Far more than a whisky drinker’s heaven, Japan is home to some of the world’s most dynamic cocktail scenes – and Kyoto is among the best. Having recently moved to the city, Rachel Tranter Davies explores what’s on offer.

Whether you fancy late night nihonshu (sake), gin, craft beer or the most perfectly put-together cocktail – in Kyoto, there’s a bar for it all.

Kyoto, the former imperial capital of Japan, is synonymous with history and tradition. It’s the birthplace of the tea ceremony and home to countless craftsmen, many of whom are the 10th generation or more in business. It’s the epicentre of the revered kaiseki cuisine and has long been known as the culinary capital of Japan.

The drinking culture here is as deeply engrained as the foodie heritage. Forget wine with dinner, grab a tokkuri of sake, a highball (whisky and soda), nama bīru (draft beer) or a fresh fruit chu-hai (shochu and soda) and tuck in. Just be sure never to refill your own glass and always keep others topped up around you – a great system.

Izakaya (Japanese pubs) offer sharing-style plates of Japanese cuisine, local sake, shochu and beer selections, and have lively atmospheres making them the perfect venues to satisfy your curiosity about real Japanese drinking and dining affairs.

After dinner it’s time to head to a bar and Kyoto isn’t short of these. The fun begins in the choosing. Whatever you’re in the mood for there’s something to tempt. I’ve visited dedicated sake pubs, whisky havens, gin parlours and cocktail bars in old machiya (a traditional wooden townhouse) that one could easily mistake for someone’s home.

Kyoto hospitality is second to none and starts as soon as you enter an establishment. You are given an oshibori (hot towel) to clean your hands, preparing you to receive your drink. Then the magic happens. Years of Kyoto tradition and craftsmanship manifest in the form of kodawari, which translates roughly as a striving for unreachable perfection achieved through relentless practice, repetition, and extreme attention to detail. The exquisite glassware and perfectly proportioned measures combine to create a truly Japanese drinking experience.

But don’t worry if cocktails aren’t your thing – this attention to detail extends to all bars. From choosing your own sake cups handcrafted at a centuries-old ceramic shop down the road to having the opportunity to try rare whiskies from limited bottling runs, Kyoto is a thrilling blend of the best drinks in the world, served in some of the best bars in the world.

Click through the following pages to discover our pick of the top five bars in Kyoto, Japan.

Rocking Chair

600-8044 Kyoto-fu, Kyoto-shi, Shimogyo-ku, Tachibanacho

If you want to experience Japanese flair and five-star service in the quiet backstreets of Kyoto, this is the place to be. Sit at the bar and order a cocktail crafted by Kenji Tsubokura, Japan’s best bartender.

L’escamoteur

600-8012 Kyoto-fu, Kyoto-shi, Shimogyo-ku, Saiseki-dori

Wonderful cocktails, a whimsical bar, swinging seats for two and a bathroom hidden in a bookcase – what more could you want? The owner is Japanese by way of Shoreditch and the head bartender is French, which all adds up to a fabulously eclectic feel with top-notch cocktails, particularly the Shiso Sour.

Before9

604-0845, Kyoto-fu, Kyoto-shi, Nakagyo-ku, Nijodencho

Opened in March 2016, this is an excellent craft beer and sake bar. It has a very industrial feel with exposed piping, wooden beams and concrete floors. Upstairs they play old black and white Japanese films on a projector on the wall, and often run tap takeovers and events.

Smoke and Sake

604-8021 Kyoto-fu, Kyoto-shi, Nakagyo-ku, Kitakurumayacho

Want to try hundreds of different types of sake paired with deliciously smoked appetisers? This is the place for you. Everything is smoked in-house, from edamame beans to eel and duck. Ask the staff to recommend a sake to wash it down with, and sit back and enjoy the incredibly chic interior.

Bar Caamm

604-8004, Kyoto-fu, Kyoto-shi, Nakagyo-ku, Nakajimacho

Standing for Creative Alcohol and Mood Music, this place is on the second floor of what could easily be mistaken as an apartment building, and has the greatest whisky collection I’ve ever seen: limited edition bottlings, drams from distilleries that closed years ago and a heap of reasonably priced rarities. It also does crazy retro cocktails with a cool 70s vibe.