There is no shortage of things to see and do in Kyoto, the cultural capital of Japan, but finding experiences that you will get the most out of take a little research and some bravery on your part to try something new!
From a guided tour of the bustling Nishiki food market to walking food tours, sake-tasting tours, cooking classes, and private tours, read on to discover the 15 best Kyoto food tours and foodie experiences!
If you’re heading to Kyoto and are looking for somewhere to stay, make sure you take a look at my 20 Best Kyoto Ryokan with Private Onsen (in 2024), and my 3-day Kyoto itinerary for more planning ideas.
Top 3 Picks: Best Kyoto Food Tours
#1 TOP PICK
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Kyoto Casual Pontocho Evening Food Tour
✔️ Includes popular dining streets Pontocho and Gion Shirakawa
✔️ Learn about the local history
✔️ Enjoy handmade local food
#2 PICK
Tea Ceremony
✔️ Discover Kyoto’s unique connection to the tea ceremony
✔️ Guided by a Kyoto Tea Master
✔️ Includes kimono rental
#3 PICK
Private Street Food Tour
✔️ Includes 10 unique Japanese dishes
✔️ Visit a Japanese Tea House
✔️ English-speaking guide
15 Best Kyoto Food Tours and Experiences for 2024
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Day Tours
1. Nishiki Market Tour (Daytime)
Duration: 3hrs | Location: Downtown Kyoto | View on Arigato Japan
Nishiki Market often seems like Kyoto’s kitchen. This 400-meter-long indoor shopping arcade stretches from Takakura Street to Teramachi street. It is made up of more than 100 food stalls offering fish, fruit, vegetables, meat, and much more. It has been known as the place to go for a taste of Kyoto for more than 400 years.
The three-hour tour will give you flashes of Kyoto’s rich history through its food, stopping at family-owned food stalls along the way. You will have a great opportunity to try many regional and local dishes such as Yuba (tofu skin), as well as lunch at a traditional restaurant afterward.
“This tour is a must, you will learn so much in 3 hours and sample a lot of stuff. The lunch was very delicious, what a great way to spend our first day in Kyoto! I can do this tour over and over again, amazing!”
– JANE TILLY
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2. Taste of Kyoto Walking Food Tour
Duration: 3hrs | Location: Karasuma Oike Station | View on Klook
This fun and entertaining street food tour offers much of the flavors, colors, and Japanese food culture that Kyoto has to offer.
Visit a small family-run chocolate shop where presentation is everything and discover what makes their chocolate so unique. Try traditionally handmade soba noodles, served hot or cold, and sample tsukemono, Japan’s version of Kimchi.
As you browse the food stalls of Nishiki Market and Daimaru, savor the sights and flavors of this rich and celebrated Japanese cuisine: sukiyaki (grilled meat and vegetables), tempura (deep fried fish or meat), Takoyaki (fried octopus balls), and taiyaki (sweet filled cakes usually shaped like a fish.
“The local cuisine recommended by the tour guide is great, but if there is more local little story history or better introductions.”
– CHENYIN (READ MORE REVIEWS)
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3. Private Street Food Tour
Duration: 3hrs | Location: Karasuma Station | View on Viator
Try one of the private tours of Kyoto for another unique and enjoyable experience. This tour offers tastings of 10 delicious Japanese dishes including gyoza, takoyaki, sashimi, and unique flavors of ice cream you must try.
Throughout your culinary tour, you will also encounter some of Kyoto’s most recognized cultural sites such as the Kennin-ji Zen Buddist temple, Myogonin temple, and Nishiki-Tenmangu shrine, known for its lanterns and spring water. Close off your tour with some tea in a traditional Japanese tea house and a surprise sweet tasting, and then take a final short stroll through the historic Hanamikoji street filled with kimono shops, local restaurants, and geisha.
“Wonderful! We enjoyed it very much! Ted was very considerate, and we felt in good hands. We tried a lot of tasty things we didn’t know so far. Thank you!”
– LATICA (READ MORE REVIEWS)
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Night Tours
4. Kyoto Bar Hopping Night Tour
Duration: 3hrs | Location: Pontocho Street | View on Viator
Enjoy the city’s nightlife like a local with drinks and food galore in this walking bar-hopping night tour through Kyoto’s atmospheric and bustling Pontocho street.
Meet your host at Gion Shijo Station and follow them through the bars and izakaya only the locals know about in one of Kyoto’s best-known night spots.
The drinking culture in Japan is much like anywhere else but a cold beer or warm sake followed by some yakitori or sashimi in a typical Japanese izakaya is not to be missed.
Finally, complete your night of Japanese bar-hopping with a tasty cocktail or fruity chuhai.
“It was a fun night out with a good selection of food and drinks. Keita was very helpful, explained historical bits of Kyoto as well as gave suggestions for further activities in the following days in Kyoto. Thanks.”
– READ MORE REVIEWS
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5. Kyoto Casual Pontocho Evening Food Tour
Duration: 3hrs | Location: Gion Shijo Dori | View on Arigato Japan
One of the more popular Kyoto night food tours, this is more low-key. This casual walking food tour will take you through two of Kyoto’s most charming and inviting areas, Pontocho street and Gion Shirakawa.
With the help of a local guide, explore tea houses, small local restaurants, and other sites as you learn about the history of the area through its food and drink.
Enjoy yakitori in a small traditional restaurant, handmade noodles in an old noodle house, and several drinks stops, absorbing Japanese food culture and history along the way.
This relaxing evening tour will help you narrow down your choice from the hundreds of bustling and touristy local restaurants on offer and allow you to enjoy a carefree evening.
“Our whole family enjoyed this tour. The sake stop was great even for the kids, and we had so much food. This tour was great value for the price.”
– ANNE (READ MORE REVIEWS)
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6. Cherry Blossom Evening Hanami Tour
Duration: 3hrs | Location: Demachiyanagi Station | View on Arigato Japan
Available only in March & April, make the most of Japan’s fleeting but special cherry blossom season in true local fashion with a hanami.
This walking tour of the Demachiyanagi area in Kyoto offers breathtaking views of cherry blossoms along the Kamo river away from the usual crowded tourist spots. This scenic part of the city is the perfect place to drop a picnic blanket and enjoy a drink and something to eat with some good company under the famous pink trees.
Finish your tour with dinner and sake in a traditional restaurant that offers handmade soba and udon noodles, and a locally famous dessert.
“We had a wonderful evening out with our guide, Lauren. A fantastic way to spend a couple of hours in beautiful Kyoto with great company too! It will be hard to say goodbye to Kyoto.”
– LAIF (READ MORE REVIEWS)
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Historic Tours
7. Gion & Kaiseki Kyoto Tour
Duration: 3hrs | Location: Gion District, Higashiyama Ward | View on Arigato Japan
Gion district is perhaps best known as being home to Kyoto’s geisha. You will certainly feel like you have stepped back in time when you wander through its famous ancient streets.
Starting in front of the Kanji Museum, the first part of this three-hour tour will take you through the streets of historic wooden buildings, tea houses, and traditional local restaurants.
When the walking part of the tour is complete, you will get to sit down for some traditional Japanese food, a 10-course kaiseki meal. In Japan, kaiseki is a multi-course meal that incorporates local cuisine and uses various skills and techniques used in food preparation. No trip to Kyoto is complete without a kaiseki meal.
“The food tour done by Arigato Japan in Kyoto was amazing for many reasons; the introduction to a wide range of Japanese, the informative and enjoyable discussions that I had with the tour guide, the picture-taking opportunities, walking the streets in the evening searching for elusive geishas.”
– J AUDUBON
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8. Private Fushimi Inari sightseeing & Nishiki Food Tour
Duration: 6hrs | Location: Kyoto Granbell Hotel | View on Viator
You cannot visit Kyoto without making time for a short stroll through the iconic vermillion torii gates of Fushimi Inari.
Begin your tour at the famous Nishiki Market and get to know Kyoto while you spend 2 hours sampling local cuisine such as negiyaki (savory pancakes), fried fish cakes, from more than 130 local stores.
Next, your English-speaking guide will guide you through the 1,300 year history of Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine and teach you about the famous red torrii gates and their origins.
Cap off your tour by visiting the 12th-century Sanjusangendo Buddhist Temple constructed by emperor Goshirakawa in 1164 and gaze upon the incredible 33 pillars of the temple’s main hall.
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Hands-on Experiences
9. Donburi Cooking Course
Duration: 2hrs 30mins | Location: Nishiki Market | View on Klook
Take something home from your trip that you will keep forever and learn how to prepare the traditional, popular, and cheap Japanese dish, donburi.
This cooked rice meal is served with either meat, fish, or vegetables and is the best way for many Japanese people to use leftovers.
Follow in the footsteps of Japanese chefs, and your host as you navigate the food stalls of Nishiki market to sample and collect your ingredients while learning about the food you are about to prepare.
Afterward, your host will guide you through the process of preparing the well-known rice bowl dish made up of meat, fish, and/or vegetables.
“The experience was very nice. It opened my family’s eyes to Japanese cuisine and cooking. The market was very interesting. I would not have known what we were looking at if not for our very nice guide.”
– J JEFFERSON
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10. Japanese Sweets Making Class
Duration: 1hr 10min | Location: Higashiyama Ward | View on Klook
Browse the food stalls of any market or supermarket in Japan and you’ll start to believe there are as many different types of Japanese sweets as there are stars in the sky.
Tame some time to learn the long history and important role that Japanese sweets have played through the country’s past and then how to make wagashi yourself.
A traditional Japanese candy often made with mochi or red bean paste, wagashi is commonly served and eaten alongside green tea. The class will teach you the importance of seasonal ingredients, rich flavors, and artistic designs. When you’re done tuck in and enjoy one of the sweeter Japanese food experiences!
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11. Ramen Cooking Class
Duration: 1hr 30mins | Location: Kamigyo Ward | View on Viator
You haven’t tasted ramen until you’ve tried it in Japan. It is one of Japan’s most popular and traditional dishes and can be used with infinite combinations to create something delicious and satisfying.
On this tour, learn how to make your own at the Ramen Factory in Kyoto, from making and preparing the noodles and toppings by hand to mixing your broth.
After your guide has walked you through the process, reward your taste buds with your very own personalized bowl of Japanese ramen. When your cooking class is finished choose the omiyage (souvenir) you would like to take home between a t-shirt, ramen bowl, or cooking apron.
“Absolutely amazing and fun experience! My friend and I signed up for this last minute, the day of, and it ended up being just us two in the 6 PM class. We made the ramen from scratch (noodles and broth) and the instructor, Nori, was so sweet and helpful.”
– ASHLEY (READ MORE REVIEWS)
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12. Bento Box Cooking Class
Duration: 3hrs | Location: Shimogyo Ward | View on Viator
The bento is enjoyed by millions across Japan and Asia every day. This versatile food preparation style can include anything from salad, shredded pickled vegetables, rice, breaded chicken, and much more.
In this bento box cooking class, learn about the origins and history of this famous single-portion style and the various cooking methods behind the food preparation.
Follow the master chef as they guide you through the techniques and then try your hand at creating some bento box stables such as miso soup, tempura, and egg rolls. When you are finished, enjoy the colors and flavors of your hard work and take home the recipes you have learned.
“Excellent cooking class; we learned a little about cooking Japanese cuisine. We enjoyed how kind and insightful our cooking instructors were. They even provided us with a recipe copy to take back home.”
– CARLOS (READ MORE REVIEWS)
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Drinks Tours
13. Sake Tasting Tour
Duration: 3hrs | Location: Fushimi-Momoyama Station | View on Arigato Japan
Did you know that sake is one of the oldest known spirits in the world? It was created in China 7,000 years ago before it became an inseparable part of Japanese food culture.
Now after thousands of years of refinement, you can learn about and enjoy this unique spirit in this sake-tasting tour. Explore modern and traditional sake breweries in Kyoto’s Fushimi district, known for producing some of the best sake in the world partly due to its access to natural spring water.
When you find a type you like, why not pick up a bottle to take home?
“I very much enjoyed visiting this 400-year-old historical sake brewery and learning about the hidden gems of the area from Toshi! He was an amazing guide and made my experience one to remember forever.”
– TERRI (READ MORE REVIEWS)
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14. Tea Ceremony
Duration: 1hr 30mins | Location: Nakagyo Ward | View on Viator
The preparation and presentation of tea in Japan has been around for more than a thousand years. Whether it is your first trip to Japan, or you have visited before, you cannot leave before taking part in one of Japan’s best-known cultural experiences, a traditional tea ceremony.
Don your kimono and join your host and tea master as you experience a Japanese tea ceremony whilst learning about the tools used, its etiquette and history, and Kyoto’s unique place in it.
Prepare and sample your matcha green tea as the tea master guides you through the process.
Don’t forget to snap a photograph of yourself in your kimono before you go!
“Fantastic traditional experience, kimonos made it extra special. The Tea Master had a good sense of humor. A must-do in Kyoto!”
– TOM (READ MORE REVIEWS)
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15. Green Tea Tour
Duration: 3hrs | Location: Keihan Uji Station | View on Arigato Japan
Matcha has been enjoyed in various forms in China for more than a thousand years. It was introduced to Japan by Buddhist monks in the twelfth century.
In addition to the famous Japanese tea ceremony, today matcha is used in a variety of ways to color and flavor foods.
This three-hour tour of Uji in Kyoto includes a lunch set in a local traditional restaurant where you’ll taste matcha in a range of different foods and drinks. Afterward, try your hand at making wagashi (sweets) or matcha ice cream. Experience the unique tea culture of Uji with this memorable green tea tour.
“More than expected, Thomas was a great, interesting and informative guide that included the context of matcha with a number of different types of matcha and food. The highlight was the matcha tea house, meeting and making matcha with the famous matcha tea maker.”
– EMMA (READ MORE REVIEWS)
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