Top Kyoto Prefecture Cooking Classes

Learn to create your own bento box, the iconic (and tasty) convenience meal enjoyed daily by millions of Japanese, during this 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 with other food lovers.

Rather than choosing one type of cuisine, this comprehensive cooking class is ideal for travelers who love diverse Japanese dishes, as you can make ramen, gyoza, and onigiri (rice balls) in the same session. Learn special techniques that you wouldn’t find in a cookery book, and then best of all—taste all your delicious creations at the end.

Discover the culture behind *izakaya*, the Japanese equivalent to tapas, during a half-day cooking class with dinner in Kyoto. Rather than just dining on popular home dishes, learn tips and tricks for getting the food right at home 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.

Enjoy an immersive culinary experience, and learn how to cook a traditional Japanese meal with a private cooking class in Kyoto. Instead of being in a crowded kitchen, this is a private lesson just for you, which means you can enjoy one-on-one guidance. There are several set menus to choose from: teriyaki chicken, sushi, tonkatsu or Kansai street snacks such as gyoza (dumplings), takoyaki (octopus balls) or okonomiyaki (savory pancakes).

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.

Japan is known for its exceptional sushi, and Kyoto has no shortage of great restaurants—but this experience goes a step further by letting you make your own sushi from scratch. During the class, enjoy an introduction to sushi and Japanese food culture, then learn how to prepare around 10 pieces yourself, which you can enjoy at the end alongside a tasting of Japanese sake.

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.

The tea ceremony is a cornerstone of traditional Japanese culture, but participating can feel intimidating to visitors. This small-group experience in Kyoto's Gion district lets you approach 'the way of tea' in a relaxed way, without the typical formality. Learn about the history of tea in Japan and how Zen philosophy shaped the ceremony while watching a master prepare tea. Afterward, make your own bowl of matcha and enjoy traditional sweets.

We will teach you how to make Michelin-starred ramen and the recipes. We are a ramen workshop in Kyoto and the only ramen shop we operate. Musoshin Ramen has six stores around the world. This is the only ramen workshop in Kyoto run by a ramen restaurant, and our classes have many vegetarian and vegan customers. The ingredients for the ramen you cook are brought from the nearby Musoshin Gion store. They are the ingredients for ramen made by the chef the day before. We want people all over the world to eat our ramen. And we want to spread the culture of delicious ramen from here to the world. With that thought in mind, we created Musoshin Ramen Academy.

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.

Ramen is one of Japan’s most popular dishes—a noodle and broth soup, topped with various meat or vegetable combinations. On this tour, learn how to make ramen from scratch at a local ramen factory, including making the noodles, mixing the soup, and adding the toppings. Finish by enjoying your delicious bowl of home-cooked ramen. The factory is also Halal-certified and vegetarian and vegan options are available on request.

Rather than drinking matcha in a restaurant, this traditional tea ceremony lets you watch a tea master prepare it from scratch. Held in a beautiful teahouse overlooking a famous garden, the setting offers peaceful views as you take part. The session includes two cups of matcha and traditional Japanese sweets, all served through a series of graceful rituals. Note that children 6 and under are not permitted to join this experience.

The tea ceremony goes in a small group. The maximum number of people are 6 for each session.But during peak seasons, it will increase to a maximum of 8 people. 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.

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.

Perform a traditional Japanese tea ceremony dressed in a ceremonial kimono during this small-group 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.

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.

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.

Tea Ceremony Experience the authentic world of tea ceremony in a historic, 150-year-old Kyomachiya overlooking the Kamogawa River. During the experience, you can enjoy wearing a complimentary Haori (kimono-style jacket). At the end of the session, feel free to take memorable photos against the beautiful backdrop of the historic townhouse and the scenic river. We also offer the premium Uji matcha—the same high-quality tea used in the ceremony—available for purchase (limited to one per group). Japanese Calligraphy Experience Would you like to experience the traditional Japanese art of calligraphy in a historic Kyomachiya built over 150 years ago? You can take your finished calligraphy artwork home with you as a special souvenir of your trip to Kyoto. During the experience, you can also enjoy wearing a traditional Haori (kimono-style jacket) for free. At the end of the session, feel free to take commemorative photos with your masterpiece inside the historic townhouse.

You can have an Kyoto specific culinary experience in this class. Japan has a long history of vegan cuisine which developed at Buddhist temples. Since killing animals is strictly prohibited in Buddhism, so all the dishes generally don’t contain any animal products such as meat and fish. It's very healthy and well-balanced cuisine featuring seasonal vegetables, soybeans(tofu), grains, seaweed or many fermented foods. We make a variety of dishes inspired by classic Buddhist cooking with modern twists. These delicious dishes make the most of the original taste of local ingredients. It's not difficult to cook at all but you will find the delicacy of Japanese cuisine in every detail of the dish. I'm sure you can enjoy Japanese authentic cooking which you are not be able to taste in the restaurant.

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.

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.

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.

This two-in-one experience combines a hands-on cooking class with a traditional craft, both centered around ramen. Set inside an atmospheric ramen restaurant, begin by painting your own ramen spoon, which is then baked in a kiln overnight. Afterwards, take part in a practical class to learn the secrets behind making Michelin-nominated ramen using the included Musoshin recipe. Then at the end—you can sample your tasty creations.