Kyoto Izakaya Hopping: Pontocho & Gion Local Food Tour
Description
Experience the real taste of Kyoto! On this walking tour, we explore the vibrant backstreets of Kiyamachi and Pontocho to find the best local spots. Whether you are a foodie or just love a good drink, our local guides will take you to their favorite Izakayas that you might miss on your own. Tour Highlights: ・Izakaya Hopping: Visit two different local pubs/restaurants, each with its own story. ・Local Connection: Chat with your Japanese guide and learn about the city's lifestyle. ・Customizable: If you have dietary preferences or requests, feel free to message us in advance! Payment (Fair & Simple): We want you to enjoy the best food at the most reasonable cost. ・Direct Payment: Food and drinks are separate—no hidden tour commissions.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Kiyamachi Street is a popular dining and drinking district in Kyoto, known for its charming and atmospheric izakayas (Japanese-style pubs). These cozy establishments offer a wide range of delicious Japanese cuisine, including favorites like yakitori (grilled chicken skewers) and a selection of premium sake. During our tour, we'll visit one or two izakayas in Kiyamachi that best suit your preferences. Whether you're in the mood for a lively and energetic atmosphere or a more intimate and relaxed setting, our knowledgeable guide will choose the perfect spots for you. You'll have the opportunity to spend about an hour at each izakaya, savoring a variety of tasty dishes and drinks. Immerse yourself in the local flavors and enjoy the warm hospitality of the friendly staff. This is a fantastic chance to experience an authentic slice of Kyoto's vibrant food and drink culture in one of the city's most beloved nightlife districts.
Pontocho is a narrow, atmospheric alley running parallel to the Kamo River, famous for its concentration of traditional Japanese restaurants. This charming area is the perfect place to experience some of Japan's most iconic dishes, such as sushi and sukiyaki (a hot pot dish with thinly sliced beef, vegetables, and tofu). Our guide will carefully select restaurants in Pontocho based on your preferences, ensuring that you enjoy a dining experience tailored to your tastes. Whether you're a fan of fresh, delicate sushi or the rich, savory flavors of sukiyaki, you'll find the perfect meal in this picturesque alley. Together with the izakayas visited in Kiyamachi, we'll explore a total of three establishments during the tour. To conclude this memorable evening, we'll visit a restaurant renowned for its delectable desserts, providing a sweet finish to your culinary adventure through Kyoto's most enchanting dining districts.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Alcohol will not be served to participants under 20
- Inform us of any dietary restrictions in advance
Reviews(18)
We had a fantastic evening with Shumpei. It was great being taken around to the best food and drink spots by a local guide, who also adjusted the itinerary based on our preferences. We visited 2 izakayas and a whiskey bar, all of which we really enjoyed. We also loved chatting to Shumpei and learning more about various aspects of Japanese culture. Highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Kyoto looking for an evening filled with tasty food and great conversation.
Thank you for the high recommendation! We’re so glad Shumpei could show you the best of Kyoto’s food scene and share some Japanese culture along the way. Hearing that you enjoyed the personalized itinerary and the whiskey bar visit makes our day. Thank you for choosing OTAtrip Guide,!
It was a bit disheveled/rushed and underwhelming but they were very kind and nice. Overall, happy to have tried it, but would not recommend or do again.
Thank you for your honest feedback. We are glad to hear you found our team kind and welcoming, but we are truly sorry that the pace of the tour felt rushed and didn't meet your expectations. Your comments are invaluable, and we will work with our guides to improve the experience. Thank you for giving us a try.
This was a good experience. It was just two people this time but that allowed for each of us to really get to know the tour guide and ask detailed questions. He took us to two locations and each place was soo good that we didn't have time for any other place. The guide was very curious about our lives and provided insightful perspectives to the Kyoto life style. Highly recommend booking this tour!
Thanks for joining us! We're so glad you loved the spots we picked and had a great time chatting with your guide. Small groups really do make for the best conversations. Hope the rest of your trip is just as amazing!
A fun and laidback night out with a younger crowd. I really love how we went to places unique to our tastes and preferences. We had delicious food at two restaurants and then ended with a simple and tasty dessert. I loved the vibe of this tour! I would highly recommend it.
Thank you so much for joining our tour and for the great review! We’re really happy to hear you enjoyed the relaxed vibe and the local spots tailored to your group’s tastes. We’re glad the food and dessert hit the spot as well. Thanks again for the recommendation, and we hope to see you in Kyoto again someday!
I had an incredible experience on this tour! My guide, Mune, was awesome — super friendly, personable, and very informative. He made the whole day feel fun and relaxed while sharing great insights about the area. The food was delicious, and the overall atmosphere was so refreshing. I’d highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Japan! It was such a wonderful experience that I already can’t wait to come back and visit Japan again.
Thank you so much for joining our tour and for your wonderful review. We are so happy to hear that you had an amazing time with Mune. He truly enjoys meeting new guests and sharing his favorite local spots in Kyoto. We will make sure to share your kind words with him. He will be very glad to know you had such a memorable evening. We hope to welcome you back to Kyoto again soon.
We had a wonderful time with another couple, and our knowledgeable guide, Niki, took us to two fantastic restaurants and a Sake bar.
Thank you very much for joining our tour and sharing your kind words. We are so glad to hear that you enjoyed the restaurants, the sake bar, and Niki’s guiding. I will be sure to share your comment with her. She will be very happy. We hope to see you again when you visit Kyoto. 🍶🌸
Riku was an amazing tour guide. He showed us places that we wouldn’t have found ourselves. We did this tour our first night in Kyoto and felt like we got a crash course on the local atmosphere.
Thank you very much for joining our tour and for your wonderful review. We are so happy to hear that Riku helped you discover local places and that you enjoyed the Kyoto atmosphere on your first night. We hope the rest of your stay in Japan was just as memorable. Please visit us again next time you come to Kyoto. 🍶🌸
Brilliant time with Mune, our guide. He showed us around to his favorite Izakayas (3) and ended with a dessert. We would not have discovered them ourselves . He was informative and funny too. We highly recommend Mune!!!
Thank you very much for joining our Bar and Izakaya Nighttime Foodie Tour and for your wonderful review. We are so happy to hear that you enjoyed visiting Mune’s favorite izakayas and ending with a sweet treat. It is great to know that you discovered places you might not have found on your own. I will share your message with Mune. He will be very happy to hear it. We hope to welcome you again when you visit Kyoto. 🍶🍢
Amazing experience - highly recommend! We went to places we would not have known of otherwise and our guide was exceptional. What drew us to this booking was the fun-looking photos and younger guide, and our decision paid off! This isn’t a “formal” tour and you should expect great company from a younger host who is extremely familiar with the area, and he was very easy to spend the time with! My wife and I really enjoyed this.
Thank you very much for joining our Bar and Izakaya Nighttime Foodie Tour and for your amazing review. We are so glad to hear that you and your wife enjoyed the experience and that the photos and atmosphere matched your expectations. It makes us very happy to know you liked the local places and the friendly style of our younger guide. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to see you again when you visit Kyoto. 🍶✨
Mune was a great Izakaya guide. He was informative, personable and fun. He suggested the perfect food and sake for our evening. He took us to places that we would not have known about just by reading guides. We definitely got our money's worth and would highly recommend.
Thank you very much for joining our Bar and Izakaya Nighttime Foodie Tour and for your thoughtful review. We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed the evening with Mune and that his recommendations for food and sake were perfect for you. It is wonderful to know that you discovered local spots that are hard to find in guidebooks. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you again when you visit Kyoto. 🍶🍢
