Bar • Yugawara (Chitose River)
About this place
It takes some determination to build a convincing English pub in a small Japanese onsen town, and BAR THE KING has made the commitment. The interior runs to antique clocks, proper bar lighting, and the kind of accumulated objects that suggest real intention rather than theme. The brick exterior sits along the Chitose River, and in summer the doors open to the sound of the water and bell crickets - a detail that does not happen at pubs in London.
The drinks are the point. Draft Guinness is on tap at ¥1,000 a pint. Seasonal fruit cocktails are made with fresh-squeezed juice and vary with what’s in season in Kanagawa Prefecture. An Irish Coffee runs ¥1,500. The cocktail programme is done by a bartender with a beer sommelier qualification, which is an unusual combination, but it shows in both the beer service and the attention given to mixed drinks.
The bar has 14 counter seats and takes reservations through Gurunavi. It accepts Visa, Mastercard, and IC cards - rarer at small Yugawara venues than you’d expect. It is a twelve-minute walk from the station along the river path, a distance that feels right for an evening out rather than inconvenient.
Evidence
Why we say this
We promote only facts that exist in the detail record. If a field is missing or sources disagree, we either omit it or flag it below.
- Sources checked
- 3 public sources
- Data notes
- 1 conflict note
- Currentness
- Static guide record, not a live inventory feed. Confirm hours, prices, closures, and booking availability before travel.
What to know
Quick facts
Address: Doi, Yugawara, Ashigarashimo District, Kanagawa 3-9-24
Access: 12-minute walk from JR Yugawara Station, along the Chitose River
Hours: 17:00-24:00 (L.O. 23:30)
Closed: Sunday (Wednesday closure reported by some sources - see data note)
Price: ¥2,000-¥2,999 per person
Phone: 050-5487-6628
Specialties:
- Draft Guinness (¥1,000 pint)
- Seasonal fruit cocktails (¥1,200+)
- Irish Coffee (¥1,500)
Highlights:
- Riverside location on the Chitose River
- 14 counter seats
- Accepts Visa, Mastercard, IC cards (Suica, PASMO)
- Garden seating in summer
- Guinness on tap - rare outside major cities
Where our sources disagree
Data notes
These are points where the platforms and official pages we consulted gave us conflicting information.
- Hours / closing days: The Yugawara tourism site and some aggregators list opening from 19:30; the Gurunavi listing and official site suggest 17:00. Sunday closure is consistent across sources. Wednesday closure appears in some listings but not others. Call ahead or check the official site before a special trip.
Where this came from