Nerikiri Wagashi-Making Class in Mitaka, Tokyo
Learn how to make traditional nerikiri with a certified English instructor in Tokyo. Bring home wagashi-making skills and a set of unique gifts from the host.
Highlights
Make traditional wagashi treats from scratch
Learn from a professional instructor from the Wagashi Promotion Association
Receive a handmade calligraphy card as a memorable souvenir
10 meals
Experience Details
Try your hand at nerikiri-making in the quiet residential neighborhood of Mitaka, home to the ever-popular Ghibli Museum. Nestled on the western edge of central Tokyo, Mitaka’s lush greenery and artistic vibe have attracted many intellectuals to make it their home.
Your host Kaori is a member of the Wagashi Promotion Association. She volunteers as a guide for international tourists in Tokyo and enjoys making friends from different countries. In addition to wagashi-making, Kaori is also passionate about calligraphy and handcraft. You'll receive a handmade gift from her at the end of the class!
Nerikiri, a traditional Japanese confectionery, artfully utilizes brightly-coloured gyuhi (rice flour), shiroan (sweet white bean paste), and Chinese yam. It's an edible art, with delicate shapes reflecting the changing seasons. Served with matcha green tea, it's common to eat nerikiri at traditional Japanese tea ceremonies around Japan.
The class kicks off with a brief lecture on traditional wagashi-making, followed by a demonstration. Then, it's time to get creative and craft your own nerikiri masterpiece! When you're finished, take a moment to appreciate its aesthetic beauty before taking a bite. Let the sweetness melt in your mouth while sipping on matcha green tea. The refreshing bitterness of the green tea subtly balances the sweetness, creating a delightful sensory experience for the taste buds.
Experience flow:
Meet your host at their house
Short walkthrough of the experience program
Brief lecture about traditional wagashi-making
Demonstration by Kaori
Make your own nerikiri
Enjoy your handmade wagashi
Inclusions
2 pieces of nerikiri wagashi (seasonal shape and color!)
1 cup of matcha green tea
A gift set of calligraphy card and mizuhiki knots
Exclusions
Transportation to and from the meeting point.
Meeting Point and Meeting Time
Please go directly from Mitaka Station to the host’s house (approx 1.5 km). The address and a Google Maps link will be provided upon booking.
Remarks
Experience venue is located a 20-minute walk from Mitaka St.
Not open to children under 4 years old
Please inform the host of dietary restrictions or allergies
Cancellation Policy
Cancel your booking at least 2 days before the experience start time to receive a full refund minus a 3.2% transaction fee.
Experience Location
Mitaka is a serene area in Western Tokyo. Home to the Ghibli Museum, Inokashira Park, and dotted with local cafes, restaurants, and other attractions, Mitaka can be reached by train from Shinjuku in under 20 minutes. Located nearby are the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum and the Kichijoji neighborhood.
| Su | Mo | Tu | We | Th | Fr | Sa |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 1 | 2 |
| 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
| 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 |
| 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
10 meals
Make colorful Japanese wagashi at a hands-on confectionary class in Tokyo (Kitaminemachi). Join Satoko, an instructor from the Wagashi Promotion Association of Japan, to make seasonal nerikiri to enjoy with freshly made matcha tea.
Learn about sushi, wasabi, and Japanese knives from sushi chefs at an elegant restaurant in Tsukiji! Make sushi and watch how the experts make it, then taste both to see how you compare. Vegan, vegetarian and halal sushi options are also available.
Make wagashi sweets with a certified instructor at her home in Tokyo. Learn the cultural significance of mochi, make fruit daifuku and hanami dango, decorate a delicate nerikiri confectionery, whisk matcha, and enjoy your sweets with tea.
In historic Kyoto, renowned for its picturesque temples and shrines, learn how to make two types of sushi (sushi rolls and round temari-zushi) and the soup stock dashi, which forms the foundation of many Japanese dishes.
