Kyoto Casual Pontocho Evening Food Tour

Enjoy a walking tour of Pontocho and Gion Shirakawa, two of Kyoto’s most charming and historical areas.  Travel back in time to enjoy the sights, sounds, and tastes in this rustic neighborhood.  Discover tea houses, restaurants, and charming sights to see around every corner. This casual evening tour is perfect for families and those wanting to explore these historical and delicious neighborhoods. You will experience 4 food and drink stops, with something for everyone. Start off in a retro “Showa-era” (post-war Japan) restaurant to try seasonal and regional, tasty dishes. Next, try several types of yakitori (charcoal-grilled skewers) in a classic Pontocho eatery. Head on to a traditional Noodle shop with decades of history, for handmade noodle dishes.  Have fun beyond the temples and Kyoto tourist experiences and ask your guide about the history and culture surrounding the food of Kyoto! This fun and friendly tour is the perfect way to spend your evening. There are too many great restaurant choices, and a few that are certainly too touristy, so let us help you make the best choices. Create delicious memories with us!

Tour Highlights:

• Spend a relaxed evening of food tasting with a local guide, meticulously planned to maximize your short time in this amazing place.
• Walking Tour of the famous Pontocho and Gion Shirakawa districts
• Enjoy 4 food and drink stops featuring classic, and seasonal dishes of Kyoto
• Try sumi (charcoal) grilled meat and seafood skewers
• Visit a traditional noodle spot and taste local sake (rice wine) along the way.

Family-friendly pricing: If you are traveling with children and need a price adjustment- please email our team at Bookings@ArigatoJapan.co.jp.

Single travelers: please email us directly and let us know if you have any dietary restrictions or allergies.

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.

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:

 

Every day (Mon-Sun)
Meeting Time Frame	4:15 – 4:30 pm
Start Time	4:30 pm
End Time	7:30 pm

 

This is a very family-friendly, casual food tour in Kyoto that everyone can enjoy!
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.

TRAVEL BLOGGER Tested and Approved!

Sharon of the National Post made our Casual Pontocho Evening Food Tour part of her trip to Japan and love every moment of it. Read here for her thoughts and impressions.

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The meeting point is in front of the Statue of Izumo-no-Okuni, a short walk from Gion Shijo Station Exit 5.

Kawabatacho, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, 605-0076

〒605-0076 京都市東山区川端町

Your guide will be holding an Arigato Travel Sign, there is some walking on the tour so please wear comfortable shoes.

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