
Kyoto Food & Drink Tour with a Local: Private Custom Izakaya Experience
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September 2026
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Who is going?
Adults
Age 13 and over
Children
Age 12 and under
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Free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Same price on Viator, Outty earns a commission.
Traveler rating
5.0/5
Based on 2 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Kyoto Food & Drink Tour with a Local: Private Custom Izakaya Experience worth booking?
Kyoto Food & Drink Tour with a Local: Private Custom Izakaya Experience is a 2-hour experience in Kyoto, Japan, from $184 per person. It scores 64 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Solid Choice”, based on a 5/5 rating across 2 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 64 / 100
- Rating
- 5/5 (2)
- Duration
- 2 hours
- From
- $184 per person
You’ll spend the night bar hopping through the historic Gion district with one of our hosts. This neighborhood has been entertaining locals for centuries, so you can imagine they’ve perfected the craft. There’s no more a
What you get
About this experience
You’ll spend the night bar hopping through the historic Gion district with one of our hosts. This neighborhood has been entertaining locals for centuries, so you can imagine they’ve perfected the craft. There’s no more authentic way to experience Kyoto’s nightlife than by visiting a few traditional izakaya (bars)! With paper lanterns and quaint wooden houses to set the scene, you’ll feel as if you’ve stepped into another time (or maybe that’s the sake talking). Within 24 hours after booking you'll receive a short questionnaire about your personality and interests. Based on your responses, you'll be assigned a like-minded host. Your host will communicate with you directly to suggest an itinerary to help you discover what makes the city unique. You will also agree on a meeting time and place. Your itinerary is flexible, so during the experience, you can always change your mind about what you want to do.
What's included
Included
- Private and personalized experience
- 3 hours with a Local Host
- 1 drink & 2 dishes or 2 drinks & 1 dish at each bar
- Seating charges (table charge-like fees)
- Walking experience (if required, your host can suggest public transport or taxi options)
Not included
- Food and drinks other than the ones included in the list above
- Drinks that cost more than 1000 yen each
- Tickets to any attractions
- Transportation costs
What you'll see and do
Gion
Join your host and experience Kyoto’s unique bar-hopping nightlife in Gion IMPORTANT: As this is a private and personalised experience, the places you visit may differ from those listed and these will be chosen by your host based on your interests and preferences
Pass by without stopping
Try a couple of the city’s most unique drinking houses like Kyotomi, known as izakaya where you’ll sip drinks and nibble nibbles IMPORTANT: As this is a private and personalised experience, the places you visit may differ from those listed and these will be chosen by your host based on your interests and preferences
Pass by without stopping
Enjoy a few beers and taste the sake that Kyoto is famous for, in cool local spots like Gion Manzara IMPORTANT: As this is a private and personalised experience, the places you visit may differ from those listed and these will be chosen by your host based on your interests and preferences
Pass by without stopping
Order small plates of bar snacks and try the dishes that go hand-in-hand with drinking in izakaya - we’d recommend gyoza and yakitori at Shouan, but the world is your oyster! IMPORTANT: As this is a private and personalised experience, the places you visit may differ from those listed and these will be chosen by your host based on your interests and preferences
Pass by without stopping
Keihan Tourist Information Center Gion Shijo
Head to a tachinomiya, the unique street-side standing bars for a final drink with your host before the train home (how very local of you) - the best ones are hidden near Gion Station would you believe! IMPORTANT: As this is a private and personalised experience, the places you visit may differ from those listed and these will be chosen by your host based on your interests and preferences
Pass by without stopping
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Kyoto
(The host will be waiting in front of the shop, under the roof covered area) After booking, you can adjust the meeting point to fit your preferences with the help of our Experience Planners.
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
(The host will be waiting in front of the shop, under the roof covered area) After booking, you can adjust the meeting point to fit your preferences with the help of our Experience Planners.
Options you can book
3-hour Kyoto Food Tour
Duration: 3 hours
2-hour Kyoto Food Tour
Duration: 2 hours
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- ja, en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 8 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- City Unscripted
Know before you go
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Photos






Traveler reviews
2 verified traveler reviews for Kyoto Food & Drink Tour with a Local: Private Custom Izakaya Experience. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Amazing
Great experience! Mi was super helpful and we had some amazing food. She even surprised us with a mini birthday cake!
via Viator
Izakaya Experience
I'm very pleased that I had Akane as my host in Izakaya Experience. She is a very lovely lady and nice to talk with. Se went to two very local izakayas and one extremly nice cafe. She also showed me some nice shops and gave some useful advices. Thank you Akane, I really enjoyed myself. Riitta
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 2 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $184 to $253
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 1
- Verdict
- Solid Choice
Why this scores 64
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Kyoto Food & Drink Tour with a Local: Private Custom Izakaya Experience: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Kyoto.
How much does Kyoto Food & Drink Tour with a Local: Private Custom Izakaya Experience cost?
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Prices start at $184 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Kyoto usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Kyoto Food & Drink Tour with a Local: Private Custom Izakaya Experience take?
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Plan for about 2 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Kyoto is not rushed.
Is Kyoto Food & Drink Tour with a Local: Private Custom Izakaya Experience worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 64 out of 100, which we label "Solid Choice". That score blends traveler sentiment (5/5 across 2 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Kyoto, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Kyoto Food & Drink Tour with a Local: Private Custom Izakaya Experience?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Kyoto Food & Drink Tour with a Local: Private Custom Izakaya Experience suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 2-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Kyoto Food & Drink Tour with a Local: Private Custom Izakaya Experience?
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Around 1 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Kyoto can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Kyoto and add a light layer if any part of the 2-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Kyoto Food & Drink Tour with a Local: Private Custom Izakaya Experience start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Kyoto within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Kyoto?
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On Outty we rank every Kyoto experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Kyoto : Gion Make Your Own Chopsticks with Engraving Option, Award-Winning Authentic Ramen Making Experience in Kyoto, Hidden Kyoto E-Biking tour. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Kyoto?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Kyoto?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
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