Planning a trip to Kyoto with a large group and wondering what experiences are available? You’ve come to the right place. With so many attractions and activities in this popular city, it can be overwhelming to sort through them all. To help you out, I’ve compiled a list of recommended experiences that are especially well-suited for big groups.
*Prices are accurate as of December 2025
Kyoto Insider Sake Experience (~50 pax)
Kyoto Insider Sake Experience is located in the south of Kyoto, Fushimi districts with about 25 breweries. Here, you get to breathe in more of a traditional scenery with deep history. At this venue, every guide holds the international kikisake-shi qualification (sommelier of sake) and tells you everything you need to know about sake. From history, ingredients, making process, what food to pair, how to read the labels in Japanese, and more. Every tour is run in English with a venue that can hold up to 50 people at a time comfortably seated.
3-Hour Sake Tour (Comprehensive Experience) ¥12,300~ /person
This tour offers a deep dive into the history, culture, and craftsmanship of Japanese sake. We begin at Gekkeikan Sake Museum, the oldest and largest sake brewery in the Fushimi district. Here, you’ll learn about the brewery’s history, see traditional brewing tools, and enjoy a tasting of three different types of sake. Afterward, we’ll take a short 5-minute walk to our tasting room, where you’ll sample seven more varieties of sake paired with food.
Please note: This tour includes about 1.5 hours of standing and walking in the museum, so it may not be suitable for guests who have difficulty standing for long periods of time.
1.5-Hour Sake Tasting (Beginner-Friendly) ¥9,800/person
If you prefer a shorter experience that still covers the essentials, we recommend our 1.5-hour seated sake tasting. This tour takes place entirely in our tasting room. You’ll learn the basics of how sake is made, taste seven types of sake, and enjoy food pairings. By the end, you’ll understand your own sake preferences and even learn how to read the sake labels in Japanese.
Advanced Sake Tasting Tour (For Enthusiasts & Experts) ¥10,800/person
For guests who already enjoy sake regularly—or wine and beer enthusiasts looking for deeper knowledge—we offer an advanced tasting experience. This tour covers specialized brewing techniques, different ingredients such as various yeasts and koji molds, traditionally brewed sake, and more that are hard to find.
Kyoto Insider Sake Experience
Official website
MAIKOYA Kyoto Tea Ceremony (~50 pax) $22~
Here, you can enjoy a very authentic experience, where the experience is hosted in a traditional machiya (townhouse) in Gion, Nishiki, and Karasuma Shijo. The tea ceremony is led by an English speaking tea master. With an additional fee, guests are able to borrow the kimono, which you can freely wear and walk around with for a day.
MAIKOYA Kyoto Tea Ceremony
Official website
Nishiki Market Food Tour & Cooking Class By Cooking Sun (~8 pax) $120
A 2.5-hour private experience led by an English-speaking Japanese guide. The tour begins at Kyoto’s historic Nishiki Market, where guests explore the “kitchen of Kyoto” and sample traditional Japanese street foods (mainly pickles). After the market walk, guests move into the hands-on cooking session, creating their own donburi using ingredients purchased at the market. Options include Kaisen-don, Ten-don, or Oyako-don, and participants can take home the recipe.
Nishiki Market Food Tour & Cooking Class By Cooking Sun
Official website
Mori Toki Kan (~320 pax) ¥3,300~
Mori Toki Kan is a pottery studio and shop located in the historic Kiyomizu/Higashiyama area of Kyoto. It specializes in “Kiyomizu‑yaki,” which is Kyoto’s traditional pottery style offering both a hands-on pottery experience and a shop selling ceramics, souvenirs, and original pottery goods.
Mori Toki Kan
Official website
Marumasu Nishimuraya (~250 pax) ¥1,500~
At Marumasu Nishimuraya, visitors can try Kyo‑Yuzen, Kyoto’s traditional dyeing technique, in a historic townhouse workshop. Guests choose an item such as a handkerchief, tote bag, or scarf, and create a personalized design using stencils and brushes to layer vibrant colors.
Marumasu Nishimuraya
Official website
Shichijo Kanshundo Honten (~40 pax) ¥3,300/person
Shichijo Kanshundo Honten offers a hands-on wagashi-making class where participants learn to craft traditional Kyoto sweets under the guidance of skilled artisans. In this 60–90-minute workshop, guests create several seasonal wagashi—often 3 to 4 pieces.
Shichijo Kanshundo Honten
Official website
Gion Corner (~180 pax) ¥5,500~ /person
Gion Corner in Kyoto offers a one-hour performance that brings together a variety of traditional Japanese arts, including tea ceremony, ikebana (flower arranging), koto music, kyōgen comic theatre, bugaku court dance, and elegant maiko performances. The show provides a convenient and immersive way for visitors—whether individuals, families, or large groups—to experience the richness of Kyoto’s cultural heritage in a single venue, making it an ideal introduction to the city’s performing arts and traditional customs.
Gion Corner
Official website
Umemori Sushi School (~200 pax) ¥6,600/person
Umemori Sushi School in Kyoto offers a hands-on sushi-making experience where participants learn to prepare authentic nigiri sushi, from seasoning the rice to forming each piece by hand. Guided by instructors, the classes are beginner-friendly and suitable for individuals, families, and larger groups, with the ability to accommodate up to 200 people for group bookings. The school also provides certificates of completion as a memento and supports dietary needs such as halal or vegetarian when notified in advance.
Umemori Sushi School
Official website
Hozugawa Rafting (~50 pax) ¥7,000/person
Hozugawa River rafting offers an exciting way to experience Kyoto’s natural beauty by combining thrilling rapids with scenic river‑valley views. Guided by trained instructors, participants navigate the river in safety, with all necessary gear—wetsuits, helmets, and life jackets—provided. Courses range from gentle family-friendly options to more adventurous half-day rides, making it suitable for beginners, children, and large groups alike.
Hozugawa Rafting
Official website
Toei Uzumasa Eigamura/Kyoto Studio Park (25~for groups, 2000 pax for private rentals) ¥2,800~ /person
Toei Uzumasa Eigamura, soon to be rebranded as Uzumasa Kyoto Village, is a film‑studio theme park in Kyoto where visitors can step into recreated Edo‑period streets, watch live samurai and ninja shows, participate in hands-on workshops, and dress in traditional costumes. Ideal for large groups, the park offers a variety of attractions that appeal to all ages, along with group discounts, dining facilities, and immersive photo opportunities, making it a convenient and entertaining destination for families, friends, or corporate outings.
Toei Uzumasa Eigamura/Kyoto Studio Park
Official website
Samurai Ninja Museum by MAIKOYA (~100 pax) ¥2,400~ /person
At the Samurai & Ninja Museum Kyoto by MAIKOYA, visitors enjoy an interactive, guided experience that blends history with hands-on fun. A tour introduces real samurai armor, swords, and ninja tools, followed by opportunities to dress up in samurai or ninja costumes, try sword-handling with safe replicas, and practice ninja skills like shuriken throwing and blowgun target-shooting. Suitable for families, groups, and beginners, the 60–90-minute session is engaging, educational, and full of photo-worthy moments, offering an entertaining glimpse into Japan’s warrior heritage.
Samurai Ninja Museum by MAIKOYA
Official website
My Sake World (~30 pax) ¥5,900/person
Offers a quick, beginner-friendly 45-minute standing experience where participants taste a variety of Japanese sake, learn the basics of sake-making, and blend their own original creation to take home in a personalized bottle. The interactive session accommodates up to 30 people and is available in Japanese, English, and Chinese. (Sake Sommelier qualification unspecified)
My Sake World
Official website
Atelier Sushi Kyoto (~8 pax) ¥13,500/person
At Atelier Sushi Kyoto, you can expect a hands-on, beginner-friendly sushi-making experience led by English-speaking instructors in a cozy, small-group setting. Held inside a beautifully renovated traditional Kyoto townhouse, the workshop teaches you how to prepare sushi rice, make nigiri and maki rolls, and enjoy the sushi you create. The atmosphere is relaxed and personal, making it ideal for families, couples, solo travelers, and anyone wanting an authentic, interactive introduction to Japanese food culture.
Atelier Sushi Kyoto
Official website
Your Japan Trip Gets Better Once You Understand Sake
Start with Kyoto Insider Sake Experience in Fushimi.
Fushimi is Kyoto’s sake district — but simply visiting a bar or shop won’t help you understand which sake to choose or why it tastes the way it does.
At Kyoto Insider Sake Experience, you’ll join an expert-led sake tasting and food pairing session designed to help you taste with confidence. By comparing different styles side by side, you’ll clearly understand the differences in aroma, flavour, and structure — and discover what you truly enjoy.
This experience is the perfect introduction to sake at the beginning of your trip in Japan. Not just tasting sake, but learning how to choose it — anywhere, anytime.
Discover Japan’s real sake & food culture in Fushimi.
Written by Mai, a sake tour guide
Qualifications： Sommelier of sake
About me：
I was born and raised in Japan until the age of 12 and ever since then I’ve lived overseas.
I absolutely love meeting new people and now as a sommelier of sake, I strive to share the deep culture and history of sake with as many people as I can. My wish is to help those who joins our sake tasting tour to find their favorite!