$15000 Book Now

Fun Japanese Cooking Class in Kyoto with a Local Chef

All amenities

Family Friendly
Vegetarian friendly
Japanese, English
Cooking studio
Has animals
Cooking demonstration
professional cook
Cooking Experience
3 - 4 hours
Min 1, max 8 guests
Start times: 11:00am, 5:00pm
Join Midori in her cozy cooking studio in Kyoto for an authentic Japanese cooking class. Choose from one of her carefully curated set menus, featuring simple, delicious Japanese recipes you can easily recreate at home. Midori guides you through a mix of hands-on cooking and live demonstrations, using seasonal, traditional Japanese ingredients to prepare classic Japanese dishes. The cooking portion lasts about 1.5 hours, after which you will sit down together to enjoy the meal you helped prepare. Midori can accommodate vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and lactose-free diets, so please let her know of any dietary restrictions when booking. During your meal, you’ll enjoy a relaxed, intimate experience, chatting with Midori about Kyoto’s best restaurants, local food culture, and souvenir shopping. Perfect for couples, families, and travelers interested in Japanese culinary culture, this experience feels like cooking with a friend while immersing yourself in the flavors of Japan.
Meal
3 - 4 hours
Min 1, max 8 guests
Start times: 11:00am, 5:00pm
Midori will welcome you with smoked tea, a classic Japanese tea, and wagashi, traditional Japanese confections typically enjoyed with tea. She will introduce you to essential Japanese ingredients used in home cooking, including soy sauce, mirin, sake, and miso, and explain how they bring flavor to each dish. Feel free to ask questions and learn about the techniques behind these authentic Japanese recipes. After the introduction, you will sit down and enjoy a traditional Japanese home-style meal, which may include dishes such as miso soup, okonomiyaki (Japanese pancake), takoyaki (octopus balls), gyoza (dumplings), teriyaki chicken, and onigiri (rice balls). This meal is a delicious opportunity to experience the flavors of Japanese home cooking and learn directly from a skilled Kyoto chef.
Notes

1. A friendly cat lives in the home, but it stays upstairs during the class and does not enter the kitchen or dining area.
2. Midori can accommodate halal, kosher, vegetarian, and vegan diets upon request. Please inform her of any allergies or dietary restrictions when booking your Kyoto cooking class online. She also offers set menus, so don’t forget to mention your menu preference at the time of booking.
3. This experience is perfect for families with children.
4. Midori offers seasonal Japanese menus that may include Gyū Don (beef bowl), Sauce Katsudon (pork or chicken cutlets), Rei Men (cold noodles), and more. If there is a specific Japanese dish you’d like to learn, please let her know when booking.

Sample menu

This is just a sample menu to give you an idea of the types of dishes the host cooks. Your menu will vary according to seasonal availability.

  • Please select ONE from the menus below when making a booking. All menus are served with welcome Japanese sweets, seasonal vegetables and tea. All menus can be made gluten-free or vegan.
  • Menu 1: Teriyaki Chicken (Teriyaki chicken or fried tofu steak, onigiri (rice ball), miso soup)
  • Menu 2: Okonomiyaki (Japanese pancake, onigiri (rice ball), miso soup)
  • Menu 3: Takoyaki (Octopus ball, onigiri (rice ball), miso soup)
  • Menu 4: Gyoza (Pan-fried dumplings, onigiri (rice ball), miso soup)
  • Menu 5 Pork Tonkatsu (Pork or chicken cutlet), onigiri (rice ball), miso soup)
  • Menu 6: Ramen (Vegan ramen, Vegan gyoza and onigiri (rice ball)
  • Menu 7 : Shoyu Ramen (Soy sauce ramen, Japanese fried chicken and onigiri (rice ball)
  • Menu 8: Egg Sandwich (Japanese Fried chicken and cream soda)
  • Menu 9: Karaage (Japanese fried chicken, potato salad, onigiri (rice ball) and miso soup)

More about Midori

Midori has spent over 30 years cooking and researching Japanese cuisine, making her a true expert in Japanese home cooking. She grew up in Akashi City, where she learned traditional Japanese recipes from her grandmother, and has carried these skills into her professional career. In 1995, Midori began sharing her culinary expertise by teaching cooking classes in Kyoto. After gaining years of experience, she returned to Kyoto and opened her charming cooking studio near the Gion district. Here, she teaches international travelers how to prepare authentic Japanese home-cooked meals. Midori believes that sharing her passion for food is one of the best ways to connect with people and experience their culture, creating memorable culinary experiences for all her guests.

What others are saying

"The experience with Midori was very good, as she is very experienced running her own cooking school not only in Kyoto but other parts of South East Asia. She is very professional, and very serious about the way she is running her kitchen and class. Please feel free to ask more about ingredients you don’t know, as she will be delighted to explain in detail about all ingredients used in Japanese cooking. I asked her about Japanese silky tofu and she showed me a very quick and simple recipe to accommodate it as a snack! My favourite dish was chicken teriyaki - it was very very good! "
Sophie
Nov 27, 2025
"Midori is a wonderful teacher and enthusiastic about passing on her knowledge and expertise. She was interested in us and our interests and gave us tips for the places we were visiting in Japan. "
Joyce
Nov 22, 2025
"Midori gave very specific advice on shopping related to our cooking wishes. We cooked two delicious meals with her. She was enthusiastic and experienced."
Anthony
Oct 21, 2025
"Midori was an excellent host and extraordinary chef. She taught us how to cook Gyoza Pork rice bowl and miso soup. Her preparations were delicious. We highly recommend her to anyone who wants to know what great Japanese cooking is all about."
Remmy
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Cancellation

  • No worries booking: free cancellation within 24 hours of booking.
  • Cancel anytime up to 48 hours before your experience for a full refund minus service fees.
  • If your experience is cancelled within 48 hours of your experience, no refund is provided.

Location

Frequently asked questions

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