Food Tours

Gion Guided Walking Tour with Kaiseki Dinner

Gion street view with tourists exploring traditional shops on 3-hour guided walking tour, Kyoto.

Gion street with traditional wooden buildings during 3-hour guided walking tour in Kyoto.

Gion street with tourists exploring traditional shops during 3-hour guided walking tour.

Embark on a small group-guided tour of Gion's cobbled streets lined with 17th-century restaurants and lantern-lit teahouses, followed by a 10-course Kaiseki dinner.

Highlights

Explore the wooden-latticed teahouses and ancient lanes of Gion on a 3-hr guided evening tour, followed by a century-old 10-course Kaiseki meal.
Begin your tour at the Yasaka Shrine, a gleaming vermilion edifice, where your guide will regale you with tales of imperial history and Geisha traditions.
Explore the charming Shirakawa quarter, where lantern-lit traditional dining - establishments line the tranquil canal and the bustling Shijo Dori.
Indulge in a 10-course Kaiseki dinner where each dish is a masterpiece. From seasonal to traditional ingredients, you'll get to savor a myriad of local flavors.
Fun Fact: The 10-course Kaiseki feast has evolved from an austere supper of miso soup and three side dishes.

Inclusions

3-hr small-group guided tour of Gion
Local English-speaking guide
10-course Kaiseki dinner, green tea and dessert

Cancellation policy

You can cancel these tickets up to 7 days before the experience begins and get a full refund.

Your Experience

Gion’s reputation as a culinary district and an entertainment hub stretch back to the Edo period. Over centuries it evolved into a neighborhood of bustling Japanese teahouses where Kimono-clad dancers–Geisha performed for the Imperial rulers.

Step Back in Time at Yasaka Shrine and Shirakawa Area

Begin your journey by visiting Yasaka Shrine, a remarkable example of Heian-era architecture with a giant granite torii measuring 9.5m. The shrine's roof adorned with cypress shingles, houses many treasures, including a pair of intricately carved wooden lion dogs crafted by the celebrated sculptor Unkei.

As you walk down the little alleyways of Gion, you’ll see wood-latticed shop fronts and bamboo verandas by the roadside. And it is likely that you’ll even catch a glimpse of a Geisha strolling down the lantern-lit walkways in their wooden geta sandals. While you work up an appetite exploring the stunning Shirakawa area, your guide will share tales of the culture and imperial history of Kyoto, tossing you back in time amid the classic Japanese architecture.

Dig into a 10-course Meal

Experience a once-in-a-lifetime dinner with a Japanese multi-course Kaiseki meal served in magnificent traditional utensils. The gorgeously-plated dishes showcase seasonal produce and consist of a variety of appetizers, sashimi, grilled and simmered dishes, and rice-based courses. Follow proper dinner etiquette in Japan, say "itadakimasu" before and "gochiso-sama deshita" after the meal, use the oshibori towel for hand-wiping, and place chopsticks in the hashioki when not in use.

Itinerary

Meet up at Kyoto Kanji Museum–Yasaka Shrine–Shirakawa Neighborhood–10-course Kaiseki Dinner

Know Before You Go

Important Information

Minimum drinking age is 20 years in Japan.
It is recommended to wear comfortable shoes as this experience involves a fair amount of walking.
Your experience may be subject to change due to the schedule of restaurants, public holidays, weather conditions, and other unforeseen circumstances.
This tour can accommodate a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 10 people in 1 group.
It is mandatory to wear masks at all times.
Dietary restrictions flexibility: Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Gluten-Free Friendly
Note that taking pictures of the Geisha without permission is a punishable offense in Japan.

Timings

Daily: 4.45pm to 8pm

My tickets

Your voucher will be emailed to you instantly.
Display the voucher on your mobile phone with a valid photo ID at the meeting point.
Please arrive at the meeting point 15 minutes before the scheduled time of your visit to avoid any delays.

Meeting Point

Meet your guide in front of Japan Kanji Museum & Library.
Address: 551 Gionmachi Minamigawa, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, 605-0074, Japan.
Your guide will be holding an "Arigato Japan Food Tour" sign..

Get Directions to the Meeting Point

Getting There

By Bus

The closest bus stop is Gion. It is a quick 1-minute walk to the meeting point.
Board buses 四条山科醍醐線８３Ａ, 四条山科醍醐線８, 四条山科醍醐線８７, 四条山科醍醐線８８, 四条山科醍醐線８８Ｃ to get you there.

By Subway