Kyoto Nishiki Market Food and Culture Walking Tour
Overview
Available languages
3 hours
Mobile ticket
Get an introduction to Kyoto’s renowned cuisine on this small-group guided tour of the city's best food spots. Start at the vast 400-year-old Nishiki Market, nicknamed 'Kyoto's Kitchen,' where hundreds of food shops and stalls beckon. Stroll through the market with your guide, learning about Kyoto’s culinary history and sampling dishes unique to Kyoto.
・Spend time wandering around Nishiki Market, home to 130 food stalls
・Enjoy 5 carefully selected local specialties like tofu skin, WAGYU steak skewers, and Hamo tempura
・Get insider knowledge from a local Guide
Additional Info
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 in Japan
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
5 Special Street Food(Tofu skin, Local home cooking, Hamo Tempura, WAGYU steak skewers, and more)
Local guide
Food tasting
What To Expect
Nishiki Market Shopping District
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
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.
Options
Walking Tour from Daimaru
Start from South West Main entrance of Daimaru Kyoto.
End around Shinkyogoku Shopping Street.
Starting point:
四條東洞院内裏跡, Tachiuri Nishimachi, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, 600-8007, Japan
NIshiki Walking & Tea Ceremony
Tea Ceremony: After the walking tour, please go to the venue on your own. Our guide will help you. https://maps.app.goo.gl/gM5JLF3YdKiUu4q
NIshiki Market Walking Tour: Meetup: 10:15am at South West Main entrance of Daimaru Kyoto.
Starting point:
四條東洞院内裏跡, Tachiuri Nishimachi, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, 600-8007, Japan
Walking Tour from Takashimaya
Start from Kyoto Takashimaya department store.
End at Daimaru Kyoto.
Starting point:
Shijo Street Sidewalk Expansion Project Memorial, Shincho, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, 600-8001, Japan
Reviews
385 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Fabulous Food Tour
heleneB2250DK,
Nov 6, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00An amazing food tour in the heart of Kyoto. Our guide Takuma was so knowledgeable and friendly. He was happy to answer all questions with a smile. Even the staff at the various restaurants seemed pleased to see him and we had terrific food and service. The market area is fascinating and the 3 hours flew by. Would highly recommend this food tour.
Great tour
Lynette M,
Nov 6, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Takuma was a great guide. Informative with good English. The food samples were delicious and I enjoyed not feeling rushed.
Delicious Wondering
H3936ZXoscarl,
Nov 3, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Toshi was very encouraging and knowledgeable, especially on a busy Japanese Holiday. The food was fresh and tasty. Would highly recommend!
Outstanding and a Kyoto must!!
ColleenSchleider S,
Nov 2, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00This was a wonderful tour. Most famous market in Kyoto. My guide was exceptional, Miku. She was so kind and enthusiastic. The foods and fish market and wagyu were amazing to see. The strawberries and fruits and all the beautiful foods. It was a celebration in a way of all the foods in Kyoto to watch the traditional food stalls. It was illuminating too with festive decor and trading beauty. Lots of action and felt like heart if Kyoto. We even had great snack and also stop at a cute little place for Wagyu beef. Best highlight of my trip to Kyoto. Did it my first day. It was outstanding! Do not miss.
Great tour
pamsQ3131CB,
Nov 1, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Meri was a fantastic guide, very knowledgeable and enthusiastic. The food was so interesting and nothing that we would have tried on our own. We had a small group which added to the experience!
Food Tour with Mary
Dream745282,
Nov 1, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Mary was really nice and told us a lot about Japan and the culture and food 😁 was very nice! The time was good, too. And there were only four of us, so it was perfect
A great taste of Kyoto with Toshi!
W5244QCchrisr,
Oct 30, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I joined the Nishiki Market tour with Toshi and it was an excellent experience. The tour was thorough, enjoyable, and full of character. We tasted a wide range of traditional and authentic Kyoto dishes while learning about the ingredients and local products that make them so distinctive. Toshi shared fascinating insights into Kyoto’s history and culture as we explored the market, including visits to a nearby shrine and temple that added real depth to the experience. I came away not only full of great food but also with a much better understanding of Kyoto’s food traditions. Toshi is a great host and gave recommendations for other places to visit and eat, which I’ve already started using. I would recommend this tour to anyone who wants to experience Kyoto through its food and local stories.
An easy to go travel, good food
Z2314NW,
Oct 28, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The guide was very kind and patient. She took care of us very well. The food was also very delicious. The guide speaks English very well too, so we can basically understand what she trying to express. And she is acquired with a lot of knowledge about Kyoto. Nice experience!
A great market experience.
957anselm,
Oct 27, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our guide was super knowledgeable of the market. He was able to guide us to a food my wife had always wanted to try and wasn’t typically part of the planned tour. Was a great time and we are leaving with great memories of the time spent. Okini Takuma!
Met at Daimaru, went down to the basement and saw all of the wonderful culinary works. Proceeded to the NISHiki market
H3367LPjanetw,
Oct 26, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Yume was our tour guide. She made us very comfortable, explained what we were going to do, taste and explained what we were eating. She did an awesome job. We told her to pick out local favorites and they were great
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