Private Tour

Private Guided Traditional Buddhist Cooking in Japan

Overview

Available languages

Japanese

English

2 hours 30 minutes

Mobile ticket

You can have an Kyoto specific culinary experience in this class.

Japan has a long history of vegan cuisine which developed at Buddhist temples. Since killing animals is strictly prohibited in Buddhism, so all the dishes generally don’t contain any animal products such as meat and fish. It's very healthy and well-balanced cuisine featuring seasonal vegetables, soybeans(tofu), grains, seaweed or many fermented foods.

We make a variety of dishes inspired by classic Buddhist cooking with modern twists. These delicious dishes make the most of the original taste of local ingredients. It's not difficult to cook at all but you will find the delicacy of Japanese cuisine in every detail of the dish. I'm sure you can enjoy Japanese authentic cooking which you are not be able to taste in the restaurant.

Additional Info

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller

Service animals allowed

Public transportation options are available nearby

Cancellation Policy

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

What‘s Included

Ingredients, Drink (water or tea), Apron, All the equipment, Utility charges, Facility fee, Recipes

Private transportation

What To Expect

In Japan we have a traditional Buddhist cooking called Shojin-ryorui, which is made without animal products. I will provide the participants knowledge of Shojin-ryori and introduce unique local ingredients and products at first. Then put on the aprons and learn how to make a variety of dishes through our hands-on cooking. In the end you can enjoy beautiful and flavorful plate lunch(dinner). We'll cook 7 dishes like as Simmered seasonal vegetables, Dried strips of daikon salad, Kinpira of lotus（braised thinly sliced lotus), Nasu dengaku(miso-grazed eggplant), Shiraae（mashed tofu salad), Spicy teriyaki balls, vegetarian fried chicken using wheat gluten and 2 rice balls. ※We can accept gluten-free, please let us know.

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

Options

Private Guided Traditional Buddhist Cooking in Japan

Reviews

5.00

16 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

An amazing cultural...
Mike D,
Jun 21, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
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!
Recommended
andreamK6204TE,
May 18, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We had a really good time at the cooking course! Yukari is very welcoming, kind and professional. It was fun to learn about a bit about the cuisine, about new ingredients and equipment, and the dishes were all really delicious.
Awesome experience!
jhalinem,
Apr 27, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
This was a great experience and incredibly fun! I’m very glad my husband and I got a chance to do this while staying in Kyoto.
This is a delicious and...
Christine G,
Apr 11, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
This is a delicious and delightful experience! The teacher is a kind and talented person and we all enjoyed the class.
Learn the intricacies of Japanese Buddhist cooking with Yuka sensei
Morty O,
Mar 31, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
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!
Best experience in Japan
MmeGermaine,
Feb 24, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
What an amazing experience! Yukari was well organized. The menu has been very well explained. All the preparation for the workshop was well done. And the food... OMG it was delicious!! I absolutely recommend. I would do classes with Yukari again and again!
Great time learning about Buddhist cooking
Sze T,
Dec 31, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00
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.
Lovely cooking experience with Yukari San.
Margot T,
Nov 13, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00
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!
Delightful class/delicious class!
Jill R,
Oct 28, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00
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.
Great experience....You should try this.
Robyn C,
Sep 16, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
A wonderful experience cooking vegan foods that were so tasty. Our host gave us great recipes and explained so much about the ingredients, some of which we hadn't tried before...lotus root was one. And the best part was we got to eat everything...yum....Thanks so much for a great Japanese experience.