Meet
Midori
Midori has spent over 30 years cooking and researching Japanese cuisine, making her a true expert in Japanese home cooking. She grew up in Akashi City, where she learned traditional Japanese recipes from her grandmother, and has carried these skills into her professional career.
In 1995, Midori began sharing her culinary expertise by teaching cooking classes in Kyoto. After gaining years of experience, she returned to Kyoto and opened her charming cooking studio near the Gion district. Here, she teaches international travelers how to prepare authentic Japanese home-cooked meals.
Midori believes that sharing her passion for food is one of the best ways to connect with people and experience their culture, creating memorable culinary experiences for all her guests.
What to expect
Please note menu might vary. If there are particular dishes you are interested in trying, please include your request in the booking form.
In-home meal:
(1-8 guests)
Midori will welcome you with smoked tea, a classic Japanese tea, and wagashi, traditional Japanese confections typically enjoyed with tea. She will introduce you to essential Japanese ingredients used in home cooking, including soy sauce, mirin, sake, and miso, and explain how they bring flavor to each dish. Feel free to ask questions and learn about the techniques behind these authentic Japanese recipes.
After the introduction, you will sit down and enjoy a traditional Japanese home-style meal, which may include dishes such as miso soup, okonomiyaki (Japanese pancake), takoyaki (octopus balls), gyoza (dumplings), teriyaki chicken, and onigiri (rice balls). This meal is a delicious opportunity to experience the flavors of Japanese home cooking and learn directly from a skilled Kyoto chef.
Cooking experience:
(1-8 guests)
Join Midori in her cozy cooking studio in Kyoto for an authentic Japanese cooking class. Choose from one of her carefully curated set menus, featuring simple, delicious Japanese recipes you can easily recreate at home. Midori guides you through a mix of hands-on cooking and live demonstrations, using seasonal, traditional Japanese ingredients to prepare classic Japanese dishes.
The cooking portion lasts about 1.5 hours, after which you will sit down together to enjoy the meal you helped prepare. Midori can accommodate vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and lactose-free diets, so please let her know of any dietary restrictions when booking.
During your meal, you’ll enjoy a relaxed, intimate experience, chatting with Midori about Kyoto’s best restaurants, local food culture, and souvenir shopping. Perfect for couples, families, and travelers interested in Japanese culinary culture, this experience feels like cooking with a friend while immersing yourself in the flavors of Japan.
Notes:
1. A friendly cat lives in the home, but it stays upstairs during the class and does not enter the kitchen or dining area.
2. Midori can accommodate halal, kosher, vegetarian, and vegan diets upon request. Please inform her of any allergies or dietary restrictions when booking your Kyoto cooking class online. She also offers set menus, so don’t forget to mention your menu preference at the time of booking.
3. This experience is perfect for families with children.
4. Midori offers seasonal Japanese menus that may include Gyū Don (beef bowl), Sauce Katsudon (pork or chicken cutlets), Rei Men (cold noodles), and more. If there is a specific Japanese dish you’d like to learn, please let her know when booking.
Languages spoken:
English, Japanese
Sample menu
PERSONALLY VETTED REVIEW
A Traveling Spoon ambassador visited this host. Here is their personal review.
The experience with Midori was very good, as she is very experienced running her own cooking school not only in Kyoto but other parts of South East Asia. She is very professional, and very serious about the way she is running her kitchen and class. Please feel free to ask more about ingredients you don’t know, as she will be delighted to explain in detail about all ingredients used in Japanese cooking. I asked her about Japanese silky tofu and she showed me a very quick and simple recipe to accommodate it as a snack! My favourite dish was chicken teriyaki - it was very very good!
Sophie, Traveling Spoon Ambassador
Traveler reviews
Highlight of the visit to Kyoto.
Excellent instructions, demonstration and hands-on food making.
Great meal of our (mostly) making.
Midori san has a lot of tips for the rest of our visit in Kyoto.
Recommended.
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larry
October 22, 2026
Chef Midori’s warmth and personality is as delicious as her cooking. We spent a memorable evening in her home learning to cook a fabulous authentic Japanese meal. This experience is perfect for anyone who wants to get a true taste of Japan. Come hungry!!
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dale
October 20, 2026
What a great experience with Midori! From the start taking time to tell us about the opportunities throughout Kyoto to the cooking class experience. The chance to share making each course and sitting down to enjoy and get to know more about each other’s lives. Midori the Julia Child of Kyoto thanks for the teachings and best of all the great food!
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paul
October 13, 2026
We had a great time. Midori was so genuine and friendly. She took great interest in our trip to Japan. Beyond that the food was amazing and we had a great experience cooking gyozas and other foods.
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alpa
August 15, 2026
We had a wonderful time as a family. Midori is a fantastic teacher who makes her classes enjoyable and fun. The recipes are very well explained, and she even takes the time to take souvenir photos that she sends to us afterward.
We left with lots of great addresses for the rest of our trip, as well as little gifts to help us cook Japanese food at home. An unforgettable experience in Kyoto, without a doubt our favorite activity!
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Verlanta
July 22, 2026
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