Kyoto Luxury Sake, Whisky, and Cocktail Tour – Evening

At the heart of Kyoto the “Flower Districts” around Gion and Pontocho, these are the city’s most famous entertainment districts and the center of traditional culture and nightlife. We will start our tour by strolling around a more hidden “flower-district” (the historic name for areas with tea houses featuring music and dance performed by Kyoto’s famous geisha.) If we are lucky we will spot the Maiko and Geiko on their way to work for the evening.

Please note: due to legal restrictions at some of our stops on this tour- all members of your group must be 20 years old or older.

As dusk falls we will explore the alleys and back streets and make our way to a hidden-gem, cocktail bar that has been awarded for its amazing bartenders and gold star original drink creations.  At our first stop, we will try local snacks paired with a delicious cocktail of your choice. This hidden gem bar has a few special features–you can even order a drink based on your “mood.” Just talk to the bar staff and they will make something special for you!
As evening deepens we will wend our way around the small side streets and see some of the best views of Japan’s ancient capital. Our next stop will be a restaurant in a family home that dates from over 100 years ago. The host of this delicious riverside gem will be sure to entertain us with stories and specialty food. Try a local Kyoto sake and learn about Sake (rice wine) and why Kyoto is one of Japan’s best regions for brewing this famous beverage.  At this spot, we will try the proprietor’s famous “appetizer surprise box” and two small plate- dishes featuring mochi (the specialty of this establishment) used in surprising ways. You will surely enjoy the signature Kamo (duck) tasting dish — the chef’s playful Kyoto take on “Peking Duck.”

Our final stop is whisky tasting at a posh bar in the Pontocho district. Have a chance to try your choice of Japanese whiskies and see why they have become famous the world over. (Non-whisky drinkers can enjoy other beverages.) We will pair our final drink with your choice of sweets or bar snacks and finish up the tour with an atmospheric stroll through this lively nightlife district.
Tour Highlights:

• 3-hour tour of the small hidden streets of Kyoto
• Experience an evening stroll with our local guide, and really find out about this historic area.
• Try local seasonal dishes and a sake tasting (other beverages also available)
• Visit an award-winning bar and try a creative cocktail and local seasonal small plate/ tasting dishes
• Browse the local streets, bridges, and rivers along the way.
• Classic Whisky bar tasting with chocolate pairing (or bar snacks if preferred)

Single travelers: please email us directly and let us know if you have any dietary restrictions or allergies. Adults only. Minimum age for this tour is 20.

Private Tours: For a more customized experience, make your tour private for an additional ¥19,500+ TAX. (min. 2 people). Please click the add-on button on your cart when you check out.

We have family-friendly pricing on many of our tours, BUT This tour is for adults over 20. Thank you for your understanding.  If you would like to book a tour with children please check our Family-Friendly Page or inquiry to bookings@arigatojapan.co.jp for recommendations.

Strict start time policy:  We are sorry to say that if you are not able to arrive at the meeting point by the departure time, we will need to start the tour regardless and no refund can be provided. We are also unable to accommodate meeting up at any of the food stops. This is to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience for all guests and also to respect our relationships with restaurants.

5-minute grace period: We can only wait an additional five minutes after the starting time and then the tour will depart. In addition, please note that we cannot give directions or contact the guides on the phone once the tour begins.

Tour Schedule:

Tuesday-Saturday
Meeting Time Frame	4:45 – 5:00 pm
Start Time	5:00 pm
End Time	8:00 pm

Changes on tours: Applicable substitutions may be made due to public holidays, weather conditions, and other unforeseen circumstances.

For Vegetarians: 

Some food that we serve may have dashi, a soup stock made from kelp (seaweed) and bonito (skipjack tuna) as well as other ingredients. Dashi is the cornerstone of Japanese cuisine and is used in many/most Japanese dishes. Please note that we may not be able to accommodate your dietary needs if you cannot consume dashi. Additionally, please inform us if you can eat eggs and dairy products.

If you cannot consume Dashi, we recommend booking a private tour with us and we can offer some alternatives. Again, be aware, it will still be a challenge to 100% avoid fish stock.

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For this tour, it is possible (with advanced notice at the time of booking) to make adjustments to support the following dietary restrictions:

Please keep in mind, however, that we cannot make an allergy-free or dietary restriction food guarantee since food is prepared in kitchens that do not belong to Arigato Travel. Also, some stops may not have a viable substitution but we will make every effort to compensate at different stops throughout the tour.

Please be aware that most bars in Kyoto still allow smoking indoors. There are not any non-smoking sections, so keep this in mind if you do not smoke or cannot be around smoke.

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Meet Up Point in front of the Kyoto Kawaramachi Garden WORLD MAP at the crossing of Shijo Dori at Kawaramachi Subway Station

６８ Shinchō, Shimogyō-ku, Kyōto-shi, Kyōto-fu 600-8001
〒600-8001 京都府京都市下京区真町６８

Our guide will be waiting with an Arigato Travel Food Tour sign. We suggest wearing comfortable shoes as there will be walking involved.

WEATHER REMINDER: 
On rainy days, we recommend bringing an umbrella. They can be easily purchased at any convenience store.