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.