Make Lunch with Onsen Steam in Unzen

Cook with hot spring water at almost the only place in Japan that does it

Make lunch using natural steaming, cooking with onsen hot spring water, in Unzen near Nagasaki, shopping local markets for fish, tofu and vegetables, then eating what you've made. The class runs about three and a half hours and includes access to a ryokan onsen bath afterward if you want to soak. A live guide speaks English or Japanese.

The experience

The steam pods are what make this work. You'll walk to a local fish market and organic farmer's market to choose ingredients (tofu, vegetables, whatever looks good that day), then return to the ryokan kitchen where your host shows you how to use the onsen steam pods to cook noodle dishes. It's the method that sets this apart: almost nowhere else in Japan lets you cook with hot spring water, and the host walks you through each step so there's no guesswork. Vegetarians and vegans are welcome, and you can tell the host about any dietary restrictions in advance.

After you eat what you've made, you help clean the kitchen. Then, if you want, you can use the ryokan's onsen bath to relax before you leave. The class takes about three and a half hours total. Public transportation runs nearby if you need it to get there.

What’s included

• Instruction from a live guide in English or Japanese.
• basic ingredients for cooking.
• access to the ryokan onsen bath.

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 21 Jan 2027

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Japanese

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 15 days ago

Good to know

Public transport nearby

Operated by Onsen Kitchen

Is this one for you?You do the cooking yourself with hands-on instruction, so this suits anyone who wants to learn the technique and make the meal, not watch it made. The class is shared with your host, not private, and runs about three and a half hours, so it fits a morning or afternoon block in your day in Unzen.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Japanese.

What exactly do I cook in this class?

Noodle dishes made with the onsen steam pods. You pick the specific ingredients (fish, vegetables, tofu) at the local markets before class, so what you cook depends on what's available that day and what you choose.

Do I need cooking experience to join?

No. The steam pods are described as fun and easy to use, and your host guides you through the process. This is a hands-on class, so you're doing the cooking yourself, not watching a demonstration.

What's included in the price?

The class includes basic ingredients, access to the onsen bath at the ryokan, and the host's instruction. If you want anything beyond the basics at the markets, you'll pay extra for those items.

Can I take an onsen bath after the class?

Yes, it's optional. The ryokan where the class is held has an onsen bath you can use to relax after you finish eating and cleaning up.