Why You Have to Visit Kyoto's Little Lantern Street - Man in the Moon Travel Guide

In Downtown Kyoto, just a little North of Kyoto's main street (Shijo street), a hop and a skip west of the Kamogawa river and the fashionable Geisha district (Gion area), a stone's throw from the busiest market in the city, (Nishiki market), and a 3 minute walk from pedestrian shopping street Teramachi street, lies a hidden gem. A one-way street filled with quirky shops, restaurants and pubs, with a cheery local vibe among all the business owners, lined with little lanterns, Yanaginobanba street is also known as the Little Lantern street, in Japanese chouchinkouji (提灯小路). If you can get your tongue around the pronunciation (it helps to sing the song La Bamba: ba-dabamba-badidadi-bamba), let us welcome you to Yanaginobanba street, the little Lantern street, and the home of Man in the Moon Rokkaku

A flavor of the shops and restaurants on Yanaginobanba street.
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Shops 

• Suzuki shofudou:  Handmade paper and accessory shop. You will find anything from paper lamps, notebooks, beautiful storage containers and trays in all shapes and sizes and colours and patterns, ornaments, wall-hangings and everything is handmade upstairs. Everything has interesting explanations in English.
• Kocha senmonten – a tea shop! You will find an array of different flavours of tea including a delicious sakura tea during Cherry blossom season. 
• Kyo uchiwa Aiba. A shop all about fans! Fan in Japanese is Uchiwa. The perfect momentum of your trip to Japan or a thoughtful gift for friends and family back home. 

  

Restaurants and bars

• Kyoto Gogyo: one of the most delicious ramen shops in Kyoto. But make a reservation because its always busy and there are always queues outside. 
• Tokisirazu: Belgian beer bar on the 3rdfloor, just on the corner of Rokkkaku and Yanaginobanba street. An impressive variety of bottled Belgian beers, Hoegaarden on draught, and a variety of Japanese craft beers on draught. Chilled out vibes.
• Kyoto Diner: Elegant, stylish yet good value. Attracts a young crowd. Relaxed atmosphere, good wine and food.
• Les champs d’or – French restaurant. A bit on the expensive side but especially delicious, treat yourself!
• Il Belvitore: Italian bar – Tiny bar, only about 5 counter seats. Serves traditional food, pizzas, pastas good beer and also a good cocktail menu. Open late. Even later than us! 
• Aras Café: Cakes and coffees – charming little place.

Hostels and Hotels

• Kyoto Zen Hostel: Fun and friendly place, just 2 doors down from us. Our besties. Zen customers also get a discount at Moon Rokkaku.
• Nest: Clean, elegant, Refined hotel. 
• Watazen Ryokan: Tradition japanese hotel with tatami, futons and  kaiseki meal, the epitome of Japanese haute cuisine. 
• Co-op Inn: Our next door neighbor on the right. Busy place. They have a great value all-you-can-eat lunch menu.

Yanaginobanba street proximity to main areas:

• Nishiki Market: Runs right through the middle of the market.
• Shijo street: Bisects Shijo street right down the middle with Teramachi street running parallel on the East side. There's a Starbucks on the west corner of the Shijo/ Yanaginobanba bisection.  Find the Starbucks and you're there.
• Teramachi Shopping street: Lies just East of our street, running parallel with us. Few minutes walk. 
• Kamogawa River: 15 minute walk.
• Gion Area (Geisha District): 15 minute walk. 

Man in the Moon Rokkaku

Irish pub with the best Guinness in Kyoto, a wide selection of beers, whiskeys and cocktails, solid pub grub and friendly staff who are looking forward to welcoming you.
​Check out our events and promotions at Moon Rokkaku like Friday night Irish live music, karaoke, English night and a new addition our Student Night on Wednesday’s.

See you soon! ​

Location - find us!