Learn authentic Japanese cooking and enjoy sushi in a relaxed, hands-on class at Chieko’s home kitchen in Chiba. Choose to make chirashi (scattered) or maki (rolled) sushi, along with seasonal side dishes, and then enjoy your handmade meal before trying your hand at Japanese calligraphy.

Chieko is a culinary enthusiast from Tokushima with a lifelong love of fresh, homegrown ingredients. Her journey has taken her from her quiet hometown to Kyoto, Osaka, and Los Angeles. Inspired by her mother’s cooking, she became a certified Japanese cooking instructor. She opened her Chiba cooking school to share Japanese cuisine with travelers.

Chirashi sushi, meaning “scattered,” is served on special occasions with a colorful mix of fresh ingredients over seasoned rice. Maki sushi, or rolled sushi, started in the Edo period as a portable meal of fish and rice wrapped in seaweed. You’ll also make seasonal side dishes like miso soup to complete your meal.

After eating, try your hand at Japanese calligraphy, writing your favorite words, names, or characters in hiragana, katakana, or kanji.

The experience begins with a pickup from Chiba Station and a brief transfer to Chieko’s home. After greetings and a brief introduction to Japanese cooking tools and techniques, you’ll make sushi and side dishes, enjoy your creations, and end the class with calligraphy.