Food Experiences(812)

Take part in an ancient Japanese New Year Tradition right by Shinjuku Station! Turn glutinous rice into warm, chewy mochi through traditional “mochi-tsuki” or mochi pounding – a fun activity for the entire family to enjoy.

Learn about the surprising history of wanko soba, an Iwate specialty. Then, get ready and spend the next 40 minutes eating as many bowls of wanko soba as you can. You’ll have a full belly and a certificate of completion to show for your efforts.

Indulge in a premium dining course, learn to whisk matcha to enjoy with traditional sweets and bask in the sights of a historical treasure trove in this experience in a 280-year-old teahouse inside the Tokyo National Museum in Ueno.

Dive into the world of sake in this sake tasting experience in pop culture hub Akihabara. You’ll compare three varieties of sake from across Japan, learn sake brewing history and enjoy snacks to create the perfect pairing.

Get together with friends and family to explore the traditional cuisine of Tokushima’s remote Iya Valley! Eat stone tofu (iwadofu) with friendly locals and grind fresh tea leaves with a traditional stone mortar.

Soak in the tranquility of farm life in Tsurugi, Tokushima and make traditional dumplings in a cooking class taught by friendly locals at a farm that’s part of the region’s Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System.

Join a 3-hour Osaka pufferfish-tasting food tour. Savor fugu (Japanese pufferfish) prepared by a fugu-specialist and licensed chef. Explore Dotonbori’s Ura Namba neighborhood with a guide, visit a local temple, and unwind at a hidden bar.

The terraced mountains of rural Iya Valley provide the perfect backdrop for this farm to table cooking experience in Shikoku! Harvest vegetables and turn them into a meal guided by a friendly farmer who will teach you traditional local recipes.

Exploring the fascinating street food scene of historical Karatsu City in Saga, dining at several yatai street food stalls tucked under railroad tracks where you’ll try Kyushu delicacies like squid shumai dumplings and champon.

Spend the night in a farmhouse in the mountains of Tsurugi, Tokushima Prefecture! Learn how locals maintain sustainable farming methods, bake mochi buns with locally grown ingredients and fall in love with the rural scenery of Nishi-Awa.

Come for the hot springs, stay for the food! In this Beppu food tour, you’ll try rice rolls and fried chicken at a local market, bite into freshly baked treats at a Japanese bakery and sip coffee made from hot spring water from the local onsen.

Create, craft, and enjoy traditional Japanese soba noodles in this cooking class in Nippori, Tokyo. You’ll receive hands-on training from a soba master who will lead you down a culinary journey you’re unlikely to forget!

Let your creativity shine in this private family-friendly sushi making class near Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, where you’ll learn to make cute and healthy sushi rolls. Pescatarian and halal-friendly options are available.

A lunch that tastes as good as it looks! In this family-friendly cooking class near Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, you’ll make kyaraben — a cute packed lunch inspired by your favorite characters — with a certified cooking instructor.

Make sushi with fresh local ingredients in Naha, Okinawa! Tour the Makishi Public Market and learn to turn the fresh catch of the day into sushi pieces with guidance from a pro chef, then enjoy your delicious meal together.

Try your hand at sushi-making in this home cooking class in Osaka! With help from a bilingual local host, make nigiri and maki rolls using fresh rice and fish, prepare a traditional Japanese dessert, whisk matcha, and enjoy your meal together.

Discover the captivating world of Japanese rice wine while tasting 10 different kinds of sake paired with light bites. Learn all about sake brewing methods and differences in this masterclass led by a sake-loving restaurant manager.

Learn about Japan’s national drink straight from the source in this sake tour with a brewer. Explore Nada, a district of Kobe in Hyogo Prefecture known for its leading sake production, and taste some of the finest local brews.

In this EAT! MEET! JAPAN award-winning experience in Asahikawa, Hokkaido, you will tour a local distillery, learn about gin and try different kinds before mixing botanicals to make your own. Lunch, cocktails and snacks included!

Bring pop culture to the kitchen and make your own character bento, known as kyaraben, with a warm and welcoming instructor in Shinjuku. Turn everyday ingredients like rice, vegetables, ham, and eggs into a packed meal that’s almost too cute to eat.

Embark on a journey through Ibusuki in Kagoshima. Explore a katsuobushi factory, shop for local produce at a roadside station, unwind in the Kagoshima sand baths, discover a unique public cooking area, and feast on a tasty lunch(katsuo ramen).

Tsuruoka, recognized as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, has a rich and diverse food culture. Come and learn how to make hinagashi, a Tsuruoka specialty that’s made of sweet bean paste and shaped to look like the area’s local specialties.

A tantalizing fine dining experience with local Japanese ingredients at a stunning Karuizawa forest: delicious hot pot shabu shabu, teppanyaki, and sukiyaki beef menu prepared by chefs. Enjoy the elegant hotel setting with refreshing views.

An immersive 3-day homestay in Nara, learn about the fermented foods that characterize the regional cuisine: koji (rice malt), miso, and tsukemono pickles. Additionally, you’ll visit one of Japan’s most ancient roads, the Yamanobe Trail.

In a magnificent pyrotechnic display, ayu sweetfish are corralled into nets by deft fisherman as they whip flaming torches above the water. After an elaborate meal centered around the sweetfish, watch the fishermen themselves in action!

The Jomon era is one of the oldest known periods in Japanese history. Discover this ancient culture for yourself, wearing traditional Jomon period garb, hunting and gathering local food, and enjoying a Jomon-inspired feast in a restored pit house.

Try your hand at making the local dish of Kochi prefecture, inaka sushi (literally “countryside sushi”). With the highest percentage of forested land in Japan, Kochi has a diverse range of plants and veggies, making for colorful sushi toppings!

Cruising down the Nagara River in Gifu, enjoy a banquet with Japanese sake and live performances by geisha. The meal spotlights seasonal ingredients and local fish, which you can see being caught using the ancient method of cormorant fishing.