Bento Food Experiences(30)

Explore the delightful world of traditional bento boxes with diverse flavors and customizable options in immersive food experiences.
Cherry Blossoms 2023 Hanami and Food Tour in Yanaka 2
Food Tours
TOKYO

2025 Cherry Blossoms Hanami Food Tour in Yanaka (Tokyo)

Celebrate cherry blossom season during this unique tour in the charming neighborhood of Yanaka. Feel the spirit of this eclectic neighborhood with a local guide, taste local street foods, and stop by famous galleries, then enjoy a hanami bento box.

from$181.48
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With green tea
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Rolled Sushi Bento-Making Class at Yoko’s Kamakura Home 1
Classes
KANAGAWA

Rolled Sushi Bento-Making Class at Yoko’s Kamakura Home

A popular coastal town and sightseeing location, Kamakura is just a short train ride from Tokyo. Join Yoko in her Kamakura home and learn how to make makizushi (rolled sushi) and 3-4 side dishes. As a bonus, you’ll also join a calligraphy lesson!

from$60.49
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Regional food
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Classes
TOKYO

Traditional Bento Making Class in Kichijoji (Tokyo)

Make the iconic red-and-black shokado bento guided by a certified instructor with 10 years of overseas teaching experience in this bento-making class in Tokyo’s trendy Kichijoji neighborhood.

from$68.74
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(5)
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Japanese Home Cooking Class in Tokyo (Onigiri & Tamagoyaki) 2
Classes
TOKYO

Japanese Home Cooking Class in Tokyo (Onigiri & Tamagoyaki)

Try your hand at Japanese home cooking staples in this cozy cooking class in Shibuya’s Ebisu area. You’ll cook, steam, fill and shape rice into onigiri rice balls, and learn the authentic way to roll a Japanese-style omelet (tamagoyaki).

from$48.12
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Onigiri Bento Making Class in a Fukuoka Home 8
Classes
FUKUOKA

Onigiri Bento Making Class in a Fukuoka Home

Delicious and adorably presented bento are a treat for the eyes and the tastebuds. During this bento making class in Fukuoka, join your cooking instructor in their home kitchen, for an onigiri (rice ball) party!

from$68.74
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(2)
With recipe
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Day as a Mikan Farmer! Ehime Mikan Picking, Marmalade Making 16
Food Tours
EHIME

Day as a Mikan Farmer! Ehime Mikan Picking, Marmalade Making

Enjoy a day on the mikan farm while harvesting fresh mandarin oranges with local farmers in Yawatahama, Ehime prefecture. Make fresh juice and homemade marmalade from the premium unshu mikan picked from beautiful mountainside terraced farms.

from$111.2
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(2)
byFood Original
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Online Cooking Class: Cute Character Bento Making Class 1
Classes
TOKYO

Online Cooking Class: Cute Character Bento Making Class

Think outside the (bento) box during this fun online cooking class! Using easy-to-find ingredients, you’ll make an adorable themed bento featuring cartoon characters. These packed lunch boxes are as cute as they are delicious.

from$20.62
Online
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Local Food Tour in Fun & Friendly Sugamo 1
Food Tours
TOKYO

Local Food Tour in Fun & Friendly Sugamo

An old-school shopping street that’s a bit of a local secret, Sugamo is popular among the older demographic, but offers delights for all ages. From charming sweets shops to eclectic handicrafts, explore the “Harajuku for Old Ladies” on a guided tour!

from$166.36
With lunch
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Cute Character Bento Cooking Class in Shinjuku 1
Classes
TOKYO

Cute Character Bento Cooking Class in Shinjuku

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.

from$75.62
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Bento Making Class in Kyoto 4
Classes
KYOTO

Bento Making Class in Kyoto

Learn about the essential components of washoku (Japanese cuisine) during this bento making class in Kyoto. Make a balanced meal of six different dishes including tempura, teriyaki chicken, and miso soup, with your friendly cooking teacher.

from$74.24
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(13)
With green tea
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Teishoku Cooking Class in Shinjuku (Five Meal Options) 3
Classes
TOKYO

Teishoku Cooking Class in Shinjuku (Five Meal Options)

Cook your own teishoku meal set at Chieko’s kitchen in central Tokyo. Choose your favorite menu and venture into Japanese home cooking: sushi, tamagoyaki, onigiri, and more!

from$79.05
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(5)
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Traditional Bento Making Class 4
Classes
OSAKA

Traditional Bento Making Class in Osaka

Join this hands-on bento making class in Osaka and learn how to prepare Japanese ingredients like fish, vegetables, and rice into an exquisite, balanced meal that’s artistically arranged in a bento box. It’s colorful, nutritious, and delicious!

from$83.18
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(4)
Near station
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Bento Making Class in Tokyo: Prepare a Japanese Lunchbox 3
Classes
TOKYO

Bento Making Class in Tokyo: Prepare a Japanese Lunchbox

Master Japanese home cooking in this bento-making class in Tokyo where you can learn authentic karaage or soboro bento recipes from a local home cook. Take home your very own bento box, complete with chopsticks and a chopstick rest.

from$103.11
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Hanami Cruising Along Asakusa on a Traditional Boat 1
Dining Experiences
TOKYO

Private Hanami Cruising Along Asakusa on a Traditional Boat

See cherry blossoms, food stalls and paper lanterns of the Asakusa riverbank while cruising on a traditional yakatabune boat across the Sumida River. Enjoy a seasonal bento lunch with sweets while basking in the unique spring views of Tokyo.

from$133.9
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Yanaka Bento-Making Class & Calligraphy Workshop (Tokyo) 1
Dining Experiences
TOKYO

Yanaka Bento-Making Class & Calligraphy Workshop (Tokyo)

Escape the crowds in Tokyo and relax with a local calligraphy workshop and bento lunch-making class in Yanaka, a district near Ueno that retains its retro charm.

from$85.93
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Onigiri Bento-Making Class in Yanaka (Tokyo) 1
Classes
TOKYO

Onigiri Bento-Making Class in Yanaka (Tokyo)

In this onigiri-making class in Tokyo’s Yanaka area, craft an adorable selection of unique onigiri before arranging a delicious bento box with your onigiri alongside an array of local staples like fried chicken and Japanese-style omelets.

from$33
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Yanaka Food Tour, Bento-Making & Cultural Workshop (Tokyo) 1
Food Tours
TOKYO

Yanaka Food Tour, Bento-Making & Cultural Workshop (Tokyo)

Discover Yanaka, a Tokyo gem near Nippori and Ueno, in this unique experience led by locals. On this day tour, you’ll explore the area, visit Nezu Shrine and Yanaka Ginza, try local snacks, make your own lunch and take part in a cultural workshop.

from$134.05
Private Experience
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Halal Dining & Kimono Wearing Near Tokyo Tower 1
Food Tours
TOKYO

Halal Dining & Kimono Wearing Near Tokyo Tower

Experience Japan’s traditions — dress up in a traditional kimono and stroll through the streets of Tokyo with incredible views of Tokyo Tower and indulge in a sizzling halal sukiyaki hotpot meal in a downtown restaurant.

from$130.61
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A Thrilling Meal! Vegan Lunch Cruise Near Active Volcano 10
Dining Experiences
KAGOSHIMA

A Thrilling Meal! Vegan Lunch Cruise Near Active Volcano

Experience mother nature’s beauty and power with a cruise tour around Kagoshima’s iconic active volcano, Sakurajima! While on the 3-hour tour, enjoy the tastes of Kagoshima through a delicious, plant-based meal and tea.

from$146.65
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Kyaraben Cartoon Character Bento Making Class 6
Classes
TOKYO

Kyaraben Cartoon Character Bento Making Class

These kawaii cartoon character bentos are as cute as they are delicious! Learn classic Japanese cooking techniques and recipes like tamagoyaki, and put together a tasty and balanced packed bento box that’ll be the envy of the lunch crowd.

from$96.24
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(2)
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Bento Making at Japan’s Oldest Cooking School 3
Classes
TOKYO

Bento-Making at Japan’s Oldest Cooking School

Learn how to make a delicious, authentic Japanese meal and arrange it in your very own bento box! Enjoy this unique and historic cooking experience in the oldest cooking school in Japan, with guidance from cooks with generations of experience.

from$68.74
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Kawaii “Charaben” Character Bento Cooking Class 5
Classes
TOKYO

Kawaii “Charaben” Character Bento Cooking Class

Learn how to make kawaii character bentos during this cooking class in Tokyo! Create adorable animal motifs out of rice, seaweed, rolled omelets, sausages, and more. They’re almost too cute to eat!

from$120.99
With dessert
Private Experience
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Nara Historical Hiking Tour & Breakfast Picnic in Asuka 1
Food Tours
NARA

Nara Historical Hiking Tour & Breakfast Picnic in Asuka

Discover Japan’s ancient capital of Asuka in central Nara, where you’ll explore the village’s ancient treasures and hike a historical park, where you’ll have breakfast atop a breathtaking viewpoint. Vegetarian and vegan friendly!

from$109.99
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Vegetarian Bento-Making Class in Kanagawa 2
Classes
KANAGAWA

Vegetarian Bento-Making Class in Kanagawa

Make a plant-based version of classic Japanese lunch box alongside experienced homecooks. Make vegan karaage, Japanese omelets, onigiri and other Japanese lunch staples. Dive into a healthier lifestyle with this twist on the traditional bento!

from$89.36
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Tokyo Lunch: Make a Traditional Japanese Bento in Shinagawa 1
Classes
TOKYO

Tokyo Lunch: Make a Traditional Japanese Bento in Shinagawa

Uncover the secrets to a picture-perfect bento lunch that tastes as good as it looks in this home cooking class with a friendly cooking instructor in Shinagawa. You’ll make Japanese-style fried chicken, onigiri rice balls, rolled omelet and more.

from$89.36
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Crispy Fried Chicken Bento Cooking Class in Tokyo 1
Classes
TOKYO

Crispy Fried Chicken Bento Cooking Class in Tokyo

Learn to make a colorful and mouth watering packed lunch, Japanese-style! In this class, you'll craft a delicious bento with crispy fried chicken, guided by a friendly local host at her renovated home kitchen.

from$61.87
With green tea
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Japanese Bento Making Class Near Tokyo Tower (2 Options) 1
Classes
TOKYO

Japanese Bento Making Class Near Tokyo Tower (2 Options)

Master the Japanese art of bento in this creative class in front of Tokyo Tower. Make a kawaii bento inspired by your favorite character or a traditional, Kyoto-style Shokado bento and learn all about table manners and etiquette.

from$120.99
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Classic Japanese Bento Making Class in Kawasaki (Kanagawa) 3
Classes
KANAGAWA

Classic Japanese Bento Making Class in Kawasaki (Kanagawa)

Guided by a local with years of bento-making experience, learn to prepare, cook and assemble a packed bento meal with rolled onigiri, tamagoyaki and a side of miso soup in this bento-making class in a cozy kitchen in Kawasaki, Kanagawa.

from$75.62
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Tailor-Made Tours
Can’t find what you’re looking for? We can plan a custom-made food experience or itinerary just for you.
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Reviews SmileyRecent Reviews from Guests
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Had a great time at this bento-making class! Miho was super nice and helpful, guiding us through tasty and beautifully arranged bentos. Super fun, hands-on, and beginner-friendly. Highly recommend for a unique food experience!
Alejandro Aranguren
March 14, 2025
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Traditional Bento Making Class in Kichijoji (Tokyo)
Classes
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We greatly enjoyed and highly recommend this experience to all citrus lovers. We received heartfelt welcome at the station and were taken to a farm of one of the local families, where we enjoyed a stunning view over the sunny hillsides full of mikan trees (you can see the bay and the islands), picked the fruits, squeezed and drank some of the fresh juice on the spot. Invited in a traditional, over 100 years old house of the family, we ate a delicious locally made bento lunchbox. Thanks to our translator we were able to comunicate effortlessly and learned about the culture. Later we were warmly received by local ladies in a community kitchen and were guided through the process of making marmelade from the fruits we picked. We used Haruka, a sweet refreshing yellow fruit. We also tasted Beni-Madonna, a locally developed mikan variaty with exquisite sweetness and softness. The ladies are members of the Japanese Marmelade Association and have won many awards. Of course, through their experience, our marmelade turned out a success! Therefore we were encouraged to try our luck at this year's competition. The last lucky guest won a silver medal last year! We even got fruits to enjoy at home and some more presents from the community. We cannot believe that this experience is so little known, it really is a hidden gem. It is very well organised, everybody is so kind and made us feel very welcome. Thank you, people of Yawatahama!
Karel Kubena
January 31, 2025
Day as a Mikan Farmer! Ehime Mikan Picking, Marmalade Making 16
Day as a Mikan Farmer! Ehime Mikan Picking, Marmalade Making
Food Tours
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We are still talking about our wonderful cooking experience with Chieko. Even though my wife grew up in a Japanese American home, Chieko taught us traditional methods we are anxious to try on our own. We took our teen granddaughter who loved the experience!
John Stice
January 05, 2025
Teishoku Cooking Class in Shinjuku (Five Meal Options) 3
Teishoku Cooking Class in Shinjuku (Five Meal Options)
Classes
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I had an incredible time at this cooking class! The chef was so friendly and gave clear, easy-to-follow explanations, making it fun to cook authentic Japanese dishes myself. The recipes felt like genuine home cooking, and the English translation of the entire cooking class was perfect. The experience was both enjoyable and educational—highly recommend for anyone who loves food or Japanese culture!
Lara
November 27, 2024
Japanese Home Cooking Class in Tokyo (Onigiri & Tamagoyaki) 2
Japanese Home Cooking Class in Tokyo (Onigiri & Tamagoyaki)
Classes
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This was a fun and interactive presentation of two of Japan's favorite comfort foods, onigiri and tamagoyaki. Admittedly, I'm not the greatest cook, but with their expert guides I was able to make easy and delicious snacks. I'm confident that with the recipe sheet provided and the right ingredients I could make these at home in the U.S. Participants were encouraged to do all the preparation themselves and with an expert translation we were able to copy the Japanese chef's instructions easily. It was a really nice experience. I would highly recommend.
Paige
November 26, 2024
Japanese Home Cooking Class in Tokyo (Onigiri & Tamagoyaki) 2
Japanese Home Cooking Class in Tokyo (Onigiri & Tamagoyaki)
Classes

Discover Authentic Bento Food Experiences

When visiting Japan or exploring Japanese culture, one of the culinary highlights is experiencing a traditional bento box. Bento boxes are more than just a meal; they are a carefully crafted assortment of flavors and textures presented in a beautifully arranged box. These meals are perfect for lunch and are often eaten on the go, making them a practical as well as a cultural delight. Whether you're an aficionado of Japanese cuisine or a traveler eager to dive into local food traditions, bento food experiences offer a unique and delicious taste of Japan.

The Artistry of Bento Boxes

Bento boxes are not just about nourishment; they are an art form in Japan, demonstrating attention to detail and balance between taste, nutrition, and food aesthetics. Each box typically contains a variety of small dishes, such as rice, seafood, meat, and vegetables, which are carefully arranged to create a visually appealing presentation. A typical bento might include some pickled vegetables and a small dessert as well. These experiences allow you to appreciate how the elements of a bento box come together, each component designed to complement the others in flavor and presentation. For those interested in food as art, a bento experience is a must.

Variety and Customization in Bento Experiences

Bento food experiences cater to a variety of tastes and dietary preferences. With numerous regional variations, each bento offers a unique perspective on local ingredients and culinary techniques. Whether you prefer a classic bento with familiar ingredients or wish to try something adventurous like a regional specialty, there is something for everyone. Vegetarian and vegan options abound, offering delightful interpretations of traditional recipes that emphasize fresh, seasonal produce. Moreover, many experiences offer you the chance to customize your bento box, selecting your favorite ingredients or trying combinations that intrigue your palate.

Embarking on a bento food experience is not just about tasting wonderful dishes; it’s an opportunity to understand the cultural significance of this Japanese tradition. Whether you're participating in a cooking class, enjoying a bento-themed dining event, or exploring varieties at local eateries, these experiences deepen your appreciation of Japanese culture and cuisine. Dive into the world of bento and discover the delightful flavors and traditions that have captivated food enthusiasts around the world.