At the heart of Kyoto the “Flower Districts” around Gion and Pontocho, these are the city’s most famous entertainment districts and the center of traditional culture and nightlife. We will start our tour strolling around a more hidden “flower-district” (the historic name for areas with tea houses featuring music and dance performed by Kyoto’s famous geisha.) If we are lucky we will spot the Maiko and Geiko on their way to there work for the evening.
Luxury Sake and Whisky Nightlife Tour in Kyoto
Kyoto is famous for delicious sake breweries and world class Whisky. Come enjoy an evening of local food and drinks pairings.
As dusk falls we will explore the alleys and back streets and make our way to a hidden-gem, cocktail bar that has been awarded for their amazing bar tenders and gold star original drink creations. At our first stop we will try local snacks paired with a delicious cocktail of your choice. This hidden gem bar has a few special features– you can even order a drink based on your “mood” just talk to the bar staff and they will make something special just for you!
As evening deepens we will wend our way around the small side streets and see some of the best views of Japan’s ancient capital. Our next stop will be a restaurant in a family home that dates from over 100 years ago. The host of this delicious riverside gem will be sure to entertain us with stories and specialty food. Try a local Kyoto sake and learn about Sake (rice wine) and why Kyoto is one of Japan’s best regions for brewing this famous beverage. At this spot we will try the proprietor’s famous “appetizer surprise box” and two small plate- dishes featuring mochi (the specialty of this establishment) used in surprising ways. You will surely enjoy the signature Kamo (duck) tasting dish — the chef’s playful Kyoto take on “Peking Duck.
Our final stop, whisky tasting at a posh bar in the Pontocho district. Have a chance to try your choice of Japanese whiskies and see why they have become famous the world over. (Non whisky drinkers can enjoy other beverages.) We will pair our final drink with your choice of sweets or bar snacks and finish up the tour with an atmospheric stroll through this lively nightlife district.
Tour Highlights:
- 3 hour tour of the small hidden streets of Kyoto
- Experience an evening stroll with our local guide, and really find out about this historic area.
- Try local seasonal dishes and a sake tasting (other beverages also available)
- Visit an award winning bar and try a creative cocktail and local seasonal small plate/ tasting dishes
- Browse the local streets, bridges and rivers along the way.
- Classic Whisky bar tasting with chocolate pairing (or bar snacks if preferred)
We have a strict policy about starting our tours on time. This is to protect the enjoyment of all our guests and restaurant partners. We are sorry to say that if you are not able to arrive at the meeting point by the departure time, the tour will start regardless and no refund will be provided. We are also unable to accommodate meeting up in any of the food stops once you’ve missed the start of the tour.
Arigato Tours are a great way to meet other travelers and food fans from around the world. However if you would prefer a private tour please see the additional fees below and click the add on button on your cart when you check out.
For a more customized experience, make your tour private for an additional $175 + TAX (min. 2 people) (5+ $250 + TAX)
Private Food Tour Add-on (1-4 people) (+$175.00)
Private Food Tour Add-on (5+ people) (+$250.00)
Tour Schedule:
| Tuesday – Saturday | |
|---|---|
| Meeting Time Frame | 4:45 – 5:00 pm |
| Start Time | 5:00 pm |
| End Time | 8:00 pm |
View The Photos
$249 / Person
In Gion the bars and restaurants come alive at dusk, and in the preserved streets the lanterns are lit on the teahouses and maiko, or apprentice geisha, can be seen hurrying to their appointments. If you would like to explore this area at night I highly recommend Arigato Japan Food Tours.
Lori C.
Tour Details
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4 STOPS FOR SAKE, COCKTAIL, WHISKY OTHER BEVERAGE TASTING INCLUDED YES
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SMALL SPECIALTY TASTING DISHES PAIRED WITH SAKE YES
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LOCAL SNACKS PAIRED WITH FAMOUS KYOTO WHISKY YES
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WALKING LEVEL MODERATE YES
For this tour, it is possible (with advanced notice at the time of booking) to make adjustments to support the following dietary restrictions:
Please keep in mind, however, that we cannot make an allergy free or dietary restriction food guarantee since food is prepared in kitchens that do not belong to Arigato Japan. Also some stops may not have a viable substitution but we will make every effort to compensate at different stops throughout the tour.
Meeting Location
Meet Up Point in front of Kyoto Marui Department store WORLD CLOCK at the crossing of Shijo dori at Kawaramachi Subway Station
You can copy and paste this to Google Maps to find exactly where this location is;
６８ Shinchō, Shimogyō-ku, Kyōto-shi, Kyōto-fu 600-8001
〒600-8001 京都府京都市下京区真町６８
Our guide will be waiting by the world clock mural with an Arigato Japan Food Tour sign. We suggest wearing comfortable shoes as there will be walking involved.
WEATHER REMINDER:
On rainy days, we recommend bringing an umbrella. They can be easily purchased at any convenience store.
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