The 4 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 $56Best value

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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