Private Kyoto Morning: Onigiri Bento Class and Picnic by the River
Private Kyoto Morning: Onigiri Bento Class and Picnic by the River
From
Experience Kyoto’s everyday flavors. Cook, wrap, and savor your homemade bento riverside.
Highlights
Taste soft dashimaki tamago infused with bonito dashi
Shape onigiri using Kyoto’s pure spring water
Cook rice the traditional way in a stove pot
Roll perfect tamagoyaki in a rectangular pan
Grind sesame seeds by hand for classic goma-ae
Experience Details
Begin your morning in Kyoto in a way that feels calm, local, and unhurried. This private experience takes place in the early hours, before the streets begin to fill, offering a quiet start to the day shaped by everyday routines and simple food.
Inside a traditional machiya townhouse, you will be welcomed into a warm kitchen where the gentle aroma of dashi sets the tone.
Your host, with over 15 years of teaching experience, will guide you through preparing dishes commonly enjoyed in Kyoto homes, sharing practical tips along the way.
You will cook freshly steamed rice using local Kyoto water and shape onigiri by hand, making two types while learning how to achieve the right balance of softness and structure.
You will then prepare a selection of side dishes often found in a homemade bento. These include dashimaki tamago, a rolled omelet seasoned with bonito dashi; grilled fish marinated in Saikyo miso; and nama fu dengaku, topped with savory miso.
A seasonal vegetable dish, such as spinach with sesame dressing, is also prepared by grinding sesame seeds by hand.
Once the dishes are complete, you will assemble your own breakfast bento and wrap it in bamboo leaves.
If the weather is clear, you will take your bento to the nearby Kamogawa River and enjoy a quiet picnic by the water.
To finish, you will prepare and drink your own bowl of matcha outdoors. If it rains, the experience continues inside the machiya, where you will enjoy matcha in a small tea room that opens only on rainy days, offering a rare and intimate setting.
This experience offers a gentle introduction to Kyoto through food, routine, and a slower pace of life.
What You Get
Good To Know
- This is an early morning activity
- Wear comfortable clothing suitable for cooking and outdoors
- Takeaway is generally not permitted
- Photos and videos are welcome but please be be considerate of other participants and those around you
- No prior cooking experience is required; family-friendly
Meeting Point and Meeting Time
Please meet your host in Shogoin Rengezocho. More details and a Google Map will be provided upon booking.
Cancellation Policy
Cancel your booking at least 24 hours before the experience start time to receive a full refund.
Experience Location
Featuring beautiful landscapes from mountain to sea, Kyoto Prefecture conveys traditional Japanese culture through its architecture and gardens, art and artisanal crafts, and delicious local cuisine made from regional produce.
My wife and I had a fantastic experience with Toshiko. She is extremely kind and knowledgeable. The meal we prepared was great and the riverside picnic was awesome. I highly recommend this experien...read more
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! It was such a pleasure spending time with you both. I’m very happy to hear you enjoyed the cooking experience, the meal, and especially the riverside pi...Read more
Incredible experience with a lovely and skilled host. The onigiri making was fun and informative and most importantly, delicious. The tea ceremony was very peaceful and pleasant. I would recommend ...read more
Thank you so much for your kind review. I’m very happy to hear that you enjoyed the onigiri making experience and found it both fun and informative. I’m also glad that the tea ceremony felt peacefu...Read more
Amazing experience, Toshiko was a wonderful host providing a hands on experience into Japanese home cooking and the matcha tea ceremony. She showed us how to wrap our creations and we took them to...read more
Dear Lisa, Thank you so much for your wonderful review. I'm delighted to hear that you enjoyed the experience and had the chance to explore Japanese home cooking and the matcha tea ceremony. Yo...Read more