Fukuoka
At this classy upstairs bar, mellow out over coffee cocktails such as mojitos (with homemade coffee rum and coffee ice cubes) and espresso martinis…
Must-see nightlife in Kyūshū
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Kumamoto
Charlie Nagatani is a living legend, the 'Johnny Cash of Japan', the founding figure behind the nation's entire country-music scene, and an accomplished…
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Kagoshima
This chic, amber-and-wood shōchū bar has everything going for it, and it's one of the finest places to drink Kagoshima's prefectural liquor. There are…
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Kumamoto
Delightful boutique coffee shop with freshly roasted beans and a 'tart of the day', such as persimmon or Earl Grey. Coffee nerds will feel right at home…
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Kumamoto
Come to this cool new 'glocal' bar for an immersive experience in shōchū, Kyūshū's signature tipple. Owner and bartender Nori-san is something of a shōchū…
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Kagoshima
On the 3rd floor of a generic bar building next to a 7-Eleven, a low door leads to another dimension. Enthusiastic owner Hiroshi-san has crammed every…
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Kyūshū
A cool, young vibe pervades this spacious, mid-century-styled cafe perched above the arcade. Sip coffees from around the world or original coffee drinks…
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Fukuoka
Kakigōri (shaved ice) is a huge thing in Japanese summers, and this shop is owned by a long-standing ice company so you know the main ingredient is top…
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Beppu
This retro snack and dessert spot is best known for onsen kōhī (coffee made with hot-spring water; ¥550) and ogura toast (topped with azuki beans and ice…
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Kagoshima
This new, surf-themed beer and burger bar brings the California wave across the Pacific. A friendly, just-off-Huntington-Beach vibe of surfboard art,…
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Kyūshū
Anbai is a sophisticated izakaya with more than 350 varieties of shōchū, well-chosen local dishes and cool background music. Not much English is spoken,…
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Kyūshū
This hub of the expat community and its local friends draws a cheery mixed crowd who are proud of the city and keen to welcome visitors over Miyazaki…
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Beppu
There's a handmade, arty feel to this renovated 1940s house, filled with exposed beams, period tile work and eclectic ephemera. All the better to sip…
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Kagoshima
This arty, mellow three-floor shop-bar-restaurant also has DJ decks and hosts occasional parties. It's popular with expat groovers and English-speaking…
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Kagoshima
There's a lot going on in this retro-cool space c 1968: part cafe, part used bookshop, part artist gathering place. Coffee, hot dogs and local sweets are…
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Kumamoto
In business for two-plus decades, this dark, grunge-inspired bar is where Japanese rockers come after playing Kumamoto. Request a tune, and staff will…
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Kumamoto
An only-in-Japan experience, Bar Rose (not to be confused with Rose Bar, nearby!) is a quiet, polished place. Stools are plush and comfy, and it's where…
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Beppu
On the ground floor of Beppu Tower and with windows looking out onto the busy street, Creole Cafe brings together Beppu's Japanese and foreign communities…
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Fukuoka
This artful, art-filled cafe draws a hip, creative crowd for tasty espresso drinks, hot sandwiches and seasonal special drinks such as floats for summer…
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Kyūshū
Off Shimabara's central arcade, this delightful Meiji-era teahouse features a lovely garden, a spring-fed pond and an obsessive collection of maneki-neko …
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Fukuoka
This Morris bar is just down the street from its Red Fox cousin. It's often packed, loud and fun, and may open even later on Friday and Saturday nights,…
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Fukuoka
This beer bar, opened in 2017, brews its own creations and offers dozens of other beers from around the world, along with eats like mixed grill and…
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Nagasaki
Owned by Brynn, a friendly Kiwi, this cosy 'one-coin bar' has (mostly) ¥500 drinks and stays open to the wee hours, with an ever-changing mix of…
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Kyūshū
In the middle of the Koi no uyogu machi, this cozy villa sits on stilts over a spring-fed koi pond in a lovely garden. Admission includes a cup of tea and…
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Nagasaki
This standing bar sits on the back alley of Shianbashi-yokochō and serves beers, highballs and 'strawberry milk' (with shōchū liquor). Look for the tiny…
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Fukuoka
This cosy pub hosts a friendly mix of English-interested locals and expats, and doubles in the day as an English-language learning centre, with classes…
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Fukuoka
One of the better pub chains in Japan, this bar attracts a nice mix of Japanese and gaijin (foreigners). Begin your evening with happy-hour cocktails (…
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Kagoshima
This cheery, intimate bar has Guinness and Japanese and international craft beers on draft, plus about 15 more in bottles. All the better to wash down…
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Beppu
BSB has good drinks and a fun vibe, plus a dance floor and even a hookah. The crowd varies, but there's often a large Asia Pacific University (APU)…
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Fukuoka
Enjoy views of Hakata and Canal City across the Naka-gawa through giant windows in this slick dining bar. With lots of glass and mirrors, it's a flashy…
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Kagoshima
This basement meeting spot has dozens of beers from around the world, memorabilia from around the world, and patrons from – wait for it – around the world…
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Kyūshū
Drink a highball at nightfall at this subdued art deco–styled spot with many Japanese malt whiskies to sample and hand-carved ice for cocktails. It gets…
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Kyūshū
Modern jazz is alive and well in Miyazaki: there are near-nightly jams at this upstairs bistro-bar. Drinks start at ¥500, with coffee, snacks and steaks…
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Fukuoka
As the name implies, this is one of the original places in Fukuoka for locals and gaijin (foreigners) to connect, in a time warp of red-velvet seating…
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Nagasaki
Cool but friendly, this dark basement bar is a bit of a local icon, cluttered with rock memorabilia. There's a huge collection of tunes on LP and CD, and…
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Kyūshū
Across the main road from the samurai houses and marked by a slightly dented, red double-decker bus, this teahouse serves award-winning English-style teas…
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Nagasaki
Away from the Shianbashi nightlife district but worth the trip, this cool spot has a wine shop fronting a warren of rooms for sampling wines, shōchū (a…
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Kumamoto
Gaijin (foreigners) and local Japanese frequent this 2nd-floor pub. There's dancing some weekends, and each night has a different vibe depending on who's…
