5 Best Food Tours in Kyoto
Kyoto is one of Japan’s best foodie cities, thanks to its rich history and aristocratic roots. It’s the birthplace of both kaiseki and matcha, so we couldn’t wait to explore the city’s diverse culinary scene. And what better way to do that than with a food tour?
So now, after spending a ton of time eating our way through Kyoto and checking out all of the best food tours, we’ve rounded up our top 5 picks for you. There’s truly a food tour for everyone here. Whether you want to explore local markets, eat tons of street food, or check out the best hidden izakayas, we’ve got you covered. Let’s go!
Don’t Miss Out On our Top Choice!
The tour we loved the most and suggest booking ASAP is this one!
Our personal FAVORITE food tour was this night food tour. Not only did we try Kyoto’s best dishes, but also toured Geshia districts and tasted sake! This was the best introduction to Kyoto.
Check out the 1,200+ 5-star reviews and book this tour here!
1. Kyoto Night Time Foodie Tour
- Duration: 3 hours
- Time: 5 or 6 pm
- Highlights: exploring two traditional Geisha districts, visiting izakayas, full kaiseki dinner, matcha dessert, trying sake
- Inclusions: food, 3 different types of sake, tour photos, English-speaking guide
- Rating: 5 stars (check 1,200+ reviews here)
- Free cancellation: yes
- Price: Check price here!
There are so many reasons why this specific tour is our top choice of food tours in Kyoto! What initially drew us to it (aside from the glowing reviews) was that it explores Gion and Pontocho, two of Kyoto’s well-known geisha districts. We loved exploring all of the historic narrow streets and alleyways with a local who knew where to go.
It was so interesting learning about geisha culture from our guide, Natsu, as we explored, and we even saw some geishas walking through Gion. We also stopped off at three izakayas over the course of the tour, none of which we would ever have found without Natsu!
At the first spot, we enjoyed some sake and appetizers and then at the second izakaya we got a full kaiseki dinner. This is a multi-course haute cuisine meal and enjoying at least one kaiseki dinner is a MUST while you’re in Japan! Finally, we got a yummy matcha dessert before ending the night at a standing room bar, where we decided to stay for a few more drinks with our fellow travelers.
This tour was so much fun, and an amazing introduction to Kyoto and its cuisine. In fact, I would suggest booking this tour for your first evening in Kyoto, as you not only get tons of delicious food, but you also get to explore some of the city’s most iconic areas. We had the best time, and would highly recommend this tour to anyone!
Book this tour with over 1,200 5-star reviews here, before it sells out!
2. Nishiki Market Brunch Walking Food Tour
- Duration: 3 hours
- Time: 9:30 am
- Highlights: visiting different food stalls, full sit-down brunch, amazing guide, very small group
- Inclusions: all food tastings, glass of sake, brunch
- Rating: 4.9 stars (check 850+ reviews here)
- Free cancellation: yes
- Price: Check price here!
Do not miss the chance to explore Nishiki Market while in Kyoto! In fact, it’s known as the “kitchen of Kyoto”, because you can find so many delicious local specialties here. But with so much food on offer, it can be difficult to know where to start, which is why we booked this guided tour.
We loved our guide, Naru, who was full of enthusiasm about Kyoto’s local cuisine and took us to tons of fantastic stalls. We tried so many different foods, but some standouts for me were the sweet potato chips, the soy milk and cream croquettes, sweet walnuts, and tempura prawns.
We also got a cheeky sake tasting along the way, which certainly added to the fun. Then, for our sit-down brunch we got ganmodoki, aka deep fried tofu patties, which were much tastier than they sound!
Being in such a small tour group was great, as it was easy to get around the market together and we could always hear Naru. The tour was very well-paced – we didn’t feel rushed, but we managed to see a lot.
This tour is the perfect way to explore the Nishiki Market and it’s suitable for all types of travelers, although we especially think that budget travelers should snap up their spots before it sells out. The price of this tour is very competitive compared to other food tours in Kyoto, and we walked away feeling fit to burst!
Reserve this tour here to access FREE cancellation 24 hours before you go!
3. Kyoto Nishiki Market Food and Culture Walking Tour
- Duration: 3 hours
- Time: 10:15 am
- Highlights: tasting different foods at the market, visiting a Shinto shrine, checking out a small local temple, visiting Rissei Garden
- Inclusions: English-speaking guide, lunch and food tastings, walking tour of Nakagyo Ward
- Rating: 4.9 stars (check 200+ reviews here)
- Free cancellation: yes
- Price: Check price here!
We loved this food tour because it not only took us on an exciting journey through the Nishiki Market, but because we also got a mini walking tour of the surrounding Nakagyo Ward. It was a nice way to discover central Kyoto, walk off all of the food we ate and soak up some culture. Just be aware that it only runs on weekdays!
But first things first: the food. This tour is an amazing choice for adventurous eaters who are excited to try new and unfamiliar foods in Japan! We had so much fun trying all new kinds of foods from tempura eels and katsu beef cutlets to tako tamago, which is candied octopus stuffed with a quail egg! Our guide, Akiho, really encouraged us to be bold and try new things, but she was never pushy.
After we had had lots of food at the market, we headed out around the Nakagyo area to see some local landmarks. We stopped at the Nishiki Tenmangu shrine, which is dedicated to the god of scholarship, and the tiny Takoyakushido Eifukuji Temple, which made for a cute little stop.
We think that this tour is best for those who want to dive deep into the local cuisine and try some new things! The fact that it’s a mini sightseeing tour too also makes it a great introduction to Kyoto and a great choice for those who are short on time. It’s certainly an experience you won’t forget!
Check availability and book this tour in advance here!
4. Kyoto Foodie Night Tour
- Duration: 3.5 hours 6
- Time: 5 pm
- Highlights: tasting a variety of foods, visiting Nishiki Market and multiple izakayas, walking through Pontocho mini geisha district
- Inclusions: 7-10 food tastings, at least 2 alcoholic drinks, English-speaking guide
- Rating: 4.9 stars (check 175+ reviews here)
- Free cancellation: no
- Price: Check price here!
If you want to explore Nishiki Market and Pontocho like a local, then this is the perfect tour for you! We also found this tour to be a really fun way to kick off a night out in Kyoto, as we stopped at a sake bar for a tasting, which we really enjoyed.
This tour really stands out in terms of food quality. We enjoyed fresh sashimi, miso-glazed tofu skewers, and best of all, hoba miso, which is miso grilled on a magnolia leaf. We even got to grill it ourselves!
We started by exploring the Nishiki Market and trying lots of street food snacks, before moving onto a few different izakayas to try different obanzai dishes. Our guide explained to us that for a dish to be obanzai, at least half of its ingredients must come from Kyoto, which we found really cool!
Then, we wrapped up the tour with a quick walk around Pontocho, the “mini geisha” district. It’s not quite as famous as Gion, but it’s still one of Kyoto’s five thriving geisha districts. We loved the atmosphere here and there are plenty of fun izakayas for those looking to continue their night out!
From exploring the market to checking out izakayas and exploring one of Kyoto’s coolest districts, we thought that this tour did a great job of showcasing Kyoto’s food scene and character. We would definitely do it again!
Book this tour with HUNDREDS of 5-star reviews here, before it sells out.
5. Private Kyoto Food Tour
- Duration: 3 hours
- Time: 10:30 am – 3:30 pm
- Highlights: sampling lots of different foods at Nishiki Market, exploring Hanamikoji Street, visiting Kenninji Temple Garden and Nishiki Tenmangu Shrine, eating at local izakayas
- Inclusions: 10+ food tastings, private guide
- Rating: 4.8 stars (check all reviews here)
- Free cancellation: yes
- Price: Check price here!
Last but not least, we have this private Kyoto food tour. And what’s the best thing about a private tour? The chance to personalize it, of course!
If you have a particular area of interest in Kyoto, just let your guide know and they will ensure to tailor the tour to you. This could be certain landmarks, such as the Shinsen-en garden or Mygon-in temple, or areas of cultural or historical interest, like the Edo period or geisha culture.
As standard, the tour visits Nishiki Market, where we tried lots of exciting new dishes. Then, it was onto the Kenninji Temple Garden, where we got to try chili pepper ice cream – yes, really! It was definitely one of the most unique things we’ve ever tried in Japan, and that’s saying something.
Our guide also took us to Hanamikoji Street – a long, cobbled street in the Gion geisha district where the old-world charm of Kyoto is at its most powerful. We loved checking out the traditional townhouses and stopping in different izakayas for snacks and sake!
Since this is a private tour, we felt like we covered so much more ground than with group tours, and we loved being able to customize the experience to our interests. Our guide, Eiji, was fantastic too and knew so much about Kyoto – he was just full of information! This is a fantastic tour for those who want the full Kyoto experience, and it’s our top choice for families or groups of friends.
Book this tour here to access FREE cancellation and flexible payment options!
Where to Stay in Kyoto
Looking for the perfect place to stay in Kyoto? We’ve got you covered! There are tons of great hotel options, and Kyoto is very well connected by buses and trains. So if you’re staying downtown or a little outside of the city center, you’ll still be able to get around!
Here are my top three picks:
Luxury – $$$
A trip to Kyoto isn’t complete without a traditional Japanese stay, so Kyoto Ryokan Kinoe is an excellent option! This Ryokan is set in the best area of Kyoto, within walking distance from the Gion geshia district. The rooms have that traditional charm with futon beds, fresh tea, and access to public baths and the charming stone garden.
Prices vary by season but average around $300 USD per night. Check availability and book this stay online here.
Mid-range – $$
Located in the Shimogyo district, Hotel Resol Kyoto Shijo Muromachi is a comfortable stay at a moderate price point. The rooms are spacious and modern, ranging from Hollywood twin to double rooms. You can enjoy the onsite restaurant or you’re a quick walk from downtown Kyoto’s top spots.
Rooms start around $120 USD and can get to $250+ USD. Check prices and book this hotel in advance.
Budget – $
Miro Kyoto Nijo Hotel is a fantastic budget option, offering simple yet clean and comfortable rooms. Situated in the Nakagyo area, this hotel is conveniently located next to the JR station and the bus station so you can easily get around Kyoto. They offer twin or double rooms, ranging from about $50 to $150 USD.
Check availability and book this stay on Booking.com.
For more options, check out all of the hotels in Kyoto here!
Thanks for reading!
Kyoto’s food scene blew us away, so taking a food tour was the best way to maximize our time and tasting abilities! No matter which food tour you choose to go on, I know you’ll have a fantastic time, eat lots of tasty food, and learn some truly unique history.
Be sur to check out all of our Japan blogs before you go. We have tons of resources whether this is your first or hundredth time to Japan, including our favorite cities, tours, and can’t miss experiences!
10 Best Things to do in Kyoto, Japan
