Meet
Emika
Born and raised in Kyoto, Emika is passionate about sharing her city’s food culture with travelers from around the world. An avid traveler herself, she loves exploring regional cuisines and now invites guests into her home to discover authentic Kyoto cooking traditions. Emika specializes in Obanzai cuisine, a seasonal and sustainable style of cooking unique to Kyoto that uses local vegetables and seafood. Many of her ingredients come directly from her family’s organic farm, where she grows a wide variety of daikon radishes and makes homemade miso. She also learned professional sushi-making techniques and enjoys teaching guests how to prepare fresh sushi with fish from her local market.
Matcha is another passion: Emika’s father is a master of Sado (the Japanese tea ceremony), and together they share how to prepare the perfect cup of matcha green tea in the traditional way. Warm and welcoming, Emika loves meeting new people and exchanging stories of life in Japan. She looks forward to introducing you to Kyoto’s culinary heritage, from farm-fresh ingredients to centuries-old traditions, and to sharing her insider recommendations on the best places to eat, shop, and explore in her hometown.
What to expect
Please note menu might vary. If there are particular dishes you are interested in trying, please include your request in the booking form.
In-home meal:
(1-4 guests)
Step into Emika’s Kyoto home for an authentic regional dining experience. Your visit begins or ends with a freshly whisked bowl of traditional matcha green tea, prepared by Emika or her father, a master of the Japanese tea ceremony. Around her family dining table, you’ll enjoy a warm and welcoming Obanzai-style meal, a Kyoto tradition that highlights seasonal and locally sourced ingredients. Dishes may include comforting miso soup, steamed rice, a variety of classic Obanzai specialties, and a handmade sweet that pairs perfectly with matcha. As you dine, Emika will share stories of Kyoto’s food culture, creating a memorable blend of delicious flavors and meaningful conversation.
Cooking experience:
(1-4 guests)
Join Emika in her home for a private Kyoto cooking class where you’ll discover the art of Japanese home-style cuisine. Under her guidance, you can choose a main dish from sushi, gyoza or okonomiyaki. In addition to the main dish, you will also make miso soup and a side dish using seasonal vegetables (Obanzai) - a unique Kyoto culinary tradition that celebrates local, farm-fresh ingredients. Many of the vegetables come directly from Emika’s own organic garden. And finally, there will be a tea ceremony.
During your Japanese cooking class in Kyoto, you’ll learn how to prepare classic dishes step by step in a relaxed and welcoming environment, perfect for beginners and experienced cooks alike. The hands-on cooking portion lasts about an hour before you sit down to enjoy the delicious meal you created together. Your experience concludes with a traditional matcha tea ceremony, the perfect way to end your immersion into Kyoto’s rich food culture.
Market visit:
(1-4 guests)
Please note this is a visit to a Japanese supermarket and produce store, not a Nishiki Market or open-air market tour. Instead, you’ll enjoy an authentic glimpse into everyday Kyoto life as your host, Emika, takes you to the places where locals shop for fresh ingredients. After your cooking class and meal, join Emika on a short 7-minute walk to her neighborhood supermarket. Here you’ll explore the aisles of essential Japanese ingredients and seasonings and learn how locals use them in daily cooking. Emika will happily guide you in selecting items you can bring home, so you can recreate your Japanese dishes later.
Next, you’ll visit a nearby produce store known for its seasonal vegetables, where you’ll discover more about Kyoto’s farm-fresh produce and how it shapes traditional Japanese cuisine. This private market tour in Kyoto takes place after your cooking class and lunch, and lasts approximately one hour.
Notes:
1. Note: If you choose the paid transportation option, Emika will pick you up from Katsura Station on the Hankyu Kyoto Line, NOT from your hotel. Her home is located just a 5–10 minute drive from the station.
2. If you're a group of five, Emika is happy to host you; however, please note that her kitchen is small, so the space may feel a bit tight.
Languages spoken:
English, Japanese
Sample menu
Traveler reviews
Emika invited us into her home for a wonderful sushi and miso soup making lunch and then walked us to a local grocery store and helped us buy all the ingredients to make it ourselves. She even taught us all about a tea ceremony as her grandfather used to be a tea master.
We had a wonderful time and would highly recommend this tour.
-
yong
April 19, 2026
We had an amazing time with Emika! She not only was charming, but we enjoyed being in her home and learning from her. We were especially impressed that most of the vegetables came from her garden.
Emika was waiting for us exactly where she had stated she would be, which was comforting. She was open to our many questions, sharing information about Kyoto, her family and food. The evening was just so enjoyable.
We have shared this experience with our staff and encouraged them to offer a Traveling Spoon experience to their clients.
We look forward to the next time we get to enjoy a meal via Traveling Spoon!
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Kathleen, Signature Travel Network Advisor
April 15, 2026
I had the pleasure of taking this cooking class on my first day in Kyoto, and it turned out to be one of the most special and memorable experiences of my trip.
What truly makes this experience unique is that it is a completely private class, held in Emika’s own home.
Emika is a local who was born and raised in Kyoto, and you can really feel that authenticity throughout the entire experience. The setting creates such an intimate and personal atmosphere, allowing you to learn at your own pace and feel completely comfortable from the very beginning.
Emika carefully explains and demonstrates every step of the process, from the raw ingredients all the way to preparing the meals. Beyond the cooking itself, she also shares wonderful tips and cultural insights that you wouldn’t normally come across. From how to properly prepare and drink matcha, to the correct and respectful way to use chopsticks (which we were surprised to learn we had been doing incorrectly for almost two and a half weeks in Japan!) - these little details made the experience even more meaningful.
She also took the time to give us excellent restaurant recommendations, many of which we immediately added to our list to try.
It was clear she genuinely cared about our experience in Kyoto beyond the class itself.
And of course - the food itself was absolutely amazing. Everything we made was delicious, and it was incredibly satisfying to enjoy a meal we had prepared from scratch. We also left with plenty of photos of ingredients and products we plan to buy and take home with us before leaving Japan.
This is so much more than just a cooking class - it’s a cultural, personal, and truly authentic Kyoto experience. I highly recommend it to anyone visiting the city.
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yuval
April 14, 2026
We had a wonderful experience. Our host was very kind and showed us how to make some
amazing food. She also helped us find local shops and restaurants in Kyoto.
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jonathan
March 29, 2026
We loved our cooking class with Emika! Her professional, but relaxed teaching style made this class not only fun, but easy to recall when home. We especially loved that most of the ingredients we used for our delicious meal were grown in her garden. We would absolutely recommend Emika to any of our friends or family traveling to Kyoto!
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katy
March 20, 2026
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