Top Kyoto Cooking Classes

Enjoy a cooking class in an atmospheric setting—a beautiful wooden house in Kyoto. The cooking experience introduces you to local recipes that you wouldn’t be able to find in restaurants, and techniques that have been passed down through many generations of the host’s family. Dishes prepared vary depending on the time of year, but sample menu items could be chikuzenni (braised chicken and vegetables), braised burdock root, and miso soup.

Experience an authentic tea ceremony, which is at the heart of Japanese culture and is a centuries old ritual, in Kyoto. You’ll be provided with a tea bowl, tea scoops and whisks, and instruction on how to make matcha. You’ll also try matcha and sweets, and you are encouraged to ask questions. Photos and short videos are permitted. Usually guests sit on the floor, but chairs and tables are also available if preferred.

Discover the culture behind ‘Izakaya’ Japanese dining which is similar to pub food in the other countries during a 3 to 3.5-hour cooking class with dinner in Kyoto. Learn five or six of the popular home dishes during a session with a master chef before preparing and eating your own izakaya-style creations. It’s the perfect chance to explore the country’s cuisine beyond the typical sushi and teriyaki offerings. Your izakaya cooking session also includes all ingredients, an instructor and an apron.

Perform a traditional Japanese tea ceremony dressed in a ceremonial kimono during this cultural experience in Kyoto. Learn about the meaning of different kimono patterns and the history behind the tea ceremony from your guide, then watch the professional tea master prepare a cup of tea. Sip your tea and learn about Japanese manners during a tea ceremony, then enjoy the opportunity to try your hand at brewing your own.

If you’re visiting Japan for the first time, receive a cultural introduction to the country during a tea ceremony in traditional kimonos. During the ceremony, learn about Japanese history and sample matcha green tea, a local specialty. Plus, wearing a traditional kimono means you leave the experience with fantastic photographs to commemorate your time in Kyoto.

Learn to create your own bento box, the iconic (and tasty) convenience meal enjoyed daily by millions of Japanese, during this 3- to 3.5-hour cooking class in Kyoto. Uncover the origins of this uniquely-Japanese foodstuff, and watch master chefs as they demonstrate key cooking techniques, before learning to make your own. Finish your course by enjoying your handmade bento box which may includes items like an egg roll, pickled vegetables, rice, breaded chicken and miso soup. Your course also includes use of an apron, an instructor and all ingredients.

This beginner-friendly experience teaches you the Japanese martial art of "kyudo". Instead of organizing equipment hire, everything you need is provided in the session and our teacher will guide you step-by-step through the lesson. During the lesson, learn about the history of Kyudo from a teacher with over 50 years of experience, and have a chance to practice shooting an arrow with a bow.

In this class, you can experience the tea ceremony in a 100-year-old house, wearing a rare and valuable antique kimono that is more than 80 years old. ● Here, you can learn tea ceremony etiquette and how to make delicious matcha tea. The fourth-generation owner of the kimono shop is a kimono specialist, so you can listen to a lecture on kimono while being shown kimonos suitable for various occasions. Of course, he can also help you co-ordinate your kimono. Wearing rare and valuable antique kimonos and learning about the tea ceremony is a unique experience here. Available in English.

Find out what's it's like to be a ninja. This small-group beginners class in a Kyoto dojo introduces you to the basics of ninja training. You'll learn how to breathe, walk, and meditate like a ninja; practice throwing ninja weapons; and learn how to use ninja swords. It's a unique Japanese experience for all ages.

If you love to create, and want to learn a traditional Japanese art, try making Washi paper. Enjoy designing paper using seasonal pressed flowers and leaves. Make a set of postcards, a table-mat, wraparound lampshade, or tapestry panel. Bring home a unique handmade souvenir in only 60 minutes. Or, choose to add an additional hour so you can make more gifts for friends and family.

One of the best souvenirs any traveler can bring back from Japan is the ability to make and appreciate authentic Japanese sushi. Get up to speed with the art of making sushi, Japanese soup and pickled ginger during this small group cooking class. Capped at eight people, this class offers a relaxed environment that other, larger sushi classes often don’t – and a hands on experience that you can’t get from cooking channels on the internet or TV.

In this class, you will learn home style ramen and homemade gyoza from scratch using simple ingredients. Not only will you get to enjoy a fun cultural experience during your Japan trip, but with the skills you learn, you can actually try and cook it once you return home. My guests often tell me that they're surprised how simple it is to make and how delicious the food turns out. After my class, you will hopefully have the confidence to cook some delicious Japanese food for your loved ones at home.

Become truly immersed in traditional Japanese culture as you and your party members will enjoy the entire 300-year old historic property to yourselves. We serve organic matcha locally sourced from Kyoto, Uji in a traditional tea room. Enter into this space separate from the rush of life and truly experience the serenity of tea ceremony. Adorn an authentic silk wedding Kimono or wield a Samurai Katana to commemorate your visit to Kyoto! You are welcome to take photos during your visit. You can even bring the experience home with you as we offer a large array of Matcha Chawan (Matcha Tea Bowl) and authentic silk Kimono for purchase. An experience like no other being the only Samurai house in Kyoto with such offerings. We are able to offer this traditional space and still be very conveniently located only an 8 minute walk from Kyoto station, making this experience a seamless addition to your time in Kyoto.

Travelers who love Japanese food and want to learn how to make it at home will enjoy this cooking lesson experience. Tour a local market and learn about Japanese ingredients, as well as how to select the best ones. Take a cooking lesson in your instructor’s home, and also see how the locals live and dine. Enjoy eating what you produce afterwards.

Experience an authentic tea ceremony, which is near the Zen buddhist monastery Daitoku-ji Temple in Kyoto. Daitoku-ji had many famous priest graduates in the history and has a close relationship with tea ceremony culture which has given a major influence to Japanese culture. We are also not far from the World Cultural Heritage site, the Golden Pavilion Temple. (Kinkaku-ji)It's only four stops away by bus. You’ll be provided with a tea container, tea bowl, tea scoops and whisks, and instruction on how to make matcha. You’ll also enjoy two bowls of matcha and two kinds of Japanese sweets. Tea ceremony is a learned experience, and it leads to enlightenment, similar to Zen’s understanding of realizing the truth through self-discovery.

You can experience a tea ceremony in the authentic tea room of a 130-year-old Kyoto townhouse! The art of tea ceremony is a wonderful way to experience traditional Japanese culture. Combining zen and Japanese tea, attending a tea ceremony is a must when visiting Japan, especially in Kyoto! -Enjoy beautiful Japanese sweets like cookie or candy from historic shop in Kyoto -Delicious matcha green tea from historic shop in Kyoto -Learn how to make tea -Learn tips to enjoy tea without tea utensils at home

When traveling abroad, there is no other experience like cooking and eating a meal with a local. Emika opens her Kyoto home to visitors to cook a meal and share conversation. Enjoy learning to make traditional Obanzai cuisine, like marinated mushrooms, slow-cooked vegetables, miso soup and tofu dishes with your Kyoto native host. Chat over the meal you prepared, and get recommendations on the city.

Our cooking lessons are held in an authentic Japanese style house. You will experience the feeling of being invited over for lunch by a friend in Japanese culture. This is a great opportunity for all tourists coming to Japan. Our group lessons have a maximum of 6 people. Our instructors are all very friendly and want you to have a memorable time with us. Even if you came alone, you would have a great time. After finishing lunch, all the participants will go and explore a local supermarket with our instructors. Together we will help you find all the ingredients we used in the lesson. We will introduce you to some of basic Japanese seasonings and some great tips on preparing some Japanese dishes. You will get all the recipes of the dishes we prepare together. You will be able to make some great Japanese dishes for your family and friends back home. We look forward to meeting all of you soon!

The elegant Japanese tea ceremony was popularized in Kyoto, so there’s no better place to experience a traditional tea ceremony than in Japan’s ancient capital. Join this Kyoto Tea Ceremony and Sweets Experience for a tasty, culturally immersive experience! You’ll learn how to make matcha tea using traditional Japanese tools, like the bamboo whisk, with a licensed Japanese tea ceremony instructor. You’ll also find out about Japanese tea ceremony etiquette and put what you learn into practice! Japanese sweets from historical specific sweets shop for tea ceremony, which is made from high quality sugar. These sweet morsels are completely gluten-free and vegan, so this experience can be joined by just about everyone! You can get small booklet for explanation the experience. It will help you to understand Japanese tea ceremony more deeply. Join this tea ceremony experience and enjoy a relaxing cup of tea while immersing yourself in ancient Japanese culture!

We are located in the heart of Kyoto, just a 12-minute walk from Kyoto Station and a 2-minute walk from Nishi Honganji Temple. Our facility is a beautifully renovated traditional Japanese house that dates back 130 years. We have transformed it into a classroom where we provide an authentic Japanese cultural experience for overseas visitors to Japan, aiming to offer a genuine taste of Kyoto's rich cultural heritage. Inside the historic house, you will find a majority of antique furniture and artifacts that are over 110 years old. With this setting, along with traditional Japanese music, we strive to create an immersive cultural experience that takes you back to Kyoto as it was 130 years ago. Our teachers are all local to Kyoto and possess a deep understanding of Japanese culture. They are passionate about sharing their knowledge and providing you with an enriching experience.

You found the best cooking class! First, we walk together to our house, where you will meet our family and our pets and see our home where we will spend our time together. After everybody puts their aprons on, we will get to work! We will cut the vegetables, make the sauces, and start to create the magic together. Finally, we will sit at the table, put some music on, and enjoy a meal together. We want to know how your trip is going and we can tell you what it is like to raise a family in Japan. After we have finished eating, we will enjoy a little dessert and hang out for a bit. Then, we will see you off! We open our home and hearts to you, in a setting where kids, pets, and adults can listen to music, relax, drink & eat together. Step into our kitchen and become a part of our family for the day.

Learn to make artistic sushi rolls during your own private ‘kazarimaki’ class in Kyoto. Kazarimaki is the art of making designs within a sushi roll, using edible pigments extracted from plants to create colorful patterns in the sushi. Your instructor also provides a kimono (for women) or other traditional garments (for men and children) to wear during the experience.

We will take you through the steps of making sushi starting with preparing the lightly vinegared rice and finishing off with the perfect sushi roll! Together we will be making various types of sushi including Temaki-zushi which you will be able to prepare when you get back home! At the end of the workshop everyone will be given a new sushi rolling mat (which is essential for making sushi!) and a recipe card to make sushi again so you can prepare some for your friends and family back home!