Some of the most familiar Japanese dishes are made in everyday kitchens, not restaurant counters. In this hands-on experience in Ikebukuro, Tokyo, you’ll learn to make two home-style favorites, futomaki and tamagoyaki, then enjoy what you’ve prepared with freshly whisked matcha.

Held in a cozy, home-style setting, the experience is available as a small-group or private class. It’s a relaxed way to learn about Japanese cooking and food culture while spending time with a local chef.

Your host, Chef Odaira, has more than 10 years of experience working as a chef at a traditional kappo restaurant. He now shares his cooking skills and passion for Japanese food through hands-on classes. An English-speaking guide will assist with communication throughout the experience.

Begin with an introduction to the ingredients and cooking process. Chef Odaira will demonstrate how to prepare sushi rice, known as sumeshi, before guiding you in making your own futomaki, or thick sushi rolls, using prepared ingredients.

Next, try your hand at tamagoyaki, a classic Japanese rolled omelet. As you cook, you’ll learn more about everyday Japanese cooking and washoku, the traditional food culture of Japan.

Once the cooking is finished, sit down and enjoy your freshly made futomaki and tamagoyaki. You’ll also receive the recipes to take home, so you can recreate the dishes in your own kitchen after your trip.

The experience then moves from the kitchen to the tea table. Learn how to whisk your own matcha and enjoy it with traditional Japanese wagashi, or sweets. It’s a simple introduction to Japanese tea culture and another way to experience how food and hospitality come together.

The class takes place in a welcoming home near Ikebukuro Station, making it easy to fit into a day of Tokyo sightseeing. After your meal, explore Ikebukuro’s anime shops, arcades, shopping malls, and other parts of its lively pop-culture scene.