Kyoto: Private Whisky (Yamazaki, Hibiki & More) with a Local
Enjoy a private whisky tasting experience in Kyoto with a local guide. Savor the rich flavors of Japanese whisky in a local bar and chat with your guide about Kyoto’s ...
Why locals love it: A husband-and-wife Showa-era roastery in north Kyoto that lends out picnic blankets and baskets for the Kamogawa banks.
Tip: Picnic-basket programme runs at lunch. Best on a sunny Saturday morning.
Hidden gems: tours, tastings and classes in Kyoto
Kyoto Hidden Bar Crawl: Pontocho & Gion with Food & Drinks
Join a local guide on a bar crawl through Pontocho and Gion. Visit hidden izakayas and bars, enjoy Kyoto-craft sake, Japanese whisky, and seasonal cocktails in lantern...
Kyoto Nishiki Market: 8-10 Tastings, 90 Min, Kyoto Local
Most travelers walk Kyoto's 400-year-old market guessing at signboards. Join a local guide for 8–10 hand-picked tastings in Nishiki Market, including yuba, wagyu, hamo...
Location
Address: Kita-ku, Kyoto 603-8132, Japan
Also in kamigyo-nishijin
Toseian Yudofu Nishijin ★ 4.3
A yudofu room set in a former silk-warehouse machiya in Nishijin, Kyoto. The Matsu Gozen set is half the price of Nanzen-ji's better-known yudofu houses.
Why locals love it: A yudofu room set in a former silk warehouse in Nishijin, two minutes from a regular bus stop and overlooked by Kyoto's temple-tour crowd.
Tip: Closed Mondays and Thursdays. Walk in from the back garden path.
More hidden gems in Kyoto
Akatsuki Coffee No Laptops ★ 4.4
A husband-and-wife pour-over cafe in north Kyoto's Ichijoji neighbourhood. Weekenders Coffee beans, homemade cakes and a no-laptops policy at the counter.
Why locals love it: A no-laptop cafe in the Ichijoji ramen district run by a couple, with Weekenders beans and homemade cake.
Tip: No laptops policy; come for the cake and stay for the slow drip.
Toseian Yudofu Nishijin ★ 4.3
A yudofu room set in a former silk-warehouse machiya in Nishijin, Kyoto. The Matsu Gozen set is half the price of Nanzen-ji's better-known yudofu houses.
Why locals love it: A yudofu room set in a former silk warehouse in Nishijin, two minutes from a regular bus stop and overlooked by Kyoto's temple-tour crowd.
Tip: Closed Mondays and Thursdays. Walk in from the back garden path.
Monk Pizza Counter ★ 4.7
Yoshihiro Imai's wood-fired pizza counter on the Philosopher's Path in Kyoto. 12 seats, daily 12-course Italian-Japanese tasting; the chef-pick of town.
Why locals love it: Yoshihiro Imai's 12-seat wood-fired counter on the Philosopher's Path that books out 60 days in advance.
Tip: Reservations open online 60 days ahead, on the 1st of each month at 09:00 JST.
Ponshya Santoku Standing Oden ★ 4.1
A standing oden counter in a Shimogyo machiya in Kyoto, with chicken-paitan broth. Japanese-only blackboard menu, 30-sake list and a late-bar opening run.
Why locals love it: A standing-counter oden room with chicken-paitan broth, hidden in a Shimogyo machiya. Blackboard menu in Japanese only.
Tip: Open until 01:00 weekdays, sake list runs to 30 producers, standing-only.
Aoonigiri ★ 4.4
A handmade onigiri counter near the Philosopher's Path in north Kyoto. 12 daily fillings, Niigata Koshihikari grains and a side of dashi-poached miso soup.
Why locals love it: A handmade rice-ball counter near the Philosopher's Path in Kyoto with 12 daily fillings and a cult Niigata-grain rice base.
Tip: Closed Mondays. Counter eats six, queue forms by 11:30 most days.
Izusen Zen Temple Lunch ★ 4.3
A shojin-ryori room inside Daiji-in sub-temple at Daitoku-ji (founded 1585) in Kyoto. Seven nested vermillion bowls in a garden-view tatami room.
Why locals love it: A shojin-ryori room inside Daiji-in sub-temple at Daitoku-ji (founded 1585), served in nested vermillion bowls, easy walk-in for under 6,000 yen.
Tip: Lunch only, 11:00-16:00. Walk in for a tetsubachi seven-bowl set.