UrBANGUILD

UrBANGUILD is an independent venue on the third floor of the New Kyoto Building on Kiyamachi-dori, about 100 metres south of the Kiyamachi-Sanjo crossing. It is one of the places that Kyoto's creative community uses to stage live music, parties and other events, and it has long been featured by local English-language guides to the city's alternative scene, such as Deep Kyoto. If your idea of nightlife goes beyond cocktail bars, this is one of the more interesting places in town to see what local musicians and performers are doing.

The programme is published in the event section of the venue's website and on its social media accounts, and the line-up changes from night to night. Expect anything from live bands and improvised music to DJ parties and performance events, so check the calendar and pick a night that suits you. Entry charges, start times and any drink requirements vary by event and are listed with each one.

The venue also runs a kitchen. Its Ur Shokudo dinner plates and a takeaway menu mean you can eat before or during a show, which is useful in an area where many places are bars rather than restaurants. UrBANGUILD also has a web shop and its own radio project, Ur Radio, reflecting its role as a small cultural hub rather than simply a bar.

The venue suits music lovers, students, creative travellers and anyone curious about Kyoto's independent culture. Finishing times depend on the event, so check before you go if you need a late train. To find it, look for the New Kyoto Building and take the lift to the third floor; the venue notes that a vending machine stands in front of the lift. For questions about events or bookings, the venue publishes a phone number and an email address, and it warns that replies sometimes land in spam folders.

UrBANGUILD is about three minutes' walk from Exit 6 of Keihan Sanjo Station and about six minutes from Exit 1 of Hankyu Kyoto-kawaramachi Station, roughly 400 metres north of the Kiyamachi-Shijo crossing. The Takase River, Pontocho and the Kamo River are on the doorstep, and Live Spot RAG and Bar K6 are close by, so the area works well for an evening that moves between venues.