Take Your Taste Buds on a Magical Ride When You're in Kyoto(2023)! 10 Best Kyoto Food Tours to Savour Authentic Japanese Cuisine.

Itinerary:

• The itinerary involves a casual evening stroll in Pontocho alley and the backstreets of Gion. You will eat dinner at a local outlet and experience the true, local food culture.

Highlights:

• The duration of this tour is approximately 3 hours, which gives you enough time to stroll and explore Gion district and Pontocho alley. A full dinner course and 3 drinks (alcoholic or non-alcoholic) are included in the tour. The dinner menu has vegetarian options, but vegan and gluten free options are not available. The best feature of this tour is that you will share a table with an affable local guide who will fill you in with the amazing history and aesthetics of Gion district, and the food culture of Japan.

Itinerary:

• This all-inclusive and comprehensive tour lets you delve into the past and present of Japan. The tour will start at Camo river and proceed to a busy commercial street and then into the peaceful ambience of the Yasaka Jinja shrine. Then, you are off to an in-depth exploration of Gion district with visits to Pontocho alley and Kiyamachi, stopping at various restaurants in between walking.

Highlights:

• A visit to the Yasaka Jinja shrine in the evening is an unforgettable experience as the shrine’s nighttime aesthetics is out of this world. There, you will get an enriching lesson on Japan’s main religions from your knowledgeable guide who is well versed in Spanish, German and French besides English. The 3 hour tour also includes exploring Gion and Pontocho areas of Kyoto which are notable Geisha spots ( you might see one if you are lucky). To top off this wonderful tour is a local dinner between two quality restaurants, featuring a variety of local dishes.

Itinerary:

• The itinerary is restricted in the Nishiki Market area. You will visit 12 family-owned stores that have stood the test of time, and savour some specialty products. Post the exploration of the market, you will visit a restaurant for a delicious local lunch.

Highlights:

• This 3-hour tour will be a delight to your taste buds. You will savour local favourites like fresh seafood, dashi tamagoyaki, sashimi tofu and matcha; all of them bought from the family owned traditional shops that are part of your itinerary. These food items are among the highest quality foods available in the country. Besides, you will learn about the farm-to-table processes that make these delicious dishes available to the public. Lastly, you will have a course lunch at a local restaurant.

Itinerary:

• This tour spans many destinations in Kyoto. You will stroll along the Kamogawa river, explore Pontocho and Gion districts before sitting down for a Kaiseki dinner.

Highlights:

• In this 3 hour long tour, you will learn about the Meiko and Geiko culture of Kyoto and enjoy the city’s beautiful architecture in a walking tour. Besides, you will stop at places during your walking tour to sample various Japanese snacks. The tour ends with a 10-course Kaiseki dinner that will satisfy both your stomach and soul.

Itinerary:

• This short stroll will take you through the classic backstreets of Kyoto and then into the Nishiki Market where you will get to sample a multitude of local dishes. Additionally, you will have brunch at a restaurant.

Highlights:

• This is a morning tour where you take a stroll in the crisp morning air for 2.5 hours in Kyoto’s backstreets. The tour also includes tastings of multiple free samples in Nishiki Market and at least 1 street food. The tour ends with a delicious brunch at a local restaurant.

Itinerary:

• This stroll-and-eat tour will take you to many locations in Kyoto. Your venues will be the following order; Kyoto Sanjo shopping street, Kyoto Seishu Netsuke Art Museum, Shinsenen, Takenomu Inari Shrine, Yadoru Kyoto, Myogon-in Temple, Shinsen Gallery, a store in Nakagyo ward, Kennin-ji Temple, Nishiki-Tenmangu Shrine and Hanamikoji street. You will sample local delicacies at each of the above stops.

Highlights:

• This private tour of 3 hours includes sampling of 10 dishes and drinks. You will savour them in between your stroll of the city so this tour is essentially a fun-filled and exciting tour where you enjoy a walk, learn about the city and eat at the same time.

Itinerary:

• The itinerary includes strolls in some of the most beautiful spots in Tokyo. Your tour venues are Okochi Sanso Garden, The Bamboo Forest Trail, Tenryuji Temple, Arashiyama Kimono Forest and Togetsukyo Bridge.

Highlights:

• This is a comprehensive 3-hour tour that combines strolling, sightseeing and food tasting. So, you get every tourist experience from just one tour. You will stroll along some of the most picturesque areas of Kyoto, soaking in the natural beauty and immersing yourself in the magical ambience of the place.

Itinerary:

• The typical itinerary involves visits to Kyoto Yaoichi Honkan, Kyoto Museum, Teramachi-dori street and Nishiki Market. They are popular foodie spots in Kyoto and each stop will be followed by an exploration of food and a lesson on its existent culture.

Highlights:

• This private tour of 3 hours will let you taste some local favourites and iconic Kyoto dishes. You will have solid knowledge about Kyoto food and food culture by the end of the tour.

Itinerary:

• The itinerary is a simple one. You visit various restaurants and bars to sample the local delicacies while your learned guide tells you about Kyoto’s food culture.

Highlights:

• This 2-hour food tour includes 2 foods and 2 drinks for kids, 3 alcoholic drinks for adults, and 3 dishes ( takoyaki, yakitori and the likes). Extra food and drinks can be bought but at your extra expense.

Itinerary:

• The destinations that you would visit are Kyoto Imperial Palace, Nijo Castle and Nishiki Market. The tour is 6 hours so that you have enough time to get an immersive experience of all the above.

Highlights:

• Nijo Castle is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that has witnessed the long history of the rise and fall of the Tokugawas. You will find ruins of the Momoyama culture that is around 400 years old ( Ninomaru garden and palace, Karamon Gate). The Kyoto Imperial Palace sporting architectural styles of various periods is a sight to behold. Nishiki Market is a foodie’s paradise where you will eat and drink a variety of local and global delicacies.