Meet people
Places and regular events where it is easy to start a conversation, especially if you are new or on your own. Entries are checked against their official pages.
Language exchange
LEX&CO Japanese Conversation Meetup
Japanese conversation practice for beginners. Staff speak English, Tagalog and Japanese — good if you just moved and your Japanese is shaky.
- Cost
- Buy one drink
- Language
- English OK
Nihongo Meetup – Every Thursday in Kyoto
Thursday-night Japanese-only chat led by a certified teacher. For people who want to start speaking.
- Cost
- ¥500 (drink bar +¥500)
- Language
- English OK (host supports English)
KYO-TOMODACHI Sunday English Cafe
Sunday-morning English café: light food, easy chat. Welcome even if your English isn’t confident.
- Cost
- Free (food extra); sign up on Meetup
- Language
- English OK
Kyoto English Club
Japanese–English language exchange group, open to English speakers learning Japanese and Japanese speakers practising English.
- Cost
- Free
- Language
- English OK
International mixers
Kyoto Global Hangout Mingle Night
International mixer in English for locals, expats, travellers and students. First-timers and solo guests explicitly welcome.
- Cost
- ¥1,000 (free with student ID)
- Language
- English OK
"Solo Going" Kyoto International Party
Saturday-night international party built for people who come alone, with board games to break the ice.
- Cost
- ¥800–1,500 (students ¥500) plus a drink
- Language
- English OK
Puhuu — Kyoto Meeting for Foreign Women to Talk about Life in Japan (Paruyon)
A chat group for foreign women (non-binary people welcome), in simple Japanese and English. No Japanese needed.
- Cost
- Free
- Language
- English OK
Games & bars
Board game cafe bar Hide Out
Board-game café bar where you can drink and meet people. Most rules are in Japanese, so complex games have a language barrier.
- Cost
- About ¥1,000–1,999 per person
- Language
- Mostly Japanese (ordering is easy)
GAME BAR CLANTZ
A long-running bar built around board and video games. The website is Japanese-only; a translation app gets you through.
- Cost
- Pay at the bar
- Language
- Mostly Japanese
Do something together
BEAUTIFUL PLANET Kansai Cleanup Volunteers
Volunteer litter pick-ups. The organiser says foreigners with no Japanese are welcome, with English support; nationality, age and gender don’t matter.
- Cost
- Free
- Language
- English OK
Kurama–Kibune Guided Hike (Snow Monkey Resorts)
A 5.5-hour small-group hike with an English-speaking guide. Chat as you walk.
- Cost
- Lunch and entry included (see official page)
- Language
- English OK
Meetup-style events change often. Check the details page for the latest time and venue before you go.