Kyoto Cooking Class, Sake Tasting and Nishiki Food Market Walking Tour

Take a hands-on journey into Japan’s food culture during this exploration of Kyoto’s top food markets and a sake brewery, finishing with a 1.5-hour cooking class where you get to bring your day’s food experience to life. It’s the perfect excursion for anyone looking to take a deeper dive into the culinary ingredients and traditions of Japanese cuisine.

Start your food experience with a meet-up at the city’s Daimaru Kyoto Department Store in the afternoon, where you’ll meet your guide. Follow your guide out into the city for a 2-hour walking exploration of some of Kyoto’s food hotspots.

Visit the famous Nishiki Food Market, where you’ll explore the wide variety of Japanese foodstuffs for use in your cooking class later that day. Explore the market’s collection of spices and produce as you sit back and observe the blur of activity at the city’s main food center.

Then head to a former sake brewery and museum, where you can taste a few of the country’s wide variety of sakes. You’ll also learn about how this celebrated beverage is created (Please note, if the museum is not open on the day of your trip, an admission ticket will be provided for later use).

Continue after your tasting to the machiya, a typical Kyoto-style wooden home, which will host your cooking lesson. Your 1.5-hour session teaches you to prepare a classic Japanese dinner, including items such as miso soup, cooked salad, sushi and seasonal fruit. 

Enjoy your meal with the other guests before spending the rest of the evening exploring Kyoto at your own leisure. For those who wish to return to their hotel after the tour, your guide will help coordinate transportation.

Note: Click the ‘View additional info’ link below to see a map of the meeting location.