Private Guided Traditional Buddhist Cooking in Japan
Recommended by 100% of travelers
Kyoto, Japan
- 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Explore our promoted experiences
Overview
Sample Menu
Main
Shojin-ryori (traditional Buddhist cooking)
Simmered vegetables, dried strips of daikon, miso-grazed eggplant, mashed tofu salad, Spicy teriyaki balls, vegetarian fried chicken
What's Included
- LunchIngredients, Drink (water or tea), Apron, All the equipment, Utility charges, Facility fee, Recipes
- Private transportation
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Japan, 606-8165 Kyoto, Sakyo Ward, Ichijōji Nodachō, １６ フェアモントビル
If my address doesn’t appear on Google Maps, please search for Giomon, a soba restaurant. My apartment “Fairmont bldg“ is on the corner just north of the soba restaurant.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Operating hours.10:00 am
What To Expect
1
Enkoji Temple
2
Shisendo Temple
3
Ginkakuji Temple
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Madhu_J
I had such a wonderful experience this morning at a vegan Buddhist cooking class in Kyoto! Our instructor, Yukari, spoke very clear English and made everything easy to follow from start to finish. Before we began, she carefully introduced all the ingredients and explained the philosophy behind Shojin Ryori (traditional Buddhist cuisine), which made the experience even more meaningful.
What I loved most was how hands-on the class was—we were involved in every step, from chopping and marinating to pan-frying and even plating the dishes beautifully. In total, we learned how to make 7 different dishes, and every single one was absolutely delicious.
Yukari created such a warm, welcoming atmosphere, and her passion really showed throughout the class. I would honestly give her more than 5 stars if I could. Highly recommend this experience to anyone visiting Kyoto!
Reviews
5.0
based on 20 reviews
Barbara_M, Apr 2026
Yukari-san’s cooking class was brilliant. First she introduced us to the origin and importance shōjin ryōri (temple cuisine), then she kindly explained all the dishes we made. The dishes were fairly easy to make with her clear instructions and they were incredibly delicious. As the activity took place in her home, we were joined only by two more guests, so it had a very cozy vibe - not to mention the great hospitality of Yukari-san, and her great recommendations both for Kyoto and Osaka. Pretty much the best cooking class I have ever attended.
ありがとうございました。
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Barbara,
Thank you so much for your lovely review!
I’m really glad you enjoyed the cooking, the cozy atmosphere, and learning about shōjin ryōri.
It means a lot to me that you had such a great experience.
It was a pleasure having you—ありがとうございます！また会えるのを楽しみにしています！
Yuka
Madhu_J, Apr 2026
I had such a wonderful experience this morning at a vegan Buddhist cooking class in Kyoto! Our instructor, Yukari, spoke very clear English and made everything easy to follow from start to finish. Before we began, she carefully introduced all the ingredients and explained the philosophy behind Shojin Ryori (traditional Buddhist cuisine), which made the experience even more meaningful.
What I loved most was how hands-on the class was—we were involved in every step, from chopping and marinating to pan-frying and even plating the dishes beautifully. In total, we learned how to make 7 different dishes, and every single one was absolutely delicious.
Yukari created such a warm, welcoming atmosphere, and her passion really showed throughout the class. I would honestly give her more than 5 stars if I could. Highly recommend this experience to anyone visiting Kyoto!
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Madhu,
Thank you so much for your wonderful and thoughtful review!
I’m truly happy to hear that you enjoyed not only the cooking, but also learning about the philosophy behind Shojin Ryori.
It means a lot to me that you appreciated the hands-on experience and every step of the process. I always hope my guests can fully experience both the cooking and the spirit behind it.
It was such a pleasure having you, and I’m very grateful for your kind words. I would love to welcome you again anytime!
Yuka
Bryan_H, Apr 2026
She was very friendly and knowledgeable. The food was great. Had a great time exploring the consecpt of sojin ryori. She is definitely a hidden gem in Kyoto and would highly recommend take a class with her.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Bryan,
Thank you so much for your kind words!
I’m really happy to hear that you enjoyed exploring the concept of Shojin Ryori and had a great time. It was a pleasure having you, and I truly appreciate your recommendation.
Yuka
Mike_D, Jun 2025
An amazing cultural experience. Yukari was an amazing host and we all enjoyed learning about the ingredients and preparation of a Japanese traditional meal. Not to mention the food was incredibly delicious! It was a highlight of our time in Kyoto and we could not recommend the experience more!
Response from Host, Jun 2025
Thank you so much for your kind words, Mike. You have such a sweet family! It was a joy to share Japanese cooking with you all, and I’m so glad you enjoyed both the cultural side and the food itself. I hope you’ll continue enjoying Japanese flavors at home and if you ever have any questions, feel free to contact me anytime!
Yukari
Christine_G, Apr 2025
This is a delicious and delightful experience! The teacher is a kind and talented person and we all enjoyed the class.
Response from Host, Apr 2025
Thank you, Christine. I had a so much fun cooking and chatting with you all. I’d be happy if my cooking class could inspire you in some way.
Yuka
Morty_O, Mar 2025
Yukari was an amazing host and teacher as she guided us through cooking and preparing a seven-part vegan Buddhist meal. Her knowledge of Japan's culinary culture is vast and profound. My wife and I enjoyed chatting with her not only about the meal we were making but Japanese culture, where to buy some of the specialized kitchen tools we were using, and suggestions on quieter alternatives to some of the overtouristed sights of Kyoto. It was one of my favorite experiences in our two-week adventure through Japan. And the food was one of the highlights of our trip, too!
Response from Host, Apr 2025
Morty, thank you for coming the other day. I had a great time cooking and chatting with you. I hope you’ll continue to enjoy Japanese food at home from now on, too.
Yuka
Sze_T, Dec 2024
My family and I had a great time learning how to make Shojin Ryori (vegan Buddhist cooking) with Yukari san. She kept my 11 year olds entertained and we enjoyed a delicious vegan meal we all had a hand in creating at the end of the lesson. And none of us are vegan!
Yukari san also gave great recommendations of different temples in the area to visit as well as restaurants to try. Highly recommend her class for an inside view of Japanese culture from a local.
Response from Host, Feb 2025
Hi, Sze. Thank you for coming to my cooking session! I really enjoyed your company and good conversations. Try to recreate Shojin-ryori at home and contact anytime if you come up with any questions.
All the best,
Yukari
Margot_T, Nov 2024
Yukari was a very welcoming host. She taught us about Shiojin Ryori and we cooked together food inspired by the traditional Buddhist cooking. The food was absolutely delicious and vegan, and we also learned about the specificity of Kyoto's culinary gems. It was a very nice experience. I definitely would recommend!
Response from Host, Feb 2025
Thank you, Margot. I really appreciate your pleasant review. I enjoyed a lot. If you come up with any questions when you recreate my recipes, contact me anytime!
Best wishes,
Yukari
Jill_R, Oct 2024
Our teacher's depth of knowledge, her kindness, and her generosity were touching. It was fun and a great way to learn about Japanese ingredients and cooking. In the end, we made a delicious meal that we shared with other "students" - a sweet couple from France.
Response from Host, Feb 2025
Thank you for your nice comment. You encouraged me a lot. I would be happy if you could Japanese cuisine more casually now on.
Best wishes,
Yuka
Benjamin_D, Jun 2024
The class was amazing! Yukari was very welcoming and gave us great explanations about the history of the cuisine. She was very paciente and explained the recipes in details and shared it with us in writing to be able to do them at home, which we did when we got back. Everything was delicious and she even helped us with the plating for it to look really good. Would highly recommend to anybody interested in cuisine, culture or vegan food.
Response from Host, Jul 2024
Thank you for sharing your review with me. Your words encourage me a lot.
Susan_S, Mar 2024
My friend and I have attended four cooking courses whilst we have been in Japan and this was definitely the best one. Yukari has a very extensive knowledge of Japanese food from working with it for many years. She helped us prepare a really fascinating and super tasty Buddhist meal which was very cleverly constructed.
Response from Host, Jun 2024
Thank you very much for your pleasant review. I really enjoyed your company!
Wendy_L, Mar 2024
My boyfriend and I really enjoyed learning “Shojin Ryori” cooking with Yukari. We cooked 7 vegetarian dishes and loved all of them. We learned common ingredients and cooking techniques for Shojin Ryori. Yukari was so helpful and kind.
Response from Host, Jun 2024
Wendy, Thank you for leaving a pleasant review!
Best wishes,
Yukari
Hirak_P, Mar 2024
This was a terrific experience. Yukari was a great host and a wonderful teacher. she has written books and articles on various aspects of Japanese food and is very knowledgeable. We learned a lot about aspects of Japanese and specifically Shojin cuisine. In addition, it was one of the tastiest meals that I’ve prepared.
I would highly recommend this when you visit Kyoto.
Response from Host, Mar 2024
Thank you, Hirak. I really enjoyed your company. Hope to see you again someday!
Best wishes,
Yukari
From $69.30
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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