Tempura Rice Bowl Food Sample Making Class in Kyoto
Take a break from exploring Kyoto to roll up your sleeves and learn how to handcraft a food sample replica of the classic tempura donburi dish using traditional wax techniques.
Highlights
Explore Japan's unique food sample culture and make your own food replica in historic Kyoto
Use traditional wax techniques to create a food sample of the popular tempura rice bowl (also known as tendon or tempura donburi)
Leave with your own beautifully crafted donburi sample, packaged like real food
10 meals
Experience Details
Take your love of Japanese food to the next level — turning it into a unique souvenir. Make a realistic food sample of a classic Japanese dish to remember your travels.
It’s common for many restaurants in Japan to display food samples of popular menu items to attract and educate potential customers. While most samples are factory-made, some workshops still make these intricate, life-like works of art by hand using molds, wax, and other materials.
In this 1-hour class, roll up your sleeves and make a savory tempura donburi sample. Tempura donburi, often shortened to tendon, is a Japanese meal with freshly fried shrimp and vegetables served on top of rice and drizzled with a special sauce. First, you’ll create three pieces of tempura using traditional wax techniques following a demonstration and guidance from the staff. Your hosts’ patience and expertise make this class perfect for all ages and skill levels.
Once the tempura is ready, you’ll line the bottom of the bowl with cardboard. Sculpt a realistic-looking mound of rice from a mold and arrange it in the bowl. Finally, drizzle the sauce over the top, and voila, your food sample will be ready! The sauce includes an adhesive to ensure your creation remains perfect and doesn’t fall apart. Just remember, it’s not edible even though it looks almost like the real thing!
This class is located in Kyoto’s Nakagyo Ward, home to Nishiki Market, Nijo Castle, and the Kyoto International Manga Museum.
Inclusions
Food sample making workshop
Apron to use for the duration of the class
Tempura donburi sample to take home as souvenir
Exclusions
Transportation to and from the experience venue
Meeting Point and Meeting Time
Please meet your host at the experience venue, about 20 minutes from Kyoto Station by bus or train. More information and a Google Maps link will be shared upon booking.
Remarks
Please arrive 5 minutes before the class begins.
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
Featuring beautiful landscapes from mountain to sea, Kyoto Prefecture conveys traditional Japanese culture through its architecture and gardens, art and artisanal crafts, and delicious local cuisine made from regional produce.
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10 meals
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