Hachi Record Shop＆Bar
Kyoto - Gojo, Kansai
Tucked away in Kyoto’s Gojo neighborhood in the Kansai region, Hachi Record Shop & Bar is the kind of small, lovingly curated spot that rewards slow exploration: by day a compact record shop with stacks of vinyl waiting to be leafed through, by night a mellow bar where the records you’ve just been browsing are often the soundtrack to an intimate evening. The interior feels quietly domestic — warm wood, low lighting and a few stools around a counter — so conversations about favorite pressings flow as naturally as pours of whisky or cocktails. What makes Hachi special is that it bridges two pleasures at once: the tactile joy of hunting for overlooked Japanese pressings and international finds, and the communal listening experience when the owner or local DJs drop a rare track and everyone leans in. For travelers seeking authentic music culture in Kyoto, it’s a perfect pit stop to hear a side of the city that’s curated, conversational and unmistakably local.
Tucked away in Kyoto’s Gojo neighborhood in the Kansai region, Hachi Record Shop & Bar is the kind of small, lovingly curated spot that rewards slow exploration: by day a compact record shop with stacks of vinyl waiting to be leafed through, by night a mellow bar where the records you’ve just been browsing are often the soundtrack to an intimate evening. The interior feels quietly domestic — warm wood, low lighting and a few stools around a counter — so conversations about favorite pressings flow as naturally as pours of whisky or cocktails. What makes Hachi special is that it bridges two pleasures at once: the tactile joy of hunting for overlooked Japanese pressings and international finds, and the communal listening experience when the owner or local DJs drop a rare track and everyone leans in. For travelers seeking authentic music culture in Kyoto, it’s a perfect pit stop to hear a side of the city that’s curated, conversational and unmistakably local.