Haru Cooking Class

A truly worthwhile experience. The food is delicious, the explanations and instructions are in-​depth and the hosts are incredibly friendly. An unexpected and wonderful touch of having the class at his house is that his adorable daughters may be playing around while you cook. They were very well behaved and brought a smile to everyone’s face.
The Kobe beef we had was the most succulent I’ve ever tasted. We were lucky to have a very interesting international group and the conversation was lively and interesting while we ate. I could have eaten more of everything, but didn’t leave hungry.
We learned several new cooking techniques that I’m excited to try out at home!
Don’t miss this experience!

Taro and his family are such a welcoming hosts. We learned alot about local Japanese cuisine and of course the Kobe beef cooked in Kobe beef fat was second to none. The receipes we learned here will be used in our next dinner party for sure.

My wife & I just finished Taro-san’s class yesterday and had the most wonderful time. The instruction and care that he has put into his class to accommodate his students is evident. From novices to experienced cooks, there is PLENTY of material to learn and he does a wonderful job at explaining technique as well as purpose for every action and ingredient. The fact that Taro, Yoshiko & Haruko invite you into their home makes the class that much better and adds to the authenticity with everything that they bring. We could not recommend this activity highly enough and it definitely merits being #1 on TripAdvisor in Kyoto. Taro is a true gourmet, both in chef & in eating, so go with his food recommendations too!

Want to do something non touristy but learn and experience the local culture? Then you must take advantage to fate Haru cooking class run by Taro.
Taro runs the classes out of his home and is a gracious host as well as a delightful teacher. Classes are conducted in English typically, and have 2 to 6 people. The day we did it our class had 6 people from different parts of the world and getting a chance to chat with them was part of the fun. Taro not only taught us how to cook a few dishes but also was happy to answer any questions about the area, about food in Japan and other useful information.
We made Dashi from scratch, Kinpira (pan fried root vegetables, Aemono (cucumber salad), Dashimaki tamago, Miso soup, and Kobe beef. Actually Taro did all the work with the beef but that was fine with us. At different stings and with different dishes Taro involves each person with some essential task. I learned an excellent way to cut and work with round root vegetables that I had not seen before. And the mystery of the tam ago folded omelet was revealed! WE also learned some interesting facts about Kobe beef and beef in general in Japan. I love the fact you can look up your steaks pedigree and other information online!
A fun afternoon with a great meal at the end, plus inspiration to continue cooking these interesting things when we get back home were all gifts we received by taking the Haru cooking class. Don’t hesitate if you have a few hours one afternoon while you are in Kyoto.