Kyoto Gion Tour and Rare Fugu Banquet with Michelin Chef
Get an in-depth tour of Kyoto’s historic Gion district, followed by a spread of fugu pufferfish at an exclusive restaurant with a guide who works at a three Michelin-starred restaurant.
Highlights
Walking tour of the historic Gion district in Kyoto with an experienced guide
A full course meal of fugu pufferfish at an exclusive restaurant prepared by a certified fugu specialist and the expertise of a guide who has a fugu license
Experience Details
Nowhere else in Kyoto quite encapsulates the city’s traditional charm quite like Gion. The historic geisha district plays host to some of the city’s most famous sights, like the neat rows of teahouses on Hanami-koji Street, or the Shirakawa Canal, lined with willow trees gently swaying in the breeze. Traditional geisha entertainers and their maiko apprentices are impossible to miss as they elegantly sweep down the streets in their beautifully-patterned kimono.
And of course, there’s the magnificent turret of the Minamiza Theater, the most iconic kabuki theater in the city, which also happens to be where you’ll meet your host, Nadja. For an hour, she’ll show you around the labyrinthine streets of Gion, regaling you with tales of maiko and geisha so vivid that you’ll feel like you’ve been taken back in time to the Edo period.
After walking, you’re sure to have worked up an appetite, and there’s no better way to sate your hunger than with a legendary Japanese delicacy: fugu, or Japanese pufferfish. The fugu can be so deadly poisonous, that chefs are legally required to train for two years before they can receive a license to prepare and serve it safely.
Fugu chefs are already few in number, but Gion is home to famously exclusive fugu restaurants — some so secretive that reservations aren’t even open to the public.
It’s under the careful knife of a knowledgeable chef and certified fugu specialist that guests on this tour will be presented with a full fugu spread of six to seven courses, ranging from “tessa” sashimi, to grilled and even deep-fried. Your guide, a holder of a fugu pufferfish license with deep knowledge in the field, will explain the intricacies of this exquisite meal. If you’re lucky, tecchiri hotpot will be on the menu too, arguably the most famous way to eat this potentially deadly delicacy.
Inclusions
Guide fees for walking tour
6- to 7-course banquet of fugu pufferfish professionally prepared in a number of ways with 1 drink
Exclusions
Transportation fees to and from the venue
Cost of additional purchases during the walking tour
Additional drinks during the meal
Meeting Point and Meeting Time
Meet your host at Exit 6 of Gion-Shijo Station (Keihan Main Line), less than 10 min. walk from Sanjo Station and Yasaka-jinja Shrine.
Remarks
The legal drinking age in Japan is 20. Guests under the legal age must refrain from consuming alcoholic beverages.
If necessary, the restaurant can provide high chairs for children.
Children participating will be served the same multi course meal as adults; alternatively, they can participate for free and order individual items on the menu (not included in the experience price).
The tour is expected to last 3 hours in total. Please plan accordingly.
Cancellation Policy
Cancel your booking at least 2 days before the experience start time to receive a full refund minus a 3.2% transaction fee.
Experience Location
Featuring beautiful landscapes from mountain to sea, Kyoto Prefecture conveys traditional Japanese culture through its architecture and gardens, art and artisanal crafts, and delicious local cuisine made from regional produce.
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