Kyoto 清真 課程

A definite highlight of our trip to Japan. From the moment we walked in, Midori-san showed us great hospitality by serving us tea and sweets. She is very friendly and lively, and we felt right at home. She asked about our itinerary and gave us detailed recommendations. This was close to the end of our Japan trip, but I'd strongly recommend booking this near the start so you can benefit most from her suggestions! The cooking class was great and Midori-san was very patient and clear in her instructions. We made vegan onigiri, gyoza and ramen. The onigiri was surprisingly simple to make and we also received printouts of the recipe. After only being back in the US for a few days, I have already made onigiri for lunch. The gyoza and ramen were equally delicious. Make sure to come with an empty stomach! After we finished the food, she even walked us to a nearby supermarket so we could pick up the ingredients to make them at home. Overall, Midori-san went above and beyond to make this a great experience for us. There are of course many things to do in Kyoto, but as a tourist it's rare to be able to have an experience like this where you are welcomed inside a local's home. I strongly recommend this class.

One of the highlights of our trip. Midori is very well informed and likes to share knowledge about the food and culture. She gives shopping tips not only for food items but also for other hobby-related stuff like knitting or sawing. She even took us to a local supermarket to show what products are available and where to get them. Because Midori prepared the easy stuff in advance the cooking class was able to cover 3 whole recipes with a lot of background info. We should have done the class in the beginning of our trip because of all the good tips. We wish Midori all the best!

Loved the cooking class with Midori. I am gluten intolerant, not coeliac, she was able to accommodate and made sure all food was safe. We made onigiri, gyoza and katsudon, everything was delicious! Midori San is a great host and we had a lovely chat about a lot of things including Japanese cuisine and places to visit in or around Kyoto. I can definitely recommend!

This is a very enriching and culturally rich cooking course. I learned a lot about the principles of miso and fermentation. I highly recommend it to tourists visiting Kyoto.

Marie was enthusiastic and knowledgeable. The tea and the fermented food tastings were excellent. She was a pleasure and we had a wonderful time.

From the moment we stepped into the private tea tasting, it felt like entering a completely different world—one defined by calm, care, and an almost reverent appreciation for tea. What truly elevated the entire experience, however, was our teacher. Their depth of knowledge was nothing short of astonishing. Every detail—from the origin of the leaves to the subtle differences in processing methods—was explained with such clarity and passion that it transformed each sip into a story. You could tell this wasn’t just expertise; it was a genuine love for the craft. The tea itself was absolutely exquisite. Each variety we sampled was more nuanced and flavorful than the last, with layers of aroma and taste I had never noticed before. The experience was paired with a thoughtfully prepared selection of food that complemented the teas beautifully. Every bite felt intentional, enhancing the tasting experience and making the whole session feel indulgent without being overwhelming. What surprised me most was just how fun it all was. This wasn’t a stiff or overly formal class—it was engaging, interactive, and filled with moments of delight and discovery. We laughed, asked questions, compared favorites, and left feeling not only more knowledgeable but genuinely inspired. All in all, this private tea tasting was an unforgettable experience and such a unique, enjoyable way to explore the world of tea. I would wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone—even those who think they already know tea.

Midori and the class were amazing! We had such a great time learning how to cook traditional Japanese foods and about the Japanese culture. Midori was not just helpful with cooking skills; also so helpful recommending places to visit and experience during our time in Japan. We had a fun time and the food we made was delicious! Highly recommend Midori’s Kyoto Kitchen cooking class. Thank you, Midori! Arigato gozaimasu!

it was fantastic. the instructor 'Midori' is so kind, professional and sweet. she has a lovely Japanese traditional house, and we could enjoy the feeling of Japan. Her food is clean, delicious and so easy to make. thank you so much Midori and see you next time :)

Hosted in Midoris welcoming Kyoto home - we learned to make Onigiri, Ramen, and Gyoza. It was easy to get there by bus, and we were honestly shocked at how easy, tasty, and beautiful the gyoza turned out. Throughout the session, Midori kept us refreshed with plenty of tea while we bonded over our shared love for cats and chatted about our travel plans. She was incredibly helpful, offering local insights about Kyoto and the rest of Japan. Midori is a warm, insightful host who makes Japanese vegan cuisine feel accessible and fun. After the class, we added several new items to our Japan shopping list to look for at the supermarket to take back home. You will definitely leave her home with a full stomach and wonderful memories.

It was fun to create dishes that were new to me such as sushi and tempura shrimp. The master chefs show us how to cook in many different ways.

We are so grateful for this experience. We wanted to make some nerikiri back at home, and we felt this was a very good and complete first step into this world. Before the class, we asked to make the sakura and momiji because we really wanted to try them, and Nariko had no problem adapting to our requests. During the class, we made five models: two chrysanthemums (the second one was really difficult), one sakura, one momiji, and one bunny, because it was Tsukimi. Although the second chrysanthemum was quite challenging, it turned out pretty good, and with a bit more practice, the small petals will surely look even better. Nariko’s explanations were very helpful — at first it seemed difficult, but we got used to it, and the nerikiri turned out quite good for our first time making them. Nariko is a really fun and kind person, and I would absolutely love to learn more from her again in the future!

Our friend group did this cooking class together on our first trip to Japan and the ladies were both so sweet and helpful. Everything we learned to make was much easier than expected and the printed instructions are so easy for us to follow at home for a delicious traditional meal.