Traditional Kyoto Cuisine Walking Tour

Begin your day by taking in the mile long Nishiki Market. Easily Kyoto's most fascinating food market the variety of produce on show here is simply staggering. Known as "Kyoto's Kitchen", the market has several centuries of history, and many stores have been operated by the same families for generations. Selling everything from Japanese pickles to the finest Japanese cutlery, almost everything you'll find here is locally produced and procured. With cries of irasshaimase (welcome!) coming from the shop owners, the scent of roasted tea and chestnuts and the smell of freshly grilled unagi (eel) and yakitori (chicken skewers) pervading the market, the walk should prove to be a truly pleasant attack on the senses!

Having strolled through the market and helped your guide pick up produce for your cookery lesson, you'll then head through the backstreets and lanes of Kyoto to the Horino Sake Museum to learn all about sake production and of course sample some of its wares. Drunk either hot or cold, sake is produced by fermenting rice with water and yeast and is one of Japan's most popular drinks.

Leaving the museum behind you make your way to a traditional machiya (teahouse) for your Japanese cooking class where you prepare and make your own lunch including rolled sushi, miso soup and a warm salad. Having enjoyed the fruits of your labour your guide will assist you in returning you to your hotel.