My family joined this tour during the peak of autumn session, and the scenery is amazing! Mika our guide took us on a wonderful food tour, trekking through bamboo groves, Jojakko-ji and Tenryuji. We enjoyed her insights on the Japanese culture, and her hospitality to go the extra mile for my kids to try different food options!

I took a tour called ‘enchanted time with Maiko san’. It was really enchanted. Everything is beautiful here, the guide speaks very good English and she told us amazing stories. I felt like I explored kyoto in the angle I have never seen before. All in all, I was a nice and exclusive experience, worth to try. And Maikosan she is really enchanted. If you want to see real kyoto, I would highly recommend.

I have used this tour company a few time and always had a great time! Visiting Kyoto and having been fascinated by Maiko & Geiko I have joined their "Gion Maiko Tour" and it was by far my favorite so far. Of course, the highlight was the Maiko performance at the end which was beautifully paired with a relaxed tea ceremony. But what made this so special was the short walking tour around Gion, which slowly introduced us to the culture and life of the Maiko & Geiko in a relaxed and fun way. From how they became a Geiko, over their living arrangements and school schedule there was so much I never heard about, so when we finally met her the hospitality and performance were so much more meaningful. I really highly recommend joining this tour!

Our guide, Miki, was so wonderful! It was like having a good friend share their insights about the city they love. And we were so full after all the treats that we were hardly hungry for dinner!

My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed our tour with our local guide, Naomi. She was wonderful and took very good care of us. We had picked this tour in particular because there are tons of temples and shrines in Kyoto and we wanted a good historical and cultural guide so that we didn't just walk around blindly. Naomi was extremely knowledgeable and took us to all the best spots for photos and gave us a good understanding of the area and its historical/cultural significance. We were in Kyoto during peak leaf-peeping week and it was pretty crowded at some of the stops, but Naomi is an expert navigator. Naomi was very kind and even shared some lovely photos of her family with us, and we got to see pictures of her beautiful heirloom kimonos. We followed up on some of her recommendations for after the tour--where to eat and a walk through Hogon-in Temple, and they were wonderful places! I had totally forgotten that this was a food tour, and that aspect didn't disappoint, either. We had some delicious snacks (and big portions)! I highly recommend this tour and if you get Naomi, consider yourself very lucky!!

Kenji is a very kind man, with good knowledge of the Kyoto area. We had an enjoyable time exploring Kyoto Geisha district and food markets. The tour is very laid back.

Whether you ae visting Kyoto for the first time or are a more experinced campaineer this your is for you. The tour is a delightful combination of the traditional sites of Kyoto like Kiomizu temple combined with hidden secrets of the narrow passages that connect and fill in the gaps of Gion; lesser know temples and even a stop for green tea and white chocolate shake (all the rage atm!!) I first lived in Kyoto 30 years ago and found the tour full of interesting hitherto unknown facts (like how long the wooden pillars of Kiamizu temple are expected to last) all dlivered by the wonderfully engaging guide, Eri, who also struck a great balance between being informative and allowing space to do you own discovery. Highly recommnded tour.

Our fantastic guide, Eriko, had extensive knowledge of the Gion district and offered an inside glimpse into the lives of Geiko and Maiko-san. She answered all of our questions in an enthusiastic and friendly manner, and we all had a lot of questions! She took us into a fantasy world that is hard for outsiders to gain access to

My husband and I did the Nishiki Market tour and it was amazing. If I could of, I would have walked around with our tour guide Ellie all day. She was super informative, easy to chat with, and just fun to be around. She answered our many questions on Japanese culture, religion, history, and of course food! I learned about and tried so many different types of food that I otherwise would not have tried. The textures and flavors were interesting and I was genuinely full at the end of it. Nishiki Market can get quite busy but because the tour size is kept small, it was enjoyable and we could still hear our guide and not be jostled around by other tourists and people getting through the market. There were a few spots to sit and rest while we ate our food so you weren't exhausted by the end of it like some other walking tours. It was a really relaxed and enjoyable experience that I would recommend to anyone. I really enjoyed the cultural stops too like the Nishiki Shrine where I got to learn a bit more about the religion and the symbology within the shrines. I loved the coffee at the end too. Perfect way to be re-energized after trying so much food!! Thank you Ellie!

We went with Fuji-san on a tour to about geishas and maikos. After walking around the area learning about the gion district and people and the culture we visited a maiko and had time tour hear about her life and the descition to become a geisha. After this tour we have a lot of repect for these Girls :) Fuji was a very good guide and knew a lot about the culture in Japan and the people in general. She was good at english and we enjoy both her knowledge and self in general.

It was an amazing experience, I totally recommend the tour around Gion during the evening. At first we had a tour around Gion where the guide told us some details about Geiko and Maiko’s lifestyle, in very quite streets and during the evening, so we could enjoy a different aspect of the city. Also, the guide kept us captivated with the interesting stories, in a good rhythm tour (not to fast, not to slow). I felt that the atmosphere created was perfect to then enjoy the Maiko and Geiko performance. We went to a gorgeous house full renovated with natural materials, to appreciate a Tea ceremony, a Maiko dance and a Geiko playing the shamisen and singing. At the end, we could make some questions to the Maiko, take pictures and play a game called Konpira fune fune. It was really fun and unique experience. Thank you so much for all the knowledge you provided to us, in a fun and beautiful way.

Wonderful experience. Communication before the tour was great, too. I knew what to expect and emergency contacts were provided. I took the walking Gion tour, which is truly one of the prettiest parts of the city in my opinion. I highly recommend it for anyone interested in Geisha/Geiko/Maiko culture. I took the tour in the evening and enjoyed every bit of the night time lights. If you prefer daytime, please be careful during summer since Kyoto can get hot and extremely humid (but beautiful nonetheless). Although it is a walking tour, we did not walk too much so even if you don't have a great condition, the tour is suitable for anyone from children to more senior citizens. There are no steep slopes or rough terrain, but you will find a small set of stairs before the performance so you might want to ask first if you need special accessibility options. The tour lasted for 2 and half hours which I think is perfect, especially for people with a tight schedule. Even so, time flew by!

I had the pleasure of joining the "Enchanted Time with Maiko and Gion Cultural Walking Tour" organized by Japan Wonder Travel, and it exceeded all my expectations. Despite living in Kyoto for four years, I had never explored the enchanting Gion district until this tour. Our guide, Ellie, was an absolute gem. She effortlessly immersed us in the rich history and culture of Gion, shedding light on the captivating traditions of the maiko and geisha. The highlight of the tour was witnessing mesmerizing performances by geisha and maiko-san, all while enjoying traditional tea and sweets. It was an extraordinary experience that went beyond the typical tour. Ellie's knowledge and passion for Gion's heritage made the journey unforgettable. I can't recommend this tour enough; it's a must for anyone visiting Kyoto. Five stars without a doubt!

I joined the Gion tour in Kyoto after living here for a while. It was amazing time. They took me to many hidden spots that I had never noticed. The guide was so nice and patient to explain the detail at each spot. It was worth to go if you want to learn more about Kyoto culture and Geiko life!

The walking tour through Gion is interesting even for people who already know the area and Japanese culture a bit. I was surprised how much I learned about Geisha culture! It was very interesting and informative and of course there was some time for pictures too! But the highlight of the tour was definitely meeting a real Maiko fully dressed up und and getting to see her perform, while a Geiko played a traditional instrument and sang. Truly an incredible and very unique experience! The small tea ceremony beforehand was also nice. While you don’t get to make the matcha yourself it is very special to have matcha prepared for you by a real Geiko :D at the end we were even allowed to take a picture with the Maiko, which was a super sweet girl in her second year of training :) All in all a very good tour!

One of the most rich and fulfilling experiences I ever had! Meeting the Maiko and Geiko San was obviously the best part of the Tour, but our guide did an excellent job at teaching us about the whole geisha culture before we got to the venue and while she showed us around Gion. Thanks to that we were able to watch and savour that precious moment full of knowledge and understanding. The Q&A time was also lovely and again our guide translated everything for us so there was no language barrier. If you want to experience the real traditional japanese culture, this is probably the best thing you can do. It was magical in every aspect, I hope I can repeat it.

Solo Traveler? No problem. The tour made it very accommodating for solo travelers like me or for group of friends. The overall experience was amazing and I would highly recommend doing this tour while in Kyoto! The tea ceremony and Maiko performance was very touching and one a kind experience indeed!

Went for the Nishiki food market tour with Mika san. Started off at Daimaru Kyoto, and the basement food hall itself was a revelation! Packed with great Japanese food. Then we headed to the Nishiki market and Mika San pointed out lots of different things to us. It was quite informative and engaging tour. The food we ate was delicious, some local delicacies too, that I had not had in Tokyo. Had a great time at the tour. Mika San was warm and friendly and spoke good English. Recommended for anyone who wants to explore the local food scene!

We had a fantastic tour thanks to Kaori! She showed us some really great places to eat around Kyoto, all foods that we would never be able to have outside of Japan. On top of this Kaori was great fun and made sure that the tour was enjoyed by all of the tour members, I could not recommend the tour enough!

Yesterday I knew next to nothing about Japanese food. Today I know SO MUCH! We did the Nishiki Market tour – and though I've posted my review on Tripadvisor, I liked it so much I want to post it here too. I don't like market tours... actually, I don't even like markets. Despite this, for some reason I continue to wander through them, bumping against crowds of people, overstimulated and guilty that I'm not going to buy any of the stuff I don't know the names of. I finally stumble out, exhausted, wondering why anyone does that for fun. Well, this tour opened my eyes. I am a believer in the market tour! Specifically, this tour, guided by the wonderful Ellie, who felt more like a passionate and knowledgable friend than a guide. Why was this tour so great? Multiple reasons: - We were a small group (4 plus Ellie), so we could actually stop and hear her talk to us. - We ate a TON. I recommend a light breakfast before this tour, or wear a kimono or something, because you'll be stuffed. - Ellie had answers for literally every question I asked. I like questions, so this was a massive bonus for me. From history, literature, and "what food is that", she had the answers. She was also really good at throwing in a mixture of facts, stories, and personal information. Very engaging. - I learned a ton about Japanese food. Before this, my knowledge was "ramen" and "sushi". Now, I feel confident going not only into Nishiki Market and buying cooked food, but going into a grocery store and attempting to make it myself. I feel like an entire nation's culinary world has opened up to me and I can't wait to dive further in. Every Japanese meal after this tour feels like it will be enhanced – even if it means I can now order more than just Ramen Sushi (do they make such a thing??). - It's not just a food tour! We stopped by a temple (a highlight for me) and Ellie gave us the local's look at a few eclectic aspects that I'd never noticed. We also visited one of the first elementary schools (now a hotel) and learned about Geishas. This tour has it all! Why you may not like this tour and things to look out for: - This was a walking tour, with quite a bit of walking. Ellie did a great job of timing out breaks where we were able to sit, but I'd bring your walking shoes and leave the heavy bags at the hotel. - The tour is able to be adjusted for vegetarians, allergies, etc. My wife is allergic to nuts, and we had a vegetarian on our tour; Ellie was super good about switching things out so everyone had the full experience. - The market can get very crowded. It wasn't too bad when we were there, but if you're very uncomfortable in crowds, maybe go sit by the river and read a book instead. - This tour may not be for you if you don't like trying new and exciting foods. This is a exciting food rollercoaster and boy oh boy is it a ride! Overall I loved it. I learned a lot, changed my mind about market tours, and expanded my culinary experiences. Highly recommend if you're in Kyoto. Ten out of ten!

We had two days in Kyoto, and I am so glad we decided to book this tour! It was worth every penny. We tasted delicious food while learning a ton about the market and Kyoto’s local delicacies. After we were thoroughly stuffed, Yuri guided us through the Nishiki Shrine and the nearby Geisha districts. It was an entertaining and jammed-packed tour. Besides the tasty sesame crackers and truly unforgettable pork buns at Kyoto Diamaru (a bonus snack our guide pointed out), Yuri was the best part of the tour. She was friendly, energetic, and well-informed. One of my favorite parts of any local tour is getting to ask a guide about local culture and her everyday life—Yuri was kind enough to answer all our food and non-food related questions. The long of the short—I would highly recommend this tour.

Quick weekend stop in Kyoto with some work colleagues and were given a wonderful tour by Risako of Japan Wonder Travel. Of particular note, Risako's English was exceptional, so for those of you traveling for whom that's a worry, you should specifically request her as your tour guide.

Robert and myself had a wonderful Kyoto Food and drink tour to Nishiki Street and Gion, Mika was a wonderful guide she told us lots about the food and the areas. She was so patient and kind and took into consideration my allergies always considering what I was able to eat, Without Mika we would never have found the lovely places she took us and the different foods and facts about Kyoto she provided. If we are ever fortunate enough to visit Japan once more we will definitely take this tour again and we are sharing this experience with our friends and family back in Australia. Thank you Mika so much for today we loved every minute of the tour. Warm regards Michelle and Bob

My family and I enjoyed our food tour in Kyoto very much. The food was delicious and offered a nice sampling of various local foods from the area. The best part of the tour by far was our guide, Mika Yoshida! She is so gracious and kind! Her discussion about the area, Japanese customs and culture made the tour so special. She even helped me capture a photo of two lovely young women wearing kimonos for their graduation pictures. Mika's personal touch made the tour very memorable. We left the tour that afternoon feeling like we had become part of Japan for a brief moment. Thank you, Mika!! We highly recommend this tour to all. You will not be disappointed! 😊

I have joined the tour run by Japan Wonder Traver twice, both times in Kyoto. The first time I had a chance to meet maiko-san, the second time I visited lots of lovely places in Kyoto's Old Town. The guides were absolutely great: knowledgable, attentive and speaking English fluently. Five stars!

Today I had nice opportunity to enjoy walking at historical part of Kyoto. Our positive guide kindly told us many amazing things about Kiyomizu temple and Kenninji, Konpiragu Shrine and Gion district. Also some old, with long history traditional shops were introduced to us. Visiting such kinds of shops shows some secret sides of Japan which can not be noticed from the streets. So, I'd like to give an advice to take this tour even to such kind of visitors who have already visited the mentioned above places in past. Surely, you will find something new!

Thank you very much for the excursion! It was very educational! I learned a lot of new things. The guide was very nice. She explained everything in an accessible and interesting way. Smiling and sweet, which made the excursion even more interesting. I liked it very much. especially about Canon 😉

It was a great tour with Japan Wonder Travel. I joined their tour to Gion district to experience Geiko and Maiko culture which I was always curious about. Our guide Eriko planned this tour in a proper way and with great timing so that we could cover all the highlighted areas and also catch the golden time when Geiko and Maiko san walk in the streets. I can also say she was fully loaded with knowledge she answered all the questions of our friends and shared with us some exciting gossip about Okiya. The highlight of the tour was the performance of Maiko-san as well as the tea ceremony and a little conversation with her. I highly recommend joining this tour!

This tour is so interesting! I would definitely recommend it. Ellie our tour guide was so nice, she knows a lot about Geiko and Maiko culture. The walk guide was around Gion and we met a lovely Geiko-san and Maiko-san. It is so nice to be able to ask questions and know more about their daily life. We got to see a dance performance with Shamisen live music, it was the best 🌟