Machiko lives in a beautiful house with her children and husband, Daishi, who will join you for your experience whenever they are available. Machiko lives in a leafy residential neighborhood, located about a 20-minute streetcar ride from the city center. Her home is artistically decorated with an old turntable and several albums, an aquarium, family photos and the children's toys! Enjoy a meal of typical home-cooked Japanese dishes that Machiko cooks for her family. Your menu might include dishes such as miso soup, salad with sesame dressing and Japanese omelet or karaage/tempura (meat or seafood deep-fried) with rice balls or hand-rolled sushi. For dessert enjoy green tea flavored sweets.
Enjoy homestyle Honshu cooking in Hiroshima with a local family. Join Machiko in her home for a traditional Japanese cooking class in Hiroshima. During your 1.5 hour cooking class with this Hiroshima local in her kitchen, you will learn to cook 2-3 homestyle dishes from Machiko's family recipes. Machiko likes to use traditional cooking techniques - for example, when you learn to make the salad dressing, Machiko will teach you to use a mortar and pestle to crush the sesame that is the dressing's base. After cooking, sit down together at her dining table and share the authentic Japanese meal you helped prepare.
Machiko's Japanese cooking class in Hiroshima is suitable for couples, families, beginners and children. Immerse yourself in the culture and cuisine of Hiroshima.
This is a family-friendly experience! Your children of any age are welcome in Machiko's home.
This is just a sample menu to give you an idea of the types of dishes the host cooks. Your menu will vary according to seasonal availability.
Miso soupGreen tea flavored sweetsJapanese omelet or Karaage/tempura (meat or seafood deep-fried) with rice balls or Hand-rolled sushiSalad with sesame dressing A proud mother of three beautiful children who are fussy eaters, Machiko comes up with new and interesting meals for her family everyday. This has made Machiko very passionate about cooking and experimenting with new recipes. She learned to cook from cookbooks and by watching cooking videos online. Machiko is excited to share home cooking with travelers visiting Hiroshima, so they can learn more about the everyday lives, culture and cuisine of Hiroshima. Machiko is eager to accommodate your preferences so feel free to include in your booking request if there are specific dishes you are interested in trying.
"Machiko is a warm and wonderful host, who lives in a very convenient location near from the city center. She welcomed us with warm smile into her clean and tidy house. Although she was a little nervous at first (since it was her first-time hosting), Machiko tried to know about us and listened to us very thoughtfully. She puts a lot of effort into making the cooking and dining experience with her as enjoyable as possible, by reading books and customizing the dishes based on the travelers needs. You will get to taste a real Honshu family meal with Machiko. And, she has beautiful Japanese style table wares - you can feel the Japanese atmosphere while eating food with these. If you are interested in something or have any questions, she will be happy to answer them!"
"Most travelers in Hiroshima will see the Peace Memorial and related sites, which are an absolute must. But if you want to be up close and personal with the heart and soul of the city, you absolutely must try Machiko's cooking class.
Hiroshima is a city of unspeakable pain and destruction, and Machiko and her family do an absolutely magical job of transforming it into healing and clarity through food, through togetherness, through curiosity, through openness, through heart-centered conversation. Try not to cry as you learn about the history of Okonomiyaki.
Cooking with Machiko is not just about food; it's about resilience, healing, connection, and wonder amidst the darkness. If you're in town, do not miss this!
I normally have pictures from all of my experiences, but I was literally too busy connecting with them to really use my phone! A rare problem, indeed."
"Our visit was the best part of our nearly three weeks in Japan. I say visit, rather than class, because my husband, Mike, and I were warmly welcomed and felt like family. Machiko is an excellent teacher. I would have been content to watch and learn, but she had both of us chopping, stirring, frying, and making sushi. She considered my food allergies and even surprised us with a birthday cake and candles for my Mike's birthday. This was a unique experience, and I highly recommend it."
"A great cooking class experience. Machiko is very kind and speaks good English. We made several delicious dishes and had a great time with her and her family."
