Top Kyoto Unique Experiences

Experience a warm cultural welcome to Japan with an authentic tea ceremony in traditional kimonos in Kyoto. Dress in a classic kimono, sip authentic matcha green tea, sample Japanese sweets and learn the customs and history behind this cherished ritual. It’s a perfect way to immerse yourself in Japanese culture.

Dressing in a kimono is the quintessential traditional Kyoto experience but they are very expensive to buy and difficult to put on. With this experience, an expert will dress you in a kimono and set your hair then you can stroll around the ancient city at leisure.

For outsiders, Japanese culture can be difficult to grasp but this guided tour offers the chance to get a locals' eye view of one of the most traditional of Japanese settings. Accompanied by a guide who tailors the tour to your interests, stroll through the historic streets of Kyoto's Gion district, famed for its scenic cobbled streets lit by paper lanterns, traditional architecture, and association with geiko and maiko culture. Visit Pontocho alley, one of Japan's oldest nightlife areas, and stroll by teahouses as your guide offers insights into local culture.

Tea ceremony, temple spotting and transport by train: do all three on this tour of historic Uji from Kyoto. After traveling to the city by train, walk to iconic Ujibashi Bridge with a guide, passing through Nakanoshima Park, and stop at a Taihoan teahouse to enjoy the important business of taking tea. Before your return to Kyoto, visit Byōdō-in, Uji’s striking Buddhist temple, which dates to the Heian period, and hear about its history from your guide.

Learn to make artistic sushi rolls during your own private ‘kazarimaki’ class in Kyoto. Kazarimaki is the art of making designs within a sushi roll, using edible pigments extracted from plants to create colorful patterns in the sushi. Your instructor also provides a kimono (for women) or other traditional garments (for men and children) to wear during the experience.