KYOTO
Kyoto’s most-loved days out.
The 15 most popular drinking tours in Kyoto. What each one involves, how long it runs, what it costs, and who you book with.
Kyoto’s Gion and Pontocho night food walk with 9+ dishes and 6 sake tastings, a small group, and a guide-led evening meal route.
Most Popular“This was a great tour to experience some amazing food and learn about Kyoto. My tour guide Kumi Yamazaki was incredible!”
A 3-hour Kyoto sake experience at Gekkeikan Okura with 10 tastings, otsumami pairings, and label tips from certified sommeliers.
“Super informative and interesting tour! I have a new appreciation for sake. Loved the food pairing!!”
Walk Kyoto’s Arashiyama highlights: bamboo grove, Okochi Sanso garden, Tenryuji Temple, monkey park views, plus shopping or sake tasting.
“Toru was a great guide and very funny, highly recommend.”
A 3-hour Kyoto walking tour through Kawaramachi and Kiyamachi izakayas, led by an English guide. Great for food, sake, and local nightlife.
“Had a great time on this Izakaya tour in Kyoto. Moto was knowledgeable without being overbearing and did a good job explaining the food, sake, and local context in a way that felt relaxed and genuine. The stops were well chosen, the pacing was comfortable. A solid way to experience Kyoto’s food scene and learn…”
A 3-hour Kyoto tour in Fushimi where you learn sake brewing, taste 10+ styles, and pair it with otsumami so you can order confidently.
“Kyoko & Miyuki were great guides. We learned so much about sake including how to read labels, what kind of styles are there, what affects the taste, how sake is made, how it’s paired with food… Definitely recommend this course.”
Walk Fushimi’s breweries with a small group, tour Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum, and taste 18+ Kyoto sakes on a 3-hour guided route.
“It was very fun. Matt, our tour guide, was great. Perfect person to have a Sake with as he truly enjoys a good Sake. His historical knowledge of the area and of the process behind the brewing was impressive. Be prepared to enjoy a good amount of Sake!”
Kyoto bar hopping at night: walk Pontocho backstreets with a certified guide, taste 3–4 drinks and 3–4 izakaya dishes in 3 hours.
“I had an amazing experience with my guide Ataru on this experience. Though I was the only traveler to sign up for the Monday night drinking tour, he went above and beyond to make it an engaging and fun experience. He taught me about the neighborhoods we went through and some local history. All the…”
A 3-hour Kyoto bar crawl in Kawaramachi and Kiyamachi, led by a local guide. Eat izakaya bites, try sake, and find hidden spots.
“I loved this tour!! Highly recommend. Learned so much about drinking culture and sake and enjoyed the food and drinks!!”
A 90-minute Fushimi sake tasting with 7 pours and otsumami pairings. Learn what to order with a sommelier-led cheat sheet.
“Mayo was an excellent teacher! She is very kind and funny! She definitely made me look at sake in a new fun way!”
Kyoto insider sake tasting with 7 pours and snacks. Learn brewing, compare styles, pair with otsumami, and order with confidence.
“Really great tour, great way to see local spots around Kyoto that I never would have seen in my own”
Cook classic Kyoto izakaya home dishes in an English-taught afternoon class at Cooking Sun, with recipes you can repeat back home.
“We had a really good time my husband don't cook and he also had a good time. We learned a lot about Japanese cuisine and loved every second of our class. I recommend everyone to do it when in Japan”
Spend 3 hours in Kyoto learning izakaya-style cooking, including dashi and seasoning, then sit down to dinner you made yourself.
“This was a wonderful immersion into Japanese Izakaya food. The presenters were friendly, knowledgeable and highly organised. It was a fun and easy way to meet travellers, expand my cooking skills and understand a little more about Japanese food. I enjoyed myself very much and would highly recommend it.”
Private tea ceremony in a 300-year-old Kyoto samurai house, plus matcha and sake or whisky tasting, with kimono and katana photos.
“It was amazing. The family was very very nice. Their house was amazing. Out of a movie! My family had an amazing time!”
Private Gion and Pontocho night walk with a local: lantern alleys, izakaya snacks, and shrine calm. Two drinks included.
“The guide assigned to us changed the timing of the tour 2 times in 2 days leading up to the tour. The first change was the day before the tour and the 2nd change was a few hours before the tour. We only have 4 days in Kyoto and have set all our activities prior…”
Kyoto advanced sake tasting compares 10 rare pours with an expert. Learn via bottle-label practice and notes in about 2 hours.
“Very knowledgeable and friendly staff, a great way to understand more about Sake, its history, brewing methods and tastes etc. guided through presentations and tastings.”
Every district, every season, and every way to see the old capital.
