Ginza Wagashi Sweets-Making Workshop with Master Yoshi

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Ginza Wagashi Sweets-Making Workshop with Master Yoshi

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Summary
Highlights
Experience Details
Experience Location
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Duration
1 hour 30 minutes
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Number of Guests
1 - 10 guests
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Accessibility
Stroller Accessible
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Language
Japanese, English
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Other
Gluten-free, Vegan, Vegetarian, Pescetarian, Family-friendly, Couples

Try your hand at the intricate craft of Japanese sweets-making led by a 13th-generation wagashi artisan in his family-owned confectionary shop in Ginza, steeped in 400 years of history.

Highlights

  • Meet Yoshi, a 13th-generation wagashi artisan in a hands-on sweets-making class at his historic Ginza confectionery shop

  • Learn wagashi traditions at Mannendo Ginza, a shop rooted in Kyoto history since 1617

  • Discover seasonal motifs, ingredients, and craftsmanship from wagashi master Yoshi

  • Watch a live demonstration and create your own nerikiri wagashi to enjoy with matcha green tea

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For each guest that attends this experience, byFood will donate
10 meals

Experience Details

Step into the heart of Ginza and experience a sweet tradition that has been carefully passed down for over four centuries.


At Mannendo, one of Japan’s historic confectionery brands, you will be guided by Yoshi Higuchi, a 13th-generation wagashi master, in a hands-on workshop held inside the shop itself.


While wagashi is known for its refined craftsmanship, this class is designed as a welcoming introduction for all levels. You do not need any experience to join. The focus is on learning, observing, and enjoying the process at a gentle pace.


Your experience begins with an introduction from Master Yoshi, who shares the history of wagashi, its seasonal meaning, and the basic ingredients used in traditional Japanese sweets. You will learn how wagashi reflects nature and the changing seasons through simple but thoughtful design.


Next, you will watch a live demonstration in which Yoshi shows how to make nerikiri, a soft, delicate type of wagashi, along with warabi mochi. As he works, you will see how careful shaping and detail bring each sweet to life.


You will then try making your own nerikiri. With guidance from Yoshi, you will shape two to three pieces, learning how small adjustments in form can change expression and balance.


Once your sweets are complete, you will enjoy them the traditional way, served with warm matcha green tea. This is a quiet moment to taste your creations and experience the connection between wagashi and tea culture.


This experience offers a rare opportunity to learn directly from a wagashi master in a historic Ginza setting, bringing centuries of tradition into a simple, hands-on moment.

What You Get

A bowl of matcha hand-served at the end of the workshop
Two or three kinds of nerikiri wagashi sweets (prepared by yourself during the workshop)
A wagashi-making workshop by a master wagashi maker and an English-speaking assistant
Transportation to and from the experience venue
Additional food and drinks

Good To Know

  • Guests are asked to please arrive 10 minutes before the experience start time
  • Please don’t wear strong perfume or cologne
  • Guests under the age of 18 must join with an adult participant
  • The host cannot speak English fluently, so a co-host will assist with communication in English

Meeting Point and Meeting Time

  • Meet your host near Shiodome Station. More information and a Google Maps link will be provided upon booking confirmation.

Cancellation Policy

Cancel your booking at least 1 week before the experience start time to receive a full refund.

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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.

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Activity Provider

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Yuki and Yanaka Madams
SinceNov 21, 2024
Photo of faq question markFrequently Asked Questions

Who will teach this wagashi experience?

You will be guided by Yoshi Higuchi, a 13th-generation wagashi master and shop owner at Mannendo Ginza, with assistance from an English-speaking co-host.

What will I learn during the workshop?

You will learn about wagashi history, culture, seasonal motifs, ingredients, and how to make nerikiri and warabi mochi, with guidance from Master Yoshi.

Will there be a live demonstration?

Yes. Master Yoshi will demonstrate how to make nerikiri and warabi mochi before you try making your own wagashi sweets.

What will I get to enjoy at the end of the experience?

You will enjoy your handmade nerikiri wagashi sweets with a bowl of matcha green tea served at the end of the workshop.
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