Fushimi's old brewing district, with a tasting at the end.
Photo: hunkil choo · Google
Pontocho Alley
Kyoto · On our Japan Golden Route
Narrow lantern-lit lane of restaurants and bars along the Kamo River.
Tip: Summer riverside platforms (kawayuka) open May–Sep.
Photo: Agi B · Google
Furano and Biei 1 pick
Furano Wine Factory
Furano and Biei · On our Hokkaido: Sapporo, Otaru & Furano route
Municipal winery on a hill with free tastings of local wines.
Tip: Try the grape juice too if you are driving.
Photo: うーさー · Google
Osaka 1 pick
Suntory Yamazaki Distillery
Osaka · On our Japan Golden Route
Japan's first malt whisky distillery, 40 minutes away by train in Shimamoto.
Tip: Tours are booked by online lottery weeks ahead.
Photo: サントリー 山崎蒸溜所 · Google
Otaru 1 pick
Otaru Beer Warehouse No. 1
Otaru · On our Hokkaido: Sapporo, Otaru & Furano route
Brewpub in a canal-side warehouse pouring German-style beers.
Photo: yuji. narichan · Google
Sapporo 1 pick
Sapporo Beer Garden
Sapporo · On our Hokkaido: Sapporo, Otaru & Furano route
Brick beer halls next to the museum serving Genghis Khan grilled lamb and fresh beer.
Tip: All-you-can-eat-and-drink sets are good value; reserve ahead.
Photo: サッポロビール園 · Google
Tokyo 1 pick
Shinjuku Golden Gai
Tokyo · On our Japan Golden Route
Six narrow lanes packed with 200+ tiny bars, each seating a handful.
Tip: Many bars charge a seat fee; look for posted prices.
Photo: urbz · CC BY 2.0
How we picked these
Every entry is a stop on at least one of TripsCircle's hand-curated routes, chosen by our route editors, who wrote the reason to go shown with each place. These are our curated picks, not a scored ranking: we haven't rated or reviewed them against each other. The list is grouped by destination, and within each destination places that appear on more routes come first.
Prices ($ to $$$$) and visit lengths are rough guides from our route notes, not quotes. Check opening hours before you go.
About this list
How did you choose the bars & cafés in Japan?
Each one is a stop on a TripsCircle route that our editors built by hand, and each comes with a written reason to go. This page shows all 7 of them. They are curated picks, not a ranked score.
Which part of Japan has the most bars & cafés on this list?
Kyoto has the most (2 of 7), followed by Furano and Biei (1) and Osaka (1).
More lists for Japan
Best bars & cafés nearby
Turn this list into a plan
Open a curated route in TripsCircle, add the spots your crew wants, vote with polls and keep everyone on one shared itinerary.