10 Places that'll make your night in Utsunomiya special!
Utsunomiya has many exciting things to do in the evening. Here at ‘Utsunomiya Night Guide’ we’ve carefully curated a rundown of 10 things that you don’t want to miss when enjoying a night out in Utsunomiya!
Utsunomiya is a thriving city, and it may be hard to pick out what you want to do. So we created this website, the ‘Utsunomiya Night Guide’. We have carefully hand-picked 10 things we think you should do in Utsunomiya that will give you a slice of the nightlife, and they are sure to leave an impression!
*Each location is shown in the Google map at the bottom of this page making it easy to find.
1. Yatai Yokocho
This recommendation is a bit of a bonus — it’s not one drinking spot, but a small ally with a dozen or so mini-bars! It’s a local favorite, and a great place to experience the fun of drinking at a yatai! Approx. 20 min walk from JR Utsunomiya Station, or a 12 min walk from Tobu-Utsunomiya Station.
2. The Flair Bar
The Flair Bar in Utsunomiya is a chic bar. Recommended if you are looking for a relaxed night out in Utsunomiya. They serve a wide variety of mixed drinks, so you’re sure to get what you want. If you’re lucky, you may even get a chance to see their famous SPARKLER SHOW! Approx. 20 min walk from Utsunomiya Station, or a 5 min walk from Tobu-Utsunomiya Station.
3. Kayabuki
You may have already heard about Kayabuki as it is the one-and-only Monkey Izakaya in Japan (and probably the world) and has been featured many times in overseas media. It is probably the only place in the world where you can be served a beer by a Monkey! This izakaya is visited constantly by travelers who come from far to enjoy a night out with the monkeys, so make sure to book a table. Approx. 10 min drive by taxi from JR Utsunomiya Station, or a 20 min drive by taxi from Tobu-Utsunomiya Station.
4. Kindaijin
Located near Tobu Utsunomiya Station, Kindaijin is a holy place for Jazz lovers. The owner himself is a Jazz enthusiast and there are amazing live performances every Sunday from 8 PM. You may get to experience impromptu performances from local musicians as well! Approx. 20 min walk from Utsunomiya station, or a 10 min walk from Tobu-Utsunomiya Station.
5. BLUE MAGIC
Blue Magic is the best kept secret of local expats. It is a small brewery located in the center of Utsunomiya and offers unique craft beer you cannot drink anywhere else. If you are a craft beer enthusiast make sure to have a great night out here! Approx. 20 min walk from Utsunomiya station, or a 5 min walk from Tobu-Utsunomiya Station.
6. Sasara
Sasara is a hidden Sake bar only known to local sake enthusiasts. It’s run by the regional sake association and offers more than 100 different local sakes from 34 breweries. A book of 10 tickets is sold for 1,000 yen and a glass of any type of sake is 1 ticket (100 yen) !! Please be warned that Sasara is open only 2 hours a day (17:00-19:00) from Mon to Fri so make sure to drop in before you start your evening. Approx. 20 min walk from Utsunomiya station, or a 10 min walk from Tobu-Utsunomiya Station.
7. mr. kanso
If you’re looking to experiment, mr. kanso is the place to go. This little venue is unique in that all food is canned food, and they’ve got a huge variety from across the world! Come with some friends and don’t be afraid to experiment! Approx. 20 min walk from Utsunomiya Station, or a 5 min walk from Tobu-Utsunomiya Station.
8. Bambina
Located in Hon-machi of Utsunomiya, Bambina is a stylish jazz bar on the second floor of the Ryokushin building. Bambina is the only bar in Utsunomiya to have an ‘all-female’ bartending staff, and you can head in on a Tuesday for live piano music! Approx. 20 min walk from Utsunomiya Station, or a 10 min walk from Tobu-Utsunomiya Station.
9. Kirasse
A night out in Utsunomiya isn’t complete without Gyoza. ‘Kirasse’ is unique ‘Gyoza’ food-court where you can sit down and eat from six different famous Gyoza restaurants! A convenient destination for Gyoza lovers who want to compare different Gyozas from different restaurants while visiting Utsunomiya. 15min walk from JR Utsunomiya Sta. and 15min walk from Tobu-Utsunomiya Sta.
10. Shosuke
‘Izakaya Shosuke’ is said to be the OLDEST Izakaya in Utsunomiya, and is the best place to come if you want a traditional, authentic Japanese Izakaya experience. They offer delicious, home-style cooking to go along with an assortment of various sake. Approx. 25 min walk from JR Utsunomiya Station, or a 20 min walk from Tobu Utsunomiya Station.