Kyoto Food Tour of Nishiki Market, Gion, and Fushimi Inari
Explore Nishiki Market, the Gion geisha district, and Fushimi Inari Shrine on the hunt for some of the best food in Kyoto during this Kyoto Food Tour.
Highlights
Discover the best of food in Kyoto, exploring the Nishiki Markets, the beautiful Gion geisha district, and the iconic Fushimi Inari Shrine
Enjoy learning about Kyoto’s rich history and gain knowledge about the culture of food in Kyoto with the help of your local English-speaking guide
Taste 7 different types of local Kyoto food along the way
10 meals
Experience Details
The food culture of Kyoto is deeply rooted in the city’s rich history. Factors such as access to high-quality regional produce and Kyoto’s place as the ancient political capital influenced the local cuisine, known as Kyo Ryori. Kyoto is also famous for its extravagant Kaiseki cuisine and the Buddhist Shojin Ryori cuisine, but the city also has local street food. Learn about Kyoto cuisine while touring the city in this Kyoto Food Tour! Explore Kyoto, visiting Nishiki Market, the Gion geisha district, and the iconic Fushimi Inari Shrine on this food tour.
You’ll start at the 400-year-old Nishiki Market, known as “Kyoto’s Kitchen” for its history of providing locals with fresh produce and seafood. Over 130 shops line this undercover market. Then, you’ll rest your belly as you visit a local shrine dedicated to the God of Education. You’ll wander down to Pontocho Alley via the Teramachi Shopping Arcade. Feast your eyes upon modern Japanese culture here in the busy downtown area, then take a turn into Pontocho, one of Kyoto’s 5 geisha districts, full of beautifully preserved wooden buildings.
You’ll find yourself strolling across the Kamogawa River, tasting Japanese wagashi sweets, before heading to the more prominent geisha district of Gion. Your guide will lead you away from the crowds and into some secret spots, perfect for photo-taking. The final stop of this Kyoto Food Tour is the famous Fushimi Inari Shrine, famous for its thousands of red torii gates. After eating some delicious Kyoto food and exploring the city during this Kyoto Food Tour, you’ll leave with a satisfied tummy.
Menu:
-Rice cracker
-Yuba (tofu skin)
-Fried fish cake
-Hamo (daggertooth pike conger)
-Japanese omelet
-Sake (Japanese rice wine)
-Japanese wagashi sweets
*The menu may vary depending on the season
Inclusions
A 4-hour Kyoto Food Tour, covering the Nishiki Markets, the Gion area, and Fushimi Inari Shrine
An English-speaking guide to teach you all about Kyoto cuisine and the city’s history, and Japanese food
7 different dishes to try along the way (see menu)
Train ticket fee to Fushimi Inari Shrine
Exclusions
Additional food, drink, or souvenir purchases
Meeting Point and Meeting Time
The meeting point is in front of the Daimaru Karasuma Department Store on Shijo-dori Street, located in front of the Shijo Takakura Bus Stop. Please keep in mind that there are two Daimaru department stores, and that this meeting point is NOT at the Fuji Daimaru department store.
Remarks
This food tour starts strictly on time. Please be respectful of the other guests. If guests do not arrive at the meeting point by the departure time, the tour will begin regardless.
Please notify us in advance if there are any food restrictions, preferences, and allergies (e.g. gluten allergy, vegetarian, vegan).
Minimum drinking age is strictly 20 years and above in Japan, so participants must be 20 years or older to join this tour.
Please be reminded to wear comfortable shoes because there will be a lot of walking.
Cancellation Policy
Cancel your booking at least 2 days before the experience start time to receive a full refund minus a 3.2% transaction fee.
Experience Location
Gion is the traditional entertainment center of Kyoto, where arts like kabuki theater, tea ceremony, and flower arrangement have flourished for hundreds of years. Gion is one of five hanamachi (geiko or geisha communities) in Kyoto. Some of the most gorgeous traditional tea houses are also in Gion, and geisha can be seen moving between ochaya tea houses, on their way to a performance. During sakura season, maiko and geiko perform at the Miyako Odori, one of the largest annual spring shows. But all year round, Shirakawa Dori (Shirakawa Street) is a stunning and timeless sight.
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10 meals
Join a private Nishiki Market food tour in Kyoto! With Takeshi as your guide, you’ll visit two special vendors for a tasting experience (plus a drink at each location), plus learn about the history, culture, and food of Nishiki Market.
Stroll through the lantern-lit streets of Gion, Japan’s most famous geisha district, in this family-friendly Kyoto food and walking tour. See Pontocho and the Yasaka Shrine, and enjoy sashimi, tempura, karaage and drinks at two izakaya restaurants.
Located near the UNESCO World Heritage Site Kiyomizu-dera Temple, this traditional tea ceremony is held in Kyoto, the city where tea culture first emerged in Japan. Amid all the sightseeing, take a moment to slow down with a bowl of matcha.
At a teahouse located next to the UNESCO World Heritage Site Ryoan-ji, experience a private tea ceremony overlooking a Japanese garden. This immersive and restorative ritual will leave you feeling relaxed and zen.