Sushi Making Class in Kawagoe: Learn Nigiri & Rolls

A 140-year-old rice merchant's building is now the classroom where you shape sushi by hand.

A hands-on sushi making class in Kawagoe where you learn to form nigiri and roll maki sushi under the guidance of an English-speaking Japanese chef, set inside a historic 140-year-old building that once served as a rice wholesale shop. The class runs about 90 minutes, includes all ingredients and the meal you prepare, and welcomes children from age 2. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal menus are available if you request them when booking. Allergies can be accommodated except for meat, nuts, fruits and dairy.

The experience

You arrive at MUSUBIYA, a three-minute walk from Kashiya Yokocho in Kawagoe's old quarter. The building itself is the first lesson: staircase cabinets and ceiling beams that belonged to a rice merchant a century ago. Your English-speaking sushi chef meets you and walks through the fundamentals: how to season and shape rice so it holds together, how to roll without tearing the nori. Nigiri sushi, the hand-formed kind, takes practice. The chef shows you the grip, the pressure, the angle, then watches while you replicate it with fresh ingredients.

Over the next stretch, you make five pieces of nigiri and six pieces of maki (thin rolls) with various fillings. The chef corrects your hand position and explains why each movement matters: why the rice temperature changes how it sticks, why the knife needs to be wet. You learn that nigiri sushi was created in Japan 300 years ago, a fact that lands differently when you're holding a piece you just shaped. At the end of the class, you sit down and eat what you made, tasting the difference between your first attempt and your last.

The class accommodates dietary needs if you mention them at booking: vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal options are available. The venue has stairs to reach the classroom. If that's a concern, contact the operator in advance and they can arrange an alternative. Children from age 2 can join, and the two-hour window is short enough that even a restless afternoon works.

What’s included

All sushi-making ingredients, instruction from an English-speaking Japanese sushi chef, and the meal you prepare during the class.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday

AgesAdult (18 to 69 years) · Senior (70 and older) · Youth (6 to 17 years) · Child (2 to 5 years)

GroupUp to 6

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.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 12 days ago

Good to know

Wheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Kate's Hands-On Sushi Class

Is this one for you?The class is hands-on and runs about 90 minutes, so you'll need an afternoon free and the willingness to stand and work with your hands. The stairs to reach the classroom can be arranged around in advance if mobility is a concern.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Japanese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (6 to 17 years); Child (2 to 5 years).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

Can I make sushi if I've never done it before?

Yes. The class is built for beginners and the chef teaches you the hand movements step by step. You'll make five nigiri and six maki rolls during the session, starting with instruction and then practicing under guidance.

What exactly do I make and eat in this class?

You prepare five pieces of nigiri sushi (hand-formed with fresh toppings) and six pieces of maki sushi (thin rolls with fillings). All ingredients are provided, and you eat what you've made at the end of the class.

Is the building really 140 years old?

Yes. MUSUBIYA occupies a former rice wholesale shop built in the 1880s. The staircase cabinets and ceiling beams are original to that era, and the building sits three minutes from Kashiya Yokocho, Kawagoe's historic shopping street.

Can I request a vegetarian or vegan menu?

Yes, if you request it when you book. The class accommodates vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal menus. Allergies can also be noted in advance, except for meat, nuts, fruits and dairy. Changes cannot be made on the day of the class.

How long is the class and what time does it start?

The class runs about 90 minutes. You'll need to contact the operator for available start times and to book your preferred time slot.