Kyoto is one of those cities where it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by choice. Temples, gardens, food tours, tea ceremonies, kimono experiences, there are endless ways to fill your time and if i’m honest, not all of them are child-friendly. As a result, if you’re travelling with family (or simply want something more immersive than sightseeing), it can be hard to know what’s actually worth booking. Enter the wagashi experience (traditional sweet making) with Wabunka.

During our time in Kyoto, we were invited to experience a traditional Japanese sweet making class with Wabunka, and it turned out to be one of the most unexpectedly memorable activities of our trip.

This isn’t just another thing to do, or a tick off a list of Kyoto experiences. It’s a slow, hands-on cultural experience that gives you a real insight into Japanese craftsmanship and tradition. We learnt so much with the help of our artisan creator and our wonderful interpreter, and this actually ended up being one of the best and most authentic experiences we had in Kyoto

Here’s our honest review of the wagashi making experience in Kyoto, including what it’s like, whether it’s suitable for kids, and if it’s worth adding to your itinerary:

QUICK BOOKING BOX:
The exact experience we booked is called The Art of Making Japanese Traditional Confections, Taught by a Kyoto Artisanal Confectioner
👉 You can book the same experience with Wabunka here

Heads up! We were invited to enjoy this experience by Wabunka. This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click and make a purchase, I might earn a very small commission – at no extra cost to you. This helps to keep the site going. Thanks for the support!

What is Wagashi?

Before we went, I’ll admit I didn’t fully understand what wagashi actually was. I knew these were Japanese sweets, but I didn’t realise how significant they were to Japanese culture.

Wagashi are traditional Japanese sweets, often served with tea and designed to reflect the seasons. They are edible works of art, and surprisingly meaningful in Japanese culture, served at weddings and special occasions, because of how expensive and delicate they are.

Unlike Western desserts, wagashi are not just about taste, although they also taste great. They’re about:

• Seasonal symbolism. Different shapes and flavours are used for each season: you couldn’t order spring wagashi in winter, for example.
• Aesthetics and presentation. Symmetry and a commitment to perfection are key elements of good wagashi.
• Craftsmanship and precision. Making these sweets are easy. Making them well? Well, that takes years of practice!

We were taught all of this in our brief introduction to wagashi, before we actually got hands on and started making the sweets. Learning this context first made the experience far more interesting once we started making them ourselves, and I loved that we were learning new things together as a family. I think so much of travel is about education, but that can be fun, not boring!

The Experience: Traditional Sweet Making in Kyoto

The class itself was calm, beautifully presented, and very hands-on. Gourmet artisan Yusuke Nishizawa taught us two styles of sweet creation: fresh and dried. He was so personable, and incredibly talented: watching his hands moving the paste with such precision was an art in itself. We were accompanied by Yuki, the translator also provided by Wabunka, so that the conversation was always flowing.

We were guided step-by-step through the process of making different types of wagashi, using traditional techniques and tools. We laughed, and teased each other about our terrible attempts (in the way that only family can) but there was something really special about how slow and intentional the process felt.

Taking a moment to pause and watch my boys working so intently on learning a new skill made this experience worth every penny.

What the experience involved:

• An introduction to wagashi and its cultural meaning
• A demonstration from the instructor from how to make different types of sweets
• Step-by-step guidance to create our own sweets
• Shaping and decorating using traditional techniques
• Tasting our finished creations with freshly brewed matcha. This was the boys first time drinking matcha in Japan, so another significant experience.

The whole thing felt more like a cultural workshop than a tourist activity, which is exactly what we were hoping for.

Was it suitable for kids?

Yes, the experience was surprisingly child-friendly, but with some caveats. Our boys are aged 10 and 13 and they were the perfect age to appreciate the experience, as well as to be able to get hands-on and enjoy making their own sweets.

For safety and the quality of the experience, children under the age of 9 are generally not permitted to attend. And I don’t think I would have taken the boys under the age of 9, as they wouldn’t have enjoyed the experience as much.

We weren’t sure how our kids would take to something so detailed and delicate, but they were completely engaged.It’s not a high-energy activity, so it works best if your children are happy to sit, focus, and take part in something creative.

What we loved about it

There are lots of cultural experiences in Kyoto, but this one stood out for a few reasons:

1. It felt genuinely traditional

The experience takes place in Tokyio, a real wagashi shop in a quiet Kyoto neighbourhood. Local people came in to buy sweets as we were enjoying our experience in the light and airy room at the back of the store. It didn’t feel staged or overly commercialised.

2. It was surprisingly relaxing

The pace was slow in the best way.

3. It gave real cultural insight

We didn’t just “do” something, we learned something. We were encouraged to ask questions, and the experience ended with a Q&A session where we learnt more about the art of sweet making and asked questions about artisan Yusuke Nishizawa’s route into the profession. It was genuinely fascinating.

4. It was something different

In a trip full of temples and sightseeing, this was a nice change of pace. It stood out from the crowd as a genuinely unique experience.

Is it worth doing in Kyoto?

If you’re in Kyoto for more than a day or two, I think experiences like this add real depth to your trip.

It’s not a “must-see attraction” in the traditional sense (because its more experience than attraction) but it’s one of those activities that helps you connect more meaningfully with Japanese culture.

I’d especially recommend it if you:

• Enjoy hands-on experiences
• Are travelling as a family or group (if you can get together a group of 4 people, the experience will be cheaper per person)
• Want a break from sightseeing
• Are interested in Japanese food culture

Who The Wabunka Wagashi Experience is Best For

This wagashi class is ideal for:

• Families with children
• Couples looking for cultural experiences
• Travellers wanting a slower Kyoto day
• Anyone interested in Japanese traditions or food culture

It’s less suitable if you’re looking for high-energy activities or trying to cram Kyoto into a single packed day.

How to book

If you’re planning a trip to Kyoto and want to include something a little different in your itinerary, you can book the wagashi experience here:

 You can book The Art of Japanese Traditional Confections experience here

This is a luxury experience rather than a budget one. It lasts 70 minutes and costs £538 per group, but this is a fully private experience for groups of between 1 and 4 people, and you never have to share the experience with another group of family. It also includes an interpretor, which made the experience run even more smoothly.

We will definitely be booking Wabunka experiences again. Wabunka offers exclusive, private access to traditional Japanese cultural experiences and master artisans that are typically off-limits to the general public: it’s a wonderful way to peek behind the curtain of what working with craftsmen in Japan really looks like.

Check our our Kyoto With Kids Hub.
👉 The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Kyoto with Kids in 2026

Final Thoughts and Further Reading

Kyoto is full of incredible things to do, but some of the most memorable moments come from experiences like this. Things that are quiet, hands-on, and unexpectedly meaningful. We actually combined our wagashi experience with a trip to the Fushimi Inari Shrine, calm and chaos in the same day!

Making traditional Japanese sweets might not be the first thing you think of when planning your itinerary, but it ended up being one of the most enjoyable and memorable parts of our Kyoto visit. Sometimes the best travel experiences are the ones you don’t expect to stand out at all.

Looking for more tips to plan the perfect trip in Kyoto? Check out these articles below:

👉 Future Train Kyoto Review: An Honest Review Of This Themed Dining Experience With Kids  
👉Top Tips For Visiting The Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto
👉Nintendo Museum Kyoto Review: Is It Worth Visiting and How Do You Get Tickets?
👉 The Ultimate Japan Itinerary 14-Day for First-Time Visitors

WANT MORE POSTS LIKE THIS STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX? HIT SUBSCRIBE BELOW

✓ Subscribed

Heads up! This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click and make a purchase, I might earn a very small commission – at no extra cost to you. This helps to keep the blog going. Thanks for the support!