Kyoto · Food & Drink Tour

Kyoto: Nishiki Market Food Tour – 7 Tastings

4.9 · 287 reviews
12 photos

Seven tastings through the kitchen of Kyoto, with someone who knows the stalls.

Area
Kyoto
Duration
3 hours
Language
English
Booking
Instant confirmation

From

¥10,000 per person

approx. US$63

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before

Instant confirmation

Overview

A Nishiki Market food tour through the covered arcade Kyoto has shopped in for four centuries. Seven tastings from stalls chosen by your guide, plus Nishiki Tenmangu shrine and a walk through Pontocho and Kiyamachi on the way. You are told what each thing is before you eat it.

Highlights

  • Seven tastings from stalls chosen rather than queued at
  • Nishiki Market, the covered arcade Kyoto has shopped in for centuries
  • Nishiki Tenmangu, the shrine inside the market
  • Pontocho and Kiyamachi on the walk in
  • English throughout, no Japanese needed

Experience

Pontocho and Kiyamachi first

We begin away from the market, in the narrow lane of Pontocho and along the Takase canal at Kiyamachi. Both are quiet in daylight and give you the shape of central Kyoto before the market's noise starts. Your guide explains what happens here after dark.

The shrine inside the market

Nishiki Tenmangu sits at the end of the arcade, wedged between shopfronts, and most people walk past it. It is worth stopping for. Your guide explains its connection to learning and to the market itself, and what the ox statue is for.

Seven tastings, chosen not queued

Nishiki has over a hundred shops and a good number of them exist for tourists. Your guide takes you to seven that do not — pickles, tofu, tamagoyaki, whatever is right that day — and tells you what each one is, how it is made and how Kyoto actually eats it.

Itinerary

  1. Shijo Kiyamachi

    Meet your guide at the FamilyMart on the corner.

  2. Pontocho

    The narrow lane, quiet in daylight.

  3. Kiyamachi

    Along the Takase canal.

  4. Nishiki Tenmangu

    The shrine at the end of the arcade.

  5. Nishiki Market

    Seven tastings through the covered market.

Meeting point

FamilyMart at Shijo Kiyamachi Minami, in central Kyoto. Your guide carries a Travel Japan Together sign and will contact you on WhatsApp beforehand.

Includes

  • English-speaking local guide
  • 7 food tastings from selected local vendors
  • Entry to Nishiki Market and Nishiki Tenmangu Shrine
  • Insights into Kyoto's food culture
  • Photos taken during the tour
  • Additional food and drinks

Gallery

Important Information

  • The market is covered, so the tour runs in any weather.
  • The arcade is narrow and busy. Keep bags in front of you.
  • Bring some cash if you would like to buy anything beyond the tastings.
  • 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 287 reviews

FAQ

What is included in the price?

Seven tastings, your English-speaking guide and the guided walk. Anything you buy beyond the tastings is your own, so bring some cash.

Is seven tastings enough for a meal?

It is closer to a substantial lunch than a snack. Most guests do not need a meal straight afterwards.

Can you accommodate someone who does not eat seafood?

Yes, with notice. Nishiki has plenty beyond fish — pickles, tofu, tamagoyaki, sweets. Tell us when you book.

Does the tour run in rain?

Yes. Nishiki is a covered arcade, so weather makes very little difference.

What is the cancellation policy?

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

¥10,000 From / person
Check availability