15 Kyoto Sushi Making Classes to Build a Day Around

1.Sushi Making in Kyoto! Same-day bookings welcome!

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 713 reviews · from $53Our pick

Learn sushi basics with English-speaking instructors at Sushi Master Kyoto Kawaramachi. In about 90 minutes, you’ll prepare nigiri and rolls, make 10 pieces, eat your work, and receive a small gift. Instructors including Kioko and Rio have been praised for their patience with children and beginners.

“Our family of 4 (kids 9 and 11) had a blast. Our kids loved the class. Rolled our own sushi, cut the rolls and ate our own sushi. The kids enjoyed Japanese soda with a marble in it. The kids said this was their favorite food on the trip so far. Staff was very welcoming and helpful. We highly recommend this tour if you are the fence!”

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2.The Original Small-Group Sushi Making Class in Kyoto

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 436 reviews · from $69

At Atelier SUSHI near Kiyomizu-dera and Gion, Kana leads an English-language, 90-minute class for no more than eight people. You season sushi rice, shape nigiri, roll maki, and eat your work in a restored Kyoto townhouse. Aprons, gloves, tea, recipes, and take-home sushi tools are included.

“Small class , very good sushi …. & easy. The host Kana is super knowledgeable, speaks good English & very nice”

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3.Small-Group Authentic Sushi Making Workshop

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 137 reviews · 1h 30m · from $60

Join Kana and her small team for a 90-minute English-language sushi class in Kyoto’s restored Kyoto Wand townhouse. With no more than eight participants, you season rice, shape nigiri, roll maki, and eat what you make, with miso soup and a take-home sushi mat, chopsticks, and recipe card.

“Highly recommended. The staff at altier were wonderful and very attentive. The ingredients were of very high quality and delicious. We were able to chat with other guests and had a very pleasant afternoon.”

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4.Sushi – Authentic Japanese Cooking Class – the best souvenir from Kyoto!

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 93 reviews · from $72

In Kaori’s Kyoto kitchen, you’ll prepare several kinds of sushi, dashi soup, pickled ginger, and sushi rice while learning Japanese food customs in clear English. The roughly two-hour class includes ingredients, recipes, an aperitif, green tea, and a full meal.

“Great experience, good value - we had a bunch of fun! Learned a lot and got helpful tips for making sushi back home”

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5.Private Kyoto Sushi Cooking Class & Tea Ceremony with Emika

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 66 reviews · from $109

Spend about three hours in Kyoto with Emika, cooking sushi or local Obanzai dishes in her home. Prepare seasonal vegetables, miso soup, and a main dish, then eat together with matcha or local alcohol. An optional market walk follows the meal.

“It was a great experience to learn how to make some sushi and other related dishes. Emika was very kind and knew how to involve the kids. It was very cool to walk through her neighborhood and learn at her home for a more authentic experience in a private setting.”

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6.Sushi Making Class with Sushi Chef

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 64 reviews · 90 minutes - 3 hours · from $74

Make nigiri and maki with an English-speaking sushi chef near Shijo Karasuma. You will practice with a toy model, work with fresh fish from Kyoto Central Wholesale Market, learn sushi etiquette, and eat what you prepare. Hide, Yutaka, Nami, and other instructors have led past classes.

“Hide was a very good teacher and we had a very nice experience to make sushi. We would recommend this course!”

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7.Enjoy Sushi & Market Tour! Best for Family & Couple!

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 20 reviews · 2 hours · from $77

Meet an English or Japanese instructor near Kyoto’s center for a hands-on sushi class. Visit Nishiki Market to see fish cutting, make vinegar rice, nigiri, temari, temaki, dashi, and miso soup, then eat your meal with dessert and coffee. Seasonal Kyoto tips round out this small-group experience.

“Our guide was so lovely and extremely helpful in making sure we learned the right techniques but flexible enough to help us explore our own flavors. E always wanted to prepare great sushi, and she has given us the skills to make it happen. Very gracious guide and her facilities were very professional. Highly recommended.”

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8.Sushi or Traditional Japanese Cuisine in a Kyoto Home with Emika

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 20 reviews · from $79

Meet Kyoto native Emika in her home for a private 90-minute meal of seasonal Obanzai dishes, sushi, miso soup, rice, sweets, and matcha. Her father may prepare the tea in the traditional style. Choose lunch or dinner, and share an authentic meal with a local family.

“We thoroughly enjoyed our time with Emika! She is a gracious and kind host. Her homemade meals were delicious. We especially enjoyed experiencing the traditional tea ceremony after our meal. We highly recommend this opportunity!”

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9.Kyoto Sushi Making Experience with a Professional Sushi Chef

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 16 reviews · from $163

Meet English-speaking guide Ayuri and a professional Taisho chef for a small-group Kyoto food experience. You’ll shape nine nigiri, roll sushi, taste sake, enjoy chef-made tempura, and finish with matcha and Japanese sweets in a Kyoto-style garden.

“Our guide, Ayuri, was wonderful. This is a great tour. My family had a lot of fun with the sushi making class with chef. The quality of the fish provided was fresh and tempura was the best I’ve had so far in Japan. We learned a lot about the history of sushi and sampled different type of saki. Would definitely recommend to anyone interested in sushi.”

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10.Sushi Making Experience in Kawaramachi

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 13 reviews · from $40Best value

Learn sushi history, shape your own nigiri and gunkan-maki, then eat the results in a 90-minute Kawaramachi class. Choose between a standard sushi course or temari sushi option. English-speaking staff guide every step, and a small souvenir is included.

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11.Private Art Sushi Roll Class in Kyoto

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 13 reviews · from $93

At SAKURA Experience Japanese Culture near Nijo Castle, Aya Ito guides your private group through a one-hour kazarimaki class. You will shape a peach-flower sushi roll with natural food colors, enjoy tea or coffee, dress in traditional clothing, and take home a booklet and certificate.

“I've experienced a sushi art class elsewhere on a previous trip, but this one was better because the steps were easy to follow, the instructor and her husband (tool pics for us and did the clean up and dishes) spoke in English clearly, and werRead more”

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12.Kyoto Sushi & Takoyaki Cooking Class near Gion and Kiyomizu-dera!

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 11 reviews · from $96

In Kyoto’s Higashiyama district, HANA leads a small, English-language class inside a traditional machiya. You’ll prepare rolled sushi and takoyaki, learn about Japanese food culture, enjoy sake, beer, or juice with lunch, and finish with matcha mochi ice cream.

“We did both the cooking class and walking tour. Hanna was our cooking class host and she was fantastic! The presentation was thoroughly enjoyable and well put together. The food was plentiful and delicious (we couldn’t eat it all so had take away too!). She answerRead more”

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13.Cooking class, learning how to make authentic sushi

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 9 reviews · 1h 30m · from $113

At Umemori Sushi School near Takeda Station, you’ll mix sushi rice, shape nigiri, choose toppings, and eat eight pieces you made yourself. The 90-minute class includes a happi coat, English instruction, souvenir photos, a completion certificate, and menu options for vegetarians, vegans, Muslims, and guests with food allergies.

“The instructor was very kind and welcoming, and the atmosphere was pleasant. However, the workshop felt quite basic in terms of content. We prepared eight nigiri and one very simple roll, and I was expecting a bit more learning and hands-on variety. For the price, the overall value felt limited.”

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14.Kyoto Making Wagyu Sushi experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 9 reviews · from $70

At Cocotte Alpha in Kyoto’s Pontocho district, Chef Yoshi guides you through nigiri, maki, and gunkan sushi using wagyu and fresh ingredients. You will wear a special happi coat, make lunch with your group, and finish with tempura, red miso soup, pickles, and a soft drink.

“We had a wonderful time. Two adults and three kids around 10 years old. As mentioned before it was tricky to find. Google maps got us to the area but it was unclear which elevator to take. Do not take the elevator you can see from the Read more”

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15.Nishiki Market, Private Sushi class & Sake Tasting in Townhouse

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6 reviews · from $121

Walk Kyoto’s Nishiki Market with an English-speaking guide, visit Nishiki Shrine, then make rolled sushi, dashi-based miso soup, and seasonal dishes in a private Kyomachiya. A sake tasting, dessert, lunch, and recipe booklet are included. Vegetarian and vegan menus need advance notice.

“My family and I had a wonderful time with this experience on our recent trip to Kyoto. The first part is a tour of the bustling Nishiki market past stalls carving through whole tunas and selling all kinds fresh seafood and other sundries. OuRead more”

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