Nara Food Experiences(12)

Experience the rich culinary tradition of Nara with traditional dishes and modern innovations. Dive into authentic Japanese flavors in this historic city.
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Classes
NARA

Vegan Wabi Sabi Bento Box Making with Dessert in Nara

Join this vegan Japanese cooking class to create a colorful sushi bento box, a regional dessert! Your host is a Nara local with a passion for creating healthy, nourishing meals that have been passed down through the generations.

from$139.46
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Classes
NARA

Classic Chicken Meatballs and Omelet Bento Making in Nara

Join this traditional Japanese cooking class to create a healthy bento and regional dessert in the Nara countryside. Your local host will teach you about Japanese table settings while you sip on seasonal fruit drinks and more!

from$139.46
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Food Tours
NARA

Nara Tour: Kakinoha Zushi, Sake Tasting, Craft Beer, & Mochi

History, culture, sake, & craft beer in Nara? Look no further. Try kakinoha zushi (a local specialty), visit a sake distillery for a tasting, try craft beer at a brewery, enjoy a Japanese dinner, & stop by Nara's famous mochi shop for dessert.

from$104.59
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Drinking Tours
NARA

Make Your Own Soy Sauce in Japan’s Old Capital (Asuka, Nara)

Explore historical sites in Japan’s ancient capital: Asuka, Nara! In this private experience, you’ll make your own soy sauce in a brewery with over 100 years of history and enjoy a traditional skewered dumpling treat (mitarashi dango) with tea.

from$83.67
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Drinking Tours
NARA

Nara Tour: Todaiji Temple, Sake Tasting, & Craft Beer

History, culture, a giant Buddha, sake, & craft beer in Nara? Look no further. Visit Todaiji Temple, try sake at Imanishi Seibei Shoten, craft beer at Naramachi Brewery, & take home a souvenir sake cup on this guided tour.

from$96.22
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Food Tours
NARA

Traditional Soy Sauce Brewery Tour in Nara

Learn the secrets of traditional soy sauce-making directly from skilled artisans in this Nara brewery tour. Observe soy sauce is crafted with artisanal methods, how it’s stored in massive wooden barrels and observe the fermentation process.

from$125.51
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Classes
NARA

Soy Sauce Pressing & Onigiri-Making in Asuka, Nara

Dive deep into the ancient food practices of Japan. Learn to cook a variety of red rice used in the Asuka period, then experience hand pressing and bottling fresh soy sauce from the local brewery and cook onigiri rice balls in Asuka, Nara.

from$125.51
With lunch
Private Experience
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Classes
NARA

Make Teriyaki Chicken & Enjoy a Local Lunch in Nara

In this tasty cooking class and lunch experience in Nara, learn how to make Japan’s signature teriyaki chicken, and enjoy it in a scrumptious lunch with 6 additional side dishes prepared by a certified cooking instructor.

from$71.12
Private Experience
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Classes
NARA

Fermented Bento Workshop on the Yamanobe Trail

Craft your own fermented bento in a 100-year-old farmhouse along Japan’s oldest trail. After cooking, enjoy your handmade lunch as a picnic overlooking ancient kofun (burial mounds).

from$55.78
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Food Tours
NARA

Nara Historical Hiking Tour & Breakfast Picnic in Asuka

Discover Japan’s ancient capital of Asuka in central Nara, where you’ll explore the village’s ancient treasures and hike a historical park, where you’ll have breakfast atop a breathtaking viewpoint. Vegetarian and vegan friendly!

from$111.56
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Food Tours
NARA

Yakuzen Organic Harvesting, Cooking & Lunch in Asuka, Nara

Revitalize mind and body in this unique experience in Asuka, Nara, Japan’s first capital. You’ll harvest vegetables in an organic farm and attend a cooking lecture by an expert in yakuzen, medicinal cooking based on traditional Chinese medicine.

from$244.05
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Classes
NARA

Chili-Free Japanese Curry Cooking Class in Nara

Explore the world of Japanese curry under the guidance of a professional home chef with her personally developed chili-free curry powder. Learn how to make favorites like curry bread and curry udon while using local farm-to-table ingredients.

from$124.93
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Tailor-Made Tours
Can’t find what you’re looking for? We can plan a custom-made food experience or itinerary just for you.
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Photo of reviews smiley iconRecent Reviews from Guests
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It was verry personal and sweet, I felt at home! Great hospitality, a verry nice couple, and exeptional food. It felt more like cooking with a friend than a workshop and I got a lot out of it.
Yeshe Wanitschek
July 15, 2025
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Classic Chicken Meatballs and Omelet Bento Making in Nara
Classes
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This was a top experience for us in Japan. It had everything we were looking for- a educational learning experience, a cultural exchange, supporting a local shop and a functional personalized souvenir we could bring home and remember Japan We loved everything about it
Celena Votel
June 06, 2025
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Make Your Own Soy Sauce in Japan’s Old Capital (Asuka, Nara)
Drinking Tours
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We had such a good time on our tour, it was truly a unique experience! We purchased a few extra bottles, but I wish we could have brought home even more of this incredible sauce!
Jacqueline Schell
April 01, 2025
Experience Image
Make Your Own Soy Sauce in Japan’s Old Capital (Asuka, Nara)
Drinking Tours
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Absolutely incredible! The guides were so friendly and knowledgeable about the area. The soy sauce itself tastes amazing and so does the dango! This is a MUST do during a trip to Japan.
Alex Beard
October 14, 2024
Experience Image
Make Your Own Soy Sauce in Japan’s Old Capital (Asuka, Nara)
Drinking Tours
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This was a great experience and I now have new cooking skills!  Yasuyo’s expertise in Japanese cooking and her genuine passion for sharing it made our time together special.  From the beginning, she made us feel at home, and was willing to answer all my questions . What set this cooking class apart was how we started with simple, readily available ingredients, yet crafted a wonderful way to cook and arrange of those with served with sushi rice.  It was the first time for me to make rice in the pan and to make sushi rice. Yasuyo said the recipe came from her grandmother and she often shared wonderful time cooking with her grandmother. I really enjoyed learning how to cook local Nara style “kakino hazushi” and the wisdom that Yasuyo shared with us.   If you're interested in Japanese cooking, I couldn't recommend this class more highly. It's a wonderful opportunity to not only learn about Nara local style sushi  but also connect with delightful hosts in a beautiful setting. This experience inspired me to explore more of the culinary world.
Yasuko Suzaki
October 21, 2023
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Vegan Wabi Sabi Bento Box Making with Dessert in Nara
Classes

Discover Authentic Culinary Delights in Nara

Nara, renowned for its historical significance and captivating landscapes, is also a hidden gem for food lovers seeking authentic Japanese cuisine. Dive into the culinary world of Nara and explore a variety of traditional dishes and modern culinary innovations that showcase the region's rich flavors and heritage. Whether you are a seasoned food enthusiast or a curious traveler, Nara offers a bounty of delectable food experiences that will satisfy your taste buds and leave you with unforgettable memories.

Traditional Dishes You Must Try

Nara’s cuisine is deeply rooted in its cultural and geographical background, offering dishes that are both unique and reflective of its history. Begin your culinary adventure with Kakinoha-zushi. This specialty consists of sushi wrapped in persimmon leaves, a traditional technique that adds a distinct flavor to the rice and fish, preserving them in the time-honored way. Another must-try dish is Miwa Somen, which are thin wheat noodles that have been made in the Miwa area for centuries. Often served cold with a light dipping sauce, they offer a refreshing taste perfect for a summer day.

For those interested in experiencing the vegetarian traditions of Japanese Buddhist cuisine, Nara offers shojin ryori. This plant-based cuisine, rooted in the teaching of Zen Buddhism, is both nourishing and flavorful, featuring an array of seasonal vegetables and plant proteins prepared in an array of creative ways that highlight the natural flavors and colors of each ingredient.

Modern Gastronomic Experiences in Nara

While Nara is steeped in tradition, it also embraces modern gastronomy, offering contemporary twists on classic flavors. Local chefs are increasingly experimenting with innovative techniques to create modern interpretations of traditional dishes. Look out for fusion restaurants that incorporate local Nara ingredients into global cuisines, elevating your dining experience with new flavors.

Nara is also home to a vibrant café culture, perfect for coffee enthusiasts and those with a sweet tooth. Indulge in handcrafted pastries that are as beautiful to look at as they are delightful to eat. Many cafes offer a tranquil space to relax and enjoy your surroundings, often with views of the city's historical sites, making it an ideal stop during your food exploration in Nara.

No trip to Nara would be complete without sampling some of its local sake. The region boasts several breweries that produce sake with distinct flavors, which complement the local cuisine beautifully. Join a sake-tasting experience to learn about the brewing process and savor the unique characteristics of Nara sake.

Embrace the gastronomic journey that awaits you in Nara. With its seamless blend of tradition and innovation, this city offers food experiences that cater to every palate and preference. From traditional dishes that speak volumes of Nara’s cultural heritage to modern culinary creations, your taste adventure begins here.