Tokyo’s Shinjuku district is a bustling, neon-lit wonderland that’s home to lively nightlife spots, endless shopping opportunities, and the busiest train station in the world. Shinjuku district and the greater Shinjuku ward also boast a vibrant food scene, with an amazing variety of restaurants, cafes, and other eateries serving up all kinds of gastronomic delights. So it’s no surprise that if you’re looking to learn how to cook Japanese food, joining a cooking class in Shinjuku is a great option.
From sushi classes and Japanese home cooking workshops to lessons on making authentic kaiseki cuisine, there are so many options to choose from. Not only are these classes a great way to pick up new culinary skills to impress your friends back home, but they also provide a fantastic opportunity to find out more about Japanese food culture and connect with local people during your trip. So, let’s dig into the list!
7 best cooking classes in Shinjuku
1. Tokyo Kaiseki Cuisine Cooking Class
Kaiseki ryori is a refined and elegant style of cuisine that consists of multiple different small courses created from high-quality local and seasonal ingredients. The resulting dishes are so beautiful that they look like works of art, combining all sorts of textures, colors, and flavors. This Tokyo Kaiseki Cuisine Cooking Class will teach you all about the history and cooking methods of this traditional style of meal, with a delicious menu that changes according to the seasons. Plus once you’ve made everything, you get to sit down and enjoy all the dishes for yourself!
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2. Homemade Sushi Making Class in Tokyo
This Japanese cooking class is a must for all fans of sushi! Your English-speaking instructor will show you how to make a wide variety of sushi styles in this Homemade Sushi Making Class in Tokyo, such as nigiri (hand-pressed), inari (tofu pockets), hosomaki (thin roll), and even a California roll. Besides the California roll, which was invented by a Japanese chef in L.A., you might find some of it a little different to the sushi you’ve had before! You’ll also learn more about the history of sushi and the local ingredients used to make it, before enjoying your creations with a bowl of miso soup.
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3. UNESCO Recognized Washoku Cooking Class
Washoku refers to traditional Japanese cuisine and was awarded UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity status in 2013. So for a truly special experience, try this Tokyo cooking class where you will learn how to create four authentic dishes using UNESCO-recognized recipes that are simple, healthy, and delicious.
The UNESCO Recognized Washoku Cooking Class will teach you how to make dashi soup stock from scratch, as well as an appetizer, side dish, and dessert. Plus of course, you’ll learn plenty about traditional Japanese food culture along the way!
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4. Kyaraben Cartoon Character Bento Making Class
This might just be the cutest cooking class in Shinjuku! Kyaraben is short for "character bento" – bento meaning a boxed lunch – and the Kyaraben Cartoon Character Bento Making Class shows you how to make the most adorable ones out there! Using a range of tools and ingredients, you’ll learn how to turn anime characters into edible artwork, as well as more about bento box culture in Japan. It’s sure to be a great way to impress your colleagues back home during your lunch break!
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5. Okonomiyaki Cooking Class in Tokyo
Okonomiyaki is a classic type of Japanese street food that’s popular in Osaka and Hiroshima. Literally translating to "grilled as you like it," it’s a very versatile dish that's a bit like a savory pancake and cooked on a teppanyaki hot plate. In this Okonomiyaki Cooking Class in Tokyo, you’ll spend the evening learning to cook this hearty and soul-warming treat in the Osaka style, where all the ingredients are mixed together before being grilled. Plus you’ll whip up five other classic side dishes such as pickles and lotus root salad to enjoy with it.
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6. Japanese Homestyle Cooking Class in Tokyo with Sake Pairing
Japanese home cooking is both distinctive and diverse, packed with traditional flavors and ingredients such as miso, dashi, and soy sauce. In this fun and fascinating three-hour Japanese Homestyle Cooking Class in Tokyo with Sake Pairing, you’ll learn all about Japanese seasonings, sake, and fermented foods, then get to try your hand at seven different family recipes.
Your host is both a trained chef and a sake sommelier, so after the cooking part of the experience, you’ll enjoy each dish with the perfect nihonshu accompaniment!
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7. Sushi Art Cooking Class: Wonders of Japanese Fermented Foods
If you want a really unique sushi-making experience, this might just be the best cooking class Tokyo has to offer! The Sushi Art Cooking Class: Wonders of Japanese Fermented Foods begins with a traditional kamishibai (paper drama) storytelling performance to introduce you to fermented foods and their key ingredient – koji. You’ll then learn how to create and roll beautiful mosaic-patterned sushi, as well as make three different authentic side dishes, miso soup, and a delicious matcha dessert.
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From classic kaiseki cuisine to cute kyaraben boxes and colorful sushi, if you want to attend a cooking class in Shinjuku, there are definitely has plenty of fantastic ones to choose from. Alternatively, if you’re visiting another part of the city you can browse the full list of cooking classes in Tokyo. Book your spot today, and get ready to make some wonderful memories on your Japan trip!
For more fun in the kitchen, check out the episode of Challenge Shizuka where Shizuka Anderson cooks up an osechi ryori (Japanese New Year food) feast and subscribe to our YouTube channel for more of the latest Japanese food videos! Or start working your way through our list of the best things to do in Shinjuku.
