Kyoto Nishiki Market Food Tour – Daytime

Tour Summary:

3-hour walking food tour in the world-famous Nishiki Market. Explore the beautiful flavors of Kyoto on this tour of the 400-year-old Nishiki Market. Get an excellent introduction to the cuisine of Kyoto as you enjoy tastings of different local and seasonal food unique to the area. Take a peek into the history and culture of Kyoto through regional flavors, souvenirs, and insider stories you wouldn’t want to miss. Stop by a shrine beloved by locals for its rich history.

Discover fascinating insights about Japanese culture on this small-group guided tour of the city’s best food spots.

Minimum number of participants: 2

Maximum number of participants: 6-8 

(We can sometimes accommodate larger groups or single travelers: contact our office for special arrangements at bookings@arigatojapan.co.jp)

Please see our family-friendly pricing below- If you have any questions please email our team at Bookings@ArigatoJapan.co.jp.

• Babies and Toddlers 0-2 years old – free
• Children 3-12 years old – 50% of adult price
• Children 13 and above – full price

Tour Details:

Enjoy a walking food tour through the Nishiki Food Market, an area known to locals as the Kitchen of Kyoto because it plays a huge part in supporting the Kyoto food industry. Business has been conducted here for the past 400 years. With one of the richest culinary atmospheres in the world, you will have a chance to sample some of the freshest food of your life.

Your experience will include stops at family-owned stalls and shops that have stood the test of time. While walking through the market, you will try delectable regional and seasonal dishes, specialty items, and snacks. Japan is truly a country that emphasizes the seasonality of ingredients, and the fresh seafood in the Nishiki Market is no exception. The vendors ensure that everything is available when they are the most delicious. During the tour, you will learn detailed information about the ingredients of different Japanese dishes, how they prepare their food, and what they use to eat it.

Your experience will do more than just give you a chance to taste Kyoto’s delicious food. It will also help you to grow more in tune with the history and atmosphere of the Nishiki Market as it has been experienced by the Japanese for generations. You will be surrounded by physical and visual stimuli every step of the way and enjoy stories from the past told directly by shopkeepers and families we will spend time with. After your market exploration, you will take a short walk and have a traditional lunch at a restaurant the locals adore. We look forward to welcoming you to one of the most beloved tours in all of Japan and hope to see you soon.

*Please note, if our regular lunch restaurant is unavailable in peak season or on holidays we will substitute with equal quality and value traditional lunch restaurant in the area.

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 cannot 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 at any of the food stops once you’ve missed the start of the tour.

Please note we can only wait an additional five minutes after the starting time and then the tour will depart. In addition to our limited five-minute grace period, please note that we cannot give directions or contact the guides on the phone once the tour begins. This is to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience for all guests on the tour, And also to respect our relationships with restaurants.

Private Tours:  For a more customized experience, make your tour private for an additional ¥19,500+ TAX. (min. 2 people). Please click the add-on button on your cart when you check out.

For a more customized experience, make your tour private for an additional ¥19,500+ TAX. (2-10 people)

**Groups of 9 or more are automatically private

Tour Schedule:

Monday-Saturday (not available on Sunday or National Holidays)
Meeting Time      9:45 – 10:00 AM
Start Time           10:00 AM
End Time             1:00 PM

Changes on tours: Applicable substitutions may be made due to public holidays, weather conditions, and other unforeseen circumstances.

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 Travel. Also, some stops may not have a viable substitution but we will make every effort to compensate at different stops throughout the tour.

TRAVEL BLOGGER Tested and Approved!

Stephanie of Eat, Drink, Travel, Y’all! recaps her experience on our Nishiki Market tour as a love letter to Kyoto. Read her impressions here so that you can fall in love with the city as well.

Naramonochi 375, Kyōto-fu, Kyōto-shi, Shimogyō-ku, 〒600-8004

〒600-8004 京都府京都市下京区 四条通寺町西入奈良物町375

Train Station Access: From the Hankyu train Line, get off Kawaramachi Station and take exit 9.

Our guide will be there holding an Arigato Travel sign, the tour involves walking so please wear comfortable shoes.

We will end the tour in the Karasuma Area.

WEATHER REMINDER: 
On rainy days, we recommend bringing an umbrella. They can be easily purchased at any convenience store.