Japanese Cooking: Sushi and Obanzai Delights

Immerse yourself in the art of Japanese cooking with a Kyoto cooking class. Learn sushi and Obanzai techniques, make traditional dishes, and enjoy a meal together in a local home.

Duration: 3 hours
Cancellation: 48 hours
Highlights
  • 31-30 Katsurainariyamachō - This is a unique opportunity to visit the home of a local and explore traditional culture and cuisine. Meet Emika at her home for a regional culinary experience that will start or end with a freshly made cup of traditional matcha green tea prepared by Emika or her father. Learn how to make sushi of your choice or…
What's Included
  • Private cooking class and homecooked meal with your host Emika
  • Supermarket and produce market tour (if you choose the Market tour option)
  • Local alcohol (1-2 glasses)
What's Not Included
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
Meal Options
  • Miso soup
  • Oshi or nigiri-sushi or Obanzai main
  • Okonomiyaki
  • Gyoza
Additional Information

In this session, you’ll acquire the skills to create sushi based on your preference or traditional Obanzai style meals such as seasoned and cooked mushrooms, pickled or braised seasonal veggies and tofu recipes prepared the old-fashioned way. This will take place amidst engaging discussions with your host Emika in her warm and inviting kitchen. Emika…

Location
31-30 Katsurainariyamachō
Please meet your host Emika at her home in Kyoto. The above is a generic location, not the exact address. Exact address and Google Maps link can be found in your ticket upon confirmation. It is a 15-minute walk or 5-minute taxi ride from Katsura station on the Hankyu Kyoto line.
Cancellation Policy

If you cancel at least 2 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.
If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(53 Ratings)
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Fonsmithian
Oct 11, 2024
An amazing foodie afternoon - Our experience at Emika’s home was one of the highlights of our trip to Japan. Not only we cooked an amazing Obanzai meal, but also had a wonderful afternoon talking with Emika and discovering about Japanese food, lifestyle, etc. The Obanzai meal was also fantastic, and we used several vegetables from her private garden. So special! Emika is a superb host who puts everything in what she loves, it was a memorable experience, and we would surely like to repeat as soon as we come back to Japan. Arigato gozaimasu Emika-san! :)
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Margarita_f
Sep 28, 2024
Organic and fresh! - We used vegetables grown organically by Emika to make a side dish before jumping into making sushi, and miso soup. We chose nigori sake as our drink - we recommend it but other options were also available. Most importantly Emika’s teaching style was clear and helpful and she gave us tips on where to get supplies to make sushi at home.
Review provided by Viator
Edward
Sep 21, 2024
Great cooking lesson - I was a great experience in Kyoto cooking dinner and learning how Japanese food is made. I have continued to cook the food she helped us make.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Haley_h
Sep 16, 2024
I would absolutely... - I would absolutely recommend this experience to anyone visiting Kyoto! My husband and I were looking into cooking classes to do in Kyoto and were interested in Emika's because it seemed more intimate and authentic than some of the other classes we were finding. We had a lot of fun getting to Emika's house and getting to walk through a neighborhood that was a little farther from the main touristy areas (that being said it was still a very easy train and walk to get there). Emika welcomed us into her home and started the cooking class. She provided everything we needed and much of the produce was actually grown in her own community garden. She also let us try some of her homemade Shiso juice and the miso that we used for the soup was made by her Uncle. We thought all of these aspects made the class really unique and special. We enjoyed learning about the foods we were making and also enjoyed chatting with Emika and learning more about her and her life. She was really helpful with giving us recommendations for places to go/try next. Ultimately, I think this was one of our most special experiences during our two week trip in Japan since it was so unique and authentic.
Review provided by Viator
Samantha_h
Sep 10, 2024
Best cooking class in Kyoto - Highly recommend! Emika was a wonderful host. Many of the ingredients we got to cook with were from her garden and made delicious food. Far exceeded expectations, definitely a highlight of our trip!
Review provided by Viator
861jadenk
Jun 6, 2024
Amazing experience! - Tucked away in a cute Kyoto suburb, the host was extremely nice and gave a fantastic sushi making lesson. It included homemade vegetables from her garden, homemade miso soup, homemade sushi, as well as sake, matcha, and dessert. Highly recommend to anyone visiting Kyoto.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sophie_t
Jun 6, 2024
Wonderful unique activity! - Amazing experience! Emika welcomed us in her beautiful home for a private nigiri class. My husband is vegetarian and she was able to accommodate him wonderfully. We loved learning about japaneese culture and we still can’t stop talking about how great the meal was. Hopefully we will be able to do the same at our home. I recommend this class to anyone wishing to try a unique activity while visiting Kyoto!
Review provided by Viator
Jenniferky3485qb
Jun 3, 2024
A MUST experience! - Our cooking class was the highlight of our trip to Kyoto! Emika was warm, kind, and an excellent chef. Being in her home gave an authentic experience unlike any “tourist activity”. Emika was wonderful in explaining the traditions of what we were preparing and most of the vegetables came from her own garden. This was a wonderful bonding experience for our family and I would recommend it to anyone. She reached out before hand to ask our options on what to make. The walk through the beautiful neighborhood to her home gave a glimpse into an authentic Kyoto lifestyle, away from the tourist atmosphere elsewhere. This is an absolute MUST for anyone with a genuine interest in local culture and food.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Karen_c
May 30, 2024
Really enjoyable cooking session - Emika was a wonderful host to our family. She answered our questions and showed us tips and tricks for the recipes we prepared together. She even answered our non-food related questions about Japanese culture and etiquette. Her communication prior the the session was also great. This was a fabulous addition to our itinerary and it was super useful doing this after a few days in Japan. I would highly recommend this to anyone interested in bringing Japanese cooking into your own kitchen. (Arigato gosaimasu Emika!)
Review provided by Viator
1rennais
May 29, 2024
Magnificent moment of cooking with a caring host thank you - Emika is a wonderful host who takes care to explain everything during the preparation of the dishes. We also have the chance to work with products from his garden, cucumbers and various herbs… we benefited from a magnificent experience… a big thank you Emika!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $94
up to 4 guests
1 Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 48 hours before the start of your experience (local time).