Bunka Yokocho

A pair of intersecting alleys two blocks south of Jōzenji-dōri, lined with thirty-some narrow drinking establishments most of which seat fewer than ten. Built in the postwar reconstruction era and largely unchanged in the half-century since, the lanterns and zinc-sheet roofs glow at night against the much taller modern buildings around them. The clientele is older locals and a thin layer of in-the-know tourists; English menus are rare but most owners are friendly to clear hand signals. Best for a single drink and snack at one place rather than a full sit-down meal.