Kyoto Nishiki Market Food & Culture Tour with Izakaya Lunch

4.9 (488 reviews) 3 hours Free cancellation

out of 5

488 reviews

4.9

If you want to try local food in Kyoto, Nishiki market is the place you should go. — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

With local staff in Pike eel store — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

Experience Kyoto’s family-friendly street food culture without the stress of restaurant reservations or language barriers on this small-group Nishiki Market tour.

Explore Nishiki Market, known as “Kyoto’s Kitchen,” with an English-speaking local guide who helps you navigate the lively 400-year-old market and choose the best street food bites along the way. Sample a variety of authentic Kyoto specialties that many visitors wouldn’t know how—or where—to order on their own.

The tour includes multiple tastings at carefully selected local shops, offering a well-rounded introduction to Kyoto’s culinary traditions. As you walk through the market and surrounding neighborhood, your guide shares insights into Kyoto’s food culture and everyday eating habits.

Ideal for families, first-time visitors, or anyone who loves different food cultures, this small-group street food tour lets you explore confidently while discovering the flavors that define Kyoto.

Half-day Tours Private and Luxury Cultural Tours Walking Tours Small Group Excellent Quality Low Supplier Cancellation Rate Low Last Minute Supplier Cancellation Rate

At a glance

Duration: 3 hours
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Up to 12 people
People per booking: 1–6
Guide: English
Operated by: Japan Wonder Travel

Ages: Infants (0–2 years) · Children (3–12 years) · Adults (13–99 years)

What is included

Included

Included: Seamless ordering and insider navigation through the market
Included: Personalized recommendations for local souvenirs and hidden spots
Included: Food tasting (Special Kyoto seasonings, cracker, Japanese flavored honey, etc)
Included: Local insight of Kyoto culture
Included: Intimate, small-group experience
Included: an English-speaking local guide
Included: 5 Local Street Foods (WAGYU steak skewers, Tofu skin, Local home cooking, Hamo Tempura and more)

Itinerary

Nishiki Market

1 h 40 min

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.
Nishiki Tenmangu

15 min

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.
Shinkyogoku Shopping District

20 min

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.
Takoyakushido Eifukuji Temple

10 min

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.
Teramachi-dori Street

15 min

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.

Meeting point and pickup

Everyone meets at the meeting point.

Meeting point

[Meetup] 10:15 am in front of the South West Main entrance of DAIMARU KYOTO.

*In front of the "Shijo Takakura bus stop" along big Shijo street.

*This is NOT FUJII Daimaru.

End point

Using your ticket

-If you have any food allergy or you couldn’t eat anything, please let us know. We will do our best, but there is a possibility that we could not accommodate your acceptable food if you have a severe allergy.

-This is a group tour

-This tour does not accept Wheelchair

-If you have a stroller, please let us know in advance

-We will leave at start time sharp, so please make sure to be there on time! (We could not wait!)

-During the tour, the guide will take a photo and we may upload it on our SNS. If you do not like it, tell us in advance.

-Please come with comfortable walking shoes as this tour is mainly a walking tour

-There could be a delay at when tour ends, if you have an appointment or plan right after this tour please let us know in advance

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On the day of your tour, our guide will be waiting at the meeting place with a board saying "Japan Wonder Travel".

Meeting Point: https://goo.gl/maps/uNDBBUogdhUUB3jX6

Cancellation

Free cancellation

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

If you cancel	You get back
At least one day before	100%
Less than a day before	0%

Good to know

Public transportation options are available nearby
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
We are unfortunately unable to accommodate dietary restrictions, including vegetarian, halal, kosher, gluten-free, or allergy-related requests.
If you will come with a stroller, please let us know in advance. Nishiki market is very crowded sometimes.
If you have severe dietary restrictions, it may not be possible to arrange food for you.
The tour will take place rain or shine.
Services not listed (For example : Hotel pickup and drop-off, Transportation to/from attractions, Extra food and drink, Other personal expenses) are not included in the tour.
Legal drinking age is 20 years old in Japan