Where to take cooking classes in Japan?
When cultural discovery happens on the plate
Maki, Tempura, or even Okonomiyaki, all these dishes are emblematic of Japanese cuisine. A part of the culture that it is now possible to even if you don't speak Japanese since many cooking classes are open to foreign visitors!
Cooking schools with courses in English
Offered almost everywhere in the big cities of the archipelago, cooking classes at vocational schools are all the rage in Japan! They welcome students of all ages and backgrounds throughout the day and are generally offered by qualified kitchen professionals.
ABCCooking Studio (Japan)
With 125 locations nationwide, ABCCooking Studio is one of Japan's premier cooking schools. It now attracts students of all levels, and even has offices in Hong Kong and Taiwan!
Its courses are generally charged at 5,000 yen ($43.25/39€) per hour and a half, and its menu is regularly updated to the delight of students who can try tempura and maki as well as European pastry.
Cook! Asakusa Kappashi (Tokyo)
Founded by Yumi Shinya, a young Japanese woman who wanted to introduce foreign visitors to her country's cuisine, Cook! Asakusa Kappashi is a small school located east of the Japanese capital. For 4,500 yen ($39/35€), students can then enjoy an hour and a half to two and a half hours of lessons (variable according to the recipes) during which they try their hand at ''every day'' Japanese cuisine", such as miso soup or udon. This ''family'' side is also felt even in the age of the participants, since Cook! Asakusa Kappashi has no age restrictions and even encourages family lessons!
- Access: https://www.cook-asakusa.com/
Kai House Cooking (Tokyo)
Located in Iwamotocho near Kanda Station, KaiHouse Cooking is one of Tokyo's oldest cooking schools since it was founded in 1908 by a designer of kitchen knives. Today, his knives are made available to foreigners for two hours, to prepare Japanese specialties in small groups of 4 to 10 under the watchful eye of the school's instructors. Note that classes start at 5,000 yen ($43.25/39€) for two hours.
Sakura CookingClass (Kyoto)
Located in Kyoto, Sakura Cooking Class offers a wide choice of recipes to its students. Not only can they learn to cook traditional dishes known to all such as okonomiyaki or gyoza, but they can also experience the delicate art of bento preparation. or Japanese breakfasts. The school also offers introductory tea ceremony classes, as well as ikebana classes (mostly beginner-level Japanese).
- More information on class prices and schedules on the official Sakura Cooking Class website: https://sakura-kyoto.jp/cooking-class/
Meetup
Famous around the world for connecting people of all nationalities, Meetup is a great way to attend a cooking class in Japan. And for good reason, the application is full of cooking classes organized across the country by passionate amateurs!
To participate: just register on the application and apply for free membership in the groups that interest you. The prices and schedules of the lessons will then be communicated to you by the moderators, who generally organize the meetings at their homes in a friendly atmosphere.
The class closes with a dinner where the students can taste the fruit of their labor!
Private lessons
If you don't like a group function, the Airkitchen application will surely be of interest to you.
Offering cooking lessons, often individual or in a very small group at a private home, Airkitchen is an excellent way to improve your culinary skills while making contacts abroad.
To do this, simply indicate the chosen location on the official site of the application and browse the ads posted. The duration and price of a course then vary according to everyone.
- Access: https://airkitchen.jp/