Yasaka Shrine, located in Kyoto's Gion district, is one of the city's most famous Shinto shrines. Established over 1,350 years ago, it is known for its vibrant red main gate and beautiful lantern-lit pathways. The shrine hosts the annual Gion Matsuri, one of Japan's most famous festivals, attracting visitors worldwide. Yasaka Shrine is also a popular spot for cherry blossom viewing in spring and for experiencing traditional Japanese culture year-round.
Gion, Kyoto's famous geisha district, is known for its traditional wooden machiya houses, teahouses, and vibrant cultural scene. Visitors can stroll through charming streets like Hanami-koji, spot geishas, and enjoy authentic tea ceremonies. The area is also home to Yasaka Shrine and hosts the Gion Matsuri, one of Japan's most famous festivals. Gion offers a unique glimpse into Japan's rich cultural heritage and traditional arts.
Pontocho is one of Kyoto's most famous and historic districts, renowned for its traditional wooden machiya houses, narrow alleys, and vibrant nightlife. Nestled between the Kamogawa River and Kiyamachi Street, Pontocho stretches about half a kilometer and is lined with a mix of high-end kaiseki restaurants, casual izakayas, and cozy bars. Walking through Pontocho feels like stepping back in time. The narrow lane is illuminated by soft lantern light, creating an intimate and atmospheric setting. Many establishments offer riverside seating, especially in summer, where patrons can enjoy their meals on elevated platforms called yuka.
I had a fabulous time with Kazumo. He was very informative, the food was delicious and very varied. I learned a significant amount about Japanese food and culture generally and Kyoto in particular. I highly recommend the trip and Kazimo.
It was simply a sizing experience
Kazuma was great! Great communications, great personality, friendly, good English. Lots of great dishes! Very much Recommended!
The food was super amazing, and some nice stories
It was a lovely experience! We got to try a variety of dishes and meet new people along the way. Our guide, Kasuma, was super friendly and welcoming, which made the experience even more enjoyable.
We couldn't be happier that we booked this food tour with Sara! Our group ended up being just three guests, so it felt like a private tour, and it made the whole evening so special and personal. Sara walked us through two of Kyoto's geisha districts, sharing the history of Gion and so many local insights we never would have found on our own. Then she took us into restaurants we'd never have known to try, and the food just kept coming. Every stop was delicious. We had a LOT of questions, about the food, the culture, daily life in Japan and everything in between, and Sara answered every one with so much warmth, knowledge and patience. She made us feel like we were exploring the city with a friend. This was one of the highlights of our trip. We genuinely had a blast. Thank you, Sara! Highly recommend.
Shiyou did a great job, was very friendly, and gave great explanations! It was a fun time with great people.
Minori was fantastic. A great combination of food and cultural lore.
Terry was fantastic! Do knowledgeable and informed about all things Kyoto. We had a great experience and ask if the food was great.
Terry was great. Took us to the most beautiful places in Kyoto and ate at places we would have never been able to go ourselves.
Such a fun experience! We are a variety of foods and enjoyed the Nishiki Market’s many delights.
Kazuma was a great guide, explaining as we went. Fun way to meet a local from Kyoto. The first restaurant stop was of a higher quality than the second .
My original tour for bar hopping in Kyoto was cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances wirh the guide unavailable. So instead we were added to this food tour which was excellent, the guide was super informative and fun. And I had an excellent time.
I was scheduled for a different tour and unfortunately our guide had some transportation difficulties. Luckily our group was able to join a different food/drink tour and had an amazong time! Minori was wonderful and she handled an additional 4 people really well! The food and drinks were really delicious and had a great time meeting people from all over! This was a great way to kick off my Kyoto trip! Highly recommend!
An excellent food tour experiencing a large quantity of local dishes at two different restaurants. A sake flight too. We walked in the Gion area and saw a beautiful Shrine. And then walked through the Kyoto area through one of the Geisha areas. A great tour that included food and local information. Loved it all. Sara was an excellent guide.
What a fantastic evening! Huge thank you to Minori, our guide. She was so knowledgeable, friendly and made the evening. We had a great tour of parts of Kyoto and went to two restaurants that we would not have probably gone to. She selected the food and introduced us to some lovely Japanese delicacies. A fantastic evening. Thank you Minori.
We had already been in Kyoto for two days when we did this tour, but Minori took us to parts of the city we hadn’t already seen, with two fabulous restaurants we would never have otherwise found. Great food and brilliant explanations of local venues and customs.
Really fun food tour experiencing authentic Japanese food and with a guide who grew up in the city.
Really fun night out, Sara was a great guide and good fun
Sarah was a great tour guide! She explained all the food, pointed out landmarks, and made sure to accommodate dietary restrictions.
Had a great tour through Kyote. Kazuma was a great guide and the food was excellent!
Kazuma is a great guide! The food and the experience in general was great!
What a fabulous tour. Kazum was an amazing guide lots of fun and very informative
I had a great experience with guide Minori! Kyoto has a wide variety of local food, and Minori took us to two excellent restaurants to try out many different kinds (plus a tasting of a few kinds of sake). The food was good, and not just Japanese but specifically Kyoto specialties. At the same time, we got to learn a bit about the history of the Geisha and Yasaka shrine.
So nice to walk around and learn and eat cool food I wouldn't have tried otherwise!
Fun time and easy going food and historical tour. Food and saki with the references was fantastic. You will make friends
It was a great tour. Guide Haku have a great tour. Good information great food and insite into Japanese culture.
Excellent tour! Our guide was very knowledgeable and the food was wonderful.
My husband and I had such a great time trying all the food and hearing about all the cultural tips and tricks of Kyoto! Kosuke was our guide and he was great and super fun! Highly recommend this tour 😊
It was realy a nice experiance. Our Guide did realy a good Job, also whit all the explanations and the time he spendet to reply to any questions. I would book again with them. Thank you
Our guide was very fun and nice. The foods were interesting. I loved the potato salad and tofu. Yummy. Thanks.
Minori was a great guide, very knowledgeable and friendly - food was delicious and just enough.
We had a lovely experience! We got to try good food we otherwise probably wouldn't have tried and got to see some really cool sights along the way. Kanta, our guide was really kind and charming and shared both educational information and funny personal anecdotes. Me and my girlfriend really appreciated the experience!
Kanta is such a sweet guy. Amazing food and super interesting choices! I would really recommend!
The guide was super friendly. We got to see historic parts of Kyoto and even had a sake tasting! Delicious food
Great tour, Kunta gave us plenty of interesting information, we walked through some lovely areas & had plenty of good food. Highly recommend!
We have done many food tours in many cities around the world, and I am sad to say that this was the most disappointing. All the food was served family style, and frequently without sufficient quantities for everyone to try everything once. And the food between restaurant 1 and restaurant 2 was the same in a few cases (potato salad and fried chicken). We walked through 2 different neighborhoods, and very little information was provided on the area. And as a first ever, the leader would only give other recommendations if you filled out a review right there and then.
Sara was an incredible guide! She was friendly, knowledgeable, and genuine. The food was great, a very wide variety.
Wonderful experience, really good food and fun!
Lovely knowledgeable guide Kamto Great tour and food
Our tour guide was nice…however I didn’t appreciate we had to download the QR code and write a review - our guide had to take a photo to send to his boss before we could leave…I’ve never felt that pressure before from a tour. I wanted to say no…but didn’t want to get the tour guide in trouble if we didn’t do it. So be aware - I love writing reviews but this left a bad taste in my mouth…after a food tour!
Enjoyable! Guide was very helpful and informative!
Great tour with lots of food in a interesting area.
Kanta was a great guide. He was very patient and welcoming to questions. He did a great job explaining the history behind everywhere we went.
Very good the guide was very knowledgeable and entertaining kanto was great
Everything was perfect and the our guide Kosuke was very nice. We enjoyed the food and drinks together and the atmosphere was amazing too!
A wonderful, friendly, informative and delicious food tour of Kyoto.
Amazing evening with Kosuke, our guide. A lot of great food and interesting talking. Really recommend.
Minorah was a great guide! The food was also amazing! Highly recommend
Perfect tour with Joe! A perfect amount of food and a great length of tour too ! I was initially sceptical about trying certain foods but enjoyed the evening thoroughly!
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