Nothing beats a fine summer evening spent strolling the streets of Kyoto. From the geisha district of Gion to the bars and restaurants lining Pontocho, Kyoto is utterly charming and romantic at night.

Most of the time, when people think “nightlife,” they think of the big city. But despite the abundance of kimonos and its adherence to traditional architecture, Kyoto nightlife is as lively as ...

In Kyoto, I often found myself at a mix of bars and clubs, as well as arcades, bowling alleys, and karaoke bars. This city’s nightlife can definitely be described as interactive and engaging.

In July, Kyoto celebrates the historic Gion Matsuri festival, one of Japan’s most famous and long-running traditions. With origins dating back to 869, the event draws more than one million ...

OMO Hotel, a Hoshino Resort brand, expanded local-based nightlife event ‘Local Rhythm Night' to 11 hotels nationwide in Japan ...

(See Gion Hatanaka in If You Go.) Depending on the neighborhood, a lot of Kyoto nightlife is beyond the reach of most visitors, especially without even a little Japanese.

There are also signs in Gion, the Kyoto nightlife district where geisha and maiko work, telling people not to bother them. The signs, however, should probably be even more explicit, but knowing ...