Soak up the sights, sounds, and smells, and learn about local food culture in this 400-year-old market with 130 shops all along a narrow five-block long street. This market still functions as an important place for both locals and professional chefs. Many chefs of Michelin-star restaurants and hotels/ryokans buy their ingredients from this market everyday. Locals come to the market when they want real atuhentic ingredients with best quality. While wandering through the market and sampling various kind of foods, you will learn about Japanese foods, local specialties, and food culture. Let's enjoy the market, not only foods but also all food related shops such as kitchen knives, tableware, and chopsticks.
Visiting a local Shinto shrine. You will learn about things you often find at a shrine and how to pray at a Japanese Shinto shrine. Also, you could know the basics about the worships among Japanese People. If you like, you can try a fortune paper.
This pedestrian-only shopping arcade street is a great spot for tourists as it blends traditional Kyoto culture with modern commercial trend. You will feel the life of the local people while walking through this local shopping street, where various shops from long-established shops to the latest shops line up.
A small Buddhist temple located at the corner of the shopping street. There are temples everywhere in Kyoto, so this is something local experience that you can feel temples close to you in everyday life.
You will feel the life of the local people while walking through this local shopping street, where various shops from long-established shops to the latest shops line up.
We had a really wonderful morning with Keiko at Nishiki Market, tried some amazing food and learned a lot about Kyoto and the different foods that are on offer here. I’d highly recommend taking this tour. The market is huge and so colourful and interesting - made doubly so with Keiko’s expert guidance.
We had such a great morning on this food tour with Keiko. The food was really enjoyable and Keiko was a wonderful host. This is our first day in Kyoto and it really opened our eyes to everything the city has to offer. I’d highly recommend it!
We had a great tour of Nishiki market. Duration ok, and guide was very nice. Enough food and good food. We got to try different things we never would have tried if we hadnt gone on the tour.
I enjoyed this tour with guide Sara. We learned a lot about the food in Kyoto (what ingredients are important and why, many examples of traditional Kyoto dishes) through the stores and markets. As we walked through Nishiki market, Sara gave several great recommendations for places to visit after the tour, which was very helpful as there's a lot there! The food included with the tour was yummy and mostly not things I would have tried otherwise, for example the guide recommended trying octopus. We also stopped at a shrine and a temple for a very quick intro to that.
I enjoyed this tour with guide Sara. We learned a lot about the food in Kyoto (what ingredients are important and why, many examples of traditional Kyoto dishes) through the stores and markets. As we walked through Nishiki market, Sara gave several great recommendations for places to visit after the tour, which was very helpful as there's a lot there! The food included with the tour was yummy and mostly not things I would have tried otherwise, for example the guide recommended trying octopus. We also stopped at a shrine and a temple for a very quick intro to that.
Sara was such a great guide! The food was delicious and I learned so much about Kyoto and the market.
We had a great time with our guide Mayu. She was very knowledgeable, friendly and introduced us to lots of new foods.
We had a private tour with Keiko. Keiko was great, kind and knowledgeable. This tour is a must if you wish to explore the food market. Keiko gave us a taste of foods we would never would have ordered. Highly recommend this tour. Thank you so much Keiko
The Nishiki lunch tour was spot on fantastic! 1: Our guide Keiko San was brilliant! She was warm, witty, attentive, engaged, full of tips and tricks for making the most of the Nishiki market. She was a genuine pleasure to have as a guide. If you can, ask to be on her tour. 2: Keiko San had a trainee guide on this tour. His name was Taka and he was fantastic as well! A retired English teacher with a great sense of humor and amiability! 3: Keiko San provided each participant with a map of the market which was so helpful to see WHERE we were going and WHAT the names of the restaurants were. This made it so easy to go back and re-explore the market and revisit our favorite places. 4: Keiko San was also very prepared with an entire binder of market facts. From the rating and grading of beef, to the best knife shopping and how the conger eel is sliced and all about the Matcha history and production. Really she had everything covered! 5: The FOOD. Donuts, Tofu Skin, a full Kyoto lunch experience that included Gyoza, Omelette, Fried Tofu, Chicken Karage, and the square omelette called Tamago. This was followed by Eel Tempura and Wafyu Beef Stick. EVERYTHING was delicious! Don’t eat breakfast !! 6: Keiko San also showed us where to buy the best priced souvenirs and pointed out a variety of non food interests. 7: Keiko San also told us about the food basement of Takashimaya Department Store and that on the 7th floor were many restaurants where the locals eat. We enjoyed both the basement and the 7th floor for lunch the next day. 8: Meet up point. Very easy and clear directions. Be careful though, Google Maps will try to take you to back of Daimu and not the front. Do this tour! Well worth the money !
If you wish to experience the food market it's better to do it in a guided tour. It will give you stories, and experience of food you will not check otherwise
Our guide was full of life and very informative about the market, shrine, temple and local traditions! The food selections and shops were perfect. It was not rushed in order to capture each stop’s experience! Thank Miya!
Had a great tour Miho B. She was very friendly and knowledgeable. Highly recommend if you enjoy getting a more historical and guided perspective on Nikhiki.
We had an absolutely wonderful experience with our tour guide, Keiko! She was fantastic from beginning to end. She remembered our names right away and addressed us by name throughout the tour, which made us feel very welcome, comfortable, and well taken care of. Her English was excellent, so we had absolutely no problems communicating. We also really appreciated how attentive she was — we truly felt that she listened to us and was genuinely interested in getting to know us better. It made the whole experience feel very personal and special. Keiko also took us to so many delicious places, and we had the opportunity to try a variety of amazing food. Every stop was a great experience, and we discovered places we probably wouldn’t have found on our own. Overall, it was a fantastic adventure, and we are very grateful to Keiko for making our time so enjoyable and memorable. We highly recommend her as a tour guide and would be very happy to meet her again in the future! Thank you so much, Keiko! ❤️ Julia from Poland
A great food tour with Ayumi!! She is very knowledgeable and sweet. She made sure we were well fed, helped us figure out which shops were not tourist traps, and navigated us through temple and shrine etiquette. It was definitely more than a food tour with her (but still with excellent food and drinks). We really appreciated her recommendations and came away with full bellies and hearts 💜
A first rate experience to encounter Japanese food. Our guide, Sayaka, was knowledgeable (and fluent in English). She took the time to let us look and taste and provided translation and explanations for what we saw. The visit lasted three hours and, in fact, went by very quickly and comfortably since while the market was busy, it was not a uncomfortable crush of visitors as we had experienced on our temple/shrine tours. Highly recommended.
We had a wonderful market tour with Kazu, who was friendly, warm, and easygoing. We sampled a delicious variety of Japanese specialties, including Wagyu beef, tempura, and sake, and visited a shrine, a temple, and an izakaya for a fantastic blend of food and culture. Kazu also showed us where to find a high-quality Japanese cooking knife. His insights into Japanese cuisine, culture, and everyday life, combined with the relaxed and personal atmosphere, made the tour especially enjoyable. We highly recommend it!
Yuki was a fantastic guide, she was very thoughtful and considerate to the needs of the group. She made us feel very welcome by getting to know us and asking about us which was lovely! The tour itself was excellent. Yuki was very knowledgeable and provided us with a better understanding of Japan and Kyotos history. The food was excellent and they’ve amazing variety. We tried various foods in the market and she also suggested shops to try! Highly recommend!
Our guide, Sayaka, was amazing and gave us a wonderful introduction to Japanese cuisine and culture. She walked us through the amazing food court at Daimaru Kyoto, then we tasted local foods at a number of food vendors in The Nishiki Market, and we visited a Buddhist Temple and a Shrine. Our guide was outstanding, and I would highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Kyoto.
This was so interesting and engaging and fun! My whole family loved it, and we walked away with awesome hand-made souvenirs of our trip. It was definitely worth it to make our way outside the main part of Kyoto. Taka was an amazing instructor!
really yummy food and helpful guide mayu!! so kind and gave amazing guidance around the market okini mayu! i just wish the tour was longer because it was soo fun
Amazing morning with guide Mayu. With 2 vegetarians and me as vegan we were concerned this might not have been great - however Mayu ordered us plenty of tasty food and also showed us lots of other interesting places around the market and shared plenty of local knowledge.
Maui was a lovely and knowledgeable guide who made us feel very welcome, she showed us the amazing food of Kyoto and taught us also much of the local culture, highly recommended
very very nice tour guide!! the food was really good and yummy and the scenery and experience was also really nice thank you!!!
Great and tasty tour and a nice calm pace, really enjoyed it!
The guide was very good, but the tour disappointed me. We didn’t get to try many new things, and I felt that the pace was too slow. There were many opportunities to make the experience truly exceptional, but they were missed. I don’t feel that the price is justified by what is offered.
Namiko did a great tour for us. We lucked out to be the only ones and she was able to adjust the tasting to my picky kids preferences. Also enjoyed the history and local knowledge. Thank you!
Emiko was a wonderful tour guide! She was very knowledgeable about specialty Kyoto foods, as well as Japanese customs & traditions. She communicated well and was attentive to our needs.
Nami was very nice, clearly new. Quiet...dhe was not well versed on history or culture and seemed to be learning as we went along. There were only 3 of us in our group...all family. Nanu was engaged but not active in " leading" the tour. Perhaps preparing more information for each stop would be helpful. The tastings were good, not great. Overall, not a good value. Yo br fair we had STELLAR guide at the bamboo forest walk so by comparison, Nami had a high bar to meet. We could have wandered the market on our own and purchased food for FAR less
Mami was a superb guide. Friendly and knowledgeable, she answered our questions clearly and adapted to what we asked about. The food places she took us to were so interesting and gave us a deeper knowledge about Japanese food. An excellent tour and so glad we did it with Mami.
I highly recommend this tour! It was something that all of our family enjoyed --including our 13 year old daughter and my 80 year old mom! (We were also with some newly weds who mentioned how much they enjoyed the tour as well!) Our guide, Mami, was very friendly and treated us kindly. She walked us through the outdoor food market, where we did lots of tastings and had a seated lunch. Mami also showed us the outdoor mall part of the market, which is also very unique. She patiently explained the history of the market, including its temples. Our family left feeling very satisfied and impressed with the tour. Of all of the things that we have done in Kyoto so far, this tour was the most fun! I also feel a strong desire to mention that Mami went above and beyond for my 80 year old mom, who was looking for a special gift for someone back home. After the tour was over, Mami asked around to find the exact thing that my mom was looking for (which was great, since we do not speak Japanese!). Then, she walked with us to the store and helped my mom find the very gift that she was looking for. Thank you, Mami!
Great food walking tour with Mamy! We enjoyed tasting all the delicious food and learning about their history and culturE
Sara was a great guide excellent with history and open to help and explain while bring us to vital points to try food and small experiences
Sara was a great guide, very knowledgeable about everything we asked.
Our guide, Naoko, shared a lot of insights to this historic and flavorful market. Her pace was excellent for two seniors and she eagerly responded to our requests and questions. The food offered a wide variety and not too heavy.?
Kohe was a wonderful guide. Easy to understand, charming, thoughtful and thorough! You may not need a guided tour of this market to enjoy it, but having someone else decide where to stop and what to order takes a lot of the pressure off. I'm thrilled I did it!
This tour through Nishiki Market and its environs was really fun. Naoko was a great guide who was informative and took us to some great places in the market to sample local street foods. If you like food tours and markets this one is really good.
Yumi did a wonderful job showing us the culture and history of the Nishiki Market. She adjusted to our food allergies, questions and let us shop around at the many stops we had. Her English was great and we had a great time.
Our guide Milto was excellent, she knew the area very well and she also knew the History of Japan very well. She spoke excellent English was clear, concise in her delivery. The pace of the tour was comfortable. Excellent
Had a great time with Keiko who guided us through the maze of japanese food in Nishiki market and also outside the market. Also introduced us to some japanese traditions. I arrived at the meeting point Keiko was there on time waiting for us. The group was limited by the number of the participants so we had personal communication with the guide. We tried some of the food in various places like a wagyu skewer and were tipped with other items. All on all, a good and comprehensive food tour with an attentive guide.
The market has everything you would require with fresh food from seafood to street food Ethan lovely coffee shops and even a couple of shrines. Very interesting walking past all the displays which all of it looks very very fresh. I would not hesitate sending any tourist for a look at the place..
Good selection of stops, decent amount of samples/options and a fine amount of stories/history about Nishiki market. Had the pleasure of having the guide, Namiko, that made navigating the street and shops a breeze, the 4 man group she had to manage also made for a good and cozy size, with good vibes all around.
Our guide, Miho, was so bright and energetic, and she managed our group perfectly from the very beginning. Even before we entered Nishiki Market, she shared a lot of information with us, which made us so excited for the visit. She introduced exactly what we should eat at the market, and we got to taste a wide variety of delicious foods. Throughout the tour, she made eye contact with each of us and was always ready to answer any questions we had, making it such a fulfilling experience. Thank you so much, Miho!
Walk through various shopping alleys within the Kyoto shopping districts. Sampling different food which I probably would not try on my own.
A good guided tour of the market and its history, which helped make sense of it and gave a great opportunity to try a few different types of foods. It certainly made it easier to go back and continue walking through and exploring.
Very nice discovery of the Nishiki market ! We eat a lot of delicious dishes ! A big thanks to Yume, our guide, for the tour ! She was very kind and patient, and also brought a lot of information to us 🫶
Toshi was a wonderful enthusiastic guide who is quite knowledgeable about the variety of foods we reviewed and tasted. Come hungry to the tour and you will be surprised at the various tastes. Recommend this tour 100% if you have Toshi.
Toshi is an excellent tour guide with lots of great information. His knowledge of the foods in the market place was incredible. I enjoyed the whole experience!!
We had a great tour of the market with lots of information about Kyoto and its food. We had plenty of time to stop and look and were able to try lots of delicious food. Toshi was very helpful and kept us all on track.
Yuko was an excellent guide. She showed us an authentic experience, we ate great food, and learned a lot of cultural history. Would strongly recommend this great experience for couples
Keiko was a fabulous guide. So knowledgeable, interesting and warm. We tried great food and she sought out products of interest to different people in the group (adults, 16yr old and 19 yr old). We would absolutely do this tour again - we loved it.
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