The exterior and interior of the shop are both very nice. It gives off a perfect Kyoto vibe with a mix of old and new. The inside is small and dim, which I personally like. The drinks are delicious and very reasonably priced, and the location is great. However, the reason I only gave this rating is because the bartender or owner is very picky about the customers.

Foreign customers keep coming in constantly, so it might be fun to enjoy such interactions.

I visited a hidden bar called Bunkyu in Sanjo, Kyoto before dinner. It is located about a 5-6 minute walk from Keihan Sanjo Station and Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae Station. It is right next to "Chokukohi" cafe, which may be easier for locals to locate. The entrance has only a sign with the name "Bunkyu" lit up. You walk down a narrow alley and find a door that leads into a dimly lit interior. There are only 9 seats at the table counter, making it a very cozy bar. It can be a bit intimidating to enter for the first time, but the friendly master will welcome you warmly. Since I was planning to have a kaiseki meal later, I just had a glass of white wine. There is no cover charge, so the prices are reasonable. This bar has all the elements of a super-maniacal hidden bar - difficult to find, difficult to enter, and dark. But with the friendly master, it is a bar where you can feel at ease. Kyoto has many unique and original establishments that you won't find in other areas. Exploring these places is one of the joys of Kyoto. If you're looking to have a drink around Sanjo, why not pay a visit to this bar?

The small lights were inviting and the atmosphere seemed nice. I entered a narrow alley and opened the door. It was dark inside. There were large, chic wooden tables with rounded corners and a friendly master. After my eyes adjusted, I noticed there were only 9 seats. The owner was very kind and had a peaceful demeanor. There was one foreign couple who were being served in fluent English. I had two glasses of Scotch and left the restaurant. The owner even escorted me to the door. It's a nice place with a lot of attention to detail. I will definitely visit again in the future.

There are famous bars in Gion when it comes to Kyoto-style bars. However, this is a hidden bar in the city center. If you go up Kawaramachi Sanjo and head east on the street with a church, you will find a suspicious alley entrance next to "Choku Coffee." Open the sliding door of the warehouse at the back, and you will find a dimly lit space. No, actually, it's really dark there. Inside the warehouse, there is only one large table that looks like a counter. It's a mysterious bar with an atmosphere where your body seems to blend into the space. It's the first time I've been to this place, but when I requested a highball with a unique whiskey from the bartender I've met a few times at other bars, they chose a whiskey from a barrel purchased by a Kyoto liquor store that goes up to Laphroaig. This is cask strength, so it has 55.7% alcohol. Even when lightly mixed with soda, it tastes like a regular whiskey on the rocks. The scent is amazing. The aroma lingered until I went to bed. It's a unique bar with a captivating atmosphere.

It had a unique atmosphere as if to say, "Is this really the right place?" I was a bit taken aback when I opened the sliding door to enter. I couldn't tell who the staff was. The counter was in the shape of a "こ" (ko) and gave off a cozy, rural hearth-like vibe from the entrance. The capacity was around 8 people. It wasn't spacious, but it didn't feel cramped either. The conversations were mature and interesting, talking about old car designs and economic topics. It wasn't as dark as I had imagined, just slightly dim. It felt like sitting around a hearth. I only had a drink this time, but I think it's a bar where you can leisurely enjoy yourself. They probably have some rare whiskies, so I'd like to go back again.

It might be difficult for non-Kyoto residents to understand if written as "Kawaramachi Sanjo Nishikoji Agaru Anekoji Higashi Iri". It is located around the middle of Kawaramachi and Kiyamachi, on the south side of the Royal Hotel & Spa. The small entrance, located to the right of "Chokko Coffee," has a sign overhead that simply says "Bunkyu." Once you enter the shop, you'll find a warehouse-like atmosphere hidden in a machiya. In fact, it used to be a warehouse for a long-established flower shop. The interior and counter are distinctive. The dim lighting and square, or rather, katakana "fu" (a thick "fu" turned upside down) counter give a unique feel. There is no back bar, and the bottles are displayed in the backyard, visible from some seats. So, the extent of their selection is left to the imagination. They seem to have a decent selection of whiskies, but it may not be as extensive as "Chaos" or "Bekkan Kya." However, it doesn't seem like they focus much on cocktails either. The interior may look interesting, but the layout is clearly poor, and it doesn't seem easy for the bartender to work efficiently. Watching the bartender's movements at the counter is not as enjoyable as in an authentic bar. It may be good for those who like hidden gems, but the "Kyoto essence" seems lacking. Overall, when considering why you go to a bar, I honestly can't think of a compelling reason to visit this place. I didn't mention "Hayasakaba," but since Mr. Hayasaka left, I haven't been drawn to this place as much. It could be good to bring someone here just to show them a different kind of bar that you know.

Away from the bustling noise of Kiyamachi, if you pass through a narrow alley that you might overlook, you will find "Bar Bunkyu" quietly nestled across a courtyard. The cozy space features a counter that could comfortably fit 7-8 people, with straw-filled earth walls adorned with flowers that exude a sense of Japanese emotion. Since there was no menu, I ordered a beer and quietly enjoyed the atmosphere. I couldn't quite understand, but could a community that transcends generations be expanding from this kind of space? I listened intently to the conversations of the customers who had come in.

I had been curious about this place for a while, but for some reason, it didn't feel like the right time to enter. The shop doesn't look like much from the outside, but there's something intriguing about it. It's not that there's a difficult bartender or anything, they welcome all kinds of customers. But there's a sense that you shouldn't just casually walk in, the atmosphere of the shop is different from the outside. The solid counter, the alcohol, the lighting, and the customers all create this unique space. It makes you want to be a customer who fits in with this atmosphere. I want to approach this place with care.

Near Sanjo Kawaramachi in Kyoto, there is a shop located on a street. However, the shop is not directly facing the street, and the only indication of its presence is a sign with the shop's name. You have to walk through a passageway to reach the shop. It may be a bit difficult to find for first-time visitors. But that's part of the unique charm of this shop – it's tucked away in a hidden spot, maintaining its special atmosphere. Once you walk through the passageway and open the sliding door, you'll find a cozy space with dim lighting and about 7 seats. The tranquil ambiance reminiscent of a quiet night in the ancient capital sets this bar apart from others in Tokyo or Kyoto. Those who visit this shop probably appreciate this atmosphere. They offer Scotch, but I opted for a cocktail this time. While chatting about recent events in Kyoto, I enjoyed a strong and slightly bitter drink as usual. Conveniently located near the center of Kyoto, this bar is a great place to quietly savor a stiff drink.

Drinking alcohol is a strange experience. A lonely wanderer stumbled upon this bar. They sat in a space that felt both dark and bright, making them feel uneasy as they stared at their glass, confronting themselves. It seemed like there was a sense of regret and resignation. They hastily drank it down, as if trying to erase something. They wondered if they had come to this bar too soon, but looking around, they couldn't tell. It felt like the mysterious atmosphere was telling them they could leave if they didn't like it. They felt like they were being tested. They started to feel a bit amused. Maybe they were meant to come here. They decided they would come back again. But they wouldn't recommend this bar to others.

A unique and exclusive establishment, with a dignified yet masculine atmosphere. The owner's distinctive aura and the quiet gravity of the entire place. While its cleanliness can sometimes come off as arrogance, those who silently find themselves drawn to this place are likely not ones to reject it. Positioned within the category of a bar, this place stands alone with no others like it. When seeking to understand what authenticity truly means, regardless of age or gender, people will eventually find their way to this establishment.

When you enter a quiet alley, you'll find a bar in a place that makes you wonder if it's really here. The atmosphere is fantastic, and you can experience the essence of Kyoto, making it perfect for a date. There is only one bartender, so when it's busy, it can take some time for your drink to arrive. Also, there are no side dishes, just alcohol, with only some snacks available. However, the staff will see you off all the way to the door, and the prices are reasonable. It's a recommended place with a hospitable atmosphere.

I feel like there are a lot of hidden gem restaurants in Kyoto. The restaurant I visited, called Bunkyu, was one of them. From the outside, you couldn't even tell it was a bar. The entrance was unassuming, and even when I decided to go in, I hesitated because it didn't look like a typical bar. But once inside, it was a cozy and authentic Japanese-style bar with a dark interior and a small seating area. The atmosphere was rich and inviting, and the selection of drinks was impressive. The bartender was attentive and the service was excellent. Despite my initial hesitation, I was pleasantly surprised by the cost-performance ratio. It was a mysterious and charming hidden gem that I would recommend to others, even though I want to keep it a secret.

There is only one light on the street. The sliding door has no sign or store name written on it, making it difficult to enter. However, if you see the characters "Bunkyū" on the nearby menu, then you're in the right place. Once you pass through the door and walk on the cobblestones, you'll find yourself in what looks like a small courtyard. At the back, there is a small, pitch-black space about four and a half tatami mats in size, which is the restaurant.

Located in Kyoto, this shop, produced by the famous florist Hanasei, is like a maze of alleys. When you open the lattice of a townhouse, you find yourself inside a mysterious barrier where bartender Nao creates unique cocktails using seasonal fruits and spirits from around the world, all while enjoying conversations with customers.