Kyoto Food Tours

Tailoring each tour to your wishes by locals who love their city

Top 10 food tours & experiences in Kyoto

From exploring cool neighborhoods to eating with the locals to seeing iconic sites, these are some of our favorite experiences

When in Osaka
make sure to try
“kushikatsu”!

See the city like
you would with a friend who lives there

See all

When in Osaka
make sure to try
“kushikatsu”!

See the city like
you would with a friend who lives there

The best private food tours in Kyoto

Kyoto’s 1000-year status as a culinary capital in Japan has earned it the nickname “Kitchen of the Imperial Court” – and if the city’s food is good enough for Japanese royalty, you’re bound to be impressed! Join a local guide on Kyoto food tours of this culinary haven adored across Japan for its focus on traditional flavors and fine dining. But don’t be fooled by the famously opulent food scene because Kyoto cuisine is tremendously varied, with something to suit every palate (and pocket). The best food in Kyoto is found at restaurants, markets, tea rooms, izakayas, cafés, and even convenience stores – and you can discover it all and more on one of our unforgettable Kyoto food tours.

Meet some of our food-loving local hosts in Kyoto

Like the people who travel with us, they have different backgrounds and interests – but they’re all so passionate about the place they call home, they choose to spend their free time sharing it with the like-minded travelers matched to them.

We’ve handpicked them and we’ll match you to your perfect one!

Try local delicacies

From seafood-stuffed balls under a bed of unfurling bonito flakes to Tako Tamago – a quail egg-stuffed octopus that simultaneously looks exactly how you’d expect and nothing like you’d expect – the food scene you’ll uncover on Kyoto food tours can’t be experienced anywhere else. Our food tours in Kyoto give you the ultimate GPS, guidebook, and menu decipherer: a local guide! You’ll be able to find all the flavors and food experiences that locals love, like slurping up fragrant green tea noodles at a humble eatery and snacking on Gyoza dumplings as the sun sets over Kamo River.

Modest, modern and Michelin-starred

From traditional Kaiseki fit for a king to all-you-can-eat sushi at a 100-yen restaurant, Kyoto’s food scene may be famous, but it’s certainly not pretentious. The city is home to some of the best restaurants in Japan, so it comes as a surprise that the most memorable food tours in Kyoto will take you to places you’d never expect. On our Kyoto food tours, follow your local guide to foodie hubs adored by locals, like 400-year-old Nishiki Market (a street food paradise), or sit down for a traditional tea ceremony with sweet wagashi confections and Kyoto’s high-quality uji matcha tea.

Satisfy your sweet tooth

Kyoto has perfected the art of dessert, and you’ll find sugar in every conceivable form on food tours of Kyoto. This is the place to be if you have an insatiable sweet tooth. With your local host leading your ultimate Kyoto food tour, you’ll taste all the unique treats that can only be found here. Book our “Traditional Japanese sweet tasting experience” to sample fascinating foods that Kyoto has been crafting for hundreds of years. Try Wagashi (bite-sized, pastel-colored confections), chewy Mochi, and earthy matcha in the form of ice-cream, cakes, cookies, and more!

Kyoto travel tips and inspiration from our Travel Magazine

Find the best things to do, places to eat, must eat foods and lots of travel tips in Kyoto and around the world recommended by our local hosts

Latest reviews from our guests

Thank you

April 2024

Reem K
Milo put together a perfect 6 hour day for us hitting the highlights of Kyoto. He has an impressive understanding of Japanese history, customs, and culture. He is easygoing and engages his clients with a show of interest and sensitivity. Very highly recommended for anyone visiting Kyoto.

April 2024

James M
My son and I spent a wonderful day with Masaya from Kyoto Unscripted, who showed us some of the highlights of Kyoto, some well-known and others less so. He was personable, knowledgeable, and accommodating, and we had a truly memorable experience. I feel that we were able to gain a much deeper insight into the culture of this fascinating city from our guide than we would have if we had joined a group tour or went it alone. It was an efficient way to see the city. We never felt rushed nor was it too slow or boring, as Masaya adjusted to our pace. One unplanned moment was when Masaya took us to the antique district in Gion, because my son expressed an interest in calligraphy. We didn't find any calligraphy that we liked, but we did find two original paintings by unknown artists over a hundred years old, which we bought for an extremely reasonable price. These would serve as much better momentoes of our trip than any kitsch from a souvenir shop. Thanks again, Masaya!

April 2024

Terry C
Alvin was amazing. He took our suggestions and requests and built us a terrific day of activities that showed us the best of Kyoto. It was a great experience, and I highly recommend it. He was incredibly knowledgeable and a fun conversationalist. Overall, it was a lot of fun, and we saw more than we'd have seen on a group tour.

April 2024

Thomas B