Yoshida Udon Making Class at Lake Kawaguchi (Yamanashi)

Practically every region of Japan has its own variation of udon, and Yamanashi is no exception. The prefecture is also known for hoto noodles, but Yoshida udon is also one of the region’s most beloved dishes. With a particularly hard texture and the unorthodox combination of horse meat and cabbage, Yoshida udon was initially served on special occasions, but has since become an everyday dish.

Cooking experience provider Fujiya has been teaching visitors how to make various Yamanashi specialties for over 20 years, from hoto to spice curry to Oshino-Hokkai soba noodles. Few others are more qualified to teach udon-making classes than its chefs, who will take you through the process in English. They’ll first help you mix the dough, after which you’ll roll it out, then fold and cut it into noodles. After boiling, feel free to dress them with plenty of cabbage, wakame seaweed, spring onions and other toppings as you want!

Hungry for more local treats? Fujiya gets many visitors with large appetites, so you have the option of making your meal into a set (see Options section for more information). Upgrade to the Fujiya Set, which comes with a toriten-don (chicken tempura rice bowl) and kinako-mochi (rice cake dusted with soybean flour) drizzled with kuromitsu sugar syrup for dessert. Or try the Yamanashi set, which has the same dessert, but switches the toriten-don for chicken offal stew — a Kofu city specialty.

After the class and meal, explore the beautiful town of Fujikawaguchiko. A popular destination for domestic and foreign tourists alike, Lake Kawaguchi is the most accessible of the Fuji Five Lakes from Tokyo, and offers beautiful views of Mt Fuji on clear days from the Mt Tenjo observation deck and ropeway. The nearby Fuji-Q Highland, one of Japan’s most famous theme parks, is a popular option for day trippers out of Fujikawaguchiko with its high-speed roller coaster thrills.