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Ancient Zen Vegan-Vegetarian Cooking Workshop (Private)
Learn about shojin ryori, ancient Zen Buddhist vegan-vegetarian cuisine, with an instructor who is well-versed in this 700-year-old cooking practice.
Highlights
Learn the ancient cooking etiquette of Zen Buddhist monks
Watch an expert cook delicious vegetarian food with seasonal ingredients
Practice with guidance from a licensed instructor
Dietary requirements can be accommodated with advance notice (kosher, vegan, halal, etc.)
10 meals
Experience Details
Shojin ryori has been made and eaten by Zen Buddhist monks in Japan for centuries and is still consumed by many people today, regardless of their religion. Buddhism heavily restricts meat eating, so shojin ryori is entirely vegetarian and can be vegan on many occasions.
This cuisine uses five different preparation methods to draw out the ingredients' naturally salty, sweet, sour, bitter, and umami flavors. Each meal must also visually show five specific colors; red, yellow, green, black, and white, incorporating many seasonal ingredients.
In this program, you will learn how to make an authentic shojin ryori meal by watching a demonstration from an expert instructor. Some typical shojin ryori fares include tempura vegetables, tofu salad, and dashi-based soup. Feel free to ask your instructors any questions you may have about this type of cuisine. After your instructor creates your dishes, you will sit down to eat your shojin ryori meal and learn about the history and etiquette of this ancient Zen Buddhist cuisine.
Enjoy creating a meal with fresh and seasonal ingredients, learning more about Japanese history and culture, having great conversations, making new friends, and practicing Zen through cooking!
What You Get
Good To Know
- The time required for the experience is an approximate time.
Meeting Point and Meeting Time
Meet your host in front of Kikai Shinko Kaikan Honkan building (2 minutes north of Tokyo Tower). Further details will be shared upon booking. Address: 3-5-8 Shibakoen, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0011 Please note that the actual start time for the 12:30 slot, and only the 12:30 slot, is at 12:45.
Cancellation Policy
Cancel your booking at least 48 hours before the experience start time to receive a full refund minus a 3.2% transaction fee.
Experience Location
Over 14 million residents call Tokyo home. Functioning as Japan's economic and cultural center, it's no surprise the metropolis often appears at the top of travelers' bucket lists. Here, you can find everything from traditional tea houses to futuristic skyscrapers.
We had a lovely experience at this cooking workshop. Kuniko and her staff were very patient , kind and friendly. They helped us make a delicious meal and sharing it all together and connecting was ...read more
This was a good experience and the instructors were very kind. This is a great way to learn the basics of traditional Japanese Buddhist cooking, and the resulting food was delicious. I pulled one s...read more
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