Private Tour

Japanese Cooking Class with Local Family in Takayama Old Town

Overview

Available languages

English

3 hours

Mobile ticket

If you're seeking an authentic connection with a local family, this is for you! We are a warm, fun-loving family of four, deeply rooted in Takayama. Here, you won’t just learn to cook Japanese food—you’ll experience how locals live and savor life together.

Our 200-year-old wooden townhouse stands on Old Town’s main street, yet stepping inside feels like entering a quiet world where time slows down. Its small quirks remind us of its beauty and history.

We’ll welcome you with Japanese tea and snacks before guiding you in preparing a traditional meal in our kitchen. As we cook side by side, we’ll share stories of life in Takayama and living in harmony with nature and the seasons.

Hisa and Bob pour their hearts into every class. This is more than a cooking lesson—it’s a moment of connection, culture, and feeling at home far from home.

Feel free to write us your request on food or any restrictions, we are happy to accommodate as much as possible!

Additional Info

Wheelchair accessible

Service animals allowed

Public transportation options are available nearby

Transportation options are wheelchair accessible

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What‘s Included

If you chose the slot of 4:30 PM

If you chose the slot of 10:00 AM

Coffee and/or Tea

Alcoholic Beverages

What To Expect

You’ll be welcomed into our private townhouse on the main street of Takayama’s Old Town, a historic home that has been in our family for generations. Normally closed to the public, this 200-year-old house was once a local clinic where many babies were born. We’ll guide you through its unique spaces—the former clinic and our traditional living quarters—while sharing stories about life in Takayama and how we embrace a slower, seasonal lifestyle in the Hida mountains. We’ll begin with Japanese tea and delicate wagashi (traditional sweets), followed by a short introduction to Japanese home cooking. Next, you’ll slip into a traditional apron and step into our semi-outdoor kitchen, a peaceful space where we prepare meals much like our ancestors did. Together we’ll make dashi, explore key ingredients, and cook five seasonal dishes tailored to your preferences. To finish, enjoy fresh seasonal fruit prepared in a uniquely Japanese style for dessert. This isn’t your average cooking class. It’s an intimate, heartwarming experience where you’ll connect with two old locals (both fluent in English!) and discover what it feels like to be welcomed into a real Japanese home far from the crowds.

Sample Menu

main

Hoba Sushi

[Pescatarian/Gruten-Free] Trout salmon sushi rapped with a magnolia leaf. Limited to the early summer June-July

main

Buri Teriyaki

Yellowtail (buri) cooked in a savory and sweet teriyaki sauce.

main

Dashimaki Tamago

a classic Japanese rolled omelette infused with dashi

starter

Sesami Spinach

Spichach with Sesami seasonings

starter

Miso Soup

[Vegan or Pescatarian] Miso Soup with seasonal ingredients + Japanese Broth, "Dashi"

starter

Dashi Soup

[Vegan or Pescatarian + Gluten-free]Soup without Miso, called "Sumashi Shiru" in Japanese with seasonal ingredient

Options

Japanese Cooking Class with Local Family in Takayama Old Town

Reviews

5.00

28 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

This experience is everything!
Kimberly F,
Sep 23, 2025
- Viator
5.00
If you want a truly authentic experience, this is it. We absolutely loved our experience with Bob and Hisa. They were so warm and welcoming in their home and we got to learn about not only the food, but the culture as well. The food they selected for the menu was fantastic. We had a local fish that was cooked in a soy sauce, mirin and sake base. It was really flavorful. Then we made some sushi. It was fun to learn how to roll it. We also made tempura which was a great, interactive activity. Tempura seems like one of those things that is intimidating to make at home, but now we are going to try it with our kids when we get back! Finally, we had that most incredible Hida beef that melted in your mouth. Bob and Hisa - Thank you and we wish you the best!!
An amazing cooking class in Takayama!
Debbie H,
Sep 2, 2025
- Viator
5.00
What an experience. Bob and Hisa were fantastic hosts who allowed us into their home. We learnt so much about how to cook home style Japanese food and being a foodie/cook myself it was very insightful. Bob’s produce was fabulous and the dinner itself was delicious. We could not recommend this experience enough. If you go to Takayama you must do this cooking class.
Amazing personal experience
Kelly C,
Jun 11, 2025
- Viator
5.00
We cooked a full lunch and enjoyed a wonderful tour of Bob’s beautiful home in the middle of old town Takayama!
Real Japanese home cooking experience
Meline A,
May 10, 2025
- Viator
5.00
Being welcome into Hisa and Bob’s home to learn to cook was a wonderful experience. Not only do they teach you how to cook, but they also take the time to explain the ingredients (which I was lucky to get a lot of fresh local plants). Before you even start cooking they show you around their beautiful home with quite the history and the basis of Japanese cooking. I had very interesting conversation with both of them and they were extremely generous and suggesting restaurants and places to visit for the next area I visit. They are not professional cooks, and that’s what I loved about it. You learn to cook the way they cook at home. If you want a ruban bleu type of experience, this is not it, but if you want a real home cooking experience with two beautiful human beings, this is the place! I strongly recommend. Thank you Hisa and Bob!
Takayama Highlight
Tamara S,
Apr 21, 2025
- Viator
5.00
Tomoa and her father really made this cooking class one of my highlights of my japan trip! They were so lovely and beside the delicious cooking, they also taught me about the history of the area :) 10/10 - I will definitely come back!