The 14 Best Kyoto Market Tours

1.Nishiki Market Brunch Walking Tour (7 Tastings + Brunch)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,355 reviews · from $68Our pick

Start near Shijo Bridge, walk through Pontocho and Nishiki Tenmangu, then spend most of the morning tasting Kyoto foods at Nishiki Market. A guide such as Yuki, Yusuke, or Chie may lead your group. Brunch and tour photos are included, but gluten-free and allergy-safe meals cannot be guaranteed.

“I can’t recommend this walking food tour of Nishiki Market enough! It was the perfect way to explore the market beyond just the main stalls. We tried a great variety of different snacks, and the tour took us to several hidden gems that I definitRead more”

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2.Kyoto Nishiki Market Food and Culture Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 412 reviews · from $80

Spend three hours tasting Kyoto specialties and exploring Nishiki Market, Nishiki Tenmangu, Shinkyogoku, Teramachi, and a small Buddhist temple. Guides such as Keiko, Takuma, Annie, and Toshi explain food, customs, and shopping in groups capped at six.

“Annie was a very knowledgeable and kind tour guide who helped us find a local ingredient (matcha salt) for us to bring home as a souvenir. It’s not always easy to know what to order so this was a great introduction to Japanese local cuisine. Very tasty tour!”

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3.Nishiki Market Tea Ceremony with Koto Performance

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 294 reviews · 1 hour · from $56

At KOTOLILY KYOTO, Yurika guides you through making matcha, tea etiquette, and Japanese sweets before and after playing the koto. The one-hour session is limited to eight people, with optional kimono photos and a koto lesson for an extra fee.

“Our host Yuriko was absolutely amazing with not only taking us through and letting us be part of the tea ceremony but she is also an accomplished player of the traditional Japanese instrument which she played for us on three occasions in between the tea ceremony, she had a beautiful studio with lovely kimonos on the wall and English was great and I think the reason she does so well os she does not only do the tea ceremony but also playing for us and talking about the history of music as well as the tea ceremony so you actually get two things for the same price as one, well…”

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4.Local Food Tasting Tour at the Nishiki Market

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 135 reviews · 3 hours - 270 minutes · from $78

Join an English-speaking guide such as Ayu, Toshi, or Takuma for a small-group walk through Nishiki Market. Taste five Kyoto specialties, learn the stories behind them, and continue to Nishiki-Tenmangu Shrine, Shinkyogoku, and Teramachi. A tea ceremony can be added.

“Fantastic tour, Annie was great and we saw loads of cool places along the Nishiki market and outside learning a lot about the culture of Kyoto on the way. Okini!”

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5.Nishiki Market and Depachika Food Tour with a Local

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 76 reviews · 2 hours · from $42

Spend a short morning or afternoon tasting Kyoto favorites with an English-speaking guide. You’ll visit Daimaru’s Depachika food hall, Nishiki Market, and Nishiki Tenmangu Shrine, sampling yuba sashimi, soy milk doughnuts, Nishiki gyoza, and hamo tempura in a group of up to nine.

“I liked the tour. We did a nice walk through the food court of the mall and then through the market. Vincent spoke great English, and we enjoyed the tour.”

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6.Nishiki Market Tour with a Local Foodie & Tastings

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 67 reviews · 1h 30m · from $67

Meet your English or Japanese-speaking guide at Nishiki Tenmangu Shrine, then visit Teramachi Street and sample Kyoto foods at Nishiki Market. Guides such as Kaito, Akino, and Hiro are praised for lively cultural explanations. Tastings are included, but drinks and allergy-friendly substitutions are not.

“thanks a lot to Kaito Okada Who was super Nice, speak english very well and gave us so much details about food, Japan, culture... He answered at every question with plaisure, show interest in our culture too. thank you”

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7.Nishiki Market Food Tour with Cooking Class

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 42 reviews · 2h 30m · from $109

Meet at Nishiki Market’s western entrance for a private English-language tour of Kyoto’s famous food street, with tastings, pickle samples, and help speaking with shop staff. Then take a taxi to a cooking studio and prepare your choice of seafood, tempura, or chicken and egg donburi.

“Great way to learn about aecrets in Japanese food and market stalls”

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8.Golden Pavilion, Nijo Castle, & Nishiki Market Half day tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 29 reviews · 4 hours · from $90

Join Kyoto City Certified Guide Roberto from Kyoto Station for a four-hour private tour of Kinkaku-ji, Nijo Castle, and Nishiki Market. Expect clear English or Spanish explanations, iPad images, public transport, samurai-era history, and lunch advice at Kyoto’s famous food market.

“Activities were amazing, fantastic insight into the history of the attractions and culture. Value was amazing and 1:1 genuine accomodating attention from Roberto.”

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9.Nishiki Market Food Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 21 reviews · 3 hours · from $173

Spend three hours with an English-speaking guide at Kyoto’s Nishiki Market, visiting about 10 vendors for seafood, snacks, tea, and a seasonal lunch. Guides such as Raquel, Sanae, Sae, Marie, and Ida have helped guests understand the market’s food and customs in a group of no more than eight.

“A very interesting tour with a great guide Rosalia Yoshiko. Thanks to her for all the hints and the stories! I am a big fan of a dried Bonito fish now. :)”

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10.Enjoy Sushi & Market Tour! Best for Family & Couple!

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 20 reviews · 2 hours · from $77

Meet your English or Japanese speaking guide near Kyoto Station and Shijo Station for a two-hour sushi workshop. Visit Nishiki Market, watch fish cutting, prepare vinegar rice, nigiri, temari, temaki, dashi, and miso soup, then eat your meal with dessert and coffee. Small groups are limited to 10.

“Our guide was so lovely and extremely helpful in making sure we learned the right techniques but flexible enough to help us explore our own flavors. E always wanted to prepare great sushi, and she has given us the skills to make it happen. Very gracious guide and her facilities were very professional. Highly recommended.”

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11.Taste of Nishiki Market Walking Food Tour with Local guide

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 17 reviews · 3 hours · from $77

Join an English-speaking guide such as Kaoru or Rikka for a three-hour food walk from Rokkakudo Temple to Nishiki Tenmangu Shrine. Sample 6 to 10 foods at Yaoyaichi, Daimaru, and Nishiki Market, with tips on local restaurants and edible souvenirs.

“We thoroughly enjoyed the experience and very informative guide”

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12.Arashiyama Unveiled Bamboo, Temple, Matcha, & Monkeys

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6 reviews · 4 hours · from $25Best value

Join an English-speaking guide such as Kosuke or Takuma for a four-hour Arashiyama walk covering Tenryu-ji, the Bamboo Grove, Nonomiya Shrine, matcha, Togetsu-kyo Bridge, and Monkey Park Iwatayama. Temple and monkey park admission are included.

“Kosuke was a top guy who really knew his stuff. So friendly and we had a great laugh together. Would really recommend!”

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13.Nishiki Market Food Tour with Local Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 5 reviews · from $64

Walk Kyoto’s five-block Nishiki Market with an English-speaking local guide such as Steven, tasting seasonal specialties while learning about Kyoto cooking, market history, kaiseki, and Buddhist vegetarian traditions. Food tastings are included, with vegetarian options available if requested in advance.

“The guide was excellent and kind. He could not have been any better. My partner fell and he was very good in helping her. He is a wonderful guide.”

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14.Wholesale Fish Market Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2 reviews · 2 hours · from $41

Meet guide Kats or another English-speaking TripGuru guide at Umekoji Kyotonishi Station before sunrise. Watch fish bidding at Kyoto City Central Wholesale Market, learn how traders work, then sit down to a traditional breakfast at Murakami restaurant. The group is limited to nine people.

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