Kyoto Japanese Whisky Tasting with a Bartender at Nishiki Market

Kyoto, Japan
Duration45m
Free cancellationFull refund up to 24 hours before
Instant confirmationYour booking is confirmed right away
TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted
LanguagesJapanese, English
Group sizeUp to 9 travelers

Overview

This is not just a tasting of famous labels. Your bartender tells the human story behind every glass: the three men who founded Japanese whisky and the young man's notebook from Scotland that links them, or the shochu-making families of southern Kyushu who now make some of Japan's most exciting craft whisky, ending with a surprise final pour. You sip at a red marble bar counter under a floating pine, in a hidden luxury lounge above Nishiki Market, Kyoto's famous food street.

Options

Three Fathers: 3 Whiskies

3 whiskies, 20 ml each: One whisky linked to each of the three founders of Japanese whisky, served neat with a water chaser.

Shochu to Whisky: 3 + 1

3 whiskies + 1 surprise pour: 3 craft whiskies from Kyushu shochu makers (15 ml each) and a surprise final pour (10 ml).

What's included

  • Japanese whisky tasting flight: 3 whiskies, or 3 whiskies plus 1 surprise pour, depending on the option
  • Guided tasting by an English-speaking bartender, with water (chaser)
  • Service charge (included in the price)
  • Light snacks such as nuts
  • Additional drinks and food ordered at the venue (a 10% service charge applies to additional orders)

What to expect

Japanese whisky is now celebrated around the world, but every bottle has a story behind it. At ZEN, a luxury dining and bar lounge on the 3rd floor above Kyoto's Nishiki Market, your English-speaking bartender pours a flight of carefully chosen whiskies at the bar counter and tells the story of each one: who made it, where, and why.

Choose your journey:
- The Three Fathers of Japanese Whisky (3 tastings): Japanese whisky began with three men. Taste a whisky linked to each of them, from Japan's first malt whisky distillery to the far north of Hokkaido, and hear how one young man's notebook from Scotland shaped them all.
- From Shochu to Whisky (3 tastings + 1 surprise pour): Some of Japan's most exciting whiskies are made by families who have distilled shochu in southern Kyushu for generations. Taste three craft whiskies from shochu makers, then finish with a surprise final pour.

After the flight, your bartender will help you find your favorite style, and you are welcome to stay for another glass or dinner at our wagyu teppanyaki counter.

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point

The entrance is on Takakura-dori street, NOT inside Nishiki Market (there is no entrance from the market side). On Takakura-dori, find the building with Sugi Pharmacy on the ground floor and take the elevator to the 3rd floor (ZEN Kyoto). Tell our staff you booked the whisky tasting.

End point

The entrance is on Takakura-dori street, NOT inside Nishiki Market (there is no entrance from the market side). On Takakura-dori, find the building with Sugi Pharmacy on the ground floor and take the elevator to the 3rd floor (ZEN Kyoto). Tell our staff you booked the whisky tasting.

Additional information

  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Participants must be 20 or older (the legal drinking age in Japan). Valid ID showing age may be requested.
  • Please do not drive after this experience.

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
From
3,500.00 JPY 2,800.00 JPY per person
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  • Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts
  • Instant confirmation
  • You'll choose your date and travelers and pay on viator.com. Prices vary by date, group size and option.
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From
2,800.00 JPY per person
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