Japan Gluten-free Food Experiences

We had an amazing tour with Hero and would highly recommend him. As a UK travel agent, I'm always looking for experiences that I can confidently recommend to my clients and this is definitely one of them. Hero was knowledgeable, friendly and passionate about Kyoto. He took us to two fantastic local restaurants that we would never have found on our own, giving us a real taste of authentic Kyoto. Afterward, we enjoyed a fascinating walking tour of Gion, where Hero shared the history and culture of the area, making it come alive. This was one of the highlights of our time in Kyoto. If you're looking for an authentic experience with a brilliant local guide, don't hesitate to book with Hero. I can't wait to recommend this tour to my future clients! PS. here's a good photographer too.

The miso experience was so fun and hands on! I learned various interesting facts about miso that I never knew before. Getting my hands dirty and knowing that it will be my original miso makes me more excited to taste the miso after it is fully fermented. The staff were so easy to talk to and I had many amazing conversations with them and learned so much about their store's concept and their love for their products. Being able to taste various miso also broadened my taste buds and made me realize that there are much more complex flavors and varieties of miso that I should try in the future. I was also able to try different flavors of amazake, a sweet fermented rice drink, which I didn't know existed. I knew of the original flavor, but I never thought adding different flavors would make amazake more versatile. The store is quite small, but it felt welcoming and warm both outside and inside. It made anyone who stepped inside feel like they were in a small homey welcoming atmosphere where they could relax and enjoy their time. Everything about the store and the experience was amazing. Getting there was easy, and finding it was straightforward. If I am ever back in that area, I would definitely return to try more of their products.

The lesson moved at a great pace, which felt really comfortable! And the taste? Absolutely perfect! 👍 I loved how the instruction was tailored to my preferences and how carefully the flavors were checked along the way—it was fantastic! For the mushroom mixed rice, the dashi stock made from dried shiitake mushrooms and kombu was excellent. We cooked it in a pot, so we even got to enjoy the crispy, caramelized rice crust (*okoge*) at the bottom! Turning the used kombu into *furikake* seasoning was a delicious example of eco-friendly cooking! Tomoko-sensei’s homemade pickled *koume* plums paired perfectly with the rice—it was incredibly delicious! Then there was the tofu steak! With that all-purpose sauce, making a steak is a breeze—a truly superb dish! The potato potage was also easy to make and delicious. 😋 Adding a dash of cinnamon to change up the flavor was a brand-new experience for me! I devoured it in no time! Next was the stir-fried eggplant with miso. Mmm, so tasty! The hand-torn shiso leaves added a lovely accent. The lesson was packed with treats—Tomoko-sensei’s homemade salad, plum wine, plum juice, and matcha jelly—leaving me completely satisfied! Above all, it was such a fun time, filled with wonderful hospitality! The food was delicious, of course, but the conversation while cooking was just so much fun. It feels like that positive energy is infused right into the dishes! I’d love to sign up for another class!

Rina did a wonderful job working with more college students from the same organization, making the cooking lesson fresh while making sure the different sessions had an excellent core experience!

Rina was an excellent teacher: patient, knowledgeable, and very engaging! We had a great time!

This private tea ceremony was a highlight of our trip to Japan. The house and garden are lovely. The host, Naomi, shared the culture and tradition of the tea ceremony in a manner that was both respectful and accessible to visitors to Japan. We left feeling calm and refreshed. We highly recommend this tea ceremony!

So much fun! Many thanks to Yuichi for a warm and wonderful experience. We made two parfaits, two ramen and a mini tart keychain. Would highly recommend to anyone whose kids are tired of looking at temples and castles.

It was a delicious and enjoyable experience! It’s great to experience Japan’s rice culture, too.

The tour was amazing, delicious amazing food and drinks. Aki, the tour guida was the best. Give us a lot of nice information and very fun and friendly. I really enjoy and recommend the experience if you are in group or by solo traveling.

I had such a wonderful time! The food was delicious, and Yuka-san has a lovely personality. I’d love to come back!

Our guide, Laiana, was absolutely superb. She was personable, knowledgeable and warm. By the end of the tour, we had forgotten that she was a tour guide. It felt like we were exploring the city with a friend who wanted to show us her favorite spots.

Hiro gave us a fabulous food experience in downtown Kyoto and informative walking tour through the Gion district. The restaurants he selected for us were perfect, and met our challenging food restrictions :) He was also a great photographer and knew the perfect locations to take the perfect photo! Thank You, Hiro! You made our time in Kyoto unforgettable! Sincerely, Brian & Kristin