Kumano, Japan
Feel at home in our kitchen and cook like a local in Kumano.
Have you discovered delicious food in restaurants and convenience stores since arriving in Japan? We're happy if you've been enjoying the many flavours Japan has to offer. Eating out in Japan can be wonderful — but we'd also love to share another side of Japanese food culture: the simple meals we cook and eat at home every day.
We invite you into our home kitchen to cook, eat, and spend time together. We hope you'll visit with the feeling of stopping by a friend's house during your travels.
No tourist kitchens here — just a home, a stove, and the real food Japanese families eat every day.
Cook in an authentic Japanese home kitchen, not a restaurant — the same tools and techniques used by families across Japan.
The ingredients we use change with the seasons. Whenever possible, we use ingredients grown or produced nearby in the Kumano area.
All instruction and recipes are provided in English.
With a maximum of 3 guests per class, there's plenty of time to cook together and ask as many questions as you like.
Your Kumano Kitchen was born from a love of Japanese home cooking — the kind of food that doesn't appear on restaurant menus but fills the tables of families all over Japan every night.
Nestled in the historic Kumano region, known for its ancient pilgrimage trails and deep connection to nature, our classes reflect the same spirit: slow down, cook together, and enjoy a meal made with your own hands.
Whether you're passing through on the Kumano Kodo or staying longer, you're welcome at our table.
Browse Courses"I made miso soup, tamagoyaki, and onigiri — and now I make them every week at home. This was the highlight of my whole trip to Japan."
"Such a warm, relaxed atmosphere. I was nervous about cooking in a foreign kitchen but felt totally at ease. The food was incredible, and the recipes came with me home!"
"Learning to make dashi from scratch changed how I think about Japanese food. Small group, great instruction, and we got to eat everything we made!"