Sushi Roll Making Class in Kobe's Old Town Nagata

Roll sushi by hand and taste what you made, then walk through old Kobe without the crowds.

A three-hour sushi-making class in Kobe's Old Town Nagata where you prepare hand-rolled sushi with fresh local ingredients, then explore a historic shrine and a sake shop specializing in Kobe sauces. The class includes all sushi ingredients, a Japanese sweet, and tea. Your English-speaking instructor has over 20 years of home cooking experience. You meet at a convenience store near Nagata Jinja station, pick up seafood at a local fishmonger, then cook and eat at the venue before walking the neighborhood.

The experience

You arrive at Seven Eleven Nagata Jinja Mae at 10:35 and start by visiting YURIYA, a sake shop that stocks hundreds of sauces for Kobe's famous flour-based dishes like okonomiyaki and takoyaki. The city is the birthplace of sauce in Japan. Next you stop at KISSO SHOTEN to pick the seafood for your sushi, checking their seasonal recommendations before heading to the cooking space.

At the venue, freshly-milled local rice is already cooked in a donabe, a traditional Japanese clay pot. You make vinegared rice for sushi, chop vegetables and roll tamagoyaki (Japanese egg omelet) for toppings, lay rice on seaweed, choose what goes inside, and roll it all by hand. The ingredients are sourced locally and prepared with traditional Japanese tools. After you finish, you eat what you made.

By 1 p.m., you explore Nagata Jinja, a shrine with over 1,800 years of history, walking through the old town without the tourist crowds that fill other Kobe neighborhoods. The class includes all sushi ingredients, a Japanese sweet of your choice, and tea (green tea, roasted green tea, or kelp tea) plus bottled water.

What’s included

• All sushi ingredients (local Kobe rice, seaweed, vegetables, seafood, and egg omelet).
• a Japanese sweet of your choice.
• tea (green tea, roasted green tea, or kelp tea) and bottled water.
• instruction from an English-speaking guide with over 20 years of home cooking experience.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday to FridayDeparts at 10:30

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (2 to 12 years) · Infant (under 2)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

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 yesterday

Good to know

Stroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Tomomi’s Hand-rolled sushi

Is this one for you?Book this class if you have a free morning and want to learn a cooking technique you can take home, not just see a demonstration. The three-hour schedule fits between arrival and an afternoon elsewhere in Kobe, and the neighborhood walk afterward means you see the old town without needing a separate tour.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 12 years); Infant (under 2).

What's the difference between hand-rolled sushi and what you get in restaurants?

Hand-rolled sushi is a casual home style rarely served in restaurants. You make it fresh in the class with local Kobe rice and seaweed, rolling it by hand instead of using a mat or mold, so each roll is looser and more personal.

Do I need cooking experience to make sushi in this class?

No. The instructor walks you through each step: making vinegared rice, preparing toppings, and rolling. You learn the technique as you go, and the freshly-cooked rice is ready when you arrive.

What happens after we finish making the sushi?

You eat the sushi you made, then explore Nagata Jinja shrine and the surrounding old town. The shrine has stood for over 1,800 years and sits in a neighborhood without heavy tourist traffic.

Are there vegetarian or dietary options for the sushi toppings?

You choose your own toppings from what's available at the fishmonger and what the instructor prepares. The class includes vegetables and tamagoyaki (egg omelet) alongside seafood options, so you can build rolls to suit your preferences.

How do I get to the meeting point near Nagata Jinja?

Public transportation options are available nearby. You meet at Seven Eleven Nagata Jinja Mae at 10:35, which is accessible by train and local bus.