Kyoto Nishiki Market Food & Culture Tour with Izakaya Lunch

About this experience

Experience Kyoto’s family-friendly street food culture without the stress of restaurant reservations or language barriers on this small-group Nishiki Market tour. Explore Nishiki Market, known as “Kyoto’s Kitchen,” with an English-speaking local guide who helps you navigate the lively 400-year-old market and choose the best street food bites along the way. Sample a variety of authentic Kyoto specialties that many visitors wouldn’t know how—or where—to order on their own. The tour includes multiple tastings at carefully selected local shops, offering a well-rounded introduction to Kyoto’s culinary traditions. As you walk through the market and surrounding neighborhood, your guide shares insights into Kyoto’s food culture and everyday eating habits. Ideal for families, first-time visitors, or anyone who loves different food cultures, this small-group street food tour lets you explore confidently while discovering the flavors that define Kyoto.

Itinerary

English information from the provider

1. Stop 1

   Duration: 100 min

   Soak up the sights, sounds, and smells, and learn about local food culture in this 400-year-old market with 130 shops all along a narrow five-block long street. This market still functions as an important place for both locals and professional chefs. Many chefs of Michelin-star restaurants and hotels/ryokans buy their ingredients from this market everyday. Locals come to the market when they want real atuhentic ingredients with best quality. While wandering through the market and sampling various kind of foods, you will learn about Japanese foods, local specialties, and food culture. Let's enjoy the market, not only foods but also all food related shops such as kitchen knives, tableware, and chopsticks.

2. Stop 2

   Duration: 15 min

   Visiting a local Shinto shrine. You will learn about things you often find at a shrine and how to pray at a Japanese Shinto shrine. Also, you could know the basics about the worships among Japanese People. If you like, you can try a fortune paper.

3. Stop 3

   Duration: 20 min

   This pedestrian-only shopping arcade street is a great spot for tourists as it blends traditional Kyoto culture with modern commercial trend. You will feel the life of the local people while walking through this local shopping street, where various shops from long-established shops to the latest shops line up.

4. Stop 4

   Duration: 10 min

   A small Buddhist temple located at the corner of the shopping street. There are temples everywhere in Kyoto, so this is something local experience that you can feel temples close to you in everyday life.

5. Stop 5

   Duration: 15 min

   You will feel the life of the local people while walking through this local shopping street, where various shops from long-established shops to the latest shops line up.

What's included

English information from the provider

• Seamless ordering and insider navigation through the market
• Personalized recommendations for local souvenirs and hidden spots
• Food tasting (Special Kyoto seasonings, cracker, Japanese flavored honey, etc)
• Local insight of Kyoto culture
• Intimate, small-group experience
• an English-speaking local guide
• 5 Local Street Foods (WAGYU steak skewers, Tofu skin, Local home cooking, Hamo Tempura and more)

Additional information

English information from the provider

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• We are unfortunately unable to accommodate dietary restrictions, including vegetarian, halal, kosher, gluten-free, or allergy-related requests.
• If you will come with a stroller, please let us know in advance. Nishiki market is very crowded sometimes.
• If you have severe dietary restrictions, it may not be possible to arrange food for you.
• The tour will take place rain or shine.
• Services not listed (For example : Hotel pickup and drop-off, Transportation to/from attractions, Extra food and drink, Other personal expenses) are not included in the tour.
• Legal drinking age is 20 years old in Japan

Cancellation policy

English information from the provider

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.