Kokoya — Restaurant in Kyoto

A fantastic izakaya experience, straight out of Midnight Diner. Visiting an intimate, hidden izakaya and letting the owner cook whatever he felt like has been on my bucket list, and he truly made it happen. The owner is incredibly friendly, speaks English well, and has a great sense of humour. A proud Japanese host, he shared unforgettable insights into Japanese culture that we’ll cherish.

There’s no menu—just tell him what you enjoy or leave it to him to surprise you. Every dish was exceptional, making the experience truly unforgettable. A must-visit, 100/10!

As for the price, honestly it doesn't matter; we’re on holiday, and memories like these are priceless.

Note: There are only seven seats, and smoking is allowed indoors. Definitely the highlight...

A cozy izakaya bar with a great atmosphere. As soon as you walk in, you're greeted with a friendly smile. The interior is wooden and it has a nice homy vibe. The fascinating part is they don't have a food menu, so you can either ask for their recommendations or a dish you'd like and if they have the ingredients they'll make them for you. They make everything after you order from scratch so the food comes out hot and fresh right out of the kitchen. Also the owners speak English, we had a great time chatting with the staff and the...

Met Kyoji and Chika at karaoke. Kyoji’s Izakaya has been in his family for 80 years, which means it’s practically a historical landmark, though instead of a plaque it serves ice-cold beer and great food. Here’s the trick: the more Kyoji drinks, the better his English gets – so do the decent thing and buy the man a drink. By the end of the night, we were back at karaoke, was an unforgettable night for me. A must-stop in Kyoto if you like food, fun, and slightly chaotic bilingual...