Japan · FOOD TOURS IN KYOTO
The good ones book out weeks ahead and the best of them faster than that. Below: the 15 to lock in early, what each includes and where they differ.
Explore Gion and Pontocho through nine-plus Kyoto dishes, six sake tastings, local stories, and small-group evening dining.
“This was a great tour to experience some amazing food and learn about Kyoto. My tour guide Kumi Yamazaki was incredible!”
Learn how sake is brewed, taste 10 styles with food pairings, and gain confidence choosing sake on this three-hour Kyoto tour.
“We came into this as sake-newbies but with some experience with wine and beer production and tasting. Kyoko and Kotaro were our guides and first walked us through the Gekkeikan brewery museum. Here they explained the sake making process and what choices in the process lead to what flavor profiles. This was very interesting and was great background for when we afterward got to taste different kinds of sake. We had a very fun and engaging afternoon, learning a lot, and equipping us to know what kinds of sake we enjoy and what to look for when ordering it out in the wild.”
Review of Kyoto’s Arashiyama walking tour, with bamboo, temples, gardens, monkeys, shopping, or a local sake brewery lunch.
“Tom was a fantastic guide and knew so much about Kyoto. My husband and I had a great time. We loved the gardens and the temple. Even though the tour is 5 hours, there are plenty of breaks for matcha and snacks. He even made a stop for us to try make a I said I wanted to buy some for a friend. Highly recommend this tour!”
Explore Kyoto’s Fushimi Sake District, visit a historic brewery, taste 10+ sakes, and learn pairing, labels, serving styles, and ordering tips.
“Kyoko & Miyuki were great guides. We learned so much about sake including how to read labels, what kind of styles are there, what affects the taste, how sake is made, how it’s paired with food… Definitely recommend this course.”
Explore Kyoto’s Fushimi sake district, visit the Gekkeikan museum, and taste 18 local sakes on this intimate three-hour walking tour.
“We had a great time with Karen (Karie) on our sake tasting tour. She was great to hang out and talk with and the sake and food (food purchased separately at sake tasting restaurant) was very good. It ended up only being myself, my wife, and another adventure loving tourist along with Karie but that made it nice and quant and simple. Definitely recommend. Oh, and we drank “all the sake” and had a strong “buzz” but by no means was “drunk”, so it was a good balance and we learned a lot at the museum as well as during our sake tasting/meal.”
Taste Kyoto specialties, visit Nishiki Market and nearby shrines, and explore downtown with a small-group local guide.
“While we could have explored Nishiki Market on our own, having a guide made all the difference. Taka, our guide, not only showed us the market’s hidden gems but also introduced us to some incredible local delicacies. He truly took care of us throughout the experience. If you’re looking for a bit of personalized attention while exploring the market, this tour is highly recommended.”
Explore Kyoto’s Gion and Pontocho over 13 dishes, four eateries, lantern-lit lanes, local stories, drinks, and practical tips for $72.96.
“That spicy sauce takoyaki was absolutely divine and totally different from tourist spots! Guide's knowledge about each restaurant's history made every bite more meaningful. The lantern atmosphere was enchanting.”
Taste seven Kyoto sakes with a certified sommelier, pair them with Japanese snacks, and learn how to order your favorites in Japan.
“Great experience. We were taught all the basics of sake and it really helped our understanding and we even received a little card which we used throughout our trip to pick our sake. I would really recommend this experience!”
Learn to choose sake in Kyoto with seven tastings, Japanese snacks, bottle-reading tips, and friendly guidance in a 90-minute class.
“Yui was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about sake. We had a really good time and the food pairing made the experience a lot better. We are vegetarian and the vegetarian replacement for food pairing was very good.”
Taste 13 Kyoto dishes, sip sake, and explore Gion and Pontocho with a local guide on this intimate three-hour evening food tour.
“KOSUKE did a great job It wasn’t rushed and he made it interesting and enjoyable The food tastings were delicious and plenty there for the 8 in our group Thanx”
Review of Kyoto’s 3-hour Gion food tour with 15 dishes, drinks, local guides, yakitori, tonkatsu, sushi, and practical booking advice.
“Jay was an enthusiastic and knowledgeable guide and helped us navigate through the crowded streets and food options of Gion. While the food we tried was pretty standard fare, it was nevertheless still delicious and helpful to have a guide to explain things to us.”
Step into a 300-year-old Kyoto samurai house for a private Uji matcha ceremony, kimono photos, and sake or Japanese whisky tasting.
“Excellent experience! The hosts and tea master were very warm and welcoming. They spoke fluent English and were wonderful teachers. They made us feel as if we were part of their family.”
Taste five Kyoto specialties, explore Nishiki Market, and learn local food traditions on a small-group walking tour with an English-speaking guide.
“My guide, Annie, was knowledgeable and personable. She is a gentle teacher and encouraged me to try new things (that were always good!). We also laughed quite a bit. Highly recommended.”
Explore Kyoto through 10 local tastings, Nishiki Market, Gion, and private guidance. See what is included, the value, and who should book.
“Eiji was a wonderful guide. He helped us prioritize local delicacies at the market such as hamo tempura or the sansyo pepper ice cream, and shared context and history as we went. So much deliciousness packed into just a few hours. Learning about my kid’s love of Nintendo he helped us detour from the itinerary to visit a couple other of local gems that made my kid’s day!”
Sample 10 Kyoto specialties, from Wagyu sushi to yuba tofu, on a small-group walk from Karasuma to Gion.
“Disappointing tour. Lot of street food. Don’t think it was value for money. I could have bought the items myself for much less cost. Tour guide very quietly spoken and didn’t offer much in the way of descriptions, history etc.”
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