Handmade Soba and Tempura Cooking Class in Nara

You knead and cut the soba dough yourself, then fry the tempura in the same session.

A hands-on cooking class in Nara where you learn to make handmade soba noodles and seasonal tempura from a professional chef, then eat both dishes you've prepared. The class runs 90 minutes with all ingredients and tools included. A live guide speaks English, Italian, French or Chinese, and pickup is included. Local sake is available for purchase to pair with your meal.

The experience

The class starts with buckwheat dough. You knead it, roll it out, and cut the noodles by hand under the chef's instruction: the same technique used in Nara's traditional soba shops. While the noodles rest, you move to the tempura station and fry seasonal vegetables and proteins until they're crispy. The chef shows you how temperature and timing change the result, and you get to taste the difference as you work.

Once both dishes are ready, you sit down to eat what you made. The soba comes with a choice of toppings and a dipping sauce. The tempura stays hot on the plate beside it. This is the part most cooking classes skip: the satisfaction of the meal itself, not just the technique. Local Nara sake is available for purchase if you want to toast with the other people in your class, whether they're families, couples, or solo travelers.

An air-conditioned vehicle picks you up and brings you to the kitchen. All ingredients, tools, and aprons are provided. The whole experience (instruction, cooking, eating) fits into 90 minutes, so it works as a morning or afternoon slot without swallowing your whole day in Nara.

What’s included

• All ingredients and tools for soba and tempura.
• the meal you prepare.
• air-conditioned pickup and transport.
• live guide instruction in English, Italian, French or Chinese.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday7 departure times: the first at 09:30, the last at 17:00

Book up toStart time

GroupUp to 10

Live guideEnglish, French, Italian and Chinese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Stroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by 手打ちうどん＆天ぷら料理教室

Is this one for you?Book this class if you're traveling as a couple, a family, or a small group and want hands-on time with a professional chef rather than watching a demonstration. The 90-minute format fits easily into a morning or afternoon without eating up your whole day in Nara.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, French, Italian and Chinese.

What exactly do I make in this cooking class?

You make handmade soba noodles by kneading, rolling, and cutting buckwheat dough by hand, then fry crispy seasonal tempura. Both dishes are yours to eat at the end of the class with toppings and sauce of your choice.

Is the chef's instruction in English?

Yes, the live guide speaks English, Italian, French, or Chinese depending on your booking. You'll receive instruction in whichever language you select.

How long does the whole class take?

The class runs 90 minutes from start to finish, including hands-on cooking time and eating the dishes you've prepared.

What's included in the price, and what costs extra?

All ingredients, cooking tools, and the meal are included. Local Nara sake and beer are available for purchase separately if you want to pair them with your food.

Do I need to arrange my own transportation to the class?

No, pickup is included. An air-conditioned vehicle will collect you and bring you to the kitchen for the class.