Onigiri Food Experiences

It was a delicious and enjoyable experience! It’s great to experience Japan’s rice culture, too.

도쿄여행 중 가장 즐거웠던 시간이었습니다. 평소에도 일본 가정식에 관심이 많았는데 유카 선생님 덕분에 잘 배웠습니다. 다음번에도 꼭 방문할 예정입니디 🙂👍 선생님 건강하세요 !

What a wonderful food tour! Gil, our guide had deep knowledge of all the hidden gems, stories of the locations and the food and people were great! Would highly recommend Gil and byfood for the wonderful experience!

Tomoko greeted us at the door and was very friendly, gracious and kind, despite that we were obviously foreign. We had a group of three and only I spoke a little Japanese . After greeting us, she took us upstairs, had a spot where we could place our belongings and saw that she had already set up three different stations for us. She asked for a group picture first-which we were happy to oblige, asked where we were from and then we jumped right in. All instructions and the entirety of the tour was in Japanese. However, we had no trouble understanding and communicating with each other. If anything, it added more to the experience and surprisingly, made it more enjoyable. There were no awkward silences or moments of confusion. Tomoko took cues from our body language and facial expressions as we did hers and it was a phenomenal experience! Portions were generous and she served cold, refreshing tea that she diligently refilled each time our glasses got close to being empty. Tomoko did everything herself. From setting up the stations to teaching and guiding the tour and breaking down each station while we were enjoying our meals. She was efficient but also attentive to our needs. At the end of our experience, she gifted us with handmade boxes made of obi and tins of ceremonial green tea. She also gave us a bonus item she called "a gift" which was a place mat she made from kimono. We loved our tour with Tomoko and I recommend everyone experience this. You will not regret it!

I had the absolute pleasure of attending the fermentation class today! It was incredibly eye-opening to see how knowledge of miso and other traditional elements can be beautifully applied to everyday cooking. From appetizers and mains to desserts, I was truly amazed by the versatility of these fermented ingredients. The instructor was exceptionally patient and attentive, taking the time to answer all of my questions with great care. I highly recommend this class to anyone looking to elevate their culinary journey and experience the true magic of fermentation!

Was great fun to learn how to make Onigiri with a lot of different fillings!

Loved the cooking class with Midori. I am gluten intolerant, not coeliac, she was able to accommodate and made sure all food was safe. We made onigiri, gyoza and katsudon, everything was delicious! Midori San is a great host and we had a lovely chat about a lot of things including Japanese cuisine and places to visit in or around Kyoto. I can definitely recommend!

Ryo and Akiko were fantastic hosts! We learnt a lot about the Golden Gai area, from the Hanazono Shrine to the bars in the area. They were very knowledgeable and friendly in our conversations and whisky tastings. The whiskys were diverse and high quality, and we learnt a lot about the history of whisky in Japan. The food provided was also tasty and accompanied the whiskys very well. We appreciated the planning that went into our tour, including the frequent communication and directions leading up to the day, and asking about our preferred music. We highly recommend this tour to whisky lovers! It was the perfect surprise for my husband’s 50th birthday! Thank you Ryo and Akiko!

Rio, the lady bartender, and her assistant on food pairings—all lovely—were exceptional and fun. The bartender was a true Ice Master and she prepared the best miso soup I ever had. I would say not to miss this fun and intimate drinking experience in Tokyo!

Very much enjoyed our class Very personal with only 4 participants The chef and her assistant were knowledgable and gracious Great experience

A very approachable and well-structured experience, even for beginners. Each step—from tempura frying to matcha preparation—was carefully explained, creating a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. The use of Shizuoka ingredients throughout clearly highlighted the region’s food culture. Having simple visual instructions in English would make it even easier to follow and recreate at home. Overall, a unique and rewarding local experience.

This experience offered a perfect balance of food, culture, and hands-on learning, all rooted in Shizuoka’s local traditions. Frying sakura shrimp kakiage, making rice balls with local rice and tea leaves, and preparing matcha ourselves made the experience deeply immersive. Every ingredient felt meaningful and truly local. The warm guidance and thoughtful souvenir at the end made it even more memorable. This is a wonderful choice for travelers looking for an authentic, interactive food experience beyond typical sightseeing.