Top Kansai Cooking Classes - page 2

Enjoy a world of quiet elegance at Nishiki Orizuruya. All plans include kimono rental (with free hair styling for women) and are guided in English. 1. Authentic Tea Ceremony: After a captivating demonstration, learn to whisk your own matcha using a traditional bamboo whisk. Your prepared tea is paired with exquisite, seasonal Wagashi (traditional sweets) sourced from a celebrated 100-year-old Kyoto confectionery shop. 2. Tea Ceremony & Calligraphy: Combine the meditative art of tea with the flow of brush and ink. After savoring your matcha and sweets, learn to write your favorite kanji using a brush and ink. A great chance to create a personal keepsake. 3. Tea Ceremony & Guided Nishiki Market Tour: Enjoy the complete tea ceremony experience, then set out on a culinary adventure. Explore the bustling stalls of "Kyoto’s Kitchen" (Nishiki Market), hidden local shrines, and ancient specialty shops to discover the deep roots of Kyoto's food culture.

Learn about the rituals of an authentic Japanese tea ceremony by visiting a traditional teahouse. Instead of sharing the activity with strangers, partake in a private ceremony just for your party. Learn about the history of matcha from your instructor before witnessing the tea rituals. Try your hand at some of the rituals yourself, too.

Visit a popular micro pig cafe in Osaka and enjoy a unique animal experience. Pet, feed, and take photos with adorable and friendly micro pigs in a clean and cozy indoor space. Our pigs are gentle, well cared for, and love meeting guests from around the world. Perfect for solo travelers, couples, families, and animal lovers visiting Japan. Conveniently located just 5 minutes from Gamou 4-chome Station. Photo review offer: Guests who post a review with a photo during their micro pig interaction experience will receive complimentary pig treats. Important: To protect the health of our pigs, guests who have traveled from countries affected by ASF (African Swine Fever) within the past 2 days are not allowed to enter. Participation is possible from the 3rd day after arriving in Japan. Please check the image for more details.

The refined setting of a Japanese tea ceremony can feel intimidating to travelers. This immersive small-group Kyoto experience unravels some of the mystery. With the help of an expert, don a beautiful kimono and have your hair styled, then participate in a traditional tea ceremony in an elegant tea room; learn how to prepare matcha; and, if you like, create your own piece of calligraphy.

Skip the usual food and restaurant scenes for this small-group cooking class in a local hostel. Learn everything needed to prepare miso soup and *okonomiyaki*, savory pancake dishes also known as Osaka’s “comfort food.” Meet in the hostel near Nagahoribashi subway station and cook with your group and city locals invited by your host.

A tea ceremony is an essential Kyoto cultural experience, and this small-group session lets you take part in one in an intimate setting. Watch an expert prepare matcha using traditional rituals, utensils, and techniques that incorporate mindfulness. Along the way, learn practical skills you can recreate at home, and enjoy the opportunity to prepare a cup of tea yourself too.

Step into the Matcha capital, Uji, and experience the heart of Japan's finest green tea. Walking through the famous Byodo-in temple, known for its appearance on the 10-yen coin, you will grind tea leaves into matcha powder and drink your fresh matcha tea. A must-try experience for matcha lovers! ⚠️ Prior to the tour, please ensure that WhatsApp is available for easy communication. Our tour guide will use these platforms to contact you. ⚠️ Please wear a mask during the Matcha making workshop. ✅ English Guided Tour – Explore Uji City with our friendly and knowledgeable guide. ✅ Hands-on Matcha Experience – Grind your own matcha powder using a traditional stone mill, then enjoy your freshly made tea with your choice of Japanese sweets or matcha ice cream. ✅ Visit Byodo-in Temple – A UNESCO World Heritage Site, famous for its stunning architecture featured on the 10-yen coin. ✅ Learn the History of Uji Tea – Discover why Uji is known as Japan’s top region for high-quality green tea.

As Kyoto’s original small-group sushi-making experience since 2018, this workshop emphasizes depth, personal guidance, and authentic technique. Limited to just 8 guests, the class offers a relaxed, interactive pace with ample time for questions, hands-on practice, and individual feedback from a Japanese instructor. Guests build a strong foundation in sushi-making — from properly seasoning rice to shaping nigiri and rolling maki — using premium fresh fish and carefully selected local ingredients. The experience takes place in a beautifully restored historic townhouse near Kiyomizu-dera and Gion, providing a calm, refined setting in which to fully engage with the craft and enjoy the sushi you create.

Making mochi is an art, and this fun class in Osaka lets you try making it for yourself. Get tips and learn authentic techniques from an experienced instructor before you start handling traditional tools, such as a mortar and pestle. Instead of store-bought varieties, you'll get to enjoy freshly-made mochi and taste the difference.

Embark on a culinary adventure in Kyoto's historic Gion district by visiting a charming specialty restaurant where the art of ramen takes center stage. Step into the kitchen and immerse yourself in the ancient tradition of noodle-making, using a unique ramen machine to craft noodles from scratch. As the fragrant broth simmers, anticipation builds for the ultimate reward: savoring a steaming bowl of ramen meticulously prepared by the skilled hands of the restaurant’s chef. Indulge in this delicious masterpiece, a testament to both craftsmanship and the rich culinary heritage of Japan.

Ramen is a Japanese specialty of noodles in a broth with mixed toppings such as pork, seaweed, and egg. There are lots of different varieties of ramen, so save time and learn how to make three types in one class (salt ramen, soy sauce ramen, and miso ramen). No need to worry about bringing anything with you as all utensils and ingredients are provided.

Live like a samurai with this private experience near Osaka Castle, where you’ll learn all about samurai culture and be professionally photographed in your own suit of armor. A workshop on the martial art of Iaido will teach you about Japanese swordsmanship and let you try some cool moves. You’ll also draw calligraphy and experience a samurai tea ceremony.

Swap crowded group experiences for this intimate alternative of a private tea ceremony just for your personal group. Held in a hidden townhouse, the experience includes a short film about matcha, followed by a step-by-step tea ceremony and the chance to make your own cup. As a private experience, it’s family-friendly, and children are welcome.

Take part in a traditional tea ceremony at a Kyoto teahouse, designed as a quiet, peaceful, and meditative cultural experience. The ceremony is lit by handmade candles and set within a minimally decorated space—which offers something far more atmospheric than having tea in a café. With a small group size, you can benefit from an uncrowded experience, allowing you to fully slow down, observe the ritual, and enjoy the moment.

Avoid superficial travel experiences and gain a deeper, more meaningful introduction to Japanese tradition in Kyoto with a private tea ceremony inside a traditional home. Instead of simply observing, you’re guided by a tea master who explains the purpose behind each gesture as you learn to prepare matcha the traditional way. It’s a calm, immersive experience that replaces uncertainty with clear understanding of etiquette and ritual.

Create your own bento box lunch during a Japanese cooking class in Osaka. Taking place at the popular Sakura Cook restaurant, the small-group cooking experience shows you how to make up to seven classic dishes that are often made in Japanese homes. You’ll learn how to marinate, cook, and then pack your meal before eating your creations at the end.

With this Kyoto tour, you can combine multiple experiences in a day—including a walk in a zen garden, a visit to Tofukuji Temple, and a chance to learn the fundamentals of zen meditation. The group size is kept small, which gives you excellent access to your guide for questions, and you can also enjoy a vegetarian Shojin lunch along the way.

Deepen your understanding of Japanese culture and traditions at this matcha tea ceremony held in a traditional townhouse. To help you get the most out of your experience, the tea master explains everything you need to know—including tea etiquette, utensils, and rituals. You can also learn how to prepare your own cup of matcha. The session ends with a question-and-answer segment and the chance to enjoy traditional Japanese sweets.

This is an activity where even beginners can easily make nigiri sushi. You will be able to experience making sushi using popular sushi ingredients such as tuna and salmon. It will be a once in a lifetime unique experience where you can learn about Japanese culture through traditional Japanese cuisine. A sushi chef will carefully teach you how to make sushi. Once you know how to make it, try making nigiri sushi yourself. It's a very fun and meaningful experience where you can both experience making sushi and eating delicious sushi. Please come and experience Japanese culture with us! Children 3 years old and under are welcome to join for free by sharing a dish with an adult. As we need to prepare a seat in advance, please contact us before your visit if you are bringing a child who is 3 years old and under.

In this class, you will experience making home-style ramen and homemade gyoza from scratch using simple ingredients in a home environment. 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 these dishes 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.

When traveling abroad, there is no other experience like sitting down for a meal with a local. Emika opens her Kyoto home to visitors to share a private meal and conversation. Enjoy an authentic Japanese meal of sushi, miso soup, matcha green tea, and sweets with your Kyoto native host.

With so many varieties to choose from, learning to enjoy sake can feel intimidating. This guided tasting experience in Osaka is hosted by a former sake brewer who teaches you about the beverage's history and culture, as well as its brewing process, while you savor its diverse flavors through a curated flight of sake paired with seasonal dishes.

Soy sauce is an indispensable ingredient in Japanese food. After touring a genuine soy sauce brewery with a history of more than 100 years, visitors will enjoy a hands-on experience of pressing soy sauce from moromi, the base of soy sauce, using a traditional wooden press. Finish by attaching your own label to the bottle. You will taste the freshly pressed soy sauce, which has not been heated, with fresh tofu on the spot. [Highlights of the Experience] Experience at a natural-brewed soy sauce shop that has been in continuous operation for three generations since 1918. You will also have a chance to try your hand at squeezing soy sauce by hand using our original squeezer. The squeezed soy sauce is then packaged in bottles and decorated. The squeezed soy sauce is then filled into bottles and decorated to create your own personalized soy sauce. Mitarashi dumplings with an original sauce made from Tokusei soy sauce in collaboration with a popular local store of long standing.

Ramen is one of the world’s most popular meals, but few people have mastered the art of home-cooked noodles. During this hands-on workshop, you’ll learn how to prepare the perfect bowl of soupy ramen, from blending ingredients to cutting the noodles using hand-forged Japanese knives. After you’ve mastered the basics, sample your freshly prepared meal, along with ginger chicken and salad. Workshops include a complimentary craft cocktail.