Arrive in Otsu, the prefectural capital of Shiga and one of Japan’s oldest cities, sitting along the western shore of Lake Biwa. Meet your local guide at the starting point and step into a side of Otsu that most visitors overlook — a compact cluster of drinking streets where izakayas, small bars, and local watering holes sit close together and within easy walking distance of one another.

Head into the first bar, settle in, order drinks, and begin to get a feel for the local pace. From there, move on foot through the area’s bar districts, stepping into a second and then a third venue, each with its own atmosphere and crowd. At each stop, order from the menu at your own pace, with your guide on hand to help navigate the options and keep conversation going.

By the time you reach the final bar, you have moved through three distinct corners of Otsu’s nightlife, tried drinks and snacks chosen from locally vetted spots, and spent an evening the way residents do. Close out the night having covered the area on foot, glass in hand, with a clearer sense of where locals actually go after dark in Shiga.