Tour operator
Kyoto Cycling Tour Project
A Kyoto cycling company running since 2001, offering guided cycling and walking tours, around 400 rental bikes and terminals near Kyoto Station and across the city.
Haru Cooking Class
A home cooking class run since 2010 by Taro Saeki north-east of the Imperial Palace, teaching Japanese home dishes in small groups of up to eight.
At a glance
- Type
- Cooking class
- Area
- Sakyo, Kyoto, Japan
- Official site
- kyoto-cooking-class.com
Good to know
- Small groups
- Vegetarian option
- Home setting
Why we recommend it
Haru Cooking Class is a small home cooking school run by Taro Saeki, who has been welcoming guests into his house in Kyoto since 2010, with his wife also taking part. The classes take place in the family home north-east of the Kyoto Imperial Palace, which gives them a relaxed, personal atmosphere quite different from a commercial cooking studio, and they focus on the kind of food Japanese families actually cook and eat.
There are two main classes. The Japanese non-vegetarian class covers four vegetable dishes and one wagyu beef dish, and the Japanese vegetarian class covers four vegetable dishes. In the vegetarian class the soup stock is made with fish, though no fish is served on the plate, so strict vegetarians and vegans should contact the class before booking. You cook alongside the host, learning techniques and the role of ingredients such as dashi, then sit down to eat what you have made together.
Classes last around three to three and a half hours, or a little longer with larger groups, and are limited to eight guests, so there is plenty of time for questions. They usually start at 13:00, occasionally at 12:00, and are mostly held on weekdays. Reservations open four months in advance through the booking page on the website, and popular dates fill quickly in spring and autumn, so book as soon as your dates are fixed.
The class suits food lovers, couples, solo travellers and families with older children who enjoy cooking, and it is a good choice for anyone who wants to bring something practical home from Kyoto. Because it takes up most of an afternoon, plan lighter sightseeing for the morning, and avoid a big lunch beforehand. Mention any allergies when booking.
The home is easy to reach by city bus from downtown Kyoto and from JR Kyoto Station, and the website links to a map showing the location. The area lies between the Imperial Palace park and the Shimogamo district, so you could combine the class with a morning walk in Kyoto Gyoen, a visit to Shimogamo Shrine or a stroll along the Kamo River at Demachiyanagi.
Haru Cooking Class FAQs
Who runs Haru Cooking Class?
Taro Saeki, who has hosted classes in his Kyoto home since 2010.
What do you cook?
Four vegetable dishes and one wagyu dish in the standard class, or four vegetable dishes in the vegetarian class.
Is the vegetarian class fully vegetarian?
The soup stock contains fish, although no fish is served on the plate.
How long is a class?
Around three to three and a half hours.
How many people are in a class?
A maximum of eight guests.
When do classes start?
Usually at 13:00, occasionally at 12:00, mostly on weekdays.
When can you book?
Reservations open four months in advance on the website.
Where is it held?
In the host's home north-east of the Kyoto Imperial Palace, reachable by bus from downtown and Kyoto Station.