Omuraya is a cheerful izakaya style restaurant in an old wooden machiya house just off Hyakumanben. I love it! Cooks and waiting staff bustle about behind counters piled with colorful seasonal vegetables to the background sound of the Blues. The food is simple, healthy and rustic. I recommend the nama fu dengaku: moist, lightly fried strips of gluten in a smoky miso sauce. I … [Read more...] about Omuraya
Japanese Folk & Shakuhachi at Zac Baran
I know I said the next post would be about Omuraya, but I thought you might like to see this music video from Sunday night at Zac Baran. Local folk musician Udonya Mentei was accompanied by Yoshida Koichi on the shakuhachi to very powerful effect. A great night and so many good songs, I felt pained I only had enough memory on my camera for the one. I don't know what this song … [Read more...] about Japanese Folk & Shakuhachi at Zac Baran
Sheep’s
Sheep's Public Cafe is a place I have been meaning to check out for a while. I kept seeing it as I cycled home from work and thinking to myself "Sheep's. Why Sheep's?" The signboard outside says "Fish & Chips", "Guinness" and looking at the exterior I imagined just another foreign style pub. Once inside though I was impressed by how bright and cheerful it is. The owners … [Read more...] about Sheep’s
Zac Baran
I first met Yoshida Koichi in the music bar Hawkwind. A shakuhachi player, he told me he plays in many styles, not just traditional, but jazz, folk, avant garde, new age, pretty much anything. In Hawkwind we were listening to some hip-hop. "How about this then?" I challenged him with a grin. And do you know, he stood up immediately, he played, and it was wonderful. I was very … [Read more...] about Zac Baran
Mentei
This noodle shop by MotoTanaka station does some very nice homemade udon noodles. The owner (pictured a short ways below), is known to all his friends as Yama-chan, or by his customers simply as "Master". I can't remember what his real name is. He's a very nice chap. I first met him in music bar Hawkwind one night, and when he told me he owned the nearby noodle shop I said "Oh! … [Read more...] about Mentei
Gnome
Gnome opened in October 2007, which (at the time of writing) makes it the newest Irish pub in town. It's also my favorite. I like the cosy, home-like atmosphere and I might be just imagining things but I think the Guinness tastes best here too. Yuko, the owner is a friendly, chatty, charming lady of many talents; musical, culinary and professional. She already had her own … [Read more...] about Gnome
Field – The Oldest Irish Pub in Kyoto
Field is the oldest Irish pub in Kyoto having opened in the year 2000. Previously the owner, Suzaki Kazuhiko, ran a cafe and gallery here and Irish music was just a hobby for him. "At that time, I had no idea there was such a thing as an Irish pub," he told me. But on learning that such places existed he decided to open up his own. It was a bold step in the dark for him and one … [Read more...] about Field – The Oldest Irish Pub in Kyoto
Woodnote
I had my supper at Woodnote last night; a big plate of sarnies and two bottles of Guinness. And they were tasty. I really like this place. There are a lot of bars and cafes in Kyoto that are dedicated to a particular kind of music; jazz, soul, rock or blues... and finding these places always gives me a real kick. But Woodnote is something else. It's a "99.9%" (says the … [Read more...] about Woodnote
Hotline
"Kyoto 2nd Hand Record & CD Shop Hotline" Hotline has a lot of oldies records (both albums and singles) from the 50's, 60's, 70's and a lot of Elvis and Beatles records. Accordingly, it does seem to attract the older customers. However, you will also find music from the 80's and 90's, Soul, R&B, Jazz, Classical, Latin, Blues, Funk, Reggae, Rock, Heavy Metal and of … [Read more...] about Hotline
Workshop Records
Small but packed with goodies, Workshop Records deals in used and imported records and CDs. This shop specializes in Jazz and Soul but also includes the following genres: Rock, Punk, Avant Garde, New Wave, Pychedelic, 90's, German, French, Japanese Rock and Folk, U.K. & Irish Traditional, Reggae, Dub, and R&B... The music playing in the shop today was Ueda … [Read more...] about Workshop Records
Jet Set
This place is awesome! They really do have everything! Here you can find older music like Jazz, Soul, Rock and Classics and also the newer stuff: Hip-hop, House, Techno, Reggae, Indies and Pop. "What I like about it," said my friend Nana H. (who recommended it to me), "is you can listen to all the records." This from their online profile: "Open since 1998.As one … [Read more...] about Jet Set
