Shokado Bento Traditional Cooking Class in Kyoto
Learn the intricate, traditional art of Shokado bento making and hone your Japanese dining skills and etiquette in this Kyoto cooking class full of cultural insights.
Highlights
Learn a traditional way of bento-making from Kyoto, cook and arrange four dishes into compartments reflecting Japanese aesthetic values
Featuring seasonal ingredients and quintessential Japanese seasonings like miso, soy sauce and dashi, the Shokado bento places importance on both visual beauty and nutritional balance
Discover insights on Japanese dining etiquette like how to use chopsticks, the correct order in which to eat the dishes and more
Convenient location near the traditional Ninenzaka street near Kiyomizudera in Kyoto
Experience Details
Japanese packed meals (bento) are uniquely intricate in flavors and visuals. But Shokado bento, which originated almost a century ago in Kyoto, emphasizes not only how food items look (or taste) but also what they represent.
The initial inspiration behind Shokado bento came from the box itself. In the 20th century, a Kyoto restaurant owner created a refined-yet-simple packed meal idea after seeing a laquered box in a tea function. The box was made in a style favored by Shokado Shojo, a Buddhist monk and tea master living in the area in the 1700s.
Using a similar box for bento proved to have its advantages. Having four food items in different compartments allowed for a visually striking balance and ensured the flavors of each dish were not mixed, with each representing an ideal in traditional Japanese aesthetics. Shokado bento is now one of Kyoto’s most renowned foods, a test of skill and artistry that anyone can succeed at under the right guidance.
In this class, you’ll assemble your own Shokado bento following the traditional precepts to ensure harmony and balance and learn about Japanese table manners before tasting your delicious meal. You’ll also be able to take home a booklet with the recipes in English to replicate the experience back home.
You'll make a shokado bento with the following four components:
-Grilled dish (fish or meat)
-Simmered dish (seasonal vegetables in a delicate broth)
-Mixed dish (greens with sesame dressing or ohitashi —a side dish of boiled vegetables in bonito-flavored soy sauce)
-Rice & pickles
Inclusions
Cooking class
All materials, ingredients and utensils
Two dried confectioneries from a long-established shop
Original booklet in English
Exclusions
Kimono rental
Meeting Point and Meeting Time
Please meet your host at the cooking venue in Ninenzaka. More detailed information and a Google Maps link will be provided upon booking.
Remarks
It is allowed to take pictures during the lesson, but please refrain from taking videos of the instructor’s demonstration.
Participants are asked to wear socks or bring a pair with them. Alternatively, socks can be purchased for an additional fee onsite.
Guests who are over 15 minutes late cannot join the class.
Cancellation Policy
Cancel your booking at least 48 hours before the experience start time to receive a full refund minus a 3.2% transaction fee.
Experience Location
Featuring beautiful landscapes from mountain to sea, Kyoto Prefecture conveys traditional Japanese culture through its architecture and gardens, art and artisanal crafts, and delicious local cuisine made from regional produce.
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