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Kyoto Local Food & Culture Tour in 1 Day, Licensed Guide
Product code 92136P84
From
From JPY 23,500
Dates
Jul 31, 2026 to Jul 28, 2027
Start times
8:30 AM, 10:00 AM, 3:00 PM, 9:30 AM, 1:00 PM, 11:00 AM, 10:30 AM, 9:00 AM
Travelers
Infant ages 0-5, Child ages 6-11, Adult ages 12-99
Options
Kyoto Local Food & Culture Tour in 1 Day, Licensed Guide
Availability, payment, cancellation, and vouchers are completed on Viator after you leave this page.
Duration
6 hours
Ticket type
Mobile Only
Languages
English, Japanese
Confirmation
Instant
Pickup
Pickup details available
Time zone
Asia/Tokyo
Booking, payment, cancellation, and vouchers continue on Viator.
From
From JPY 23,500
Kyoto Local Food & Culture Tour in 1 Day, Licensed Guide





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Duration
6 hours
Ticket type
Mobile Only
Languages
English, Japanese
Confirmation
Instant
Pickup
Pickup details available
Time zone
Asia/Tokyo
Why Travelers Love This
THE tour for a local's experience of Kyoto’s best food! Our nationally-licensed and experienced English-speaking guides will help you find the best eats while learning about Kyoto. Kyoto’s dishes have little flashes of flavor that will surprise you from Tofu skin hot pots to eel rice bowls, and buckwheat noodles with a huge fish. Street food fans must visit Nishiki Market. This 400 year old market is rich in history and food. See some too-cute-to-eat Japanese ‘wagashi’ sweets or the eccentric tako-tamago, a skewered octopus stuffed with a quail egg. Or you can enjoy looking at the pickled foods that locals love! If you are a tea fan, have some rich and warm green tea (matcha), or a green tea parfait to cool down. Once your reservation is made, please chose 3-4 spots from the tour details and let your guide know your food interests when planning. We hope to guide you soon! *The cost of food and drinks is not included in the tour price. The tour fee covers guide services only.
Overview
THE tour for a local's experience of Kyoto’s best food! Our nationally-licensed and experienced English-speaking guides will help you find the best eats while learning about Kyoto. Kyoto’s dishes have little flashes of flavor that will surprise you from Tofu skin hot pots to eel rice bowls, and buckwheat noodles with a huge fish. Street food fans must visit Nishiki Market. This 400 year old market is rich in history and food. See some too-cute-to-eat Japanese ‘wagashi’ sweets or the eccentric tako-tamago, a skewered octopus stuffed with a quail egg. Or you can enjoy looking at the pickled foods that locals love! If you are a tea fan, have some rich and warm green tea (matcha), or a green tea parfait to cool down. Once your reservation is made, please chose 3-4 spots from the tour details and let your guide know your food interests when planning. We hope to guide you soon! *The cost of food and drinks is not included in the tour price. The tour fee covers guide services only.
What's Included
Included
Licensed Local Guide
Customizable Tour of your choice of 3-4 sites from 'What to expect' list
Not included
Other personal expenses
Lunch - Lunch (for yourself and your guide)
Entrance fee (for yourself)
Transportation fee (for yourself and your guide)
The cost of food and drinks
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup details
Itinerary
Stop 1
30 minutes
Stop 1
Nishiki Market (錦市場, Nishiki Ichiba) is a narrow, five block long shopping street lined by more than one hundred shops and restaurants. Known as "Kyoto's Kitchen", this lively retail market specializes in all things food related, like fresh seafood, produce, knives and cookware, and is a great place to find seasonal foods and Kyoto specialties, such as Japanese sweets, pickles, dried seafood and sushi. Nishiki Market has a pleasant but busy atmosphere that is inviting to those who want to explore the variety of culinary delights that Kyoto is famous for. The stores found throughout the market range in size from small narrow stalls to larger two story shops. Most specialize in a particular type of food, and almost everything sold at the market is locally produced and procured.
Stop 2
1 hour
Stop 2
Exploring the narrow alleyways of Kyoto’s Geisha District—Gion can be daunting for a first-time visitor. Eliminate the worry of getting lost by going on a guided tour. It’s a great way to discover hidden places that locals love, and to hear about Kyoto’s ancient past. Highlights include learning about Geisha culture and rituals, and visiting Gion, Pontocho, and Miyagawacho.
Stop 3
15 minutes
Stop 3
You will have original Kyoto Sweets in the beautiful building renovated from Kabuki Theater. The sweets is traditional one, but you can enjoy it by the unique way. You can eat it just here!!
Stop 4
30 minutes
Stop 4
Pontocho (先斗町, Pontochō) is one of Kyoto's most atmospheric dining areas. It is a narrow alley running from Shijo-dori to Sanjo-dori, one block west of Kamogawa River. The alley is packed with restaurants on both sides offering a wide range of dining options from inexpensive yakitori to traditional and modern Kyoto cuisine, foreign cuisine and highly exclusive establishments that require the right connections and a fat wallet. Business hours and closing days of the restaurants, bars and shops along Pontocho vary by establishment, but most places are usually open from around 17:00 to 23:00. Some also open for lunch. An increasing number of establishments offer English menus.
Stop 5
1 minutesAdmission not included
Stop 5
Kenninji Temple (建仁寺) locates very close to the bustle of Hanamikoji and Shijo streets, the grounds of Kenninji Temple are expansive and pleasant to walk, and the two karesansui (dry landscape gardens) here offer the visitor an oasis of tranquility. It is thought to be the oldest Zen temple in Kyoto.
Stop 6
30 minutesAdmission not included
Stop 6
Byodoin Temple is known for its Phoenix Hall, which is a National Treasure of Japan and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.Extra travel time is expected as it is located in Uji city in Kyoto prefecture
Stop 7
30 minutesAdmission not included
Stop 7
The Kyoto Imperial Palace (京都御所, Kyōto Gosho) used to be the residence of Japan's Imperial Family until 1868, when the emperor and capital were moved from Kyoto to Tokyo. It is located in the spacious Kyoto Imperial Park (京都御苑, Kyōto Gyoen), an attractive park in the center of the city that also encompasses the Sento Imperial Palace and a few other attractions.
Stop 8
30 minutesAdmission not included
Stop 8
Nijo Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage site was built in 1603 as the Kyoto residence of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of the Edo Period (1603-1867)
Stop 9
15 minutes
Stop 9
You can see Japan's background that is off-limits to ordinary tourists after the tour. This short trip is a fantastic and great value way of experiencing Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine! We are here to help you discover new things, the Fushimi Inari Shrine is so more than its famous tunnels of vermillion-red torii gates. Most people are satisfied by a scenic view of it. But this has a lot of stories to tell that will connect you to the Japan's history and culture and your guide will show you deeper. You will see a fascinating story attached to the origin of the shrine dedicated to the god of grains – that’s what “Inari” means – . This is also why you’ll see statues of the fox around the shrine. “Kitsune” or the fox is a servant to the god Inari. They are cunning tricksters, clever minded animals who make perfect guides for the treacherous business world. You may would want the foxes on your side after this tour.
Stop 10
1 minutesAdmission not included
Stop 10
Tenryuji (天龍寺, Tenryūji) is the most important temple in Kyoto's Arashiyama district. It was ranked first among the city's five great Zen temples, and is now registered as a world heritage site. Tenryuji is the head temple of its own school within the Rinzai Zen sect of Japanese Buddhism. Tenryuji was built in 1339 by the ruling shogun Ashikaga Takauji. Takauji dedicated the temple to Emperor Go-Daigo, who had just passed away. The two important historic figures used to be allies until Takauji turned against the emperor in a struggle for supremacy over Japan. By building the temple, Takauji intended to appease the former emperor's spirits.
Stop 11
1 minutesAdmission not included
Stop 11
Discover one of Kyoto’s most popular temples—Kiyomizu-dera Temple by going on a comprehensive 1-hour guided tour. Exploring the temple grounds with a guide means you’ll be able to learn about Japan’s history and culture as you explore the magnificent building. Enjoy commentary from your English-speaking guide who will make sure you don't miss any important features.
Stop 12
1 minutesAdmission not included
Stop 12
Sanjusangendo (三十三間堂, Sanjūsangendō) is the popular name for Rengeo-in, a temple in eastern Kyoto which is famous for its 1001 statues of Kannon, the goddess of mercy. The temple was founded in 1164 and rebuilt a century later after the original structure had been destroyed in a fire.
Additional Info
Infant Seats Available
Specialized infant seats are available
Pets Welcome
Service animals allowed
Public Transportation Nearby
Public transportation options are available nearby
Stroller Accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Surfaces Wheelchair Accessible
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Transportation Wheelchair Accessible
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
Physical Easy
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Wheelchair Accessible
Wheelchair accessible
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Policy type
Standard
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Refund eligibility
100% refundable 1+ days before
Refund eligibility
0% refundable 0-1 days before
Review Summary
5.0
9 reviews
Collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
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