Total from£223
Land price only. Flight prices will be quoted at the time of booking to ensure you get the best price. Please use the calendar to view pricing for other dates.
Based on: 28 July 2026
Whisky and Cocktails in The Flower District - Small Group Tour
At the heart of Kyoto are the “Flower Districts” around Gion and Pontocho, these are the city’s most famous entertainment districts and the centre of traditional culture and nightlife. We will start our tour by strolling around a more hidden “flower-district”, the historic name for areas with tea houses featuring music and dance performed by Kyoto’s famous geisha. If we are lucky we will spot the Maiko and Geiko on their way to work for the evening.
As dusk falls we will explore the alleys and back streets and make our way to a hidden-gem cocktail bar that has been awarded for its amazing bartenders and gold star original drink creations. At our first stop, we will try local snacks paired with a delicious cocktail of your choice. This hidden gem bar has a few special features–you can even order a drink based on your “mood.” Just talk to the bar staff and they will make something special for you!
As evening deepens we will wend our way around the small side streets and see some of the best views of Japan’s ancient capital. Our next stop will be a restaurant in a family home that dates from over 100 years ago. The host of this delicious riverside gem will be sure to entertain us with stories and specialty food. Try a local Kyoto sake (rice wine) and learn about why Kyoto is one of Japan’s best regions for brewing this famous beverage. At this spot, we will try the proprietor’s famous “appetiser surprise box” and two small plate dishes featuring mochi (the specialty of this establishment) used in surprising ways. You will surely enjoy the signature Kamo (duck) tasting dish, the chef’s playful Kyoto take on “Peking Duck”
Our final stop is whisky tasting at a posh bar in the Pontocho district. Have a chance to try your choice of Japanese whiskies and see why they have become famous the world over. (Non-whisky drinkers can enjoy other beverages.) We will pair our final drink with your choice of sweets or bar snacks and finish up the tour with an atmospheric stroll through this lively nightlife district.
At the heart of Kyoto are the “Flower Districts” around Gion and Pontocho, these are the city’s most famous entertainment districts and the centre of traditional culture and nightlife. We will start our tour by strolling around a more hidden “flower-district”, the historic name for areas with tea houses featuring music and dance performed by Kyoto’s famous geisha. If we are lucky we will spot the Maiko and Geiko on their way to work for the evening.
As dusk falls we will explore the alleys and back streets and make our way to a hidden-gem cocktail bar that has been awarded for its amazing bartenders and gold star original drink creations. At our first stop, we will try local snacks paired with a delicious cocktail of your choice. This hidden gem bar has a few special features–you can even order a drink based on your “mood.” Just talk to the bar staff and they will make something special for you!
As evening deepens we will wend our way around the small side streets and see some of the best views of Japan’s ancient capital. Our next stop will be a restaurant in a family home that dates from over 100 years ago. The host of this delicious riverside gem will be sure to entertain us with stories and specialty food. Try a local Kyoto sake (rice wine) and learn about why Kyoto is one of Japan’s best regions for brewing this famous beverage. At this spot, we will try the proprietor’s famous “appetiser surprise box” and two small plate dishes featuring mochi (the specialty of this establishment) used in surprising ways. You will surely enjoy the signature Kamo (duck) tasting dish, the chef’s playful Kyoto take on “Peking Duck”
Our final stop is whisky tasting at a posh bar in the Pontocho district. Have a chance to try your choice of Japanese whiskies and see why they have become famous the world over. (Non-whisky drinkers can enjoy other beverages.) We will pair our final drink with your choice of sweets or bar snacks and finish up the tour with an atmospheric stroll through this lively nightlife district.
Holiday Highlights
Visit an award-winning bar and try a creative cocktail and local seasonal small plate/ tasting dishesClassic Whisky bar tasting with chocolate pairing (or bar snacks if preferred)
Try local seasonal dishes and a sake tasting (other beverages also available)
Browse the local streets, bridges, and rivers along the way.
