A Cold Day in Kyoto? Spend the Afternoon Cooking in a Local Home

Kyoto in January and February is cold. It gets dark around five, many temples close early, and by mid-afternoon a lot of travelers are tired, a little chilled, and wondering what to do next.

This is what we offer for that part of the day. Come into our home in Arashiyama, cook ramen and sushi with us, and sit down to eat what you made. One group at a time, out of the cold.

Who we are

We are Satoru and Akiko, a married couple. Satoru has cooked professionally for 30 years. Akiko speaks English and does most of the talking.

I (Satoru) should be honest: I speak almost no English. I usually understand roughly what you are saying. I answer with my hands, with the food, and by making sure everything you need is ready before you need it. Akiko is relaxed and direct, and conversations with her tend to go well beyond cooking.

What the afternoon looks like

We meet you at the station and walk to the house together. It is the house we actually live in. It is not a studio or a rented kitchen.

You put on an apron and we start. You make soy sauce ramen and two kinds of sushi, or a fully plant-based version if you are vegan or vegetarian. If you like, you can add matcha at the end.

The class is private. It is only your group, up to five people, for about two to two and a half hours.

Then you eat what you cooked. Afterwards we ask how it was, go through the recipes you will take home, and ask if we can take a photo together.

The part we did not expect

Before this, I managed a restaurant near Kyoto Station. Many visitors from overseas ate there. In a restaurant, the staff thank the guest, and that is how it should be.

Here, something different happens. When we ask for a photo, nearly everyone says "Of course!" and looks happy to be asked. At the door, people thank us carefully and at length. I cannot follow all the words, but I understand what is being said. We are the ones being paid, and yet we receive a great deal of thanks.

I think it is the two hours. On a long trip in another country, you mostly talk to hotel staff, ticket machines, and each other. Two hours in someone's home, talking the way you would with friends, seems to be something people miss without noticing. Our reviews say more about that than about the food.

There is a world map on our wall. After each group leaves, we add a small red heart to the place they came from.

Is it worth the trip in winter?

Many of our guests come to Arashiyama only for the class. We can tell, because they step off the train while we are waiting at the station, instead of walking over from the sightseeing area.

If you want to look around first, winter is a good time for it. The places to see are the same as the rest of the year, but there are far fewer people, so you can take your time.

Once in a while it snows. Arashiyama under snow is a remarkable sight. The paths get slippery, so please be careful if you are not used to it.

Practical details

• Start times: 4:00 pm every day, and 10:30 am on Tuesdays and Fridays
• Length: about 2 to 2.5 hours
• Group size: private, up to 5 people
• Menus: Traditional (soy sauce ramen, wagyu sushi roll, nigiri) or Vegan (plant-based ramen and sushi). Matcha is optional
• Booking: online, up to the day before
• Meeting point: at the station. The details are in your confirmation email

【https://www.kyotogreencuisine.jp/】