Evening in Kyoto Pontocho Food Tour
Spend an evening in Kyoto Pontocho enjoying sake, handmade noodles, delicious charcoal-grilled meats, and more!
Highlights
Spend a relaxed evening with a local guide, meticulously planned to maximize your short time in this amazing place.
Walking Kyoto’s famous Pontocho and Gion Shirakawa districts
Enjoy 4 food and drink stops featuring classic and seasonal dishes
Try sumi (charcoal) grilled meat and seafood skewers
Visit a traditional noodle spot and taste local sake (rice wine) along the way.
10 meals
Experience Details
Atmospheric and romantic, the historical Pontocho and Gion areas of Kyoto are the most beautiful at night. Pontocho Alley is a gorgeous area for a late-night walk, with warm lights splashing out onto the cobbled streets and traditional shops and restaurants lining the walkway. Strolling along this peaceful alley feels like stepping back in time, with not a car to be seen! Meanwhile, Gion Shirakawa, a popular cherry blossom viewing site in April, surrounds the Shirakawa River which extends from the Heian Shrine to northern Gion. A little off the beaten path, Kyoto’s Shirakawa Dori (Shirakawa Street) is a historic street in Gion with restaurants and shops that overlook the canal. This Evening in Kyoto Pontocho Food Tour is a relaxing getaway from the crowded touristy areas of Kyoto, with an abundance of little shops and traditional restaurants to explore!
The Evening in Kyoto Pontocho Food Tour will show you around, giving you insights into local Kyo Ryori (Kyoto cuisine) which is notable for its use of fresh seasonal ingredients and beautiful presentation. Sumi Yakiniku is one such dish to indulge in. Sizzling, juicy meats and seafood are perfectly charcoal-grilled for that lovely smoky flavor. Top this off with some Japanese Sake (Nihonshu) at a nearby sake tasting shop (guests under the age of 20 can enjoy non-alcoholic plum soda at this stop). Then, have a handmade traditional noodle dish at a charming local noodle shop. This evening will show you those off-the-beaten-path restaurants and shops so you can experience the traditional charms of Kyoto Pontocho like a local.
What You Get
Good To Know
- The food tour starts strictly on time. If guests do not arrive at the meeting point by the departure time, the tour will begin regardless, and no refund shall be given.
- There’s a strict rule that only a person 20 years of age may drink alcohol.
Meeting Point and Meeting Time
Meet-up details will be sent to your provided email address once your booking is confirmed.
Cancellation Policy
Cancel your booking at least 48 hours before the experience start time to receive a full refund minus a 3.2% transaction fee.
Experience Location
The atmospheric glow of the lanterns at night make Pontocho a romantic spot for dinner or a serendipitous run-in with a geiko. A hanamachi district with numerous geiko (or geisha) houses, Pontocho bursts with tea houses, high-class restaurants, and cheap eateries. Pontocho is also home to Pontocho Kaburenjō Theater, a venue for geisha performances, as well as concerts and shows. It is a traditional entertainment district, like Gion, which is centered on the traditional arts. In Pontocho, you can appreciate the traditional wooden architecture as you breathe in Japan's history.
Such a lovely guide. We learned so much about Kyoto! Loved the tour but would have loved to learn more about the food particular to Kyoto.
Russ and H were great and the food was amazing
Our guide, Eduardo was really great! We had so much fun and tasted so many local dishes that we hadn’t tried. We had sweets for the kids and adults, tried food at different restaurants with sake an...read more
Sae was our guide and she was amazing. She knew the intricate history of the whole area. She picked fantastic restaurants for our dishes which included the best Ramen we have had In Japan. She made...read more
Great guide, beautiful night, and a great way to start our tour of Japan. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a “first night” experience in Kyoto, as not only does the walking tour feel g...read more
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10 meals
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