Japan · WORKSHOPS
40 reviewed
Good workshops in Japan fill up weeks ahead and the best of them fill up first. Below are the 15 to look at, what they cost today, and what makes each one different from the next.
Make sushi rolls and nigiri in Asakusa near Senso-ji. Small English class, hands-on steps, then eat lunch you made in 1h40.
“We had a wonderful experience. it was such a fun experience and easy to follow. The host gave us a lot of information about the sushi making process and history. We would highly recommend this activity”
Kyoto tea ceremony lesson with a Urasenke master, 45 minutes of real matcha making, sweets, and optional kimono photos near Kinkakuji.
“We learnt a lot about tea ceremony and the deep meanings behind every act and gesture. Highly recommended!”
Learn maki rolls and nigiri in Asakusa, quiz your way through sushi history, then eat your creations with English guides near Skytree.
“very good instructor, highly recommending if you come to tokyo”
Make ramen noodles from scratch at Ramen Factory Kyoto, customize broth and toppings, and eat your own lunch. Halal, vegetarian, and vegan options.
“WOW-we had the best education and experience ever learning how to make the best ramen from scratch. My family and I enjoyed every part of it and the staff was so very friendly and supportive as well. If you have any interest in learning Read more”
Make your own Tokyo Shinjuku chopsticks in a one-hour kanna class, choose Japanese wood, and leave with personalized souvenir chopsticks.
“Friendly, but inexperienced, people. Blunt tools, which does not help the experience and, all by all; way to expensive.”
Make nigiri sushi in Tokyo while wearing a happi coat. Learn tuna and salmon technique, then eat what you make in 90 minutes.
“We got delayed in Tokyo between other flights and decided to do something for the one day we were there. We couldn’t have picked a better thing to do. It was very informative and we learnt a lot. Emmy and the team were so much fun. A great value for money activity. When we left we wandered through the temple and markets. What a great way to spend the day!”
Make your own chopsticks in Ginza, choosing from 24 woods and two lengths, then plane, sand, oil, and optionally engrave your pair.
“A lot of fun! And they let us stay a bit longer to get our chopsticks just right.”
Learn to make Osaka roll sushi and nigiri in an English-led class near Dotonbori, with all ingredients and a meal included.
“Fuko was an absolutely amazing instructor. She provided a brief extensive history of sushi and was very knowledgeable and patient with the students. I am very thankful to have her as my instructor for this class. This was a first time for my son and I to take a cooking class together. I think we were fortunate enough to have gotten the perfect instructor. I highly recommend anyone who enjoys sushi or want to impress people to take this class. They will not regret the experience. She also provided humor which kept everyone engaged.”
Hands-on sushi making in Tsukiji with a pro chef. You visit market stalls, learn knives, craft 5 nigiri and 1 roll, and eat lunch.
“It was fun and informative. Ingredients were fresh and it all tasted great. Would definately recommend!”
Make Kyoto chopsticks in Gion: shape raw wood with a hand plane, sand and oil the finish, and optionally engrave your name in Japanese.
“We loved learning the process of making chopsticks. Our teacher was very patient. The engraving process was very neat! This will be our souvenir from Japan!”
Learn ramen and gyoza in Tokyo with YUCa, including a home-cooking lesson and small-group meal. Optional supermarket stop available.
“There were 2 reasons I booked this tour: 1. The super market tour 2. Cooking with Yuki-san The reason I am giving 2 stars is because there was no supermarket tour. I chose this experience over others because this was advertised as part of the experience. I was disappointed that we did not ever visit a supermarket. For my own education, supermarket tours are helpful in gaining some independence in understanding what to buy when cooking foods, especially foreign foods. Oh well. 2. As other reviews stated, Yuki-san is wonderful. The cooking class in general was informative and the food was amazing. I was appreciative of being invited into her…”
Learn to whisk matcha in Asakusa with English guidance and seasonal Japanese sweets, plus step-by-step tips for making better matcha at home.
“Rino made this tour fun interactive. If as so interesting to learn about the origins of match, the history and how the tea ceremony works”
Train in Kyoto kenbu at Samurai Kembu Theater: bow, draw, strike in a guided kata, dress up for photos, and get a certificate.
“It was informative and fun to train with swords and costumes! We learned a lot in watching the videos and the show and the costumes were awesome. We got to keep the scarf and socks which my son loved. We had enough time for pics and videos. They teach you a few fighting techniques and then you rehearse with them. Very fun! Highly recommend.”
Train with a samurai master in Machida, Japan, learning Iai sword forms, sparring, and horseback-archery style longbow shooting.
“This was an unforgettable and truly authentic experience. Sensei Sumida-san was patient, knowledgeable, and deeply passionate about samurai culture. He guided us through the history, philosophy, and sword techniques with great care, making every moment meaningful. Watching his demonstration at the end was mesmerizing — precise, graceful, and full of spirit.”
Kyoto ramen factory class: fold noodles from flour, mix miso, salt, soy sauces, then take a souvenir and email recipe home.
“My daughter & I learned to make ramen at the Ramen Factory. It was such a fun experience! Our instructor was Fuku & Haruka. Both were amazing & made it such a great experience. The ramen was delicious. We also learned a new skill! Highly recommend!”
