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VIEW PHOTOS
VIEW PHOTOS

Host: Aki

Kyoto, Japan

USD
$89-$119 per person

Kyoto Cooking Class in a Traditional Wooden House

Host offerings
  • House
  • Home cook
  • Pets
  • Vegetarian
  • Alcohol
  • Transportation
  • Cooking class
  • Market visit
  • Food tour

Meet Aki

Aki's love for cooking began as a young girl watching and helping her mother in the kitchen put together meals for the family. She especially enjoyed learning the recipes that her mother inherited from her grandmother that had been passed down through many generations in her family. Cooking is her deepest passion and the feeling of happiness she gets when sitting down and eating good food with loved ones is one she always craves. Aki is a shining example of Japanese hospitality. She embraces omotenashi, a deeply caring and attentive sense of hospitality that you will immediately experience when you meet her in the peaceful atmosphere of her home and notice in the attention to detail in her cooking. An avid traveler, Aki spent many years on the island of Okinawa and in East Asia where she learned the art of textiles and colors from local craftspeople. She is eager to share the beautiful culture of her own country with travelers to make them fall in love with Japanese food and hospitality.

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: (6-6 guests) Your Kyoto dining experience with Aki will begin with a warm welcome into her home. Sip on a cup of refreshing cold or hot tea depending on the season, that is sourced locally in Kyoto. You will then sit down around the dining table and enjoy a meal cooked with fresh and unique seasonal vegetables and local ingredients. Your home-style Japanese meal may include dishes such as the traditional chikuzenni (a main dish of braised chicken and vegetables that originated from Kyushu), seasonal vegetable sides such as marinated spinach with sesame or burdock root, and miso soup. You will conclude your meal with a glass of tea.

Cooking experience: (6-6 guests) Join Aki for a hands-on cooking experience in her beautiful kitchen in Kyoto where you will discover how to make dishes that may not be served in restaurants as well as secret tips for familiar classics like miso soup. She will provide you with recipes in English and then guide you through the cooking process. Learn about Japanese food and culture as you cook with Aki. The cooking portion of your experience should last about an hour before you enjoy the meal you helped prepare together.

Market visit: (6-6 guests) Explore with Aki the local neighborhood street market called Demachiyanagi Shoutengai and discover everything from basic Japanese foods ingredients to high-quality, regional produce. You will spend about 45 minutes walking through the market together and picking out a few vegetables and ingredients that you will later use in your authentic Japanese cooking class in Kyoto with Aki in her home kitchen. You will take the bus from the market to Aki's home for your cooking class. It takes about 10 min, her home is 4 bus stops away from the market.

Notes:
This experience has a 14-day cancellation policy, the standard 48-hour policy does not apply.
Aki's minimum group size is six guests. She welcomes smaller groups of guests at the six-person rate.

Languages spoken: Japanese, English

Sample menu

This is just a sample menu to give you an idea of the types of dishes the host cooks. Your menu will vary according to seasonal availability.
  • Chikuzenni (a main dish of braised chicken and vegetables that originated from Kyushu)
  • Seasonal vegetable sides such as marinated spinach with sesame or burdock root
  • Miso soup
  • A glass of tea

Traveler reviews

5.0 (18)
This was our favorite activity on our entire trip to Japan and the best cooking class we've ever experienced (and we've tried a lot around the world)! My parents, husband and I had the best time with Aki and learned a lot--she was so kind, smart, fun, and knowledgable. She put so much effort into preparing a great and customized experience for us based on different dishes we were interested in. She also managed to engage four people with varying levels of cooking skill and interest. Getting to go to the market to fun to learn more about local Japanese life and her house is SO cute. The dishes we made were delicious and she did just the right amount of prep work. Thank you so much, Aki!
- joceyln April 28, 2026
Take this tour. Aki is a magnificent host. Learned about living in Kyoto, the market and Japanese cuisine. Considering our travels all over the world over the world, this experience was among the very best.
- Daniel October 17, 2025
Aki was a remarkable tour guide and chef. She spoke wonderful english, introduced us to her friends and new foods at the market, selected recipes my entire family enjoyed, and was a delight to get to know. We cooked and then ate one of the tastiest meals we had in Japan, and can't wait to make them again back home. A true highlight of our trip!
- Gary July 18, 2025
This wound up being one of the most memorable activities of our trip. Aki was a fantastic host, cook, and guide. She took us through the local market, explaining all of the produce and products, and buying items we were curious about to include in the meal. She then led us through cooking the dishes in her home, explaining the process throughout. The food was delicious and we can't wait to make the recipes again when we get home. Even our teenagers had an unabashedly good time. Most of all, Aki was kind and delightful, and we all just really enjoyed her company. If we're fortunate enough to be in Kyoto again we'll definitely book another class with her.
- Keith July 01, 2025
Aki’s home cooking class was a fantastic experience, probably the best one we had in all of our Japan trip. We got to learn more about Japanese culture and food than reading/ watching anything else. I also loved that she picked dishes that were not too complicated so we can go back home and actually make them. My whole family including my 11 year old could be thoroughly participate and enjoy!! A must try for all of you visiting Kyoto.
- Regan June 30, 2025
Read More

Aki

$89-$119 USD

per person
100% VETTED
Learn more
  • 100% satisfaction guarantee or your money back
  • Credit card is not charged until the host confirms your booking
  • Private experience
Pricing (per person)*
1 person 2-4 ppl 6+ people
Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered Not offered $89
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered Not offered $119
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 ppl 6+ people
Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered Not offered $89
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered Not offered $119
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
Cooking Experience+ Meal
 10:30am-1:30pm
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 10:30am-2:30pm

Meet Aki

Aki's love for cooking began as a young girl watching and helping her mother in the kitchen put together meals for the family. She especially enjoyed learning the recipes that her mother inherited from her grandmother that had been passed down through many generations in her family. Cooking is her deepest passion and the feeling of happiness she gets when sitting down and eating good food with loved ones is one she always craves. Aki is a shining example of Japanese hospitality. She embraces omotenashi, a deeply caring and attentive sense of hospitality that you will immediately experience when you meet her in the peaceful atmosphere of her home and notice in the attention to detail in her cooking. An avid traveler, Aki spent many years on the island of Okinawa and in East Asia where she learned the art of textiles and colors from local craftspeople. She is eager to share the beautiful culture of her own country with travelers to make them fall in love with Japanese food and hospitality.

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: (6-6 guests) Your Kyoto dining experience with Aki will begin with a warm welcome into her home. Sip on a cup of refreshing cold or hot tea depending on the season, that is sourced locally in Kyoto. You will then sit down around the dining table and enjoy a meal cooked with fresh and unique seasonal vegetables and local ingredients. Your home-style Japanese meal may include dishes such as the traditional chikuzenni (a main dish of braised chicken and vegetables that originated from Kyushu), seasonal vegetable sides such as marinated spinach with sesame or burdock root, and miso soup. You will conclude your meal with a glass of tea.

Cooking experience: (6-6 guests) Join Aki for a hands-on cooking experience in her beautiful kitchen in Kyoto where you will discover how to make dishes that may not be served in restaurants as well as secret tips for familiar classics like miso soup. She will provide you with recipes in English and then guide you through the cooking process. Learn about Japanese food and culture as you cook with Aki. The cooking portion of your experience should last about an hour before you enjoy the meal you helped prepare together.

Market visit: (6-6 guests) Explore with Aki the local neighborhood street market called Demachiyanagi Shoutengai and discover everything from basic Japanese foods ingredients to high-quality, regional produce. You will spend about 45 minutes walking through the market together and picking out a few vegetables and ingredients that you will later use in your authentic Japanese cooking class in Kyoto with Aki in her home kitchen. You will take the bus from the market to Aki's home for your cooking class. It takes about 10 min, her home is 4 bus stops away from the market.

Notes:
This experience has a 14-day cancellation policy, the standard 48-hour policy does not apply.
Aki's minimum group size is six guests. She welcomes smaller groups of guests at the six-person rate.

Languages spoken: Japanese, English

Sample menu

This is just a sample menu to give you an idea of the types of dishes the host cooks. Your menu will vary according to seasonal availability.
  • Chikuzenni (a main dish of braised chicken and vegetables that originated from Kyushu)
  • Seasonal vegetable sides such as marinated spinach with sesame or burdock root
  • Miso soup
  • A glass of tea

Traveler reviews

5.0 (18)
This was our favorite activity on our entire trip to Japan and the best cooking class we've ever experienced (and we've tried a lot around the world)! My parents, husband and I had the best time with Aki and learned a lot--she was so kind, smart, fun, and knowledgable. She put so much effort into preparing a great and customized experience for us based on different dishes we were interested in. She also managed to engage four people with varying levels of cooking skill and interest. Getting to go to the market to fun to learn more about local Japanese life and her house is SO cute. The dishes we made were delicious and she did just the right amount of prep work. Thank you so much, Aki!
- joceyln April 28, 2026
Take this tour. Aki is a magnificent host. Learned about living in Kyoto, the market and Japanese cuisine. Considering our travels all over the world over the world, this experience was among the very best.
- Daniel October 17, 2025
Aki was a remarkable tour guide and chef. She spoke wonderful english, introduced us to her friends and new foods at the market, selected recipes my entire family enjoyed, and was a delight to get to know. We cooked and then ate one of the tastiest meals we had in Japan, and can't wait to make them again back home. A true highlight of our trip!
- Gary July 18, 2025
This wound up being one of the most memorable activities of our trip. Aki was a fantastic host, cook, and guide. She took us through the local market, explaining all of the produce and products, and buying items we were curious about to include in the meal. She then led us through cooking the dishes in her home, explaining the process throughout. The food was delicious and we can't wait to make the recipes again when we get home. Even our teenagers had an unabashedly good time. Most of all, Aki was kind and delightful, and we all just really enjoyed her company. If we're fortunate enough to be in Kyoto again we'll definitely book another class with her.
- Keith July 01, 2025
Aki’s home cooking class was a fantastic experience, probably the best one we had in all of our Japan trip. We got to learn more about Japanese culture and food than reading/ watching anything else. I also loved that she picked dishes that were not too complicated so we can go back home and actually make them. My whole family including my 11 year old could be thoroughly participate and enjoy!! A must try for all of you visiting Kyoto.
- Regan June 30, 2025
Read More
Pricing (per person)*
1 person 2-4 ppl 6+ people
Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered Not offered $89
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered Not offered $119
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 ppl 6+ people
Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered Not offered $89
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered Not offered $119
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
Cooking Experience+ Meal
 10:30am-1:30pm
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 10:30am-2:30pm
ABOUT TRAVELING SPOON

Traveling Spoon connects you with meaningful culinary experiences, from private cooking lessons to homecooked meals in people's homes. Enjoy an immersive cultural experience that gives you a glimpse into the local way of life.

FAQ

    You can cancel your reservation up until 14 days before your experience for a full refund minus a 4% processing fee. Experiences within 14 days are not refundable.

    If you have a question for your host, you can include a note in the field "Write a note to your host" during the booking process. Once your booking is confirmed, you will be emailed your host's direct contact information and you will also be able to message the host through your profile. You can always cancel your booking and receive a full refund 14 days or more before your experience. If you have other questions you can also email us at reservations@travelingspoon.com.

    Most of our hosts are able to accommodate dietary restrictions and allergies, including vegetarian and gluten free options. For vegetarian travelers, we have an icon on each host profile to indicate whether that host can also offer a fully vegetarian menu. There is a section in the booking form to note any allergies or dietary restrictions which will be sent directly to your host.

    Some hosts offer alcohol as an optional add-on for travelers who are of legal drinking age. Pricing for alcohol is visible on the host profile page and includes one to two glasses of wine, beer or local alcohol.

    Have a flight or other tour planned and can't make the timing provided? If the timing listed on the host's profile doesn't work for you, our hosts can often accommodate timing changes. Because all of our experiences are private our hosts are happy to tailor experiences to meet your travel needs. Simply note your request in the booking process.

    Your card will not be charged until your host accepts your booking. Typically hosts respond to bookings within 72 hours. In the event your host is unavailable on your selected date and your host rejects your booking your credit card will not be charged.

    Your host's detailed contact information, including their phone number, address, and direction notes, will all be provided immediately upon successful confirmation of your experience (after your hosts accepts your booking and your credit card is successfully processed). This information will be emailed to you to the email address you used to sign up, and will also be visible on your Traveling Spoon profile.

    All prices are noted per person prices unless otherwise specified. Transportation is typically charged on a per car basis. Children aged 5-11 are 50% off, and infants aged 0-4 are free. Hosts set their own prices and Traveling Spoon marks up the experiences; on average hosts receive over 70% of the price paid by the traveler.

    100% of Traveling Spoon experiences are private! Just you and your host and host's family.

    Hosts typically respond to booking inquiries within 72 hours. If for some reason you have not heard from your host or if you have any questions you can always contact us at reservations@travelingspoon.com.

    Your safety and security are our top priority. To ensure this, Traveling Spoon personally vets 100% of all hosts, including an in-person host visit, to ensure each host and experience meets our strict quality requirements.

    Some hosts offer transportation as an optional add-on for travelers. Typically this is round trip transportation with pick up and drop off at your hotel. Pricing is quoted per car. Specific instructions for transportation will be provided in your confirmation details when your booking is confirmed.

    Many of our hosts accommodate solo travelers. You can see if a host accepts solo travelers by looking at the traveler range found next to the experience descriptions on the host profile (indicated by the numbers in parentheses next to "In-home meal", "Cooking experience" and "Market visit").

    Most of our Traveling Spoon experiences are incredibly family friendly and can accommodate infants and children. If a host is unable to accommodate children that will be noted in the "Notes" section of their profile. Our child pricing policy is children aged 5-11 are 50% off, and infants aged 0-4 are free.