Kyoto Family Kitchen Home Cooking Class

Very authentic, we learned a lot about Japan Very tasty as well We had a wonderful conversation and wonderful meal at a real family house

One of the absolute highlights of our first-ever trip to Japan was a very pleasant evening at the Kyoto Family Kitchen! This family was very welcoming and taught us many Japanese dishes. Our hosts, Anthony and Naomi were thoughtful and kind, answering any question we had related to the culture, Japanese lifestyle, unique experiences in Japan, as well as loads of cooking tips and tricks! After cooking the meal, we dined together, and met the family. The food we cooked tasted wonderful and we discovered a completely new pumpkin dish that we loved (in addition to ramen, teriyaki chicken, gyoza, and the common fare).

We had a wonderful evening with Anthony and his family. They were so welcoming of us into their home and the meal was absolutely delicious- seriously our favorite meal in all of Japan. They were so great with our kids. Our kids loved learning how to cook and getting their hands dirty. Our 8 year old left his Pokemon cards at their home and Anthony was so kind in retrieving them for us. We absolutely loved learning about the Japanese culture and could not recommend this more. Thank you so much for a wonderful evening.

I recently had the pleasure of sharing a lovely meal with this local Kyoto family. Anthony and Naomi, their kids, and their friend welcomed me into their beautiful home in a residential area in north Kyoto. It felt like an oasis of calm after the hustle and bustle of both Tokyo and Kyoto. I had the chance to help with some of the dishes, and everything was absolutely delicious. But the best part was sitting around the dinner table, talking and laughing, and learning about day-to-day life in Japan. It was one of the best things I did on this trip.

Had a super time with Anthony and his family learning to cook Japanese food. My 13 and 10 year old thought it one of the highlights of the trip.

Vi hade en fantastisk kväll hemma hos Naomi och Anthony där vi fick laga japansk omelett, göra gyoza, chicken teriyaki m.m. Roligt att få besöka ett japanskt hem och få reda på saker om japans kultur och traditioner. Maten blev supergod och vi hade verkligen en toppenkväll. Ett roligt sätt att möta människor från olika delar av världen och kulturer. We had a fantastic evening at Naomi and Anthony's house where we got to cook Japanese omelets, make gyoza, chicken teriyaki, etc. It was fun to visit a Japanese home and learn about Japanese culture and traditions. The food was super delicious and we really had a great evening. A fun way to meet people from different parts of the world and cultures.

This was one of our family’s favorite experiences during our three and a half weeks in Japan. Two things made it special. First, the food was delicious! It was fun to help prepare the dishes and learn how to cook Japanese style. We were pleasantly surprised to receive the recipes the next day, so now we can try to cook them on our own. We fell in love with Japanese food on our trip, and I am anxious to add some Japanese recipes to my dinner rotation. Second, it was fun to spend an evening with a Japanese family in their home. They were so friendly and gracious and easy to be with. We were able to ask them questions and learn about family life in Japan. Good food is easy to find in Japan, but this experience was so much more than dinner in a restaurant. Along with a great meal, we had a fun and relaxing evening with a lovely family.

This at-home cooking class was a really welcome change from eating at restaurants in the middle of our trip. The family was kind, welcoming, and easy to talk to, which made the whole experience feel relaxed and personal. We enjoyed helping with some of the basic prep and cooking, but especially loved learning about the techniques and tools they use so we can try them at home ourselves. Their home is warm and inviting and located in a lovely neighborhood, which added to the overall experience. We would highly recommend this to anyone looking for something a little different and memorable!

We had an amazing experience with this cooking class! We have done this around the world, but this one was so unique as we were literally in their home and felt so comfortable. We are so excited to try our new recipes at home

My girlfriend and I had an excellent time doing the dinner experience at Kyoto Family Kitchen. Anthony and his family were wonderful hosts -- We really enjoyed chatting wit the entire family throughout the evening. It was also a very hands-on cooking experience, which we loved. I highly recommend and would give our overall experience a 10/10!

First visit to Japan and I wanted to try an authentic Japanese cooking class. This fit the bill perfectly. It was much more personal and “real” than it would have been in a corporate setting. We got to join Anthony & Naomi’s family to try cooking real, regular Japanese food in their home. They guided us through quite a few recipes as we helped prepare a delicious feast for supper. We added on the gyoza and I was glad we did – they were my favorite! We were stuffed! We also got to learn about what it’s like to live in Japan and met their children & dog & non-allergenic cat. (My daughter is allergic to cats and she did not react at all.) We thoroughly enjoyed our experience and would highly recommend this class. Check out their website at kyotofamilykitchen.com

We had a wonderful time cooking with Anthony and his family! They are warm, kind people, and it’s fascinating to talk with them about their experiences in Japan. Thank you!

A very welcoming home. The setup was casual and worked well. The food and conversation were terrific. We all enjoyed it very much. We look forward to trying the recipes at home. This is a bit out of town, but easy to get to by bus. It was nice walk through a more quiet neighborhood at sunset.

We had a great time with Anthony, Naomi and family. It was great to learn about Japanese food from the cook's point of view. And even better to eat it! They are a super-friendly and informative crew , and it is great for kids to be able to mix with local kids who speak English A must-do for visitors to Kyoto!

We chose this experience over other cooking classes in Kyoto because of the family/home element and it was just as we hoped. It’s a particular privilege because most Japanese are very private and don’t really host at home. This is a rare opportunity. It was super fun to try out different cooking methods and learn some tricks from Naomi. Thanks to her, it ended up being the best meal we’ve had so far in Japan - lots of variety and great flavours. You go for the chat as much as the cooking and Anthony answered the thousand and one questions we had with great courtesy. From the moment we booked, he offered tips and guidance about our time in Kyoto. He was especially helpful with directions to the house, which is in the suburbs north of Kyoto. An easy trip by train. An absolutely wonderful way to spend one of your evenings in Kyoto.

Everything was absolutely amazing. The family are wonderful, the experience a once in a life time, the food beyond fabulous! Make sure you include this special privilege in your itinerary! It truly was one of the highlights of our trip.

The gyoza was the hit of the night - the making and the eating. It was fun to be part of a family dinner preparation and enjoying the feast. There was good conversation and a few cuddles with the family’s cat and dog. Well worth it, we 110% recommend it.

A group of eight of us spent an evening at Kyoto Kitchen for a hands-on cooking experience. We learned how to prepare traditional gyoza, miso soup, and chicken teriyaki, all while sharing plenty of laughs and good conversation. Along the way, we also gained insight into Japanese traditions. It was the perfect blend of adventure and comfort—an experience I’d highly recommend. Such a wonderful family - Anthony and Naomi were fun and personable hosts. They welcomed us into their home with open arms and helped make our trip complete.

We spent a lovely evening cooking and eating with a local family. Highlights for my 8yr old son were the homemade gyoza and kids to play with. Thank you for sharing your home and cooking with us!

We had an amazing time with Anthony and his wonderful family!! We learned some great cooking techniques and had incredible food with fresh, local ingredients. I would highly recommend this cooking class!!

I visited Kyoto Family Kitchen with my husband, 6 year old daughter and mother-in-law this June and we enjoyed our experience very much! I was looking for a cooking class that would be welcoming to a child and this seemed like a good fit for us. While I was hoping that my daughter would pick up some cooking skills, she had more fun playing with Anthony's son while the adults worked on the actual cooking. (This actually wasn't a bad thing, to be honest!) We made Niku Jaga and a variety of Japanese vegetables, miso soup, gyoza and tamagoyaki. All of the recipes are relatively simple and I think we'll have success recreating them at home. Everything we made was delicious and my daughter (who likes Japanese food but can be a little picky) enjoyed all of it, which is saying something! We also enjoyed chatting over dinner and learning about what living in Kyoto is like for a family. If you're looking for a unique experience that is suitable for kids, I'd definitely recommend this!

If you are looking for an experience in an American ex-pat’s lovely home with his Japanese partner, with some yummy every day food, and friendly company, you have found a great fit! For us, we were looking for a more in-depth cooking class, as the two dads and teenagers love to cook. Naomi-san and Anthony were nice and welcoming. It was especially wonderful to learn from Naomi about Japan and Japanese cooking. We were hoping to get to really learn to prepare (e.g., make the gyoza fillings, etc) and have some in-depth recipes to follow and take home. Also, there were 7 of us, so there was not enough space for us each to have our own cooking station. I think many families will really enjoy this experience, especially if they truly understand what they are paying for.

Wonderful evening with Anthony and Naomi. We had a great time and learned more about the local way of life. Fully recommend!

The experience last night was sensational. Really enjoyed the space with the Host and family. It truly felt like a beautiful home to interact with other people, whilst learning to cook and eat traditional Japanese meals. 100% would recommend doing it again in the future.

Kyoto Family Kitchen was hands-down one of the best experiences I had in Japan, and that's coming from someone who lived there for two years. Anthony, Naomi, and their family are some of the kindest people I’ve ever met. They made me feel completely at home, like I was part of the family. The food was incredible! Everything was fresh, beautifully prepared, and absolutely delicious. You can really feel the love and care that goes into every dish. The setting is just stunning too. Peaceful, tucked up in the beautiful mountains of Kyoto. From the moment I stepped off the train, the whole visit honestly felt a bit surreal. This wasn’t just a meal, it was a genuine, heartfelt experience. If you’re in Kyoto, don’t miss it!

Family dinner in Kyoto with a Japanese-American family and their three delightful children. We arrived at the edge of Kyoto by nostalgic streetcar, traveling to a fine residential area. Although the first impression upon arrival was anything but inviting, the evening turned out to be well worth it. It was a fun, warm encounter with wonderful people, including a hands-on introduction to Japanese cooking, all complemented by interesting conversations. We thoroughly enjoyed the evening and are happy to recommend Food-Fun-Friendship. A truly enriching experience! The follow-up with photos and recipes for recreating the dishes at home was perfect.

We had a great time with Anthony and Naomi - it was fun to cook with them, hear stories about living in Japan, and bring home some recipes :)

We had such a wonderful experience with Anthony and his family. Not only was it wonderful to learn some typical Japanese dishes that we can recreate at home—the ingredients were so fresh and the food was delicious. But perhaps what truly separates this experience from others was having the window into what life is like for a family in Kyoto. It shows that we all have so much in common and makes the world feel a bit smaller. What wonderful memories we have and it truly put a personal touch on our whole trip!

We had such a fabulous night with Anthony, Naomi and their 2 lovely kids. They were so welcoming of my family of 4 and my sisters family of 4 into their home. Anthony's kids instantly connected with our 4 kids and made them feel at home. After a week of travel in Japan our kids loved playing 'hide and seek'! They then made gyozas together which were delicious. Us 4 adults were shown how to make Miso Soup, Kabocha Pumpkin, Chicken Teriyaki, a delicious Spinach dish and Tamagoyaki (egg dish). Then we all sat down for a lovely relaxed meal together that even our fussy kids enjoyed. They weren't difficult dishes to make so we will be able to make then again now we are home. Anthony sent us the recipes a couple of days later. The dishes were delicious and the biggest bonus with this experience was that it was so lovely to chat with them about Japanese life and culture. They also gave us advice for the rest of our holiday. It was easy to find Anthony's house with clear instructions and Anthony dropped us off at the train station at the end of the night. We would highly recommend this Family Cooking Class if your in Kyoto!

What a phantastic opportunity to meet a wonderful family, cook together, try savoury food and get to know many details on Japanese everyday life. Thank you so much, Anthony and family to open your doors to the world. Our kids loved the exchange with your kids and we can warmly recommend the experience to anyone! BTW: I cooked my first own dashi today using your recipes and it turned out well 😍😋

We had a fabulous time with Anthony & his lovely family! Highly recommend this experience, which offers deeper connection & engagement to wonderful people, place & culture complete with delicious food & gracious hospitality. Thanks again Anthony, it was terrific to reconnect after 20+ years!

EXCELLENT! We loved this experience. Our kids (6,9,12) had great fun learning to make gyoza and chatting and playing with Anthony and Naomi’s kids. An absolute highlight of our trip! The family were super welcoming and warm and very nice. The food the adults learned to cook was delicious with entertaining and interesting conversations. It was a really interesting insight into family life in Japan. Thank you for having us!

GREAT experience - was really fun to meet a local Kyoto family and cook traditional Japanese food. They were very accommodating to our food "requirements" ... we were a group of 6, one of which is vegetarian and they were super about ensuring the vegetarian had plenty to eat!

Anthony was clear, helpful and prompt in his communication before our arrival. Two weeks seemed a long time to wait for photos and recipes following our visit though. His daughter Anna met us on our arrival and after a short time she returned and ushered us into the family home and introduced us to the other 2 children and Naomi and Anthony. A convivial evening ensued where we were made to feel very welcome. We especially appreciated the connection with Anna, Clara and Leo. We had chosen to make Okonomiyaki and were intrigued by Japanese ingredients such as mochi and bonito which were previously unknown to us. Naomi had done a LOT of preparation prior to our arrival but we did get to help chop and mix some of the ingredients for the "pancakes" and miso soup. We did cook the "pancakes" but felt we had a minimal hands on Japanese cooking school experience. The table was set before our arrival and we all sat down to the tasty meal we had helped to cook. We admire the concept of cooking in a family home and sharing company and food with a local family. We wish Anthony, Naomi and the children luck in this casual and "homely" tourist venture.

We had a wonderful time with Anthony and his family. Our sons got along famously and started playing straight away. Naomi took us through a number of dishes and showed us some cooking tricks that I will definitely use when I’m back in the UK. Conversation was plentiful and we loved meeting their daughters, who told us all about their school life in Japan. We also loved their adorable dog and cat. Naomi also kindly helped us locate an item we’d lost on the train that day, saving us a lot of hassle! I would highly recommend this experience which is much more personal than some of the other cooking/eating experiences we’ve seen online.

Thank you Anthony and Naomi for welcoming us into your home and for teaching us how to make home-style Japanese meals. The food tasted excellent and the conversation around travels, food and culture was very intriguing as well. We are super excited to take the learning with us, so we can replicate some of the dishes back home! We are glad that we chose your Kyoto Famiky Kitchen Cooking Class that allowed us to get a glimpse into Japanese food and family life. Our kids enjoyed meeting yours and said that they will definitely recommend this experience to other families!

What a lovely and enlightening evening! We learned how to make delicious Japanese food, and got to interact with a Kyoto family. Our kids got along great, and we appreciated the western lens Antony provided on this incredible country and culture. Thank you for having us!

We had a phenomenal experience with Anthony, Naomi, and family. They were extremely welcoming and generous, and made our visit one of the highlights of our entire trip to Japan. We traveled with 6 people (including 3 young children), and the whole family was very accommodating, guiding us through each step with ease and patience. Together, we made absolutely delicious food, learned more about Japanese culture, shared a delightful meal, and learned some insider tips for what to do around Kyoto. I would HIGHLY suggest this to anyone, but it was an especially fun experience for our kids to play with kids from another country. Thank you very much, Naomi and Anthony!!

We loved our experience ! The food was good and we had great company. We had a blast. It was super fun ! I highly recommend this cooking class.

What a fantastic evening enjoying what we cooked with this warm and welcoming family!! The home is in Kyoto's suburbs near the hills and forest and the trip there is part of the adventure looking at the homes and the way people live in this ancient city. The meal was superb because it incorporated ingredients and techniques we can use at home back in Australia. We were a group of 6 with varying cooking skills and everyone took something home!

Thank you Anthony and family for such a wonderful evening. We loved meeting you and cooking and eating together. Thanks for everything.

Highly recommend this cooking class with Anthony, Naomi and family. They were so welcoming and it was a memorable experience learning to cook authentic and delicious Japanese dishes in a relaxed home environment. This was a highlight of our trip and we especially appreciated the home cooked meal (and fresh produce)! Our conversations were enjoyable and Anthony went above and beyond providing recommendations for our time in the area and driving us back to the train station in the pouring rain. Our kids had a blast playing with their kids and have asked when we will be back to Japan to see their friends in Kyoto ❤️ Thank you again Anthony and Naomi!

An absolutely lovely, hospitable, and unforgettable meal. We had such a great time learning how to cook Japanese food, and an amazing time talking with Anthony and his family. They had so much to share about life in Kyoto and some great recommendations of what to do while visiting. If there is one thing I’d recommend you do at the start of any trip in Kyoto, it would be this!

We spent a lovely afternoon with Naomi Anthony and their kids and pets! Such a wonderful family! Felt so welcome! Really unique experience!

It was a very lovley evening. We did cook a great meal with a lot of different dishes and all tasted very good. The conversations and the hosts were great and it was really nice to have a peak inside a japanese household. I would recommend it for everyone who likes to learn how to cook authentic japanese dishes. I alteady tried it back home and it was delicious. Thanks for a great evening during our honeymoon. Daniela and Martin

We had the most wonderful time with Anthony and his family! We learned how to make dashi, Japanese omelets, miso soup, and put together a lovely classic Japanese meal. Anthony's family was incredibly friendly and it was such a nice experience to dine and chat with them. I would highly recommend this to anyone looking for a unique cooking class that feels much more genuine and real. Next time we're in Kyoto we will absolutely book with Anthony again!

Our dinner at this family’s home was the highlight of our trip to Japan. The hosts were incredibly welcoming, and it was a joy to gain their perspective on life in Japan. I loved hearing their observations and comparing Japanese culture to American culture—it was both enlightening and engaging. Their warmth and openness made us feel right at home, and, of course, the food was absolutely delicious. This experience offered a unique and personal connection to Japan that I’ll treasure forever.

So glad that we decided to try out this Cooking Class / relaxing Family Evening. We even had another, rather traditional Cooking Class the day before. It was not bad, but it can't compare to this! Aside from learning a lot about the Japanese Kitchen, the ingredients, habits, recipes etc, we had a really great Time - and everyone knows: Food usually tastes better in company!! Hope same goes to the Hosts, wish you all the best!!

Anthony and Naomi were great hosts and cooking teachers. We will definitely put what we learned to use. Enjoyed the conversation with them as well as with the other couple from Vienna. Just what we wanted. Home cooking that we can actually do vs. fancy cooking we won’t be able to do.