Kyoto Gion & Pontocho Food Tour | Kaiseki, Sake & Street Eats

Thirteen dishes in Gion and Pontocho, and the geisha district explained as you walk it.

Area: Kyoto
Duration: 3 hours
Language: English
Booking: Instant confirmation

From

¥16,000 per person

approx. US$101

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before

Instant confirmation

Overview

A Gion food tour through Kyoto's geisha quarter after dark. You start at Yasaka Shrine when it is lit, walk Hanami-koji and the lanes around it, then sit down for thirteen dishes across a restaurant and an izakaya, with two drinks included and a guide who explains what geisha culture actually is.

Highlights

Thirteen dishes across a restaurant and an izakaya
Two drinks included, alcoholic or not
Yasaka Shrine lit after dark
Hanami-koji and the wooden machiya of Gion
English throughout, no Japanese needed

Experience

Yasaka Shrine, lit

The shrine at the end of Shijo has stood for more than thirteen hundred years, and it looks quite different at night with the lanterns on. We start here, and your guide explains what it is and why Gion grew around it.

Hanami-koji and the machiya

Hanami-koji is the street the photographs come from — wooden machiya houses, teahouses behind closed doors, the occasional maiko moving quickly between appointments. Your guide explains what is actually happening behind those doors, which is far less mysterious and far more interesting than most visitors assume.

Thirteen dishes, two rooms

The eating is split between a restaurant and an izakaya, both used by Kyoto rather than by tour groups. Thirteen dishes arrive across the evening, shared across the table, with two drinks included. Your guide orders and explains each course.

Itinerary

Gion

Meet your guide at the FamilyMart in Gionmachi Kitagawa.
Yasaka Shrine

The shrine lit after dark.
Hanami-koji

The main street of the geisha district.
The restaurant

The first half of the thirteen dishes.
The izakaya

The second half, and the last of the drinks.

Meeting point

FamilyMart in Gionmachi Kitagawa, on the edge of the geisha district. Your guide carries a Travel Japan Together sign and will contact you on WhatsApp beforehand.

Includes

English-speaking local guide
Food at 1 restaurant and 1 izakaya, up to 13 dishes
2 drinks, alcoholic or non-alcoholic
Guided walk through Gion and Pontocho
Additional drinks

Gallery

Important Information

Gion is residential as well as historic. Photographing maiko without permission is not allowed and your guide will explain where you may and may not take pictures.
The route is walked on foot, mostly flat.
Bring some cash for anything beyond what is included.
Your guide will contact you through WhatsApp before the tour, so please install it in advance.
We can accommodate most dietary preferences with advance notice, but strict requirements such as vegan, halal or severe allergies are difficult on this route. If you have strict requirements, book our private tour instead and we will build the evening around them.

Reviews

4.9 / 5

Based on 1,363 reviews

FAQ

Will we see a geisha or maiko?

Sometimes, briefly, moving between appointments. It is not guaranteed and nobody is put on display. If meeting one properly is what you are after, book our geisha dinner instead.

What is included in the price?

Thirteen dishes, two drinks, your English-speaking guide and the guided walk. Anything beyond that is your own.

Can I join if I don't drink alcohol?

Yes, and the price is the same. Both included drinks can be non-alcoholic.

Is photography allowed in Gion?

On the public streets, yes, with care. Photographing maiko or private entrances is not permitted. Your guide will tell you where the lines are.

What is the cancellation policy?

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start time. Bookings are confirmed instantly.

Kyoto: Gion & Pontocho Food Tour with 13 Dishes

Overview

Highlights