7 Best Kyoto Food Tours
Japan’s ancient capital is one of the world’s premier gastronomic destinations. With both Michelin-starred restaurants and hidden gems to discover, it’s no wonder why it has such strong foodie credentials. By joining one of the 7 best Kyoto food tours, you’ll be enabled to find off-the-beaten-path eateries while learning about the food culture.
Kyoto’s cuisine is known for its elegance, from multi-course kaiseki meals to innovative tofu dishes like yuba (beancurd skin). Go on a culinary adventure with a local guide to discover the simple yet sophisticated cuisine!
Can’t-Miss Kyoto Food Tours
Here are seven of the best food tours in Kyoto for guided experiences around Kyoto city and prefecture:
1. Kyoto Food Tour of Nishiki Market, Gion, and Fushimi Inari
This epic Kyoto food tour will take you around some of the city’s top foodie locations. You begin in the famous Nishiki Market, a bustling street packed with around 130 shops. This is followed by a stroll along Kamogawa River to the historic Gion geisha district. Then, you’ll visit the breathtaking Fushimi Inari Shrine with its thousands of red torii gates.
Make sure you come hungry because over the course of the tour you’ll indulge in seven different local Kyoto foods, from crisp rice crackers to intricately-decorated wagashi sweets.
Book the Kyoto Food Tour of Nishiki Market, Gion, and Fushimi Inari >>
2. Sake Brewery Tour in Fushimi Sake District
Kyoto’s Fushimi district with its nearly 40 breweries is renowned for its sake thanks to its soft and pure water.
Your expert guide will show you around the Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum, where you’ll learn all about the history of sake and its production. Plus, you’ll have the opportunity to try several different varieties and discover which styles you like best! The tour also includes lunch at a local restaurant and time to explore the area.
3. Evening in Pontocho Food Tour
In Pontocho, you can wander down narrow alleyways lined with glowing lanterns. With cobbled streets and not a car in sight, a nighttime stroll here feels like stepping back in time to ancient Japan!
This peaceful area is also packed with dining options, and tour guide will take you to four of the very best. Sample sizzling yakitori skewers, sake, and noodles from a shop that has been serving lovingly handmade noodles for decades.
4. Kyoto Tea Ceremony and Sweets Experience
The tea ceremony is an important part of Japanese culture. Experiencing one is a must-do activity. During this tour, you’ll learn how to make rich and frothy matcha green tea from a licensed tea ceremony instructor.
Dressed in gorgeous kimono, you’ll also enjoy sweets from Shikoku. These are made with melt-in-the-mouth wasanbon sugar. Both vegan and gluten-free, this immersive experience is suitable for just about everyone!
5. Arashiyama Food Tour in Kyoto
Kyoto’s scenic Arashiyama district is most famous for its bamboo grove. In addition to stunning natural scenery, Arashiyama boasts mouthwatering dishes including deep-fried fish cakes with yuba, negiyaki (savory pancakes with green onions), and soy milk donuts.
On this Kyoto food tour, you’ll not only get to sample these specialties, but you’ll also learn about the history of the region and its cuisine from your guide. In between food stops, you’ll visit temples and monuments – plus get the perfect selfie in the bamboo forest!
6. Kyoto Matcha Green Tea Tour in Uji with Lunch
Uji city, just south of Kyoto, is world-renowned for producing some of the best matcha green tea in the world. On this tour, you’ll get to taste not only matcha but also a variety of different green teas from Uji and learn about how they’re produced and prepared.
For lunch, you’ll have a delicious set meal, wagashi sweets, and even creamy matcha ice cream! Afterward, you have the opportunity to explore Uji’s charming streets and the grounds of the Byodoin Temple, which features on Japan’s 10 yen coin.
7. Kyoto Nishiki Market Tour with 7 Course Lunch
Nishiki Market – also known as Kyoto’s Kitchen – dates back over 400 years and is the beating heart of the city’s food scene. It’s home to a huge variety of family-run stalls selling all the ingredients you need to make Japanese food.
From local specialties like silky blocks of tofu and zingy tsukemono pickles, your senses will be overwhelmed by what’s offered as your guide shows you around! As if that wasn’t enough, you’ll also get to enjoy a 7-course lunch at a local restaurant, making this Kyoto food tour an unforgettable experience!
Whether you want to enjoy the bustle of Nishiki Market, experience a Japanese tea ceremony, or immerse yourself in old Kyoto, these culinary tours are a fantastic way to do it. Book one of the best Kyoto food tours today and get ready to indulge in the very best of Japan’s culinary scenes!
Want to find out more about what Kyoto has to offer? Check out the Kyoto guide for the newest trends in the area, popular attractions, and more!
