Private Japanese Cooking Experience in Arashiyama Kyoto
One group per session. Always. No strangers. No shared classes. Just us, and you. [Vegan Class] [Traditional Class]
3 Features
Our Home
A 50-year-old traditional Japanese house in the heart of Arashiyama — a short walk from Togetsukyo Bridge, and close to the bamboo forest, temples, and the quiet riverside paths that make this neighborhood unlike anywhere else in Kyoto.
Your Hosts
Satoru has spent over 30 years cooking professionally. Akiko speaks fluent English and spent more than a decade as a care worker. Together, they know how to make people feel at home.
Your Choice
Vegan Class or Traditional Class. Same house. Same hosts. Same care.
Two Classes
Vegan Class
100% plant-based and dashi-free. Every ingredient explained. For travelers who need to know exactly what is in their food — Japan can be a difficult country to navigate, and we have thought carefully about that.
Traditional Class
Fresh fish, eggs, and the deep flavors of a Japanese home kitchen. For guests who want to cook the way Japanese families actually cook.
[Learn more about the Traditional Class]
Why One Group?
Why one group?
Most cooking classes in Kyoto put strangers together at the same table. We decided early on that we did not want to do that.
This is our home. When you are here, it is yours for the day. We cook together, eat together, and talk — about food, about Japan, about whatever comes up.
That only works when the space is truly yours.
One group. Maximum 4 guests. Every time.
Meet Your Hosts
Meet Satoru & Akiko
We are not a cooking school. We are a couple who love feeding people well — and who happen to have the experience to do it properly.
Guests have come to us from more than 20 countries. Some are experienced cooks. Some have never held a Japanese knife. Some are vegan and have spent their entire trip anxious about what is in their food. Some just want to make ramen and have a good afternoon.
We have learned to read the room. And we genuinely enjoy it.
Guest Reviews
What guests say
"we are complete beginners but the explanations were great and very easy to follow and we got to eat all the sushi at then end".
"We were very happy to find a vegan cooking class in the first place, as that is not easy at all in Japan."
"Akiko and Satoru were extremely accommodating and friendly, which made it feel more like we were cooking with friends and made us have lots of fun throughout!"
"Even though this was a cooking class, it felt like home and it felt like my parents were teaching me."
Add-ons
Matcha Experience
Add a quiet tea moment to your cooking day. 1,500 yen per person, no advance booking needed.
Aritsugu Knife Experience
Cook with 7 types of legendary Aritsugu knives before you decide to buy. The smartest souvenir decision you will make in Kyoto.
Seasonal Menu
This summer we are offering Zaru Soba. Chilled buckwheat noodles, homemade tsuyu, plated on a traditional bamboo mat. A classic Japanese summer dish, made by your hands.
(Note: Soba contains buckwheat. Please let us know in advance if you have any allergies.)
Booking
Ready to cook in Kyoto?
Come hungry.
Bring your questions.
We will take care of the rest.