Though small by comparison, Pontocho is one of Kyoto's
most spirited and memorable neighborhoods. A narrow
street straddling the Kamogawa River, it is Kyoto's
busiest nightlife spot. When darkness falls,
Pontocho's many signs and lanterns bolt to life,
making the area glow with invitations to passers-by to
come inside and pull up a chair. Its restaurants and
bars sprawl onto the riverbank, providing a friendly
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atmosphere and delicious food. Verandas are always
filled with people young and old crowding tables,
biting into hot yakitori or sipping cold beers. It is
a culinary heart of Kyoto as much as one of its most
laid-back, clamorous, and entertaining evening
hotspots. Pontocho has more of an amiable vibrancy to
it than an elegant one, attracting newcomers, local
veterans, and everyone in between, in casual attire
like sneakers and jeans.
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