bento class
Make an iconic Japanese food — shokado bento — guided by a certified cooking instructor with 10 years of experience teaching overseas!
Highlights
- Enjoy a traditional shokado bento-making class taught by a certified instructor from a Tokyo sushi school, with 10 years’ experience teaching overseas
- Learn more about the history and culture behind shokado bento and other traditional Japanese cuisine
Experience Details
Though you may not know it by name, you’ve definitely seen it before. Shokado bento’s red and black square lacquerware box is an iconic centerpiece in traditional Japanese kaiseki meals. But what exactly goes into a shokado bento?
If you’ve ever asked yourself that question, Miho is here to answer. A certified graduate of a Tokyo sushi school, she has led culinary classes in the Japan Information and Cultural Center in Switzerland for 10 years, teaching hundreds of students. Having recently returned to Japan from her stint in Switzerland, she continues to teach out of a kitchen in Tokyo’s trendy Kichijoji neighborhood.
On arriving at JR Kichijoji Station, you’ll follow Miho to her nearby kitchen. You’ll walk by a charming local market where you can see fish and fresh vegetables being sold. Once you’ve arrived at the cooking venue, under Miho’s guidance, you’ll learn to make a shokado bento to rival the finest kaiseki chefs. Drawing on her knowledge of Japanese cuisine, Miho will tailor the dishes to incorporate seasonal produce and other traditional delicacies. At the end of the class, you will enjoy the shokado bento you’ve made for lunch — but don’t forget to take pictures first!
A popular stopping point for westbound travelers on the way to Mt Takao and Arakura Sengen Shrine or Mt Fuji in neighboring Yamanashi, Kichijoji is full of trendy eateries and cafes, boasts a thriving nightlife scene and enjoys easy access by train.
The nearby Mitaka-no-Mori Ghibli Park also draws a steady stream of Miyazaki Hayao enthusiasts all year round, but it’s thanks to Inokashira Park that visitors surge in the spring and autumn, thanks to the cherry blossoms and maple leaves respectively.
Inclusions
- Pick-up from JR Kichijoji Station
- Ingredients and utensils for cooking class, including aprons, knives etc
- Homemade shokado bento meal
- Copy of English recipes for traditional Japanese dishes to take home
Sushi class
Try your hand at making sushi under the guidance of a certified sushi instructor with 10 years of experience teaching overseas! Enjoy your delicious sushi meal in her cozy kitchen.
Highlights
- Enjoy a sushi-making class taught by a certified instructor from a Tokyo sushi school, with 10 years’ experience teaching overseas
- Learn more about the history and culture behind sushi traditions and ingredients
Experience Details
Though it may just look like toppings on seaweed and rice, anyone who’s tried their hand at it knows that making sushi can be deceptively difficult.
That’s why Miho is here to help. A certified graduate of a Tokyo sushi school, she has led sushi-making classes in the Japan Information and Cultural Center in Switzerland for 10 years, and instructed hundreds of students. Having recently returned to Japan from her stint abroad, she now offers her culinary expertise to eager visitors in her western Tokyo hometown of Kichijoji.
On arriving at JR Kichijoji Station, you’ll follow Miho to her nearby kitchen. On the way, you’ll pass by a local market where you can see fresh fish and vegetables being sold. Once you’ve arrived at the cooking venue, under Miho’s expert guidance, you’ll learn to make several of the most popular sushi, including seaweed-wrapped maki rolls, gunkan-style “battleship” sushi, and of course, the classic nigiri. All the while, Miho will teach you the history and culture of sushi, as well as provide an English copy of the recipes.
A popular stopping point for westbound travelers on the way to Mt Takao and Arakura Sengen Shrine or Mt Fuji in neighboring Yamanashi, Kichijoji is full of trendy eateries and cafes, boasts a thriving nightlife scene and enjoys easy access by train.
Its close proximity to the Mitaka-no-Mori Ghibli Park also ensures a steady stream of Miyazaki Hayao enthusiasts year-round. But it’s spring that sees the greatest surge in visitors, thanks to the nearby Inokashira Park’s spectacular burst of cherry blossoms.
Inclusions
- Pick-up from JR Kichijoji Station
- Ingredients and utensils for sushi-making, including aprons, knives etc
- Homemade sushi meal
- English copy of sushi recipes to take home