Tradition, Flavor and Culture of Japanese Cuisine with Akiko
Experience the essence of Japanese cuisine with Akiko, focusing on the art of fermentation in everyday home cooking. From selecting fresh ingredients at the local market to crafting bento boxes and cooking with koji, dashi, and amazake, you'll uncover the flavorful simplicity of Japan’s culinary traditions. This immersive experience offers food lovers a perfect balance of health and taste, all while exploring the rich cultural heritage of Kyoto.
- Lunch, Snacks, Coffee, & Tea
Pricing
- One Guest
- USD $945
- Additional guest(s) (max 4)
- USD $480
Meet the Artist
Akiko is a professional home chef passionate about nurturing the connection between food, mind, body, and soul. With a culinary journey that began in her youth, Akiko has honed her skills through cooking classes, running her own custom sweet shop, and delving into Japan's rich tradition of fermented foods. She is dedicated to using local, fresh ingredients, especially Kyoto's renowned tofu, made from the city's pristine water sources.
Her culinary focus is home fermentation, crafting simple yet flavorful dishes rooted in Japanese history. Her curiosity led her to a year-long fermentation school, where she mastered the versatility of tofu, vinegar, and Japan's 600-year-old fermentation culture. In her daily life, she prepares fermented ingredients like dashi, a traditional Japanese cooking stock, and koji, Japan's national fungus, which provides nutrients and enzymes, integrating the rich flavors and health benefits of fermentation into her cooking. Biking to the local market for ingredients, her cooking seamlessly integrates into her daily routine, emphasizing simplicity, efficiency, and health.
For Akiko, food shapes personality, and she views fermentation as a means of understanding what our bodies need. She's excited to share the essence of authentic Japanese cuisine, where tradition, flavor, and simplicity harmonize perfectly.
Her culinary focus is home fermentation, crafting simple yet flavorful dishes rooted in Japanese history. Her curiosity led her to a year-long fermentation school, where she mastered the versatility of tofu, vinegar, and Japan's 600-year-old fermentation culture. In her daily life, she prepares fermented ingredients like dashi, a traditional Japanese cooking stock, and koji, Japan's national fungus, which provides nutrients and enzymes, integrating the rich flavors and health benefits of fermentation into her cooking. Biking to the local market for ingredients, her cooking seamlessly integrates into her daily routine, emphasizing simplicity, efficiency, and health.
For Akiko, food shapes personality, and she views fermentation as a means of understanding what our bodies need. She's excited to share the essence of authentic Japanese cuisine, where tradition, flavor, and simplicity harmonize perfectly.
VAWAA Includes:
- Immerse in Japan's everyday culinary culture, learning to prepare simple yet flavorful meals that are easy to recreate at home and adaptable for vegetarians and vegans.
- Visit the local market to learn about different Japanese ingredients.
- Discover Japanese fermentation techniques, make fermented ingredients like salt koji, soy sauce koji, amazake, vinegar and dashi, and then explore different cooking methods using koji and dashi.
- Learn to make bento boxes with onigiri and side dishes using homemade seasonings and dashi, and enjoy the fruits of your labor at a picnic nearby.
- Learn Japanese home cooking and enjoy eating together in Akiko's home.
- Visit a local Japanese cookware store.
- If time permits, visit a traditional tofu shop to sample Kyoto's famous tofu.
Explore Kyoto
Kyoto, Japan's ancient capital, is a living showcase of traditional arts, culture, and cuisine. Known as the birthplace of tea ceremony, ikebana, and Kyoto-style lacquerware, the city brims with craft and beauty—from the serene temples of Gion to the silk-weaving workshops of Nishijin. You can visit World Heritage sites like Kamigamo and Shimogamo Shrines or explore Nishiki Market, known as "Kyoto's Kitchen."
Located in the northern part of Kyoto City, Akiko’s neighborhood is quiet and residential, close to the Kamo River and botanical gardens, as well as many cultural facilities such as churches, concert halls, museums, and universities. Here, you can spend your time leisurely. There are some of Kyoto's oldest shrines scattered around, including Shimogamo Shrine and Kamigamo Shrine, both World Heritage Sites. With a more than 1,200-year history, Kyoto offers a harmonious blend of visual beauty, craftsmanship, and culinary artistry.
Located in the northern part of Kyoto City, Akiko’s neighborhood is quiet and residential, close to the Kamo River and botanical gardens, as well as many cultural facilities such as churches, concert halls, museums, and universities. Here, you can spend your time leisurely. There are some of Kyoto's oldest shrines scattered around, including Shimogamo Shrine and Kamigamo Shrine, both World Heritage Sites. With a more than 1,200-year history, Kyoto offers a harmonious blend of visual beauty, craftsmanship, and culinary artistry.
Additional Details
The best times to visit Kyoto are in spring (March to May) for cherry blossoms and autumn (October to November) for stunning fall foliage. For cultural enthusiasts, the Gion Festival (July 17th and 24th) and the Mitarashi Festival (July 19-28) offer vibrant local traditions. Winter brings a quieter, serene atmosphere with fewer tourists, despite the cold. However, summer (July to September) can be uncomfortably hot and humid, and it's advisable to avoid Golden Week in early May due to overwhelming crowds.
The duration of this VAWAA cannot be extended. Children of all ages accompanied by a guardian, elders, and individuals with accessibility needs are welcome to attend. If traveling with children, Akiko can show them how to make a children’s lunch. However, please note that Akiko’s home is not wheelchair accessible, and the kitchen is on the second floor.
Akiko speaks Japanese and conversational English.
The duration of this VAWAA cannot be extended. Children of all ages accompanied by a guardian, elders, and individuals with accessibility needs are welcome to attend. If traveling with children, Akiko can show them how to make a children’s lunch. However, please note that Akiko’s home is not wheelchair accessible, and the kitchen is on the second floor.
Akiko speaks Japanese and conversational English.