Kyushu Cooking Class: Make Beppu’s Noodle Soup (Dango Jiru)

A trip to Oita Prefecture is not complete without enjoying a steamy bowl of dango jiru, the area’s signature noodle soup. Or, even better, making it yourself! In Japan, “dango” usually refers to round rice dumplings, but in Oita, “dango” refers to flat rectangular noodles. In this cooking class, you can learn how to make this delicious dish and experience the legendary taste that is the pride of Beppu, Oita. Dango noodles are made by combining white or rice flour with water, kneading it into a dough, letting it rest, and then tearing and stretching it by hand. After creating the tasty noodles from scratch, you will then add them to a soup seasoned with miso or soy sauce for umami, combine it with local seasonal vegetables, and add a dash of yuzukosho (yuzu pepper), a regional specialty seasoning, to create this dish, equal parts nourishing and comforting. If you would prefer an alternative dish, that’s also possible! You can opt to make ramen noodles or onigiri rice balls with miso soup instead of dango jiru. Just let your host know your preference upon booking. The organizer of this experience is a German-born Japanese host, fluent in Japanese and English, and committed to ensuring you have an incredibly authentic and immersive local cultural experience. On occasions when he is not available, he will appoint a local chef to lead the cooking class and deliver a high-quality culinary experience for you to enjoy the authentic, traditional flavors of Oita.