Experiences in Kyoto

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1,715 experiences

Sake Tasting & Original Sake Creating Experience in Kyoto
Experience1 hr

Sake Tasting & Original Sake Creating Experience in Kyoto

Ever wondered what your own taste in sake looks like—literally? At My Sake World Kyoto Kawaramachi, you don't just taste sake, you create it. Never tried sake before? Even better—our friendly English-speaking guides walk you through eight distinct sakes, then help you blend an original bottle using lab-style flasks and pipettes, no experience needed. This isn't a "watch the master" show. It's yours to shape: adjust sweetness, dryness, and aroma until you land on a flavor nobody else has ever made. Take it home in a bottle with a label you designed yourself—a memory made with your own hands, not bought off a shelf. Set in lively Kawaramachi, steps from Nishiki Market and Kiyomizudera, this fully indoor studio reimagines a centuries-old Kyoto blending tradition for today's traveler. Perfect for couples, friends, and curious first-timers who want a hands-on story to tell, not just a photo to post. Come curious, leave with a Kyoto memory only you could have made.

4.8(69 reviews)Free cancellation
Kyoto Chopstick Making Class with Engraving Option
Experience30 min

Kyoto Chopstick Making Class with Engraving Option

This workshop is unique because it lets you hand-craft your own wooden chopsticks in Kyoto’s historic Gion district, guided by a local artisan using traditional tools. Instead of simply watching a demonstration, you experience the full process yourself—choosing the wood, shaping it by hand, and finishing it into a practical, personal keepsake rooted in everyday Japanese culture.

4.9(120 reviews)Free cancellation
Fish Cutting workshop in Kyoto JapanLikely To Sell Out
Experience2 hr 30 min

Fish Cutting workshop in Kyoto Japan

It is rare to have the experience of processing raw fish from the beginning.By processing fish and eating it as sashimi yourself, you can deepen your enjoyment of food and understanding of Japanese food culture. It is a lot of fun to process fish, and the fish you process yourself tastes better than anything else! I have been working in a fish shop for 20 years and have studied how to process various kinds of fish. We will use this experience to carefully teach you how to process fish. We have gluten free soy sauce and halal soy sauce Please feel free to inquire. We hope that this class will provide you with a new dining experience!

5.0(17 reviews)Free cancellation
Kyoto Customizable Tour with Local English Guide (Amanohashidate)Likely To Sell Out
Experience6 hrs

Kyoto Customizable Tour with Local English Guide (Amanohashidate)

With an experienced local guide fluent in both English and Japanese (with previous experience guiding Hollywood actors, Lance Gross!) All of our members were born and raised in Japan, so we have an in-depth understanding of the country. This allows us to share the hidden charms of Japan that only locals know. In addition, we offer free Japanese language support in case of emergencies. In recent years, there has been a sharp increase in accidents and incidents involving unlicensed or inexperienced drivers who are not from Japan at other companies. Our strength lies in providing the highest level of safety and reliability through our Local English-Speaking Guides. In addition to hands-on activities such as ninja training and chopstick-making, our strong local connections grant access to exclusive experiences — including invitations-only Ochaya and private geisha or maiko performances. (We are a Guide Service Company)

4.8(19 reviews)Free cancellation
From Kyoto: Fushimi Inari, Kiyomizu Dera & Arashiyama Day TourNew On Viator
Experience9 hrs

From Kyoto: Fushimi Inari, Kiyomizu Dera & Arashiyama Day Tour

✨ Experience Kyoto, Not Just See It! ✨ Kyoto’s most popular sights are spread across the city, and visiting them independently can require several train and bus transfers. This tour connects Fushimi Inari Shrine, Kiyomizu-dera Temple and Arashiyama by tour vehicle, giving you more time to enjoy Kyoto and less time worrying about routes. ✦ Flexible Drop-Off Options Depart from Kyoto AVANTI near Kyoto Station, then finish at Kyoto Station or Nippombashi Station in Osaka, depending on your selected option. This flexibility makes the tour easy to combine with sightseeing or onward travel. ✦ Generous FREE TIME at Every Stop Enjoy free time to take photos, explore historic streets, visit cafés, browse shops or simply enjoy the atmosphere at your own pace. ✦ Travel with an English- or Chinese-Speaking Guide Your guide supports the group with meeting arrangements and useful information, making the tour easy to join—especially for first-time visitors to Japan or Kyoto.

Free cancellation
Premium Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, Tenryu-ji & Zen Garden Escape
Experience3 hrs

Premium Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, Tenryu-ji & Zen Garden Escape

Skip the 40-person bus tours and escape the Arashiyama crowds. Capped strictly at 10 guests, this premium 3-hour walking tour delivers an intimate, unscripted exploration of western Kyoto with an expert storyteller speaking clear, easy-to-understand English—a true rarity among guides in Japan. All entry fees are 100% included. We navigate the iconic Arashiyama Bamboo Forest and explore the breathtaking 14th-century Zen garden at Tenryu-ji Temple. While the massive crowds head back to the train station, we ascend to our secret weapon: Okochi Sanso Villa. Because it requires a premium entry fee, the masses completely skip it. Wander its pristine, peaceful mountain gardens, enjoy a panoramic overlook of Kyoto, and relax with a refreshing tea break from the villa's private pavilion. Spaces are strictly limited to 10 guests per slot—secure your premium afternoon today.

5.0(6 reviews)Free cancellation
Kyoto | Small-Group Pottery Experience by a Master ArtisanNew On Viator
Experience1 hr

Kyoto | Small-Group Pottery Experience by a Master Artisan

Learn authentic Kiyomizu pottery directly from nationally certified traditional artisans in a quiet small-group setting limited to just 5 guests. Unlike typical tourist workshops, you will experience professional clay preparation techniques from the very beginning and create your own handmade ceramic piece with careful one-on-one guidance. Your work will later be fired in the same kiln used for the studio’s professional pottery, making this not just a souvenir, but a genuine piece of Kyoto craftsmanship.

Free cancellation
Ikebana Private Program in KyotoPrivate Tour
Experience1 hr 30 min

Ikebana Private Program in Kyoto

The biggest attraction is that you can make IKEBANA works using rare antique vessels. You'll discover traditional Japanese culture and learn techniques that can easily be repeated at home. You can watch IKEBANA performance taking place in a Japandi-style alcove. You'll get a hands-on training from a licensed instructor. You can learn “moribana”and“nageire” techniques. We'll work together to create a total of 5 to 6 ikebana works. You can go up to the roof and see the Daimoji and view of Kyoto. You can also learn how to make petit bouquet too. You can deeply learn the sense of the seasons and the spirit of hospitality that we Japanese cherish.

5.0(1 reviews)
Evening Tour of Fushimi Inari Shrine Lanterns Scenic ViewsPrivate Tour
Experience2 hrs

Evening Tour of Fushimi Inari Shrine Lanterns Scenic Views

Experience Kyoto's Fushimi Inari Shrine like never before on a tranquil evening walk. As night falls, witness the iconic thousand torii gates illuminated by stone lanterns, creating an enchanting atmosphere. Your local guide will share fascinating insights into the shrine’s history and the legends surrounding Inari, the rice deity. Enjoy a leisurely stroll through the serene paths to the Yotsutsuji viewpoint, capturing stunning photos at cinematic spots along the way. This easy walk is perfect for those seeking a unique perspective of Kyoto's most famous shrine without the daytime crowds. - Discover the magic of Fushimi Inari Shrine after dark - Enjoy a guided walk through the illuminated torii gates - Capture unique photos at scenic spots without crowds - Easy evening stroll with gentle stairs to the lookout

5.0(1 reviews)Free cancellation
Nishiki Market Walking Food Tour with Local guideLikely To Sell Out
Experience3 hrs

Nishiki Market Walking Food Tour with Local guide

Starting from the Starbucks Kyoto Sanjo Karasuma Building, we will visit a series of iconic Kyoto landmarks, beginning with a peaceful visit to Rokkakudo Temple. From there, we will head to Yaoyaichi, a local market that showcases Kyoto’s seasonal produce and unique ingredients. Along the way, you’ll explore the bustling Daimaru Department Store's basement, where you can experience the offerings of Kyoto’s gourmet scene. Then, we will wander through Nishiki Market, famously known as “Kyoto’s Kitchen,” where diverse and flavorful goods await. At Yaoyaichi, Daimaru, and Nishiki Market, you’ll have the opportunity to sample 6-10 different items. Finally, we will conclude the tour at the serene Nishiki Tenmangu Shrine. Itinerary: 10:00 AM: Meeting at Starbucks Kyoto Sanjo Karasuma Building, Visit Rokkakudo Temple 10:30 AM: Stop at Yaoyaichi (local market) 11:30 AM: Daimaru Department Store's basement 12:30 AM: Nishiki Market 2:00 PM: Tour ends at Nishiki Tenmangu Shrine

4.7(32 reviews)Free cancellation
Itajime Shibori Scarf Class
Experience30 min

Itajime Shibori Scarf Class

At the Kyoto Shibori Museum, this traditional Japanese craft class shows you how to dye a 46cm x 180 cm silk georgette scarf using the Itajime shibori method. You'll end up with a beautiful silk scarf to serve as a souvenir of your trip to Kyoto. Classes are usually individual and take 30 minutes to 60 minutes per class.  Start by choosing your two favorite color and design, learning how to fold your fabric in a particular way. Sandwich the folded fabric between the same wooden shapes. Dye the fabric in two different colors to create your original color!You can also enjoy the dyeing process in this class. While your fabric is drying, rinsing and drying (about 30 minutes), you'll learn more about shibori. Browse art pieces, tools, and samples displayed in the museum. The museum shop also sells a variety of shibori items, souvenirs, fabrics, and more.

5.0(86 reviews)Free cancellation
A candlelit tea ceremony in a 100-year-old Kyoto townhouse.
Experience45 min

A candlelit tea ceremony in a 100-year-old Kyoto townhouse.

Candlelight, not electric light. We turn the lamps off because in the dark you notice more — the sound of the water, the smell of the tea, the weight of the bowl. A 100-year-old townhouse, kept for most of its life by a traditional textile merchant in Kyoto. You sit in the rooms they used. Three rooms, moving from the bright front of the house into a tearoom lit only by candles, with the garden through the window. Seven guests at most, on the floor or in a chair — whichever you prefer, no explanation needed. Bowls chosen for the day and the season, some over two hundred years old, some by potters working today. Every piece is selected by our founder, a designer and antiques dealer, and your host will tell you what you're holding. Matcha grown in Uji, blended to the preference of a tea school's grand master, prepared by a host trained in one of Japan's historic schools of tea. Forty-five minutes. It is unhurried, with no etiquette you can get wrong.

5.0(22 reviews)Free cancellation

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