Discover hanafuda, Japan's centuries-old flower card game, in an intimate Kyoto session with friendly local English learners. With a maximum of 5 guests, you'll play alongside students from a Kyoto English school who are eager to practice conversation — making this a genuine cultural exchange, not just a game. In about one hour, you'll learn the rules, admire the beautiful seasonal illustrations, and connect with Kyoto residents in a way few tours offer.
Your host will walk you through the 48 beautifully illustrated cards, each depicting a plant or flower representing one of Japan's twelve months. You'll learn how to read the deck, understand the scoring system, and start playing within minutes — no experience needed.
Hanafuda is a game that almost every Japanese person played as a child, often with grandparents during New Year holidays or on rainy afternoons at home. Your local playing partners grew up with these cards, and that shared nostalgia makes for surprisingly warm and natural conversation — a connection you simply can't manufacture on a group bus tour.
By the end, you'll leave knowing how to play, with new Kyoto friends and a story no bus tour can give you.
The tour desk is located in the lobby of "English Buffet," which is on the 5th floor of the Maruike Fujii Building.
The tour desk is located in the lobby of "English Buffet," which is on the 5th floor of the Maruike Fujii Building.
