Good experience with the cooking class. The host has good patience, even though the event was delayed due to the navigation of the place not being according to the website description (not the host's fault, but the company's). When you try to contact the host via email (according to the website), it can take several minutes of delay. Here it is good that before the event you have contacted the host. Finally Sakura-san came to pick me up, which was very kind. Similarly on the way home she went with me to the nearest train station to lead me to the right destination. As a result, all the dishes were made according to the descriptions. But there were two more dishes that were (bonus) not planned. But I am happy to try them. In summary, it was a good experience, despite the complications. But the host is helpful and helped me. In addition to the authentic food (which some claim to be simple), there were dishes that were prepared with love. The host gave good advice on Japanese food and typical food related to Sapporo and Hokkaido. //Minh
This was an amazing experience, and I highly recommend it to everyone visiting Tokyo who would like to learn something new, have a great time doing so, and meet some wonderful people! :) Risa is an amazing host and just as good a teacher. I attended her cooking class with a friend, and we both felt very welcome the entire time. She took care of us from the moment we arrived at the train station until we left. We talked about food, our countries, anime, and video games — it felt almost like visiting a friend and catching up on life over a shared meal. We ate delicious miso soup and okonomiyaki, and also got to try some excellent green tea. Thank you for your hospitality, and I really hope we’ll meet again in the near future!
Join Toshiko in the dining room and kitchen of her apartment building's party room where you'll be greeted with a refreshing welcome drink. Embark on a journey into Japanese cuisine as Toshiko introduces you to traditional ingredients like shoyu, sake, konnyaku, and mirin. She will guide you through an authentic cooking demonstration, teaching you how to prepare dashi - the essential base for many Japanese dishes, including nikujaga, miso soup, and other homestyle favorites. The 1.5-hour demonstration is followed by a delightful meal, where you'll savor the dishes prepared, sharing this intimate dining experience with Toshiko and her family. Enjoy your meal with a choice of sake or beer to complement the authentic flavors. Please note that this is a cooking demonstration, not a hands-on class, due to space constraints.
Miyuki lives with her husband and children in Chiba, close to Disneyland Tokyo as well as Narita airport. She will introduce you to Japanese everyday meals, typical dishes that the locals eat - simple, easy recipes cooked using fresh, seasonal and local produce. This is the kind of food you will find in a Japanese home and not necessarily in a restaurant. Join Miyuki and her family to enjoy some everyday Japanese dishes such as teishoku, a Japanese style set menu of one side dish, rice balls, miso soup, and one main dish or chirashizushi, a sushi bowl made by topping sushi rice with a variety of seafood, vegetables and egg or karaage, Japanese fried chicken or Japanese curry and rice. You will end your meal with Japanese style dessert and green tea.
This was one of the best experiences of our trip! Makiko was such a lovely host, teaching us about the different processes and sharing interesting stories. The supermarket tour was great with a local point of view. And of course the food is amazing! And it was so interesting having real home style Japanese cooking. If you’re looking for a more intimate experience with a peek into a Japanese household you should definitely try this one.
Overall, I had a very good time, the experience with Aki-san was fun! I was quite surprised when Aki-san put the udon dough in a plastic bag, set it on the floor, and proceeded to knead it with her feet! Genius! And it was neat to see solid katsuo-bushi grated the old-fashioned way for dashi; I’d heard about that, but never seen it before. The presentation of all the food was good, and Aki-san has a whole cupboard crammed with dishes and bowls to choose from (typically Japanese, and fun). I did learn about Nagoya-style food, which was very tasty. Aki-san thoughtfully provides a printed copy of the recipes, which I appreciate.
Loved our cooking class with Kanae in her beautiful home surrounded by mountains and falling snow. We were collected at the meeting point by Kanae and then driven first the local fish and food markets where we purchased our supplies for lunch. Surprisingly, a tranquil and quiet experience wandering through the market places. The fish markets back home where I come from are a bustling and stinky affair, but not here. Everything is beautifully presented , pristinely clean and calm. Then onto lunch. Kanae will teach you how to cook whatever you like and I had requested a seafood dish which turned out to be a lip smacking, umumsi bomb of home style salmon, spinach, miso and dashi. Will be cooking this at home. We loved our day! Highly recommend this activity. Thank you Kanae for a great day!!!!
Hida home cooking and culinary traditions are deeply rooted in life in the mountains. Rena and her partner welcome you into their home to share simple, traditional dishes from the Hida region, prepared with fresh, local ingredients and seasonal vegetables.
In you hands-on cooking class in Hida, you’ll learn to make three dishes using ingredients grown locally. One highlight is aburae (egoma), a type of perilla seed used in Hida cooking for generations, adding a warm, nutty flavor to everyday meals. You’ll also cook with high-quality Hida rice, famous for its rich taste and texture. The class lasts about one hour. Because Rena’s home kitchen is small, the class is a mix of a demonstration and a hands-on experience. You’ll help grind perilla seeds, chop vegetables, and shape rice balls, while Rena guides you through each step. It feels just like cooking in a friend’s home - learning everyday traditional dishes from the Hida region and then sitting down together to enjoy the meal you’ve helped prepare.
This authentic Japanese cooking class in a local home in Hida is the perfect way to connect with people, discover regional food culture, and experience the traditions of the Japanese mountain areas.
The highlight of our Tokyo visit! Our cooking class and dinner with Hiroko was so special. It felt like dinner with family. She was such a generous host and made us feel extremely welcome. We could have stayed and chatted to her for much longer! The food was absolutely delicious and lots of thought had been put into the menu. Thank you so much for having us in your lovely home, Hiroko-san. We couldn’t recommend this experience highly enough.
Excellent experience with Emika. She was thoughtful, organized, welcoming and entertaining. I recommend the experience. The day was topped off with a trip to Emika’s local grocery store where she educated us on new foods.
I booked a cooking class with Furu through Traveling Spoon. He offers a variety of dishes to learn. I was most curious about Tamago-yaki, the Japanese omelette. Furu was a great teacher; rolling and flipping the Tamago-yaki is much more difficult than it appears! We also prepared Japanese hot pot and soba for the rest of the meal. Great experience and delicious food!
Join Yasue in her clean kitchen where you will wash your hands, roll up your sleeves and learn to cook 4-5 Japanese dishes from scratch in a hands-on cooking class in Hayama. The cooking portion of your experience will last about 1 1/2 hours before you sit down and share the meal you helped prepare with Yasue. Menus are seasonal so Yasue will inform you about the menu for your experience after your booking has been confirmed.
Shiori was extremely friendly, full of Japanese cooking history and knowledge, and welcoming in her home. The food was delicious. Shiori made this an unforgettable evening.
I booked a cooking experience through Traveling Spoon with Michiyo in Kyoto. My husband and I had a truly wonderful time cooking an entire multi-course Japanese meal with Michiyo in her home. We both love to cook and felt that we learned a lot during our lesson. Michiyo explained and demonstrated the techniques and then let us cook with her. We made a rolled Japanese omlette, miso soup, spinach with a sesame dressing, marinated grilled salmon, and a hearty beef and vegetable stew. After we cooked we enjoyed eating the meal with Michiyo and her charming husband. We had a great time visiting with them--they both speak excellent English and are a warm and interesting couple. It was lovely to be welcomed into their home. I wholeheartedly recommend this experience. We both agree that it was a major highlight of our three week multi-city trip to Japan!
I had an excellent experience with Emi's cooking lesson. From the first moment, her communication was excellent, her instructions to find the studio were spot-on, and her poise, personality and knowledge were amazing. I learnt how to cook three recipes, some tricks and alternative ingredients available in my country and we chatted over a shot of sake. Time flew, because her personality is magnetic. Do not skip this activity! It will be the highlight of your time in Tokyo!
Don’t miss this amazing experience This was the best experience we have had in Tokyo! Junko is utterly charming, energetic, funny and kind. She is also a superb chef. We spent more than an hour touring the market as Junko explained many aspects of Japanese foods and showed us her favorite vendors. She stopped to let us shop for some other fine products. We then accompanied Junko to her home, where she cooked a meal that was far more than we could consume and was absolutely delectable! She showed us several of her cooking techniques and allowed us to participate in creating the meal. We were delighted by Junko’s granddaughter, who accompanied us throughout the day. She gave us several recommendations and enhanced the experience with her knowledge and warmth. It was a lovely afternoon and we hope to see Junko and her granddaughter again.
Machiko is a warm and wonderful host, who lives in a very convenient location near from the city center. She welcomed us with warm smile into her clean and tidy house. Although she was a little nervous at first (since it was her first-time hosting), Machiko tried to know about us and listened to us very thoughtfully. She puts a lot of effort into making the cooking and dining experience with her as enjoyable as possible, by reading books and customizing the dishes based on the travelers needs. You will get to taste a real Honshu family meal with Machiko. And, she has beautiful Japanese style table wares - you can feel the Japanese atmosphere while eating food with these. If you are interested in something or have any questions, she will be happy to answer them!
What a wonderful experience! Miki met us at the station and took us on a walk thru her neighborhood. We stopped at a furikake shop, a mochi shop, a tofu shop and a tsukudani shop. All established shops in existence for decades. We had samples at each and Miki got all my questions answered as she is fluent in both English and Japanese. Such history within the shops. Of course I bought some items to take home. Our next stop was the grocery store. Though the stop is to primarily get what’s needed for the upcoming meal, I got input from Miki on what she thought was the best miso, kelp, salt, and dried kiriboshi and hijiki. I cook a lot of Japanese food at home and always try to pick up stuff in Japan, but it’s always iffy. Having a local give input was so helpful. The lesson itself was invaluable. She teaches you the proper way to make dashi. It’s easier than I expected and I will be making my own dashi from now on. I’ve been using the packets, and tried a recipe she taught me as soon as I got home, but the taste was completely different. Of course I had used a packet and it completely overpowered the taste of the dish. I will make my own dashi from now on. She also taught me the sa-shi-su-se-so method of layering my ingredients and it has completely changed the way I approach Japanese cooking. When we were done, Miki told us she would drive us back to our hotel, but we declined as we wanted to go to a matcha tea shop. We explained we were having a hard time finding matcha. She immediately asked us the name of the shop and called them. She told us they were nearby and had 4 matchas in stock. She drove us there, and we were able to procure our tea. Our hotel was close by so although she offered to drive us, we declined but was so thankful for her offer. Our time with Miki flew by. We will for sure book another cooking lesson when we’re in Japan. She even told us we could cook what we wanted if we let her know in advance. We left her looking forward to another lesson and feel we’ve also made a great friend.
We really enjoyed our lunch. Our host was very friendly and although her English was limited we were able to communicate easily. The house and garden are beautiful as is the area where her home is located. We had two older travellers with us who found it difficult to sit on the floor, chairs were provided.
Take this tour. Aki is a magnificent host. Learned about living in Kyoto, the market and Japanese cuisine. Considering our travels all over the world over the world, this experience was among the very best.
Make Fluffy Japanese Pancakes in a Tokyo Home Cooking Class with a Local Host! Join a hands-on cooking class in Setagaya, one of Tokyo’s peaceful residential neighborhoods, and learn the secrets to making fluffy Japanese pancakes, also known as soufflé pancakes, with a friendly local host, Tomoko. Meet Tomoko near Todoroki Station and take a short stroll together through charming Japanese gardens before arriving at her beautiful home. In this 1-hour Japanese pancake class, you'll discover how to make the fluffiest pancakes from scratch, using Tomoko’s original recipe. Her unique version was developed through many trials and improvements, inspired by a traditional recipe from a Japanese patisserie.
During the class, Tomoko will guide you step-by-step:
Learn how to prepare the pancake batter
Cook your own fluffy soufflé pancakes
Decorate with seasonal fruits, whipped cream, maple syrup, honey, chocolate sauce, walnuts, or powdered sugar
Tomoko will demonstrate the process first, then you’ll get to make your own pancakes, right from the batter to the final decoration. To make the experience even more special, your pancakes will be served on beautiful, hand-painted ceramic plates, created by Tomoko herself. Whether you're a foodie, pancake lover, or cultural traveler, this Tokyo cooking class offers a fun and authentic taste of Japanese home cooking.
My daughter and I really enjoyed the expérience. Yoshiko was very welcoming and teached us how to do different dishes. Our preferred was Gyoza. We strongly recommend!
Meet your host at JR Chiba station and drive together for 15 minutes to arrive at Chieko's friends home for your home-style Japanese cooking class. This is a hands-on cooking class where you can choose one menu from five options given. You will learn to make popular Japanese dishes from scratch in your 1.5-hour Chiba cooking class. They are authentic home cooked Japanese dishes - you will cook together one main dish + two side dishes. Chieko will share simple tips and tricks that she learned from her mother, so that you can easily recreate these dishes back home. After your hands-on Japanese cooking class, sit down to share these dishes you helped prepare. And after eating, you will practice the art of calligraphy, using traditional calligraphy brushes and ink to write your name or kanji characters.
If you select the optional alcohol at an extra cost, you will enjoy sake tasting or a tea ceremony, after your meal. Very unique and high-quality sake that is distilled locally will be served. And if you do not consume alcohol, a Japanese tea tasting will be offered.
We had so much fun with Yuko and learned so much! She welcomed us into her beautiful home, taught us about local cuisine, and led us in a completely interactive activity that culminated in a delicious lunch of local specialties that we had cooked together! We enjoyed the meal in a beautiful traditional Japanese room, decorated with, among other lovely objects, ikebana made by her husband. If you are daunted by the fact that her house is not in Nara proper, never fear: it’s just a few stops away by the convenient local train. This experience is totally worth the effort it takes to reach her house. Our menu: pressed sushi with various fillings, sushi wrapped in persimmon leaves, somen noodles in lovely dashi broth, egg roll (tamago), and a delicious dessert very like flan, but made with roasted soybean flour. Yuko speaks good English so you will understand her instructions quite easily if you are American. Yuko also made some wonderful recommendations for local attractions that we would not have discovered otherwise. She is a great ambassador for this region.
Meet your host Eri at her beautiful and modern house, located within a five minute walk from either the Umegaoka or Setagayadaita station on the Odakyu line. Her home is located in a peaceful residential area of the popular Shimokitazawa neighborhood. Her traditionally inspired, modern home is designed to make you feel at peace, away from the restlessness of Tokyo. You can take a peek into her grandparents-in-law’s traditional house and petit Japanese garden next door before making yourself comfortable in Eri's upstairs living and dining area. Relax over a welcome drink before joining Eri for a traditional-inspired Japanese homestyle meal. Eri speaks English but not as fluently as she would like, she is still learning the language. Your menu may include dishes such as nikujaga (meat and potato stewed in soy and mirin), salmon sauté, silken tofu topped with hijiki seaweed and beans, amazake (sweet, non-alcoholic sake) and rice balls with pickles. Your menu may vary depending on the season and the freshness of available ingredients.
Fantastic experience. We went to the market and our chef so was patient answering all our questions. We then returned to his kitchen and made the best food! Probably the best experience we've had in Japan yet!
Chieko and her team of lovely ladies were amazing and super helpful throughout. They explained what we were doing and why and about the different produce we cooked with. The end product was absolutely fantastic!! Highly recommend this experience.
Begin your private, Tokyo sushi-making class with a warm welcome drink, a sakura (cherry blossom) latte, and a brief introduction to Edomae food and its rich history from your host, Akemi. During this 2-hour class, you’ll learn how to prepare traditional Edomae sushi, starting with the essential vinegar rice. Akemi will guide you through the art of making four types of sushi: Maki (rolled sushi), Nigiri (traditional hand-pressed sushi), Inari (tofu pouch sushi) and, Gunkan (battleship sushi), alongside freshly grated wasabi and sliced ginger. As you work, you’ll also learn about the history of Edomae sushi, including the use of red vinegar - a unique preservation method from the Edo period, when rice was so valuable that it was paid as tax. The lesson will include a demonstration on how to cut sushi from a whole fish, and you'll leave with a printed recipe book to recreate the dishes at home. After the sushi-making, enjoy your creations with a savory broth and a beverage (Japanese sake, plum wine, orange juice, or cola). The meal concludes with a delightful dessert, such as matcha ice cream or yuzu sorbet. Please note, while Akemi will be busy serving, you’ll have the chance to relax and enjoy your meal. Children are charged the same as adults. A vegetarian option is also available.
We joined Satoru for a cooking class on our recent trip to Tokyo, and we are so glad we did. Communication before our class was clear, and he was early at the meeting point. He welcomed us to his flat, and we had an excellent experience, fixing a lovely lunch with a great host. Satoru is knowledgeable, friendly, and warm. He was generous to provide the recipes for the dishes we made so we could try them at home. The class gave us a good background in Japanese food, cooking and presentation that helped us really appreciate the meals we had on the rest of our trip. We definitely recommend cooking with Satoru for a unique experience in Tokyo.
The Udon Noodle cooking experience was the HIGHLIGHT of my trip! I felt that the cost was WELL WORTH it, given how much time we spent and all the wonderful cooking tips! I would most certainly book again!!!
If you like cooking, and enjoy Japanese food this is an excellent opportunity to learn simple home-style Japanese cooking, with ingredients that are available in most large U.S. cities. The food was delicious and our host was friendly and engaging. The interpreter did a nice job too. Having the session in an average Tokyo outer suburban home makes it even more interesting as few westerners will have that experience.
I was so lucky to be gifted a class with Noriko. I have a five year old granddaughter who is in Kindergarten this year and very much wanted to be able to make fun lunches for her occasionally. This class was perfect and Noriko was extremely patient and supportive of me during the class. Her detailed notes for preparation prior to the class ensured that I was ready to go right away. I am now researching and planning some really wonderful and different lunch boxes for when it is my turn to provide for her. Thank you Noriko.
Cooking with Yoko was an amazing experience! She met us right at the Minami-Morimachi station and wore a Japanese kimono as this is what traditional Japanese wear for teaching classes and tea ceremonies. Yoko walked us to her apartment through some of the local shopping streets and gave us a small tour of her area. She was very welcoming and was a great tour guide explaining everything we saw and telling us stories. Yoko is well known in her area as many people greeted her as we walked by on the way to her apartment. She made us feel right at home and greeted us with a cute welcome sign on her door. She had hangers out for us for our jackets and charming aprons to wear. The cooking portion of the experience was very hands on and extremely informational. She taught us so much about traditional Japanese cooking techniques such as how to cut cucumbers into a snake (accordion) design, which looked way better than just a cut up cucumber. She also gave us lots of cooking tips as well including to always mix the miso into a small portion of broth before adding into the soup as it would lose all its flavor, it is easier to cut tofu in your hand (very carefully) since it is so soft, always crack an egg on a flat surface and so much more. One of the highlights of the cooking portion was making the Japanese omelet - one of the best omelets we have ever had! She was so accommodating and even purchased and used gluten free soy sauce as I had an allergy. We had such great conversations over our meal with her about Japan and life that we felt like we were just having a meal with an old friend. At the end of the experience she even walked us about 10 minutes to a local park and pointed us in the direction of the Osaka Castle which is where we were headed to after. She even gave us lots of tips on other places in Japan we would enjoy and wrote them all down for us. We left the entire experience with our bellies full, lots of new Japanese cooking techniques and feeling like we made a new friend. It was an amazing experience altogether!
A Wonderful Japanese Cooking Experience with Tomoko! As a French person who loves good food, I was absolutely delighted by my cooking class with Tomoko in Tokyo! She is such a generous, kind, and welcoming person — from the very first moment, I felt completely at home. We prepared a full traditional Japanese meal together, and everything was simply delicious. The flavors were delicate and perfectly balanced — you can truly feel the love and attention she puts into her cooking. What made the experience even more special is that after the class, Tomoko took me to a local supermarket to find the key ingredients so I could bring some of Japan back home with me. It was so much fun to explore the aisles together and learn about the local products! Tomoko explained every step with great patience and shared so many interesting insights about Japanese culture and cuisine. I learned a lot, laughed a lot, and felt deeply inspired. If you want to discover the real taste of Japan in a warm, authentic, and personal way, I can’t recommend this experience enough. It’s not just a cooking class — it’s a truly unforgettable memory!
Michiharu hosts this authentic Japanese cooking experience at his studio in Shinsaibashisuji, Osaka, together with Shohei. Shohei, an avid traveler and food lover who shares a passion for Japanese cuisine, assists with translation as Michiharu speaks limited English.
In this 2-hour hands-on Osaka cooking class, you can choose between a sushi-making class or a tempura-making class. In the sushi class, you will learn how to prepare sushi rice from scratch and make three types of sushi - sushi rolls, nigiri, and chirashi. In the tempura class, you will discover how to make light, crispy tempura batter from scratch and explore the fascinating history of tempura’s Portuguese origins. In both classes, Michiharu shares culinary techniques along with the cultural history behind each dish, giving you a true taste of Japanese food traditions.
After the cooking session, sit down to enjoy the delicious meal you prepared while sharing stories of travel, food, and culture. This Osaka cooking class is perfect for anyone who wants to learn authentic sushi or tempura making from an experienced Japanese chef.
This was the most wonderful experience we had in Kyoto! Midori-San communicated with us after we booked and shared several options for what we could choose to cook. On the day of, from the moment we arrived at her charming studio we felt like we were family visiting a close relative. Midori was so welcoming and kind, and we ended up staying and chatting with her for a long while. She had fabulous recommendations for restaurants, shops, and experiences to make our trip perfect. She even spent a good deal of effort helping me track down my Japanese host family from high school. Not to mention the delicious cooking!!! We loved our evening with our new “Kyoto Mama” and would highly recommend as a must-do experience for anyone visiting Kyoto. ❤️
We booked this at the last minute and are so grateful we invested some of our time in Kyoto in this fabulous experience. Rita is a treasure! Warm, funny, present, curious, knowledgeable, genuinely interested in connection, and a fantastic cook! A Kyoto native, her passion for Japanese cooking, culture and connecting through food was evident from start to finish. We spent 3 hours with her, beginning with touring the modest tofu shop of her friend (a 4th generation tofu maker), where we learned about the various stages of the process, the importance of various elements (like the water used) and were treated to samples of different kinds of fresh tofu, soy beans, and soy milk. Upstairs in the kitchen, Rita had a delicious and authentic meal already underway, but eased us into the cooking process with her to complete our meal together. She taught us not only about tofu, but about meal etiquette, Japanese seasonings and marinades, the aesthetic of meal presentation, and even the spiritual meanings behind some of the food customs. She also accommodated our food preferences (we’re pescatarians), which was so appreciated. We enjoyed every minute and morsel and left with a full and happy belly, printed recipes for everything we ate, gifts (including a lovely cotton kimono for our daughter - see photos), a new friend, and knowledge about the wonderful Japanese culture that is sure to enrich our experience in this fantastic country. Highly recommend.
Our entire experience with Masa and his team was filled with laughter, kindness, and levity. The experience took place in their cooking school which gave it a slightly more formal feel. However, their attentiveness and care for our experience made the experience very enjoyable. The space is incredibly clean and organized (as you would expect in Japan). All ingredients were ready upon arrival. Then it was very hands-on at each and every step. Their team would demonstrate the technique and then hand over the reins to us. Even when we messed up, they would help us fix the issue and then give it back to us to try again. Piece by piece, we assembled our sushi, nigiri and omelet feast. All three hosts were extremely kind, attentive to our needs, and supportive of our efforts in the kitchen. Then at the end we arranged it on a beautiful platter and sat down with our hosts to the best meal of our entire three weeks in Japan! Truly memorable and enjoyable!
