Kyoto Family Kitchen Home Cooking Class

Recommended by 96% of travelers

Badge of Excellence

Kyoto, Japan

2 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Sample Menu

Starter

Miso soup

Learn the secrets of balancing miso, dashi, and fresh ingredients to create a bowl of umami perfection.

Main

Teriyaki Chicken

Learn how to make classic Japanese teriyaki using simple ingredients like soy sauce, mirin, and sake. Sweet, savory, and easy to recreate at home.

Dessert

Zenzai

A traditional Japanese dessert made with sweet red azuki beans and soft mochi, served warm and comforting.

Starter

Tamago yaki (Japanese rolled omelette)

A lightly sweet Japanese rolled omelette. You’ll learn how to layer and roll it step by step—simple, but surprisingly fun.

Main

Seasonal Vegetables

A variety of seasonal vegetables prepared in simple, traditional ways—just like in a Japanese home.

Main

Oyako Don (chicken and egg rice bowl)

A comforting rice bowl with chicken and soft egg simmered in a savory broth. A classic dish enjoyed in homes across Japan.

Main

Okonomiyaki (Japanese pancake)

A savory Japanese pancake made with cabbage and your choice of toppings. Fun to cook and always a favorite.

Main

Niku Jaga

A classic Japanese comfort dish with beef, potatoes, and onions simmered in a sweet soy-based broth.

Starter

Wagyu Tasting Upgrade

Premium Japanese Wagyu served with fresh wasabi, sea salt, and traditional seasoning. Available as an optional upgrade.

Main

Homemade Gyoza (Japanese Dumplings)

Learn to mix, fold, and cook crispy-bottom gyoza from scratch. One of the most fun and hands-on parts of the experience.

What's Included

Dinner
Coffee and/or Tea
English-speaking instructor
All seasonings and ingredients for cooking
All Fees and Taxes
Transportation to Kokusaikaikan subway station

Alcoholic Beverages
Tip/gratuity

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

33-50 Kamitakano Saimyōjiyama, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto, 606-0064, Japan
Just to let you know, our house is a bit out of the city center, in the suburbs. If you arrive at Miyakehachiman train station or bus stop, it is only a few minutes walk to our house.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Arranged start time

Confirm time with the local provider in advance of your experience.

12/08/2023 - 07/04/2027
Monday - Friday : 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Saturday - Sunday : 12:00 PM - 2:30 PM, 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM

What To Expect

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible
Service animals allowed

Near public transportation
Infant seats available
This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

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Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Featured review

Kathleen_B

We had an amazing time with Anthony and his wonderful family!! We learned some great cooking techniques and had incredible food with fresh, local ingredients. I would highly recommend this cooking class!!

Reviews

4.9

based on 82 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

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Sort by: Most insightful

We had a wonderful time...

Michael_S, Nov 2025

We had a wonderful time cooking with Anthony and his family! They are warm, kind people, and it’s fascinating to talk with them about their experiences in Japan. Thank you!

Response from Host, Nov 2025

Thank you so much for your lovely message! We truly enjoyed spending time with you in the kitchen and around the table. It was a pleasure to share stories and connect over food—we’re always grateful for the chance to meet such thoughtful guests. Wishing you all the best, and you’re always welcome back if your travels bring you to Kyoto again! Warmly, Anthony & family

A Fun Evening Dining with Family in Kyoto

Amy_W, Nov 2025

A very welcoming home. The setup was casual and worked well. The food and conversation were terrific. We all enjoyed it very much. We look forward to trying the recipes at home. This is a bit out of town, but easy to get to by bus. It was nice walk through a more quiet neighborhood at sunset.

Response from Host, Nov 2025

Thank you for coming and for sharing such kind words. We’re lucky to enjoy that quiet walk and mountain view every day, and it means a lot to be able to share it with new people. Hosting you reminded us not to take it for granted. We’re really glad you enjoyed the food and conversation—those are our favorite parts too. Hope the recipes serve you well back home, and if you’re ever in Kyoto again, the door’s open. Warmly, Anthony & Naomi

A fun evening filled with fantastic food and company!!

Kathleen_B, Jul 2025

Response from Host, Aug 2025

Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re delighted to hear you enjoyed the cooking, the fresh ingredients, and your time with our family. It was a real pleasure welcoming you into our home, and we hope you’ll enjoy recreating the dishes again. We truly appreciate your recommendation and would love to see you again if your travels bring you back to Kyoto! Warm regards, Anthony & Naomi Kyoto Family Kitchen

More than a cooking class

Dylan_D, May 2025

The experience last night was sensational. Really enjoyed the space with the Host and family. It truly felt like a beautiful home to interact with other people, whilst learning to cook and eat traditional Japanese meals. 100% would recommend doing it again in the future.

Response from Host, May 2025

Thank you so much for your kind review. It was a real pleasure having you with us, and we’re so glad to hear that you enjoyed the experience and felt at home. We were sorry your wife couldn’t join, and we truly hope she’s feeling better soon. You’re both warmly welcome anytime in the future—we’d love the chance to cook and share a meal with you together next time!

Fun experience - highly recommend!

Suzanne_V, Apr 2025

GREAT experience - was really fun to meet a local Kyoto family and cook traditional Japanese food. They were very accommodating to our food "requirements" ... we were a group of 6, one of which is vegetarian and they were super about ensuring the vegetarian had plenty to eat!

Response from Host, Apr 2025

Thank you so much for your kind review! It was truly a pleasure welcoming your group into our home. We’re so happy to hear you enjoyed the cooking experience and appreciated the accommodations for your vegetarian guest — we always want everyone to feel included and well-fed! We hope you’ll carry a bit of Kyoto (and some delicious recipes) with you wherever you go. You’re always welcome back anytime!

We spent a lovely...

myrto_k, Dec 2024

We spent a lovely afternoon with Naomi Anthony and their kids and pets! Such a wonderful family! Felt so welcome! Really unique experience!

Response from Host, Jan 2025

Thank you so much for your kind review! It was such a pleasure to spend the afternoon with your lovely family. Alex’s design work is truly inspiring—it was fascinating to see the beautiful apartments he has created in Thessaloniki! We really enjoyed sharing the experience of making gyoza and tamago yaki together. Alex showed some impressive cooking skills, and it was wonderful to see Dimitri and Phillip join in as well. They brought a calm, friendly presence to the class, which added to the relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere. It was a joy to connect with your family and share a little piece of Japanese culture. We hope you had a memorable time and that the recipes bring a taste of Japan to your table back in Greece! Very much hope to see you again in Kyoto or Greece! 😊 Warm regards, Naomi & Anthony

A wonderful evening!

Nik_S, Nov 2024

So glad that we decided to try out this Cooking Class / relaxing Family Evening. We even had another, rather traditional Cooking Class the day before. It was not bad, but it can't compare to this! Aside from learning a lot about the Japanese Kitchen, the ingredients, habits, recipes etc, we had a really great Time - and everyone knows: Food usually tastes better in company!! Hope same goes to the Hosts, wish you all the best!!

Response from Host, Nov 2024

Thank you so much for your thoughtful review and for sharing your experience! We’re so happy to hear that our cooking class created a memorable and relaxing evening for your family. It’s great to know you enjoyed learning about Japanese cuisine and that the combination of food and good company made it even more special. We’re especially glad that our class stood out for you and that it felt unique. Feedback like yours means a lot to us and encourages us to keep creating warm and enjoyable experiences for our guests. We hope the recipes and memories from the evening stay with you for a long time. Wishing you all the best, and we’d be delighted to welcome you again someday!

Best experience EVER! Truly unique cultural enrichment.

Julio_B, Oct 2024

A unique experience for our lifetime. Food was ALL prepared from scratch and EXTREMELY delicious! A once in a lifetime opportunity to meet a local family, share stories, meet their incredible children, and of course their pets. The worst part was that it had to end. I would do this again without hesitation. Anthony, Naomi and their family are definitely special people. Thank you for this opportunity!

Response from Host, Oct 2024

Dear Julio and Diana, Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled that you enjoyed the experience and the food prepared from scratch. It was a pleasure to share our home, stories, and introduce you to our family (including Luca and Oliver!). We’re so happy to hear it was such a memorable experience for you—you’re always welcome back. The kids love their little gifts, and Naomi and I will feature our coasters and Halloween towels in our kitchen for years to come. So thoughtful! We, too, wish it didn’t have to end, and we hope to have the chance to host you again in the future. Warmest regards, Anthony, Naomi, Leo, Anna, and Clara

Unique, Exceptional Kyoto Experience!

NAN_R, Sep 2024

This was, hands down, our favorite experience in Japan! Anthony, Naomi, Anna, Clara, & Leo welcomed us into their home with gracious hospitality and warmth & shared their knowledge of Japanese cooking and culture. It was a beautiful evening of delicious food and excellent conversation & learning! A typhoon was arriving just as we were departing, and Anthony followed up with us for 2 days following our visit, offering assistance and ensuring we were managing our travel home. We strongly recommend this cooking class - you’ll walk away with so much more than a satisfied appetite & some new recipes! To our new Kyoto friends, please look us up should you find yourselves in the US. We would love to host you!

Response from Host, Sep 2024

Dear Rinehart family, Thank you so much for your incredibly kind review! We are truly honored that your time with us was your favorite experience in Japan. It was an absolute pleasure welcoming you into our home, and we’re so glad that you enjoyed the cooking, conversation, and the warmth of our family. We’re especially touched that you appreciated the follow-up during the typhoon—your safety and well-being were very much on our minds, and we’re glad we could assist in any way possible. Your recommendation means the world to us, and we’re thrilled that you walked away with more than just recipes but also a meaningful connection. Your invitation to the US is so generous, and if we ever find ourselves there, we would be delighted to reconnect! Thank you again for spending such a memorable evening with us. We wish you all the best and hope to see you again in the future. Warmest regards, Anthony, Naomi, Anna, Clara, & Leo

Book something else

aingalla, Jul 2024

Bummer since this family was very kind. This was more of coming over to informally cook alongside or assist the host family than a cooking class. We made sautéed veggies and teriyaki chicken. Learned a bit about typical Japanese cooking ingredients. The host didn’t read that we had noted dairy dietary restrictions. The host family was very accommodating for young children. The host didn’t allow us to start at the time listed on the tour and confirmed as available before booking (11am) so we started at 3pm. Also a bit of a trek from Kyoto Station.

Response from Host, Sep 2024

Dear Ingalla family, Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. We sincerely apologize that your visit did not meet your expectations, and we appreciate your feedback, as it helps us improve. We regret the misunderstanding regarding the cooking class format. Our aim is to create a warm, interactive experience where guests can cook alongside us and learn about Japanese cuisine in a relaxed setting. We will certainly consider your feedback as we work to clarify our description to better align with what guests can expect. Regarding the dietary restrictions, we sincerely apologize for the oversight. We understand how important it is to accommodate dietary needs and will take extra care in the future to review all guest information thoroughly. We also apologize for the change in the start time. Communication was a bit tricky, and we regret any inconvenience it caused. We will ensure that our scheduling process is more reliable moving forward. Finally, we appreciate your note about the location. While we strive to provide a local, authentic experience, we understand that our home may be a bit farther from Kyoto Station than some might expect. We’ll work on providing clearer information about the location and travel times in our listing. Thank you again for your visit and for your feedback. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back in the future for a more positive experience. Best regards, Anthony

Highlight of our Japan trip!

Karina_B, Jun 2024

We had the most wonderful time with Anthony and Naomi. They are such a warm and welcoming family - we couldn't have asked for a better experience! We cooked a lovely traditional Japanese meal with them, chatted about all things Japan, and really enjoyed ourselves. This was an absolute highlight of our trip (including for the kids!). I would definitely recommend!

Response from Host, Sep 2024

Dear Karina, Thank you so much for your lovely review! We’re absolutely delighted to hear that you had such a wonderful time with us and that the experience was a highlight of your trip, especially for the kids. It was a true pleasure welcoming your family into our home and sharing a traditional Japanese meal together. We really enjoyed our conversations and are so glad that you felt comfortable and at home with us. Your recommendation means a lot to us, and we’re thrilled that we could make your time in Japan even more special. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back in the future! Warm regards, Anthony and Naomi

Wonderful Family Style Dinner

tracey_e, Jun 2024

Our group of 3 had a wonderful evening with our hosts Anthony and Nomi (apologies if misspelled), plus their 3 kids, family friend, their doggy and fluffy cat. In reality, Nomi and Anthony must’ve done a ton of prep before we arrived, since all prep/ingredients were in place, allowing guests to do the fun stuff: a bit of chopping, egg cracking, whisking and frying. While Nomi was explaining numerous helpful details (how to trim a bit of skin from the squash), Anthony was always quick to assist (making sure a pan was over the right amount of heat, did I have enough oil so the egg wouldn’t stick, etc.). Recipes were emailed after class, and no memorizing was needed. As we chatted about travel and kids, it felt like only minutes and then it was time to eat. Each of us sat down to personal dishes of simmered kabocha, miso soup with tofu, sesame spinach, tamagoyaki, succulent chicken teriyaki, plus a steaming bowl of special rice (was this red bean rice??). The class felt effortless and easy. While the dog and cat meandered under the table, the kids happily chatted nearby. We gobbled up all the delicious food. Our hosts welcomed us into their home, and enriched our trip by letting us glimpse their family life. Sometimes a big far flung vacation that is packed with sightseeing is missing a chance to slow down and make connections with others. Anthony and Nomi have created the antidote here: what began as strangers eating together became a shared meal with friends. Thank you so much!

Response from Host, Sep 2024

Dear Tracey, Wow, thank you so much for your beautifully detailed review! We are truly touched by your kind words and are thrilled that you had such a wonderful evening with us. Hosting you and your group was an absolute pleasure, and we’re so glad that you felt at home in our little corner of Kyoto. Naomi and I do our best to prepare everything so that our guests can focus on enjoying the fun parts of cooking, and it’s wonderful to hear that this approach made the experience effortless and enjoyable for you. It sounds like the evening flowed just as we hoped it would—with good food, great conversation, and a sense of connection. We’re glad you enjoyed the dishes, including the simmered kabocha and red bean rice (yes, you guessed it right!). The sight of everyone happily eating and chatting is exactly what makes these evenings so special for us. Thank you for mentioning our furry friends—they always enjoy being part of the experience, and it’s heartwarming to know they added to your enjoyment. Your observation about slowing down and making meaningful connections during a busy vacation resonates deeply with us, and we’re so happy to have provided that for you. It truly felt like sharing a meal with friends, and we’re grateful that you allowed us to be part of your journey. We hope to welcome you back someday—our home is always open to you! Warmest regards, Anthony and Naomi

Eating Like a Local: A Delicious Family Dinner

Andrew_M, May 2024

My wife and I had a lovely time on this experience. While the cooking was great, the real joy was the meal, spending time with a real family in Kyoto and just experiencing something you'd normally have to live in a city for years to have! The food was delicious and they even taught us a few phrases to help with our travels. Highly recommend!

Response from Host, Sep 2024

Dear Andrew, Thank you so much for your wonderful review! It was a true pleasure to host you and your wife. We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed not only the cooking but also the experience of sharing a meal together in our home. Creating those authentic, memorable moments is exactly what we hope to offer our guests. We’re glad you found the food delicious and that the phrases we shared will be useful during your travels in Japan. It’s always a joy for us to share a bit of our culture and help our guests feel more connected to this beautiful country. Thank you for the high recommendation—it means the world to us. We hope to welcome you both back to Kyoto someday! Best wishes, Anthony

Our family with kids Japanese highlight!

Sarhn_M, May 2024

What a marvellous experience for our whole family. Travelling with my 78 year old mother and 11 year old daughter, we were warmly welcomed and immediately felt like friends. My daughter loved to play with their kids and pets and we all loved the opportunity to experience normal Japanese family life, around a table of traditional Japanese food, that we helped to create. Regardless if you are a couple, a family with children, solo traveller or a small group of friends, this experience is very special. Thankyou thankyou thankyou! Arigato gozaimasu!

Response from Host, May 2024

Sarhn, what a wonderful time we all had together! My kids loved playing with Willow-cards and dolls and music. I enjoyed speaking with you and your mother. So cool that your mom does ballroom dance! You have a home in Kyoto here, so do call on us again next time. :)

Great time

Matthew_M, Apr 2024

Wonderful experience, great food, and good conversation. Host is accommodating, kind, and helpful. Learned a lot!!

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Great having you and Jess cook okonomiyaki with us that evening! Glad you could enjoy yourselves and learn a bit about Japanese cooking. Tell your friends about us and come back and see us next time!

Great Experience

Tin_D, Feb 2024

Attending the one-day cooking class with the welcoming family was a pleasant experience. Despite the short timeframe, we felt like part of their Famuly, from the moment we arrived. The atmosphere was relaxed, and we enjoyed exchanging stories while preparing the dishes together. It wasn't about perfecting recipes but more about the simple joy of cooking and connecting with others. Definitely recommend!!!

Response from Host, Feb 2024

We very much enjoyed having Tin and Hugo as our first customers! They inspired us with their stories of travel and learning. They showed interest in cooking and the food, but also equal interest in sharing the time with our family and becoming friends. So glad to have met these guys!