$6700 - $7800 Book Now

Traditional Japanese Cooking Class in Tokyo with a Local

All amenities

Japanese, English
Apartment
Cooking demonstration
home cook
Cooking Experience
3 - 4 hours
Min 2, max 6 guests
Start times: 10:30am, 5:00pm
Step into the world of Japanese home cooking with Emi, a local culinary expert. Join her for a private Tokyo cooking class exploring traditional flavors, techniques, and cultural insights in an intimate setting. Depending on the day, your experience will take place in Emi’s welcoming home or her professional cooking studio. Begin with a refreshing cup of mugi-cha (barley tea) before diving into your hands-on, Japanese cooking lesson. Choose any three dishes from Emi’s curated menu (note: Okonomiyaki contains fish granule soup stock). To ensure a smooth experience, all guests prepare the same main dish, so please share your selection at least 3 days in advance - otherwise, Emi will thoughtfully select the menu for you. Over 1.5–2 hours, enjoy engaging conversations about Japanese food and culture while Emi guides you step by step. Then, sit down to savor the meal you’ve prepared together. Before leaving, Emi will provide recipes so you can recreate these authentic Japanese dishes at home.

Meeting Points:
Home sessions: Meet at Nerima City Hall.
Studio sessions: Meet directly at the cooking studio.

This is more than a cooking class - it’s an unforgettable cultural and culinary journey into authentic Japanese cuisine.
Meal
3 - 4 hours
Min 2, max 6 guests
Start times: 10:30am, 5:00pm
Enjoy a traditional Japanese meal prepared with a variety of fresh vegetables, meat, or fish. Your menu may include favorites such as gyoza (potstickers), tempura, ginger fried pork, chicken karaage, or slow-cooked grilled fish, depending on the day. Your meal concludes with a refreshing cup of barley tea, and sake is available as an optional add-on. While Emi may not join you for the meal, you’ll have the opportunity to converse about Japanese food and culture as you cook together.

After your booking is confirmed, please message Emi directly to discuss your menu, she is happy to customize dishes for you. Vegetarian guests are welcome, but please note that menu adjustments may affect the options for the whole group.
Notes


1. After your cooking class and meal experience, Emi can take you to a Japanese sweet shop, tea and pottery shop, or liquor store to buy sake or souvenirs before dropping you off at Nerima Station. Please let her know in advance and choose one destination.
2. This experience is not suitable for children aged 9 and under. Children 10 years and older are charged the same as adults.
3. Emi will select a menu on your behalf if she does not receive your menu preferences at least 3 days before the experience.
4. Ramen is not included in this class, as its broth requires several hours to prepare.
5. Groups of 4 or more must make reservations 3–4 months in advance, as availability in the studio is limited and last-minute requests may not be accommodated.

Sample menu

This is just a sample menu to give you an idea of the types of dishes the host cooks. Your menu will vary according to seasonal availability.

  • Please choose THREE dishes from the below choices. Emi cannot do different mains for all, so the whole group needs to choose the same main dish. It will be served with barley tea and rice
  • Miso soup
  • Karaage (chicken)
  • Ginger fried pork
  • Okonomiyaki (pescatarian, or vegetarian or pork) - it includes fish granule soup stock
  • Gyoza (shrimps or vegetarian or pork)
  • Fried salmon with hijiki seaweed and edamame
  • Onigiri (meat or fish)
  • Tempura (shrimps and vegetables)
  • Yakisoba (pescatarian, or vegetarian or pork)

More about Emi

Emi is passionate about traditional Japanese home-style dishes (Washoku). After years of training with three renowned chefs, she has become a culinary expert, capable of preparing almost any authentic Japanese dish. A Tokyo native, Emi loves meeting travelers and learning about other cultures. While she enjoys food from around the world, her true passion lies in Japanese cuisine, teas, and creating healthy, flavorful meals using the freshest ingredients. She also enjoys cats, photography, hiking, and has a strong interest in nutrition science, ensuring your meal is not only delicious but vibrant and well-balanced, often using 20+ fresh ingredients.

Nearby Attractions: Emi’s apartment is about a 20-minute walk to the Harry Potter Museum in Tokyo. If you’re visiting TeamLab Borderless in Azabudai Hills, the Oedo line provides a direct, no-transfer route from Azabu-Juban station to Nerima, making it easy to explore the city before or after your cooking experience.

What others are saying

Dec 04, 2025
"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!"
Natalia
Dec 04, 2025
"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!"
Natalia
Nov 03, 2025
"We had a wonderful family time at this cooking class! Emi was incredibly friendly, knowledgeable, and provided excellent guidance throughout the session. Every step was clearly explained, and we learned so many practical tips that will help us recreate the recipes easily at home. The food we prepared was absolutely delicious — fresh ingredients, authentic flavors, and a fun, hands-on experience. I left feeling confident and inspired to cook these dishes again for my family and friends. Highly recommend this class to anyone who loves good food and wants to learn in a relaxed and enjoyable environment!"
Sherry
Oct 28, 2025
"This was a delightful and memorable experience. We went with our two daughters (in their 20s). It's less of a "cooking class" and more "cooking together with a skilled chef". Emi is gracious and speaks excellent English, which made it easy for us to have conversations. In addition to discussing the ingredients and learning how to fold perfect Gyoza, topics covered various aspects of Japanese culture and politics, things to see and do, travel, and even movies and popular culture! One of us is a vegetarian so the meal was entirely vegetarian, with the menu agreed in advance. The gyoza, filled with mashed potato, green onions, and spices were absolutely delicious. Likewise the yakisoba, which consisted of soba noodles, chopped carrots, green peppers, cabbage and mushrooms, in a fabulous sauce. We also loved the Shira-ae , a mash of tofu, Shungiku (chrysanthemum), and carrot, seasoned with sesame, sugar and miso paste. Highly recommend!"
drone
Read more

Cancellation

  • No worries booking: free cancellation within 24 hours of booking.
  • Cancel anytime up to 48 hours before your experience for a full refund minus service fees.
  • If your experience is cancelled within 48 hours of your experience, no refund is provided.

Location

Frequently asked questions

travel off the eaten path

Subscribe to our newsletter (todo)