Kyoto Nishiki Market Tour with 7 Course Lunch

Highlights

  • 3-hour walking food tour in the world famous Nishiki Market.

  • Visit family-owned shops and stalls to sample local and seasonal food.

  • Fresh seafood, local snacks, preserved fruits, and other specialty items are just a few things you will taste and learn about from your local guide.

  • Explore the building blocks of what makes Japanese food special and why this historic cuisine has been given UNESCO World Heritage Status.

Tour info

Duration
3 hours
Group Size
10
Pricing (From)
Adult: (13-80 years)
¥19,200
Child: (3-12 years)
¥9,600
Commentary
English
Meeting Point

375 Naramonochi, Shimogyō-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto, 600-8004, JP

Dropoff location

Kyoto, Kyoto, 600-8008

Why take this tour?

Explore the famous Nishiki Market visiting generations-old food stalls and then enjoy a traditional course lunch.

At a few of the stops we will sample specialty products like tsukemono (vegetables from the surrounding mountains preserved in vinegar), yuuba (the world’s smoothest sashimi tofu made from the world-famous Kyoto mountain water), Kamaboko (seafood preserved in fish paste), Tako (Octopus with quail egg) and Macha Warabi Mochi (a special traditional sweet covered in ground tea leaves). During the tour, you will learn detailed information about the ingredients of different Japanese dishes, how their food is prepared and what is used to eat it.

You won't just taste Kyoto’s delicious food but will also have a sense of the history and atmosphere of the Nishiki Market experienced by the Japanese for generations. After your market exploration, you will walk to a nearby restaurant and have a course lunch featuring beautiful and delicious local dishes. 

Your experience will include stops at 12 family owned stalls and shops which have stood the test of time.  

At a few of the stops, you will sample specialty products like tsukemono (pickled vegetables from the surrounding mountains preserved), yuuba (the world's smoothest sashimi tofu made from the world famous Kyoto mountain water), and sparkling sake straight from the tap.  

At the other stops, you will buy some specialty items to enjoy later at lunch including Saba (Mackerel), Dashimaki Tamago (specialty grilled egg dish made from specialty Kyoto fish and seaweed stock), Sansho (Japanese red pepper), Kamaboko (seafood preserved in fish paste), Tako (Octopus with quail egg) and Matcha (ground tea leaves).

During the tour, you will learn detailed information about the ingredients of different Japanese dishes, how their food is prepared and what is used to eat it.  You will learn the process, from the ground to your bowl, of how white rice is processed for consumption and the origin of roasted tea leaves!

Your experience will do more than just give you a chance to taste Kyoto's delicious food but will also give you a sense the history and atmosphere of the Nishiki Market experienced by the Japanese for generations.  You will enjoy stories from the past told directly from shopkeepers and families you will spend time with.

What’s included?

  • 7 Course Lunch included

  • Visit 10-12 Market Vendors and Taste the Flavors of Kyoto

  • Japanese Tea Included

  • Shopping time

  • Hotel pickup and drop-off

  • Gratuities

  • Food and drinks, unless specified

  • Transportation costs

Things to know

Covid Policy

  • Face masks required for travelers in public areas
  • Face masks required for guides in public areas
  • Face masks provided for travelers
  • Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
  • Social distancing enforced throughout experience
  • Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas
  • Gear/equipment sanitized between use
  • Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized
  • Guides required to regularly wash hands
  • Regular temperature checks for staff
  • Temperature checks for travelers upon arrival
  • Contactless payments for gratuities and add-ons

Showing your voucher on your phone will be enough, and it is not necessary to print anything. 

Cancellation Policy

    7+ days before tour’s date: full refund of tour fees minus any processing fees. 4 to 6 days before original tour date: 50% refund of tour fees minus any processing fees. 72 hours or less prior to tour: non-refundable Arigato Japan is not responsible for cancellation conditions or fees imposed by third party tour agency or any other company through which a service was booked.

Redemption information

    • Comfortable walking shoes are recommended
    • Minimum drinking age is 21 years
    • Please be there 10-15 minutes before the scheduled departure time. We have a strict policy about starting our tours on the scheduled time. If you are not able to arrive at the meeting point by the departure time, the tour will start regardless and no refund will be provided. We are also unable to accommodate meeting up in any of the food stops once you've missed the start of the tour.


About operator:

We are Arigato Japan Food Tours and our goal is to help you make delicious memories of Japan during your travels to Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Hiroshima! On our tours you’ll taste local and regional specialties like okonomiyaki, yakitori, sashimi, taiyaki, gyoza, nabe, yakisoba and so much more. We will show you places locals cherish for an off-the-beaten-path, foodie experience of daily life in Japan that you won’t soon forget.