Food Experiences

This was one of the coolest experiences I have ever had! I happened to meet the owner on Threads while posting about Japan, and learned she had a Ramen experience that took place at both her brother’s 3rd generation ramen factory and her house for dinner. We got to try their grandpa’s original ramen after flattening it and cutting it ourselves, as well as try salad, gyoza, and pork ramen soup that were all their mother’s and grand mother’s recipes. She even took care to make sure my mom’s shellfish allergy wasn’t an issue! We spent 5 hours with this kind family, had amazing and deep conversations about cultural similarities and differences, and even got to meet the family’s children, neighbor, and dogs! It was such a soulful experience and I cannot recommend enough. Might be the best experience I’ve ever had in Japan!

The lesson moved at a great pace, which felt really comfortable! And the taste? Absolutely perfect! 👍 I loved how the instruction was tailored to my preferences and how carefully the flavors were checked along the way—it was fantastic! For the mushroom mixed rice, the dashi stock made from dried shiitake mushrooms and kombu was excellent. We cooked it in a pot, so we even got to enjoy the crispy, caramelized rice crust (*okoge*) at the bottom! Turning the used kombu into *furikake* seasoning was a delicious example of eco-friendly cooking! Tomoko-sensei’s homemade pickled *koume* plums paired perfectly with the rice—it was incredibly delicious! Then there was the tofu steak! With that all-purpose sauce, making a steak is a breeze—a truly superb dish! The potato potage was also easy to make and delicious. 😋 Adding a dash of cinnamon to change up the flavor was a brand-new experience for me! I devoured it in no time! Next was the stir-fried eggplant with miso. Mmm, so tasty! The hand-torn shiso leaves added a lovely accent. The lesson was packed with treats—Tomoko-sensei’s homemade salad, plum wine, plum juice, and matcha jelly—leaving me completely satisfied! Above all, it was such a fun time, filled with wonderful hospitality! The food was delicious, of course, but the conversation while cooking was just so much fun. It feels like that positive energy is infused right into the dishes! I’d love to sign up for another class!

The Tour was great and Keigo (Guide) is very fun and nice to talk to. I can highly recommend! The food is very delicious!

Rina did a wonderful job working with more college students from the same organization, making the cooking lesson fresh while making sure the different sessions had an excellent core experience!

Nana-san was an amazing guide who translated everything perfectly into English! The staff and faculty of Aoi seicha were very kind, generous, and explained everything in simple easy-to-understand terms. Everyone was very accommodating and I couldn’t have ask for more. Thank you again for an amazing experience!

Rina was an excellent teacher: patient, knowledgeable, and very engaging! We had a great time!

This private tea ceremony was a highlight of our trip to Japan. The house and garden are lovely. The host, Naomi, shared the culture and tradition of the tea ceremony in a manner that was both respectful and accessible to visitors to Japan. We left feeling calm and refreshed. We highly recommend this tea ceremony!

Great, hands-on, experience at a long standing Miso business. Warm and friendly hosts who do a great job of explaining the process and history of miso (through an interpreter or translation apps). Come ready to get your hands dirty and leave with enough miso to last a long while.

Our wonderful hosts showed us how tea is processed from bush to drink and made us 2 stunning seasonal meals using tea in different forms that we had picked ourselves. A unique experience in the Japanese countryside We appreciated the warm hospitality

I had such a wonderful time! The food was delicious, and Yuka-san has a lovely personality. I’d love to come back!

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

Great experience. Chef is so kind and the class is a ton of fun. Food tasted amazing and we learned a lot. High quality fresh ingredients from Japan. Highly recommended!