Made In Kyoto Shopping Tour: Tastes of Tea and Sake
Kyoto, Japan
From USD 106.97
Office phone number: +81 (0)50 5532 5110
Made In Kyoto Shopping Tour: Tastes of Tea and Sake
Kyoto, Japan





Culture shock rating
Worried we’re going to shock your senses? Relax! We believe part of the fun of travel is immersing yourself in the destination and its culture, meeting the people, and learning what makes the place tick. We’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The cultural shock rating ranks how different the experience is from most Western cultures. But no matter the level, don’t worry, you’ll have a local, in-the-know guide with you every step of the way.
Low
Consider these tours your 101 intro to a place. Transportation might be private or a very comfortable public option, and the activities are usually visits to iconic sites and locations that are familiar to most Western cultures – but that will still give you fantastic insight into a destination.
Medium
Expect to rough it for parts of this tour, whether that’s on a packed public bus or in a local market off the tourist trail. There might be a few language barriers or unfamiliar cultural customs, and you’ll get an experience different from what you're used to at home.
High
You're out there in the global community! We’re going to take you down streets you’d rarely explore on your own, introduce you to local customs and languages, and take you for a ride in whatever transport is available. Get ready to take it as it comes, whatever comes. There might be a shock, but oh man, it’s worth it.

Physical rating
Worried our tours are too tough? Relax! From leisurely strolls to muscle-burning treks, we’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The physical grading gives you an idea of how much huffing and puffing you can expect on the tour.
Low
Slow and steady is all you need here. These tours have very limited physical activity, such as walking relatively flat streets, sites, or markets, and climbing in and out of the transport provided.
Medium
Not too hard, not too soft, these tours are just right! You can expect a bit of physical activity, but nothing overly challenging – perhaps walking up and down hills, riding a bike for up to 30 kilometers along mostly flat terrain, or jumping in a kayak for a gentle paddle on flat water.
High
Get ready for a workout! These tours are our most challenging and involve intense walking, hiking, kayaking, swimming, or bike riding. You could be making steep climbs by foot or pedal, or working your core in the water. We recommend you have a good level of fitness to join this tour.
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Tour snapshot
Take home a piece of charismatic Kyoto on a truly unique shopping tour with a local. Treat your taste buds to tastings of some of the city’s most beloved delicacies such as green tea, wagashi sweets and sake. You'll learn about how they are made and the historical and cultural significance of each one, from the artisans who lovingly produce them. Visit hidden places, chat with locals and look out for Geisha in the magical, lantern-adorned district of Miyagawa-cho. This is a behind-the-scenes shopping experience you will never forget!
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Highlights
- Discover the different blends of Japanese green tea and indulge yourself with a tasting in a 300-year old tea room
- Shop for beautifully handcrafted wagashi sweets at a traditional confectionary shop
- Visit a sake brewery and taste our favourite varieties
- Take the train to the most romantic and iconic area of the city, Miyagawa-cho
- Meet one of the oldest woodblock printers in the city and pick up a beautifully unusual and authentic souvenir to take home
Local Impact: How you taking this tour will benefit the local community:
- All the stores we visit are 100% locally owned and run, so any inclusions on the tour and additional purchases you make will directly benefit the local community.
- At least one store on our itinerary is dedicated to the preservation of locally-produced crafts
- Supporting locally-run businesses, such as the woodblock printer, helps to preserve traditional crafts for the next generation.
- You will pick up some responsible travel tips that will help you to be a greener traveller while you’re in the city
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Schedule details
- Duration: 3.5 hours
- Meeting point:
Kintetsu Momoyama Goryo-mae Station South Exit.
View on Google Maps.
- Find the exact meeting point with what3words:
- Starting time: 2.30 PM
- Ending point:
Gion Corner.
Language: English
Inclusions: Local-English speaking guide, green tea tasting, sweets to try, sake tasting, train fare and any entrance fees to the workshops.
Exclusions: Additional food and drinks, souvenirs and personal shopping, tips/gratuities for your guide.
As the cultural heart of Japan and former capital, Kyoto is well known all over the world for its abundance of breathtaking temples, shrines and gardens. It also happens to be the centre of the traditional Japanese arts and crafts movement, so it’s a great place to begin our shopping tour!
We invite you to join us on a stroll through Fushimi Momoyama, an attractive shopping area that is often overlooked by tourists but it is, in our opinion, one of the most charming parts of Kyoto, with a rich history, famous for producing green tea and sake.
Our first stop takes us to a well established tea shop that has been serving Kyoto’s tea lovers for over 300 years. Inhale the gentle aroma of freshly roasted green tea as the proud and friendly staff chat to you about the history of green tea in Japan, discuss the many different types that are available and give you tips on how to brew the best green cuppa, if you decide to buy any to take home!
We will continue our stroll past some fascinating local shops and artisan workshops that represent the best of Japanese culture.
After leaving the shopping arcade, we’ll head to a traditional candy and sweets shop where beautifully crafted Japanese-style sweets have been lovingly handmade for centuries. The agreeable owners are descendants of the original founders and they love to chat to customers about the history of the shop and the delicious sweets they have invented. Of course we will not leave the shop before sampling some Kyogashi, as they are known all over Japan. A box of these makes for a great gift for friends and family back home.
Sake is next on our list and as we make our way over to our brewery of choice, we’ll wander through the sake district and pass through some of the traditional brewery buildings that are scattered throughout the area. In the old days, Fushimi was the start of a trade route between Kyoto and Osaka and was known as the gateway to Kyoto. Fushimi literally means hidden water and the area was named this way due to its many hidden, underground water wells that boast pure water that’s low in minerals, which is ideal for the production of world-class sake.
Unfortunately, many local breweries have been lost to fire and disaster over the years but some have withstood the test of time and stay true to their centuries-old traditions up to this day. We will visit one of those historical breweries and after learning about the brewing process you will be rewarded with a sampling of a few of their most highly valued bottles. There will be an opportunity to buy your favourite, if you wish — no hard selling on this tour!
As the sun sets over the old capital of Japan, we will move by train to another bygone part of the city, Miyagawa-cho. This is the most authentic and least touristy of the five Geisha districts of Kyoto. Hidden in the shadow of the oldest Zen temple in the city, we will visit a unique little workshop while we’re here to witness first hand one of the fading arts of old Japan, kept alive only by a handful of skilled artists and craftsmen.
Ukiyo-e is the traditional art of woodblock printing, where the co-operation of three master craftsmen is crucial to success. The owner and proprietor will introduce us to the last step of the process, the actual printing. If you would like a genuine souvenir, it does not get any better than hand printed ukiyo-e on authentic Japanese washi paper!
We conclude our little journey at dusk at Gion Kobu Kaburenjo, a.k.a. Gion Corner. Well known to tourists and locals alike, Gion Corner is home to the local geisha theatre where you can enjoy an authentic performance by geisha and maiko (apprentice geisha). We heartily recommend you stay for the show and then take a stroll through the romantic alleyways of Gion, all decorated with glowing red lanterns. Soak up the atmosphere and enjoy the Japan of your dreams!
Before we go our separate ways, don’t forget to ask your guide for tips on what else to see and do during your stay in Kyoto.
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Additional information
Inclusions: Local-English speaking guide, green tea tasting, sweets to try, sake tasting, train fare and any entrance fees to the workshops.
Exclusions: Additional food and drinks, souvenirs and personal shopping, tips/gratuities for your guide.
Dress standard: Please wear comfortable, casual dress and comfortable walking shoes.
Your Trip: For your Urban Adventure you will be in a small group of a maximum of 12 people.
Confirmation of booking: If you have your voucher, your booking is confirmed. We'll see you at the start point. Get in touch if you have any concerns or require more information via the email address or phone number (business hours only) on your voucher.
Additional Information: The Sake tasting is part of the tour, however it is not suitable for visitors who will be driving a vehicle and minors (a minor in Japan is anyone under the age of 20).
Closure of sites: Occasionally, the small local shops that we like to visit can close at irregular times. If this happens, we'll visit a similar store instead.
Child Policy: Children are allowed on this tour but they are required to pay the same price as adults. Instead of the sake tasting we will provide some additional sweets for children to enjoy alongside you in the sake brewery.
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Dietary Notes
We can accommodate some dietary restrictions. Please notify us in advance if you have any dietary requests. You can do so in the ‘Additional information’ box at checkout, or by emailing us at info@kyotourbanadventures.com.
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Local contact
Office phone number: +81 (0)50 5532 5110
Email address: info@kyotourbanadventures.com
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