Best Kyoto Rooftop Bars 2026 (Gion and Kamo Views)

Kyoto has few tall buildings, so its rooftop bars are low, and the views are of temple roofs, the Yasaka Pagoda and the Kamo River rather than skyline. This list only includes places where you drink outside.

K36 The Bar & Rooftop (Higashiyama)

On the roof of The Hotel Seiryu Kyoto Kiyomizu, with the Yasaka Pagoda (Hokan-ji) straight ahead and Higashiyama all around. It's the rooftop most people mean when they say Kyoto. Get there 30 to 45 minutes before sunset on a clear day; the rail fills fast after dark. If the weather closes the terrace, the indoor bar stays open.

Practical (confirm on stillfoods.com/k36 before you go):

• Address: 2-204-2 Kiyomizu, Higashiyama-ku — Hotel Seiryu 4F
• Rooftop season: typically June 1 – November 30 (indoor bar year-round)
• Hours (typical): 15:00–24:00; summer 2026 sometimes shifts terrace open to 17:00 — check current notice
• Reservations: Seat-only walk-ins are welcome. Guaranteed seats usually require a plan (Benoit Kyoto combo or ¥25,000/person minimum including tax/service/cover) — not a free sunset hold
• Dress: Smart casual — no shorts, sandals, or casual tees
• Weather: Terrace closes in rain/wind; staff may stop orders and move you indoors
• Budget: Hotel rooftop — cocktails commonly ¥2,000+; dinner raises the tab fast
• Phone: 075-541-3636

CICON Rooftop Bar (Gojo)

The 6th-floor roof of NOHGA Hotel on Gojo-dori, about eight minutes' walk from Kiyomizu-Gojo Station. The view goes all the way round: Higashiyama, Kiyomizu-dera, Kyoto Tower and Mount Hiei. It works well after an afternoon at Kiyomizu-dera.

• Hours: 15:00–24:00 (food last orders 22:30, drinks 23:30)
• Phone: 075-323-7121

In The Moon (Gion-Shijo)

On the roof of a nine-storey building a minute from Gion-Shijo Station, looking over the Kamo River, the lit-up Minamiza theatre and Kawaramachi, with Kyoto Tower in the distance. Open in the evening only, every day.

• Hours: 18:00–1:00 (last orders 0:30)
• Phone: 075-708-6966

UE Rooftop Bar & Food (Gion)

A terrace with food, on the 6th floor of a building in Benzaitencho, Gion, facing the Kamo River and the sunset. The lift entrance is on Yamatooji-dori, not on Kawabata-dori. It's about five minutes from Gion-Shijo Station. Check its Instagram for current hours.

Towerland (Kyoto Station)

The roof of the Kyoto Tower building, right outside Kyoto Station, with the tower overhead. Part bar, part barbecue terrace, and the most casual of these. In its first season it opened daily until mid-October and only Friday to Sunday and holidays through the winter, so check before you go out of season.

• Hours: 11:30–23:00
• Phone: 075-354-5339

The Roof Top Bar, Kyoto Tokyu Hotel

A seasonal terrace at the Kyoto Tokyu Hotel, near Kyoto Station. Quieter than the Gion bars. It only opens part of the year, so confirm the dates before planning around it.

• Phone: 075-341-2684

Planning

• Pick one terrace a night. They're spread out, and sunset only happens once.
• June is rainy season, and terraces close in rain. See the rainy season guide.
• Trains stop earlier than in Tokyo, so plan on a taxi back.

For other cities, see Tokyo rooftop bars and Osaka night views and rooftops. For planning, the Kyoto travel guide.

FAQ

What is the best rooftop bar in Kyoto? K36, for the view of the Yasaka Pagoda.

Do I need a reservation? K36 takes walk-ins; a guaranteed seat needs one of its paid plans. Book ahead for weekend terraces elsewhere.

Which rooftop is closest to Gion? In The Moon, a minute from Gion-Shijo Station, and UE, about five minutes away.

Are Kyoto rooftop bars open all year? Not all. K36's terrace typically runs June to November, and the Kyoto Tokyu Hotel's terrace is seasonal. Towerland ran on weekends only through its first winter.