The 15 Best Cooking Classes in Japan

1.Ramen Cooking Class at Ramen Factory in Kyoto

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,937 reviews · from $131Our pick

At Ramen Factory Kyoto, you make noodles from flour, prepare broth, cook toppings, and build a personal bowl under instructors such as Mahiro, Haruka, or Hiro. The 90-minute class includes lunch, an apron, and a hands-on cooking session. Vegetarian, vegan, and Halal options are available by request.

“Great experience and family friendly fun! Recommend booking time that coincides with lunch/dinner. The instructors are engaging, funny, and helpful. You will roll chicken thigh and tie it, boil it in broth, use a mini-torch to roast it after it cooks, hand-make the ramen dough, press the noodles and the enjoy your hard work with a delicious bowl of hand made ramen!”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Ramen & Gyoza Cooking Class in Tokyo with Local Supermarket Visit

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 823 reviews · from $122

Meet YUCa in her home kitchen in Nishiogu, Tokyo, for a hands-on lesson in ramen and gyoza. You’ll learn about Japanese home cooking, prepare a simple noodle soup and minced pork dumplings, then eat what you made. A small group of up to seven keeps the class friendly. An optional supermarket visit follows, though you should confirm it is running on your date.

“This was a great small class experience. Not supermarket tour though. But the class was fun and hands on. Would rdcommend.”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Ramen Cooking Class at a Ramen Factory with Souvenir

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 532 reviews · 1h 30m · from $127

At Ramen Factory Kyoto, near Demachiyanagi Station, English-speaking instructors guide you through chicken seasoning, noodle kneading, soup selection, and bowl assembly in 90 minutes. Instructors may include Sakura, Fuku, Akemi, or Moeka. You leave with ramen, a recipe by email, and a choice of souvenir.

“it was wonderful. the staff were very friendly and showed and explained everything in detail. they heloed us to take pictures and videos . the ramen was very delicious. they provided us with souvenirs. the location was easy to find. we learned a lot and had fun. the place was clean and pretty. we enjoyed every moment. thank you. it was a great experience and we would like to do it again.”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Ramen, Gyoza, and Onigiri Cooking Class

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 445 reviews · 1h 30m · from $90

At Manryo cooking class in central Kyoto, you spend 90 minutes making miso and shoyu ramen, pan-fried gyoza, and shaped onigiri. English-speaking instructors such as Nori, Kairi, Aoi, and Minori guide small groups of up to eight. Ingredients are prepared in advance, so you can focus on technique, taste, and eating your meal.

“Exploring the different seasonings and flavors. The best reward was the delicious food. We were able to eat our creations at the end! Wonderful experience!!!”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Japanese Washoku Bento Small Group Cooking Class

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 380 reviews · 2h 30m · from $58Best value

Join Ai, Miyu, or Chef Rie for a 150-minute, hands-on bento class near Saiin Station. You will learn dashi, tempura, sushi rolls, sesame tofu salad, and dashimaki tamago, then eat the meal you made. Groups are limited to five, with English and Japanese instruction, ingredients, aprons, and equipment included.

“This was one of our favorite things we did on our trip to Japan. We learned how to make many different things and there was so much food to eat after, come hungry! We appreciated the presentation describing the history of the bento box. Excellent activity!”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Ramen and Gyoza Cooking Class in Dotonbori

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 378 reviews · from $70

In a small English-language class at Cooking Sun Osaka, you’ll knead wheat, cut noodles with a machine, prepare chicken gyoza, and build soy sauce ramen with broth, toppings, and optional miso. Instructors such as June, Miki, Yoshi, and Kasa guide you through the work, then you sit down to eat what you made.

“My son and I had a wonderful time with Yoshi and the cooking class. It was fun and educational at the same time. She answered my questions and the food was delicious! We will be making this again when we get back home:).”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Sumo Stage Show with Bento or Snack + Fight & Photo

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 364 reviews · 1 hour · from $93

At THE SUMO HALL HIRAKUZA OSAKA, former professional wrestlers stage lively demonstration bouts with commentary, rakugo comedy, sound, and lighting. Choose a standard bento or snack with one drink, then meet the wrestlers for a commemorative photo. The show is on the 8th floor of Namba Parks and lasts about one hour.

“It was a great show. My family and I thoroughly enjoyed the show and the match. Highly recommend this to everyone visiting Osaka!”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.Ramen and Sushi Cooking Class with Sake Pairing Set in Tokyo

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 291 reviews · from $79

Meet in Tsukishima for a three-hour cooking class led by Japanese food specialists such as Sato and Ryushi. You will shape sushi, prepare ramen broth, enjoy pork belly ramen, and taste sake selected for the dishes. The class is capped at eight, with English instruction and all ingredients and drinks included.

“An excellent experience. We’ve never done anything like this before but our hosts made us feel immediately at ease. Informative and laid back - they took us from being sous-chefs to sushi masters within a couple of hours. The ramen was less hands on though more customisable - both tasted great. Some good sake choices too.”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.Kyoto Ramen and Gyoza Cooking Class with Professional Chefs

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 282 reviews · from $86

In central Kyoto, a guide such as Yuki, Ayuri, Rina, or Emi translates as a professional chef teaches you to knead ramen noodles, fold gyoza, and prepare fried rice. The 2.5-hour class includes a full meal, two drinks, cultural insight, and recipes. Groups are capped at eight, though smaller groups may feel almost private.

“Emi (our tour guide) and the Chef teaching the class were awesome! Our group didn't have all that much cooing experience but the class was set up to make things very easy and fun. we would definitely reccomend anyone interested in Ramen and Gyoza or just Japanese cooling to try this activity!!! Great People, Great Tour!!!”

Check availability →Read our full review

10.Wagyu and 7 Japanese Dishes Cooking Class

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 273 reviews · 3 hours · from $67

At Cooking Sun Tokyo in Shinjuku, you’ll spend about three hours preparing eight Japanese dishes, including dashi soup, tamagoyaki, tofu, sukiyaki Wagyu, and dorayaki. English-speaking instructors guide each step in a bright residential studio, explaining ingredients, customs, and practical substitutions. You eat the meal together and take the recipes home.

“Awesome! Very well explained, demonstrated and tasty. Very clean and beautiful class environment. Great directions to the location as well.”

Check availability →Read our full review

11.Osaka Cooking Class: Okonomiyaki &Japanese cuisines experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 261 reviews · from $104

Meet Yayo near Noda Station for a 2.5-hour cooking class in her Osaka home. Prepare okonomiyaki, takoyaki, miso soup, and sweet taiyaki, then eat what you make with matcha tea. The class holds up to eight people, with vegetarian and pescatarian options available by request and optional sake and beer pairings.

“This was such a fun and wholesome experience! I was traveling solo and ended ip being the only guest that day which made it a special private cooking lesson. The lesson was in the host’s own apartment and was super personal and engaRead more”

Check availability →Read our full review

12.Tokyo Washoku 4-hour Cooking Class: From Market to Table

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 253 reviews · from $79

Meet near Iriya Station at 10:00 am for a four-hour class led by a local cooking guide such as April, Yuri, Alice, or Mihori. Shop for ingredients, prepare makisushi, miso soup, rolled omelet, and grilled eggplant, then eat together with optional sake or beer tasting. Recipes are provided for home cooking.

“Our guide Taka was great and we had a great time making and eating our meal! We had a nice tour through the market to start and a great experience making several dishes.”

Check availability →Read our full review

13.Afternoon Japanese Izakaya Cooking Class

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 241 reviews · 3 hours · from $67

Spend three hours at Cooking Sun in central Kyoto learning everyday izakaya dishes with English-speaking instructors. You cook in two rounds, eating as you go, and may prepare up to six dishes, including dessert. Aprons, utensils, ingredients, and recipes are provided, with dietary needs handled if shared at booking.

“This cooking class exceeded expectations with the two Japanese cooking guides who were super organised, educational and friendly. The food menu we cooked was diverse, interesting and we will attempt to replicate at home! Thank you-one of the best experiences we have had in Japan!”

Check availability →Read our full review

14.Professional Ramen & Gyoza with Ramen Chef in a restaurant!

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 223 reviews · from $159

At Baba Ramen in Meguro, you make restaurant-quality ramen from scratch, including noodles, broth, toppings, and gyoza. English and Japanese-speaking chefs guide the small group, with instructors including Andrew, Eric, Jae, and Leo. Expect about four hands-on hours, a full meal, and an e-book for cooking at home.

“Our family of five had the best time at Baba Ramen! We always do cooking classes on our vacations and this one ranked right up there with the best. Unlike many other classes, they really put you to work. We were doing something for the entire time, in the kitchen with hot pans and oils, breaking chicken bones, rolling out noodles. We really felt like we cooked the meal and it was delicious! Also very personable chefs to help guide us! Highly recommend!”

Check availability →Read our full review

15.Izakaya Style Cooking Class

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 219 reviews · from $71

Spend about three hours at Cooking Sun Kyoto learning izakaya dishes with an English-speaking chef. You’ll prepare dashi, seasonings, and several small plates, then sit down for dinner. Keiko and her team are praised for clear teaching, patient help, and well-organized sessions. Menus change with seasonal ingredients.

“We had a great time and did was excellent! They did a nice job prepping ingredients and explaining what we cooked. Highly recommended”

Check availability →Read our full review