Tokyo Cooking Class: Market Shopping & Sushi Making with Sake

Shop Tokyo markets cook sushi sip sake and laugh with locals

You’ll shop at a Tokyo market with a local guide who shares ingredient tips, then cook classic dishes like makisushi and dashimaki tamago together in a cozy studio. Taste four types of Japanese sake with your meal and bring home recipes to relive those flavors later—the laughter and warmth will stick with you.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Shop, cook, and enjoy Japanese dishes

• Shop at local supermarket
• Learn ingredient selection tips
• Prepare miso soup
• Make dashimaki tamago
• Cook nasu dengaku
• Roll makisushi sushi
• Enjoy cooking with guide
• Taste four types of sake
• Dine together at cooking studio

The Experience

I didn’t expect to get nervous picking out an eggplant in Tokyo, but there I was—squinting at glossy purple rows while our guide, Junko, explained which ones were best for nasu dengaku. She laughed when I hesitated (I mean, how do you tell if it’s fresh?), then showed me this little trick with the stem. The supermarket was busy, full of chatter and those soft beeps from checkout lanes. It smelled like miso and seaweed near the fish counter—honestly, way more inviting than any grocery store back home.

Back at the cooking studio, we all washed our hands and put on aprons that felt a bit too big. Junko’s instructions were patient but real—she caught me slicing makisushi rice too thick (“gently!”), and I still think about how she folded the omelet for dashimaki tamago so neatly. My rolled sushi looked like it’d been through a small earthquake but nobody cared; someone else’s fell apart too and we just laughed about it. There was green tea brewing in the corner, that grassy smell mixing with grilled eggplant. It felt relaxed—not like a class, more like being invited into someone’s kitchen.

The sake tasting surprised me most. Four kinds lined up next to our homemade food—I could actually taste the difference between them (the dry one with miso soup was my favorite). Junko told stories about each sake’s region; she even tried to teach us a toast in Japanese. I probably butchered it but hey, everyone joined in anyway. Kids played quietly in the next room—sometimes you’d hear giggles or little footsteps running past.

After we ate together (and took way too many photos), Junko handed out QR codes for recipes so we could try making everything back home. Walking out into the Tokyo air again, I realized I’d spent four hours barely checking my phone—just cooking, eating, listening. That’s rare for me. Still thinking about that first bite of warm sushi rice.

Top questions

How long is the Tokyo cooking class?

The cooking class lasts about 4 hours from start to finish.

Is sake tasting included in this cooking class?

Yes, you'll taste four types of Japanese sake paired with your meal.

Do I need experience to join this sushi making class?

No experience is needed—beginners are welcome and guided step by step.

Are vegetarian or vegan options available?

Yes, vegan and vegetarian options can be arranged if requested at least one day before.

Is there something for kids to do during the class?

Yes, there's a kids' playroom available for children during the experience.

What dishes will I learn to cook?

You’ll prepare makisushi (rolled sushi), miso soup, dashimaki tamago (rolled omelet), and nasu dengaku (grilled eggplant skewers).

Are all ingredients included in the price?

Yes, all ingredients used during the class are included.

Will I get recipes after the class?

Yes, recipes are shared via QR code so you can recreate dishes at home.

What’s included

Your day includes shopping at a local Tokyo supermarket for fresh ingredients with your guide’s help, hands-on cooking instruction in a dedicated studio, all necessary ingredients provided for every dish you make together, four different types of Japanese sake to taste alongside your meal, tea served throughout the experience, photos taken during your time there, plus digital recipes sent afterwards—and if you’re bringing little ones along, there’s even a playroom just for them.