Authentic Japanese Cooking Class in the Heart of Sapporo

"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"

"Sakura was so kind and treated me like family, she made me feel so welcome and the food was amazing. 100/10Thank you Sakura!"

"Great class with a friendly host Very interesting home cooking class with Sakura. It was fun to learn about “regular” home cooking techniques and share a delicious meal together afterwards."

"It was not as interactive as expected. The dishes were simple & uninspiring with very little taste. Would not recommend for visitors who are foodies and knowledgeable about cooking.

Traveling Spoon Response: Dear Lori, Thank you so much for taking the time to share your feedback. We’re sorry to hear that the experience did not meet your expectations. At Traveling Spoon, we aim to connect travelers with warm local hosts for meaningful cultural and culinary exchanges, and we understand that every guest brings their own preferences and expectations to the table. We’ve shared your comments with our host, Sakura, who also expressed regret that the experience didn’t resonate with you. She shared that you arrived much earlier than expected, and while she encourages guests to be hands-on in her classes, it seemed there may have been a mismatch in expectations around participation and the style of cooking. Sakura focuses on teaching simple, approachable home recipes - meals that busy individuals can recreate in their own kitchens, rather than restaurant-style cuisine. We understand that you had requested tempura shortly before the class, which is not part of Sakura’s usual menu. Although she took time to prepare for this special request, it may not have reflected the same level of confidence and refinement as her standard dishes. We appreciate your honesty and will use your feedback to help us better set expectations for future guests, especially those seeking more advanced or gourmet-level instruction. We’ve already updated the experience description to note that this class is ideal for beginner cooks, in order to help set clearer expectations for future guests and ensure the best possible fit. Thank you again, and we wish you many wonderful culinary experiences ahead."