Top Kansai Prefecture Food & Drink

If you’re visiting Japan for the first time, receive a cultural introduction to the country during a tea ceremony in traditional kimonos. During the ceremony, learn about Japanese history and sample matcha green tea, a local specialty. Plus, wearing a traditional kimono means you leave the experience with fantastic photographs to commemorate your time in Kyoto.

Andy, your half Japanese/half Australian tour guide, has extensive knowledge of the food, history and culture of the Osaka region after living here for 12 years. He will offer you a very unique pespective where you will discover 5 authentic, delicious eateries on this tour… food from a hidden restaurants, backstreet stall & markets whilst walking through arcades and plazas rarely visited or known by foreigners. We will dive into some very traditional Osakan eateries. Also Andy strives to show you the real and deep Osaka giving you an understanding of the inner workings of this amazing area visiting some vintage, real, architecture so rich in history while interacting with the locals.

Get a deeper experience of Kyoto food culture than would be possible on your own by joining this guided tour. Stroll through the districts of Gion and Pontocho, stopping in to small bars and restaurants to sample traditional drinks and food, as you explore.

Bike tours and food crawls are two much-loved traveler favorites—here’s your chance to combine both. Hop your own set of wheels and follow a private guide on the trail of Osaka’s most delectable food specialties. Stop to take in classic attractions, including Japan’s oldest temple, as you cruise between multiple stops, from a locally-run sushi shop to a bustling market for a bite of grilled wagyu beef.

Plenty of people enjoy Japanese cuisine, but few understand the ingredients that are involved in making classic dishes. During this insider’s tour of Nishiki Market, you’ll meet local shopkeepers and pick up fresh produce in the 400-year-old food stalls. Then, put your ingredients to use with a hands-on cooking lesson, and prepare a market-to-plate dish of donburi, a bowl of Japanese rice, and meat specialty.

Take a deep-dive into Japanese culture and experience Osaka like a local on this evening walking tour. Join your Japanese-Australian guide, Andy, to explore the city’s historic districts, including the former ghetto and the Red Light district. Learn about Osaka’s history, heritage, and local traditions; venture down the backstreets to visit quirky sites often missed by travelers; and sample traditional street foods. Upgrade to include a delicious dinner of typical ‘kushikatsu’ cuisine.

-Stroll around Kyoto's classic district, Gion, before enjoying breakfast Start out the tour by enjoying morning air while walking through Gion. A local tour guide will take you around the serene and quaint morning town of Kyoto. -Experience Kyoto's "one-of-a-kind" breakfast at Nishiki Market known as the "Kitchen of Kyoto." Nishiki market has over 400 years worth of history which has been loved and recognized by locals as the "Kitchen of Kyoto" for a long time. According to the name, "Kitchen of Kyoto," it implies that Nishiki Market is rich with famous gourmet cuisine of Kyoto. -A passionate guide will teach you fun facts about Kyoto A local and knowledgeable guide will provide you with valuable information that you cannot gain from an ordinary sightseeing tour. Magical Trip is a local tour operator with the TripAdvisor certificate of excellence that offers various types of small-group tours throughout Japan! Check out our Trip Advisor Page for more tours and our reviews!

Explore Osaka through the eyes of a local, on a customized tour with your personal host. Choose from some of Osaka’s most famous attractions, or explore the up-and-coming neighborhoods where Osakans hang out. Immerse yourself in the culture and cuisine of this vibrant city as you understand why Osaka has earned the nickname, “The Nation’s Kitchen.”

It can be overwhelming to figure out what to eat on your first time in Osaka. Let an English-speaking guide take you and your friends on this small group street food tour. Discover new foods and flavors, and let your guide personalize the tour to your tastes. Taste foods like oden, okonomiyaki, and takoyaki, and down a few beers if you'd like, at food stalls recommended by your guide.

Discover the culture behind ‘Izakaya’ Japanese dining which is similar to pub food in the other countries during a 3 to 3.5-hour cooking class with dinner in Kyoto. Learn five or six of the popular home dishes during a session with a master chef before preparing and eating your own izakaya-style creations. It’s the perfect chance to explore the country’s cuisine beyond the typical sushi and teriyaki offerings. Your izakaya cooking session also includes all ingredients, an instructor and an apron.

This an ideal choice for travelers with limited time in Osaka. Save hours researching where to visit in Osaka, and instead have an action-packed itinerary created for you. Traveling between sites in a private vehicle means avoiding the crowds on public transport, and fitting more into your day. You also don't worry about getting lost. Highlights include Dotonbori, Osaka Castle, Shinsekai, Shitenoji, and Harukas. Your tour is enhanced with entertaining stories along the way, and useful tips from your guide.

Gain a better understanding of sake during this tour that explores the Fushimi Sake District of Kyoto. Visit Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum, one of the largest sake breweries in Fushimi, and end your visit with a sake-tasting session. Not only will your guide be able to explain the basics of sake and introduce you to new kinds you may have never tried, but your tastings will also be paired with Japanese snacks that enhance the tasting experience. 

Private VIP Tour in KYOTO & NARA allows you to “Customize Your Itinerary” to fit your specific travel expectations. You have your own private Minivan Toyota HIACE 2019 and English speaking driver for approximately 8 hours. Our team assists you to manage the tour, give recommendations, make reservations and check information. <<< You customize your own Day Trip in KYOTO & NARA >>> STEP1: We propose list of famous destinations while you share with us your travel desires and special requests. STEP2: With careful communication and planning, we share and exchange our draft detailed itinerary. STEP3: We revise/finalize the itinerary. ***You can always change the itinerary even on the day while traveling on the van. Please feel free to reach our team and driver for recommendation at any time. ***Extra 1 ~ 2 hours will be given for free only in case of heavy traffic jam and unexpected delay(s). ***Extra charges will be applied for over time service.

Private VIP Tour in KYOTO allows you to “Customize Your Itinerary” to fit your specific travel expectations. You have your own private Land Rover Discovery 2018 and English speaking driver for approximately 8 hours. Our team assists you to manage the tour, give recommendations, make reservations and check information. STEP1: We propose list of famous destinations while you share with us your travel desires and special requests. STEP2: With careful communication and planning, we share and exchange our draft detailed itinerary. STEP3: We revise/finalize the itinerary. ***You can always change the itinerary even on the day while traveling on the car. Please feel free to reach our team and driver for recommendation at any time. ***Extra 1 ~ 2 hours will be given for free only in case of heavy traffic jam and unexpected delay(s). ***Extra charges will be applied for over time service.

Exploring the historic city of Kyoto with a local guide gives you an experience you won’t get by following a guidebook itinerary. Discover local neighborhoods, see iconic attractions, and get recommendations from a guide who creates a personalized route based on your interests and needs.

Enjoy an efficient, half-day walking tour of Osaka accompanied by a nationally-licensed, experienced multilingual guide! Your guide will help you explore Japan's second-largest city while introducing both modern and traditional sides of this colorful, dynamic metropolis. Start your day with a morning pickup at your hotel, then it's off to the races!　Let us know what you would like to experience and we will customize a four-hour tour that's best for you! Note*1: Please select your must-see spots from a list in the tour information to create your customized itinerary. Note*2: The Nationally-licensed Tour Guide-Interpreter certification is issued by the Japanese government requires a good knowledge and understanding of Japanese culture and history.

Spend some time getting acquainted with the food and culture of two historically important and beautiful districts of Kyoto on this guided walking tour. Stroll over the ninth-century Togetsukyo bridge and make stops to sample local snacks. After a visit to the 14th-century Tenryu-ji temple, head to a beautiful bamboo garden and indulge in some traditional Japanese sweets. This tour of Arashiyama and Sagano is a great way to get to know Kyoto.

If you want to party like they do in Osaka, this bar-hopping tour is perfect for you. Your local guide takes you to hidden bars that tourists often miss. If you don’t speak Japanese, don’t let language barriers get in your way. Your guide helps to explain the menus, and order for you. This is a fun tour for friends or couples, and makes a great start to a night out in Osaka.

Discover the culinary traditions of Japan in Osaka, one of Japan’s best food cities, during this small-group cooking lesson. Learn the preparation methods for popular Japanese dishes including green tea, takoyaki (fried balls of wheat flour and octopus), okonomiyaki (savoury pancakes), and miso soup. Expand your Japanese cuisine knowledge, and best of all, you get to eat your creations when you’re finished. This small-group course, limited to just eight participants, also includes a guide, a cooking instructor, and an optional sake and beer tasting.

Get an excellent introduction to the cuisine of Kyoto on this small-group guided tour of the city's best food spots. Start at the deliciously vast 400-year-old Nishiki Market, nicknamed 'Kyoto's Kitchen,' where over 130 food shops and stalls beckon your taste buds. Stroll through the market with the guide, learning about the history of food in the city and taste many dishes unique to Kyoto, including pickled vegetables, fried fish cakes, Japanese pike conger eel, mochi and Japanese omelet. After the market, visit a shrine dedicated to the god of education.

-Visit Kyoto's major sake brewery district and the Kyoto Sake Museum- you'll learn the rich history of Gekkeikan and the brewery process of sake by observing sake exhibits. Three kinds of sake tasting are offered. After deepening your knowledge of sake, feel free to stroll around the area and visit the cultural and historical spots, such as liquor stores and Teradaya. - Enjoy Kyoto's local sake samplings!- Deepen your knowledge of sake and appreciate the different aromas and flavors between the 18 of them brewed in Fushimi, Kyoto. -Be a little tipsy- Stop by one of Kyoto's shrines, and get refreshed by drinking exquisite Japanese groundwater at the end of the tour Magical Trip is a local tour operator with the TripAdvisor certificate of excellence that offers various types of small-group tours throughout Japan! Check out our Trip Advisor Page for more tours and our reviews!

Learn to roll sushi like a pro during this sushi-making class in Osaka that includes dinner. Get a hands-on introduction to the art of sushi from a professional instructor, then sit down to enjoy your creations, along with other Japanese snacks. This personalized sushi course, limited to just eight participants, offers upgrade options to sample Japanese sake and beer.

Sake—traditional rice wine—is Japan’s most famous drink and Kyoto’s Fushimi District is renowned for its sake production, home to over 30 breweries. On this tour, find out how sake is made, discover the many varieties, and learn which sake suits each occasion. Sample seven different sakes, accompanied by tasty Japanese snacks, and leave with a cheat sheet to help you order your favorite sakes while in Japan.

- 7+ mouth-watering Kyoto-style Japanese food tastings, enough for a full dinner meal, served from locally-owned restaurants (Menu may vary every time based on the fresh ingredients at the market). - Two drinks as we taste local style dinner. You may also choose your drinks (Beer, sake & other drinks). Non-alcoholic beverages are also available. - Explore Kyoto, visiting popular spots as well as hidden gems. Enjoy the unique scenes of Nishiki Market, Pontocho, and Kiyamachi.