Private Food & Sake Tour In Central Kyoto With Sake Sommelier

My husband and I booked this experience with Kenji on our first day in Kyoto of a two week trip in Japan, and we had a great time with Kenji. He is extremely knowledgeable about nihonshu, and he helped us understand more about the various types and brewing techniques. (For example, we didn't even know that "saki" is a term in Japan that means all types of alcohol -- beer, whiskey, nihonshu, etc.) We also had great conversations about other local topics that helped us learn more about Japanese culture, food/beef, sports, etc. After the initial tasting at a great stand-up bar, Kenji took us to a great local restaurant that we never would have found (nor world we have known what to order). He ordered a great variety of foods that we paired with beer and nihonshu, and he also helped us learn proper Japanese eating etiquette like chopstick placement, etc. (This was helpful because the etiquette is quite different during a meal in Japan vs in Korea, where we'd just visited previous to meeting Kenji.) Our bellies were so pleasantly full after the first restaurant that we (unfortunately) needed to decline the second food stop. Thank you, Kenji-san!

My sons (25 and 23) and I had an amazing experience, Kenji is so knowledgeable and enthusiastic about sharing his passion for sake! We learned so much and the meal we shared with sake pairings was fantastic. We highly recommend this experience in Kyoto

My family and I went on a night time Sake and Food tour and it was amazing! Our guide, Kenji, was an expert on the best Sake and best restaurants in the area, and we learned a lot about the local drink and food. We highly recommend it to all, and would go back for more.

What an excellent and unique experience! My husband and I did the private sake + food tour with Kenji. We started at a sake shop to do a thorough overview of sake and learn about the history and taste a number of sake varieties. Kenji then took us on an amazing food tour! We made a number of stops to try several cuisines, and the best part is that they were places we never would’ve found otherwise. If you enjoy a local perspective, this is a can’t miss. Kenji even gave us a number of great recommendations for Osaka, our next stop on our trip. Thank you Kenji for an informative, memorable, and delicious experience!

After making contact with Kenji and exploring some possibilities for a special night of sake-tasting in Kyoto, we agreed to meet at an izakaya that was very much off the beaten path. Kenji was very personable. We immediately had a good rapport. The conversation was vibrant and there was a lot of laughter, along with some serious learning about sake. We enjoyed tasting several different sakes and even found a new favorite among them. The food at the izakaya was superb and made for excellent pairings with the sake. Our night with Kenji was a truly memorable experience. We're very grateful!

We had an incredible private sake pub tour with Kenji in Kyoto! He was extremely knowledgeable about sake and explained everything in a fun, engaging way that made the experience both educational and entertaining. Kenji took us to fantastic local spots that we never would’ve found on our own, each with delicious food and a unique atmosphere. He was friendly, personable, and made sure we had a great time from start to finish. Highly recommend this tour if you want an authentic Kyoto sake and food experience!

My wife and I had the absolute pleasure of joining Kenji’s Private Sake Bar & Pub Crawl, and it was hands-down one of the highlights of our time in Kyoto. Kenji is an exceptional guide—fluent in English, incredibly knowledgeable, and clearly a seasoned traveler with a deep appreciation for both Japanese culture and global perspectives. His passion for sake was contagious, and he struck the perfect balance between education and enjoyment throughout the tour. What made this experience truly unforgettable was the level of thought and care Kenji brought to every detail. We visited several unique spots, including a tiny sake bar tucked away down an alley—exactly the kind of hidden gem we never would have found on our own. There, we enjoyed a fantastic meal and sampled expertly curated sake pairings while Kenji guided us through the tasting with insight, humor. He provided a handout that broke down the different types of sake, brewing methods, and regional distinctions—something we’ve kept as a souvenir and reference. Kenji’s ability to teach without ever sounding like a lecture is a rare gift. He made the world of sake accessible and fascinating, whether you’re a complete beginner or a seasoned enthusiast. As an added touch of generosity and kindness, the next day was my wife’s birthday, and I was torn on where to take her. I messaged Kenji for a local recommendation, and he responded quickly with thoughtful suggestions that led us to a perfect celebration dinner. If you’re even remotely interested in Japanese culture, food, or drink, do not miss this tour. It’s more than just sake tasting—it’s an experience led by someone who genuinely cares about what he does and about the people he shares it with. Highly recommended. No hesitation.

This was my second time in Kyoto, and both times my experience of the city was greatly enhanced thanks to Kenji! The first time I visited, he taught me all about the world of sake at a local sake bar. This time, we did a pub crawl, and it was fantastic. Kenji is a wealth of knowledge, not only about sake and spirits, but also about Japanese culture and the history of the country. I can’t recommend Kenji enough!!

Kenji is a rare find! His knowledge of Sake and Japan in general is phenomenal. Highly recommend if you want to learn how to identify quality sake and appreciate hidden gem restaurants in Kyoto!

The first half of the evening was a lesson on history and production of Sake/Nihon Shu. This included several tasting at a Sake bar. The second half of the evening was spent eating local cuisine and socializing. Kenji is a wonderful guide and I highly recommend this tour for those looking for something more personalized.

We had a private tour with Kenji in Kyoto. We did sake Tasting and visited many local traditional Japanese yakitori and restaurants. He is an incredibly knowledgeable Sake Sommalier. Furthermore he has knowledge of all Japanese cultures and history as well. If you ever make it to Kyoto, a tour with Kenji is a must

We had a wonderful night drinking sake and enjoying delicious food with Kenji. He is an exceptional guide with a lot of knowledge about sake and Kyoto. This tour was the highlight of our visit to Kyoto. I highly recommend to anyone that wants an authentic experience with sake and food.

Lovely evening we had with Kenji-San. Everything was organized perfect, starting in a sake standing bar, where we learned more about the process, and for us tasted the best sakes we ever had. After we had an amazing dinner in a local Yakiniku spot. Highly knowledgeable person, and a tour you can not miss when you’re visiting Kyoto and want to learn more about Japan as a whole. Thank you Kenji!

Taking this tour with Kenji was a highlight of our trip to Japan. He was so personable and professional and it was extra special to roam around Kyoto with a local. We booked our tour on New Years Eve and he was gracious enough to fit us in and make it work with our itinerary despite some locations being closed for the holiday. He was so knowledgeable about the production process and fine art of making sake (it’s clear he knows his stuff) and his passion for it was clearly evident. Book this tour!

My sister and I spent a wonderful evening with Kenji-san. We learned about sake as we tasted numerous varieties, and had a chance to sample amazing food at small, "off the beaten path" restaurants. We loved the yakiniku !! Kenji-san is a true professional, interested in sharing his knowledge and love of sake and food. He is personable and attentive. He let our preferences guide the flow of the tour. I am sure he never does the same tour twice. What an experience- highly recommended.

Our sake tour with Kenji was the highlight of our Kyoto visit! His experience in the sake industry and local Kyoto knowledge were apparent in his excellent choices of venue. We had so much fun learning about sake in the context of night life! Kenji is the master sake sommelier!!! Thanks Kenji!!!

We spent a great evening with Kenji-san during our second visit to Kyoto, Japan 🗾. Even though we have been here before we still felt a bit unsure about how to find various restaurants (many of them are not that easy to see), as well as to communicate and order with staff. This was a great way to be guided through this process, as Kenji walked us through a series of bars and restaurants. There are so many good eats 😋 Oishii! Kind of wish we'd done this evening with Kenji before, as approaching an Izakaya was much easier after and we were bolder to try new things. We picked up a few phrases from Kenji as well; local staff seem very happy when we at least try to approach them with some Japanese words. Of course others may have other goals than ours, but Kenji will listen to what you say and plan the evening as you go. For us this was a very rewarding learning experience. Thanks, Kenji!

I have been in the hospitality business for 30 years and have a true passion for fine food and tasty beverages! Meeting Kenji out was like going out with a close friend and experiencing local bars and restaurants off the beaten path of Kyoto without all the tourists. Such a great night! A bit of education mixed with lots of flavour. Kenji never made us feel like we were on a time limit but rather just friends going out for a great night. Look forward to staying in touch with Kenji and having a sake and a beer in the near future! Cheers mate!

Kenji is a really interesting and personable fellow. He is a bit quiet and reserved but he has spent a lot of time in the US as a sales rep for the 5th largest sake brewer in Japan. He is very fun to chat with, and he knows a lot about sake. So our evening was like having a new friend in Kyoto take us around to sample sake and food. Our tour took us to three places. First, an “on the beaten path” sake tasting room where Kenji explained how sake is made and we sampled several types (I happen to like plum sake) and we tried some black cashews. Awesome. The next stop seemed like a place only the locals would know. Through a parking lot, behind a closed door and then a secret knock or two and voila, you’re in! Here we sampled several different dishes, from ginkgo nuts to potato salad to whole fish (I wouldn’t eat the head). A lot of fun and sake. Kind of a Japanese “Cheers.” Finally the last stop was a crowded bar with lots of young locals. We sampled more sake and delicacies, or whatever describes chicken necks. By this time, we had our fill of sake, maybe a little too much; well definitely a little too much. Through it all, Kenji was knowledgeable, generous and an excellent host. A definite must do to experience a non-tourist aspect of Kyoto.

We had an absolutely lovely time with Kenji! We started off at a bar where we learnt lots of interesting facts about sake and had many different types. We then went to a yakiniku place and enjoyed lots of different Japanese meats while conversing about Japanese culture. We finished the evening off at another sake bar and tried many other types from traditional sakazuki cups, with a lot of small izakaya style dishes! Kenji is really knowledgeable and very pleasant to be with and we had a really lovely evening walking around Kyoto and its bars! Would strongly recommend booking a tour with him if you're staying in Kyoto!

What an amazing experience curated by Kenji-San. Not only did we drink amazing sake, but we learned all about its production and the importance of not only the rice, but the water and koji that goes into crafting sake. As informative as the tour was, I think what really makes this different from other tours we’ve taken in Japan is that Kenji makes you feel like a local for the night. We started at a sake tasting on a more traveled street of Kyoto and had an amazing paring of sake and food. However, we were taken to two other local izakayas that we would have never found without Kenji showing us the way. The food was excellent at location, so definitely come hungry. Kenji also gave great recommendations for other must try cuisines while in Kyoto. I would love to plan another trip to Kyoto in the future, and will specifically look for tours guided by Kenji when I do travel back.

Thanks to Kenji for an excellent food and sake tour. We two really loved it! Kenji took the time to enquire about our preferences and led us to three hidden gems that we would have never discovered on our own. All the food and sake were so delicious, and the lemon sour was good too! We gained valuable insights into Japanese food culture and enjoyed a rich conversation with Kenji. If you're keen on immersing yourself in authentic Kyoto cuisine and drinks, I wholeheartedly recommend Kenji's tour.

Our private tour was phenomenal. Kenji was both entertaining and informative, and we thoroughly enjoyed our time with him. He took us to three hidden stops, where he selected delicious dishes and sake for us, while also providing insightful information about sake, Kyoto, and Japanese culture. I strongly recommend this tour!

The food and sake pub crawl tour was completely costumized by Kenji to make it possible for me despite a mobility limiting condition I have. We have traveled to Japan many times in the past 15 years and still there are so many cultural things we still don't know about and which are difficult to discover as a plain tourist. If you are truly interested to learn more about the Japanese culture beyond the usual tourist insights, we absolutely recommend Kenji's tour. He enlightened us with new layers of knowledge on food and sake and gave us the feeling that we are talking to an very old friend. No better way to unravel a foreign culture than through a culinary journey :)

My family and I had the best time going for pub crawls with Kenji San. We went to a total of 3 Izakayas with Kenji San and every single one was overwhelmingly good and delicious. We also learned a lot about sake from Kenji San. If you want to experience the true Japanese food culture , Kenji San is the best person to go with. Trust me, you will not regret your experience !

I joined Kenji's Pub Crawl and had a fantastic experience. We started at a cool standing sake bar in the heart of Kyoto, where we began with a sake tasting session. Kenji was incredibly knowledgeable and took the time to explain his recommendations, the characteristics of each sake, and even how sake is made. The snacks paired with the sake were delicious, and I learned a lot about sake pairing too. For our second stop, we headed to another hidden gem in the center of Kyoto. It was a quaint izakaya serving superb dishes and soba, nestled in a traditional machiya townhouse that you might easily overlook while strolling around. This place had a charming atmosphere, with various types of sake and delicious dishes to enjoy. The authentic feel of the machiya added to the allure of the experience. I didn't consider myself a big fan of sake before, but participating in this tour expanded my knowledge and allowed me to delve into the deep world of Kyoto. It was truly enjoyable, and I would love to join again when I visit Kyoto in the future!

Kenji was knowledgeable about sake, and we had the opportunity to explore a variety of Japanese sake. Additionally, he led us to charming establishments, renovated from traditional machiya houses, creating an atmospheric setting for a fantastic experience. Not only did we savor a diverse range of sake, but also had the chance to enjoy other beverages like Japan's craft beers. I highly recommend this tour for those who want to indulge in Kyoto's sake and cuisine or anyone seeking a delightful time in cozy, atmospheric establishments in central Kyoto!