UNDERBAR-KYOTO B1F
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
- Sanjo Station · 5 min walk (Keihan Main Line, Keihan Oto Line)
- Hours
- 21:00–05:00 daily
- Time needed
- 1–3 hours
- Best time to go
- Late evening after 23:00, when Kiyamachi nightlife peaks and the bar fills up following the last trains.
Hours can change on holidays — check the official site before travelling.
About
Tucked away in a Nakagyo Ward basement, UNDERBAR-KYOTO B1F is a lively, subterranean nightlife hub combining a cocktail bar, karaoke, and club vibes. It is highly regarded by travelers and locals alike for its welcoming, high-energy atmosphere and friendly staff. Expect a diverse, international crowd, affordable drinks, and an unpretentious space perfect for late-night socializing in Kyoto.
What Japanese guides note
UNDERBAR-KYOTO occupies the B1F basement level of the Sano Building along a side lane connecting Kawaramachi-dori and Kiyamachi-dori. Japanese nightlife sources highlight the venue as a destination for patrons who miss the last train, maintaining operations until 05:00 every morning. Rather than a quiet Kyoto-style cocktail parlor, it is structured as an interactive music, darts, and hookah hangout.
Details from local sources
- The bar provides karaoke singing and darts machines free of charge to customers. [source]
- The establishment serves a signature 'soap bubble cocktail' (shabondama cocktail) featuring an edible aromatic smoke bubble. [source]
- The interior ceiling is decorated with artificial clouds paired with Miami-style neon lights. [source]
- The venue operates as a shisha lounge alongside its bar service, offering water pipes and diverse flavored tobaccos. [source]
Insider Tip
It gets very lively late at night; head down after midnight if you want to experience the peak high-energy karaoke and party crowd.
Frequently asked
What are the regular opening hours of UNDERBAR-KYOTO?
The venue is open daily from 21:00 to 05:00 the following morning. Because it stays open continuously throughout the night, it functions as an all-night social spot for visitors stranded after Kyoto's trains stop running.
Do customers have to pay extra for karaoke or darts?
No extra machine or song fees are charged. The bar offers both darts and karaoke free to patrons who order drinks or hookah during their visit.
What is the signature drink at UNDERBAR-KYOTO?
The signature order is the 'shabondama cocktail'. It is prepared with an aromatic smoke bubble created directly on top of the glass, serving as the venue's most widely photographed specialty beverage.
Where is the bar situated within the building?
The venue is located in basement room B1F of the Sano Building in Kitakurumayacho, Nakagyo Ward. The building sits between Kawaramachi and Kiyamachi, approximately a five-minute walk from Keihan Sanjo Station.
Our Kyoto walking tours
On the same walk
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