Private Tour
Private Japanese Home Cooking Class in Kyoto with Michiyo
Overview
Available languages
3 hours
Mobile ticket
Meet your local host Michiyo and let her introduce you to the special menu of the day, before you start your hands-on cooking experience in her Kyoto kitchen. Michiyo truly enjoys sharing her knowledge on Japanese cooking techniques that she has perfected over the years. You will learn to make dashi stock (a fundamental building block of Japanese cuisine), and to perfectly prepare sushi rice for chirashi-sushi that you will later garnish in a traditional wooden bowl. The cooking portion of the experience will take about an hour and half before you and Michiyo will sit down together to enjoy the authentic Japanese meal you helped prepare paired with carefully selected alcohol to accent the delicious food.
Immerse yourself in Japanese culture and cuisine with the help of authentic food and a local's heart-warming hospitality!
Additional Info
Menu may vary depending on the season
Please advise any specific dietary requirements [in the "Special Requirements" box] at the time of booking
Michiyo and her husband share their home with El, their well-behaved dachshund dog
Private, personalized experience
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
This is a unique opportunity to visit the home of a local and explore traditional culture and cuisine. Michiyo will pick you up at the train station in her car and together you will drive three minutes to her home. Michiyo and her husband will invite you in for a cultural immersion into Japanese food, drinks, hospitality, and tradition. Michiyo values using seasonal, fresh vegetables sourced from locals in her dishes. After an introduction to the menu of the day, Michiyo will lead your hands-on cooking experience in her kitchen. Michiyo enjoys sharing her knowledge on Japanese cooking techniques that she has perfected over the years. You will learn how to make dashi stock, a fundamental building block of Japanese cuisine, and to perfectly prepare sushi rice for chirashi-sushi that you will garnish in a traditional wooden bowl. The cooking portion of the experience will take about an hour and half. You will then sit down together to enjoy the authentic Japanese meal you helped prepare.
Sample Menu
starter
Nikujaga (slow-cooked meat with potatoes and seasonal vegetables)
starter
Tofu side dish
starter
Dashi-based soup
main
Chirashi-sushi or tender fried chicken flavored with Japanese ingredients
What‘s Included
Private cooking class and meal with your host Michiyo
Local alcohol (1-2 glasses)
Pick up from Otsukyo Station on the JR Kosei line
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Options
Cooking + lunch
Cooking + dinner
Reviews
57 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
A very nice culinary experience
martichoux raphaelle,Feb 15, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We were wonderfully well received by Michiyo and her husband, with great warmth and simplicity. You feel at home right away. The course is clear, pleasant and very well explained. Michiyo shares its expertise with passion and generosity. It was a real pleasure to cook and learn alongside him. The meal was absolutely divine, full of flavors and finesse. A very nice time that we recommend without hesitation.
Great experience
sbuch0224,Feb 7, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I don’t typically cook often, but Michiyo explained everything well. The food was delicious, and I might even be able to make some of it at home. I really enjoyed trying traditional Japanese food and seeing how it is made.
I would visit Michiyo again in a heart beat!
682xanb,Jan 24, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Michiyo and her husband Kenichi were incredible hosts. They were kind, helpful, and fun conversation partners. Because they host a maximum of 2 people in their home, the ~2 hour experience is intimate. Be prepared for a fun night of culture exchange as you make a traditional and delectable Japanese meal while you think about how soon you can come back to Japan!
Good food, good hearts.
Venture775844,Jan 18, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We were welcomed and sent off like family. This was not just an evening of cooking class with great food. This was an experience of good Japanese family heart.
Unique Cooking Experience
B4596YUjulieg,Oct 27, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Being in a private home with Michiyo and her husband was a wonderful experience. My husband and I enjoyed reviewing recipes and learning hands on with Michiyo's guidance and expertise. This was one of our Japan trip highlights!
Amazing cooking experience in Kyoto
phoebem515,Oct 13, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00My husband and I did a cooking class with Michiyo during our visit to Kyoto this October. It was one of the highlights of our trip! We loved learning about Japanese ingredients and cooking techniques, and the dishes we cooked with Michiyo were absolutely delicious! She and her husband were such kind hosts, and they gave us many recommendations for what to do in the area during the rest of our trip. If you like cooking, definitely book this! You won't regret it. :)
Wonderful class with Michiyo
annasZ3203CS,Jul 12, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had the best time with Michiyo and her husband! She walked us through all the fundamentals of the building blocks for Japanese cooking, then we used these ingredients to make 5 dishes that we all enjoyed together. We can’t wait to bring our new skills back to the US. Thank you Michiyo!
Classic Japanese cooking class
karenhM6616GO,Jun 25, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00From the moment we saw Michiyo waiting for us at the station I knew we going to have a wonderful day. We spent the afternoon learning the basics of Japanese flavours and techniques and then enjoyed the fruits of our labour while learning about life in Kyoto. Both Michiyo and her husband were delightful and very patient as we peppered them with questions about their life in Japan.
Unique Kyoto experience
DaisyMac,Jun 17, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I had such a lovely evening with Michiyo and her husband, at their home. Michiyo provided easy directions and collected me from the train station. Together we made five delicious dishes—Japanese omelette, miso soup, spinach with sesame, salmon, and beef stew, while she explained the key elements of Japanese seasoning. I also tasted a range of delicious green teas. At the end, Michiyo gave me the recipes as well as a packet of instant dashi so I can recreate the dishes at home. Michiyo's husband also gave me great information about local "off the beaten track" tourist attractions. They both spoke excellent English making communication easy. This was my first time in Japan, and this experience was the perfect way to get a taste of real Japanese home life and cooking—so much more meaningful than the usual tourist activities. Highly recommend you add it to your itinerary!
Lovely experience and delicious meal
Y5941HIrachelf,Mar 29, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had such a lovely evening with Michiyo and her husband. They warmly welcomed us into their home and Michiyo provided a hands-on cooking lesson. We made 5 delicious dishes, and came home with all the recipes. Thank you, Michiyo, for the memorable experience!
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