Master Kyoto’s Culinary Secrets: 10 Private Cooking Classes in Kyoto

While Tokyo is brimming with trendy and genre-defying restaurants, its former capital Kyoto remains a steadfast guardian of its culinary heritage. Here, Kyo-ryori, or Kyoto-style cuisine, and multicourse kaiseki meals continue to thrive in quaint ryotei lodgings and family-run venues. It is no surprise then that Kyoto offers a unique opportunity for those eager to explore Japanese culinary arts deeply.

A great way to master these skills is through private cooking classes. These sessions offer one-on-one instruction from expert chefs. Got friends who love cooking and tagging along with you? 

We've rounded up some of the best cooking classes and workshops in Kyoto, where you can master the tonkatsu, make intricate designs on sushi rolls and so much more.

A private cooking class in Kyoto can either mean a one-on-one experience between you and the teacher or a private group class. Either way, once you book this, the class is not available to the public. 

This is a great option if you are coming to Japan with friends or family and want a more exclusive experience, free from other participants. The intimate setting allows you to fully enjoy the moment and have direct instruction from your teachers. 

Note: Some private classes require a minimum of two participants.

Staying in the capital? Check out our favorite private cooking classes in Tokyo!

1. Join a private sushi class and make nigiri, gunkan and maki
2. Learn how to make a teriyaki chicken meal in Kyoto
3. Enjoy a private ramen noodle cooking class in Kyoto
4. Decorate sushi in this private sushi-making class
5. Practice your tonkatsu pork cutlet in this Kyoto cooking class
6. Get a taste of vegan sushi in this Kyoto cooking classf
7. Master Japanese home cooking: ozoni soup and miso mackerel
8. Cozy up to a seasonal home cooking class in Kyoto
9. Learn how to make ramen and gyoza in Kyoto
10. Make Japanese sweets and matcha with Nariko

When sushi chef trio Yone, Hide and Yutaka started their sushi masterclass, they wanted to share their love of the dish with more people. Now, their labor of love includes a fun 2-hour cooking course that goes through how to make some of the most popular sushi forms in Japan: nigiri, gunkan and hosomaki (thin sushi). 

Seafood is sourced from the Kyoto Central Wholesale Market and the session is guided under a stress-free approach that’s suited for beginners. 

The hosts happen to speak fluent English, so language barriers are a non-issue — perfect for when you are enjoying your handmade lunch alongside your chirpy teachers who won’t gate-keep any sushi-making skills and kitchen tips.

Book a private sushi masterclass in Kyoto!

Teriyaki chicken is something of an heirloom recipe in Japan: not one family boasts the same formula, but it all comes down to an equally delicious chicken glazed in a sweet and savory sauce. 

This family-friendly private course, however, uses a recipe developed by a Kyoto-based culinary researcher Midori. During the cooking lesson, you'll learn to prepare teriyaki chicken, miso soup and onigiri rice balls. 

The private nature of the class allows for customization, including substituting the chicken with atsuage (deep-fried tofu) for those with dietary restrictions. Midori will also prepare a vegetable side dish to complete the meal. As you cook, she will offer expert insights and tips to enhance your Japanese cooking skills.

Book a private teriyaki chicken meal cooking class in Kyoto!

Kyoto’s now-reclusive Gion district is revered for its local maiko (trainees) and geisha, but in one of its alleys lies one of the best ramen shops in the city: the famous Musoshin. 

Now, visitors looking to indulge in a slurp-worthy bowl can enjoy learning how to make them just as much as eating them. This exclusive class, held in a refurbished townhouse and led by its award-winning ramen chef, offers a hands-on experience where you’ll learn to make Musoshin’s ramen noodles from scratch. 

You'll mix and knead the dough using a machine, cut the noodles and then plate them with the shop’s signature broth, made from a blend of vegetables.

Book a ramen noodle-making experience in Kyoto!

They say the best way to learn is by doing. Thankfully, this decorative sushi cooking class is all about hands-on learning. Kazarimaki sushi, or decorative sushi rolls, is a delightful form of sushi featuring rice wrapped in nori (seaweed) with intricate designs made from various ingredients or colored rice.

In this private course, you'll master the art of creating these visually stunning rolls in a traditional Japanese-style house where the teacher resides. The class uses all-natural, plant-based ingredients: red pigment from fermented red rice, blue from algae, orange from Japanese mustard and green from gardenia fruit. 

With the use of rice vinegar, sesame and vegetables, this course is both vegetarian and vegan-friendly.

Book a private decorative sushi cooking class in Kyoto!

Just 10 minutes by train from Kyoto Station is one of Kyoto’s most exciting cooking classes, focusing on tonkatsu — crispy, deep-fried pork cutlets that are a beloved comfort food in Japan. 

In this 2.5-hour course, you'll begin with an introduction to Japanese condiments and a tasting session of dashi. You'll then put on the apron and prepare the tonkatsu, onigiri rice balls and miso soup. 

The class is flexible and can accommodate various dietary restrictions, including gluten-free, vegetarian, pescatarian and vegan options. For those who prefer a meat alternative, deep-fried tofu is available.

Book a private cooking class in Kyoto to make a tonkatsu cutlet!

Sushi is one of those things that looks vegan at a glance, and less so upon further inspection once you spot fish. Well, vegans in Kyoto can now rejoice as they join this vegan sushi-making class!

Led by a ridiculously friendly, talented guide, this cooking class features plant-based ingredients sourced from Kyoto Central Wholesale Market. A session on how to make two kinds of sushi rice — germinated and white — makes sure you can successfully replicate it at home. 

The class uses innovative plant-based alternatives like soy meat and tapioca ikura to mimic traditional sushi ingredients. With a perfect blend of expert guidance and creative freedom, you'll feel empowered as you master vegan sushi making.

Book a private vegan sushi cooking class in Kyoto!

In Kyoto, it's traditional to ring in the new year with a comforting bowl of ozoni — a hearty mochi soup. This Kyoto-style ozoni features a white miso-based broth, topped with boiled mochi rice cakes. 

In this private 5-hour-plus cooking class, you'll explore various root vegetables to complement the soup. You’ll get hands-on experience preparing Kyoto-style ozoni and four other dishes, including a main course of miso-simmered mackerel and several vegetable side dishes. 

For an additional fee, you can also participate in mochi-tsuki, the traditional practice of pounding mochi rice cakes with local residents.

Book a private traditional cooking class in Kyoto!

As the name suggests, this kitchen focuses on Japanese-style home cooking with the comforting guidance of a host. Contrary to expectations, the class does not feature sushi, gyoza or ramen. Instead, it highlights lesser-known dishes with the host’s original, easily replicable recipes. 

The menu changes monthly based on seasonal ingredients, but you'll consistently pick up foundational dishes, such as tofu in March and tamagoyaki in April. Beyond culinary tips, the host is enthusiastic about sharing insights and intriguing details about Japanese culture. 

In other words, it’s the perfect entry into becoming a Japanese home cook. 

Book a seasonal home cooking class in Kyoto!

Ramen broth is often considered one of the most challenging and time-consuming recipes to master. If you’ve ever dreamed of recreating that perfectly umami, silky ramen at home, you're in luck. 

A seasoned cooking instructor will guide you through the entire process of making chicken and shoyu-based broth from scratch. You'll also prepare gyoza — juicy, pan-fried dumplings typically served as an appetizer — by making everything from the dough to the fillings.

This hands-on class will not only teach you how to make ramen and gyoza, but also reward you with a delicious meal featuring your own healthier version of the noodles.

Book a private ramen and gyoza cooking class in Kyoto!

Have you ever admired the too-pretty-to-eat confections in Japanese sweet shops and wondered if you could make them yourself? These exquisite sweets are called nerikiri, traditional Japanese wagashi sweets often enjoyed during tea ceremonies.

In this 3-hour wagashi-making experience, you’ll create five unique nerikiri designs using various shaping and design methods, while also picking up the essential tools and where to find them.

Additionally, you'll explore the art of preparing table-style matcha, the traditional Japanese green tea that’s well-known around the world.

Book a Japanese sweets and matcha-making class in Kyoto!

Private cooking classes in Kyoto offer personalized instruction, allowing you to learn directly from expert chefs and offering more privacy for you and your group.

You can find and book private cooking classes directly on byFood. Make sure to check availability, read reviews, and confirm the class details before booking.

Yes, many private cooking classes in Kyoto cater to beginners. Chefs often provide step-by-step guidance and adapt their instruction to match your skill level, making it easy for anyone to learn and enjoy Japanese cooking.

Kyoto is renowned for its traditional Kyo-ryori (Kyoto-style cuisine) and multicourse kaiseki meals. The city is also known for its refined sweets such as matcha (green tea) desserts and wagashi (Japanese sweets). 

Kyoto is home to numerous cultural attractions, including the iconic Fushimi Inari Shrine, Kinkaku-ji (the Golden Pavilion) and Kiyomizu-dera Temple.