Kyoto may be known for its historical temples and traditional tea houses, but hidden among its quiet alleys is a small but vibrant and welcoming gay bar scene. While it can’t match Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ni-chome or Osaka’s Doyama, the Kyoto gay bar experience is intimate, personal, and charming.
From cozy local hangouts to dance nights that blend art, drag, and music, Kyoto’s LGBTQ+ nightlife has something special for everyone. Here’s your 2025 guide to the best gay bars and clubs in Kyoto, where tradition meets queer celebration.
Club Metro
Club Metro has been a hub for queer nightlife since the 1990s, and has rightfully taken its place as Kyoto’s most iconic gay club. It regularly hosts drag shows, dance parties, and LGBTQ+ film events, making it the beating heart of Kyoto’s underground queer culture.
Its famous monthly drag show, “Diamonds are Forever,” has a new theme each time, such as “Diva Collection,” where performers specifically emulate iconic divas, such as Cher, Bette Midler, Barbra Streisand, or Liza Minelli. It is thanks to events like these that Club Metro has been described as being among the top 15 “weirdest places you can go clubbing”… in a good way!
Apple Kyoto (アップル京都)
Apple Kyoto is one of the oldest and friendliest gay bars in Kyoto, known for its warm hospitality and retro charm. The owner welcomes everyone — locals, travelers, and first-timers — with casual drinks and good conversation. That being said, this bar is for men only: sorry ladies!
The beloved owner of the bar is not just a master of crafting cocktails, but he is also an expert in all of the places of interests in the local area, and will happily mark any maps that tourists bring in to help them to find their way around the beautiful city. But, while you’re there, you can also enjoy some utterly rapturous cocktails.
Additionally, it is a fine locale to warm your lungs up, as it has a karaoke machine for any and all who want to use it, whether to impress a date, or just blast out your favorite Avril Lavigne track.
Barcode Kyoto
A lively Kyoto gay bar with a cosmopolitan twist. Barcode attracts a diverse crowd, including international visitors and locals looking for a fun, friendly atmosphere. It’s one of the few gay bars where English is commonly spoken.
bell KYOTO
Opened in 2019, bell is one of the newer bars on our list, but what it lacks in lineage it makes up for in enthusiasm. It regularly holds events, and is known for its modern and minimalistic decor. Coupled with affordable drinks and a terrific selection of whiskies, it’s the perfect place for a low-key night.
Azure
A haven for gay men — and this bar is men only — nestled between the ramen shops of Kiyamachi Dori. Despite its relatively niche location, it is very welcoming to newcomers, and while drinks are known for being a little pricer than some other places, the friendliness of the staff is more than worth the price!
- What to expect: Good music, friendly bartenders.
- Opening hours: 8pm – 4am
- Vibe: Modern, cozy, and international.
- Location: Map
- Website
BAR LOOK ME 京都
One of the few lesbian bars in Kyoto that caters exclusively to women, Bar Look Me is best known as a safe haven for any lesbian, bisexual, pansexual, and asexual women in town. Although it has a ¥500 cover charge, alcoholic drinks are inexpensive at ¥800, and soft drinks for ¥500 are available for anyone who isn’t in the mood for drinking.
It has long been known as a home for LGBTQ+ women, although heterosexual women are also welcome — but not with any male companions. This is a women’s only space!
With an excellent selection of beers, whiskeys, and spirits, it’s the perfect place to let loose with the girls in a place that enjoys a reputation for getting louder and louder as the night gets later and later.
- What to expect: Karaoke, lively crowd.
- Opening hours: 7pm – 2am
- Vibe: Campy, fun, and community-driven.
- Location: Map
- Website
KITSUNE Kyoto
While not exclusively a gay club, KITSUNE Kyoto hosts some of the most inclusive nights in the city. Queer-friendly DJs, pop remixes, and dance floors filled with all genders make it a favorite among LGBTQ+ locals and visitors. It is a hub for youth culture and regularly hosts domestic and international stars. A must-visit!
- What to expect: Club hits, drag pop-ups, mixed crowd.
- Opening hours: 10pm – 5am
- Vibe: Mainstream, open-minded, and energetic.
- Location: Map
- Website
Calcium House
Calcium House is an LGBTQ+ friendly drag bar, with a number of hostesses happy to help you feel at home.
Like many hostess bars, you pay a set price, but get an all-you-can-drink deal after you begin. Your friendly hostess will engage you in conversation – although she may ask for a drink from you, in return.
The hostesses make sure to make everything easy to understand, so please don’t be afraid to ask them if there’s anything you don’t grasp.
You can also grab a bite to eat… but no cigarettes! The only things smoking here are your beloved hostesses!