After meeting Satoru at the JR Shinjuku station, you will walk together to his simple, cozy apartment in the heart of Shinjuku. Join Satoru in his small but efficient kitchen and learn how to cook 2-5 authentic Japanese dishes from scratch. You can expect your cooking class to take about an hour and a half before you sit down and share the meal you helped to prepare over engaging conversation with Satoru. Feel free to ask him about the ingredients that go into making the dish from savory dashi to sweet organic honey and he will give you tips and a story relating to his choice.
Please note that this is not a tour of a food market and will take place after your cooking class. Instead of a market tour, Satoru will take you on a street tour of a local district that tourists typically do not see. Stroll through the neighborhood with Satoru as he shares information about Japanese culture and trends.
As you sip on a welcome drink, Satoru will share stories about life and culture in Japan. You will then sit down to a traditional Japanese meal of home style Japanese dishes at his dining table. Depending on the day of the week, your menu might change. Also depends on availability of seasonal vegetables. Enjoy a laid-back, stress-free meal and conversation about Japanese cuisine and culture with this knowledgeable local.
Please note that a Cooking + Meal experience with Sato will take 2.5 hours instead of 3 hours, so the actual timings would be: 10:30AM - 1:00PM for Lunch, 6:00PM - 8:30PM for Dinner. Please ignore the 'Experience Timings' shown on the left hand side of this page.
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.
Please check the menu in advance, specific days have specific menus. If you do not share your preference, the menu of the day will be cooked. So if you wish to make changes or have any restrictions, please inform the host ONE week in advance, or else the menu of the day will be cooked.Sat, Sun, Mon, Tue: Teishoku (Japanese set meal includes miso soup, rice and 2 side dishes) Wed, Thu, Fri: Okonomiyaki (Japanese pancake) or Karaage (fried chicken) or Yakisoba (pan fried noodle) or Katsu curry rice or Ramen or GyozaSatoru was born in Hokkaido and grew up surrounded by nature and large vegetable fields. As a child, he would always harvest fresh vegetables from his family's fields and cook with his mother and grandmother who were wonderful home cooks. His grandmother never compromised in quality or technique when cooking and taught him everything she knew. Satoru is now a passionate home cook himself. His grandfather owned an organic miso factory that Satoru believed to be the best in the world. Although it closed after his grandfather passed away, his grandfather passed down his miso making techniques to his mother who sends Sato her handmade organic miso. This miso is the secret of Satoru's signature miso soup, something you won't want to miss. Satoru enjoys teaching people about Japanese food and helping them explore his local culture through food. He believes that there are so many delicious homemade Japanese foods that cannot be found in the restaurants and delights in sharing these dishes with travelers.
"We joined Satoru for a cooking class on our recent trip to Tokyo, and we are so glad we did. Communication before our class was clear, and he was early at the meeting point. He welcomed us to his flat, and we had an excellent experience, fixing a lovely lunch with a great host. Satoru is knowledgeable, friendly, and warm. He was generous to provide the recipes for the dishes we made so we could try them at home. The class gave us a good background in Japanese food, cooking and presentation that helped us really appreciate the meals we had on the rest of our trip. We definitely recommend cooking with Satoru for a unique experience in Tokyo."
"Excellent evening …. Great tutorial and wonderful food with this delightful chef. Highly
recommend this and will be back whenever we can get back to Tokyo"
"We had a wonderful evening together with our professional home cooking chef Saturo, who guided us deeper into the knowledge of Japanese food culture and Japanese culture in general. Saturo told us generously about his background, grandparents thought on food, seasons of rice!, the making of magic Miso, just like his grandfather used to make - and lots of other tips and tricks we never will forget. The food we cooked tasted heavenly good, with lots of umami and the best thing is that we got some recipes to bring back home 😄 You don’t have to be a samurai in a kitchen to enjoy Saturos class. He guides you with respect and humor, and you will be amazed of what you’ve accomplished in few hours. With love, The Clausen family."
"A Culinary Highlight in Tokyo with a Touch of Humor! Kon'nichiwa! Our journey to Japan last October was a tapestry of unforgettable moments, but our cooking adventure with Satoru truly wove a thread of joy through our hearts. As a trio of Germans, not exactly known for our samurai-like skills in the kitchen, we were a bit apprehensive. However, Satoru, embodying the punctuality better than a Deutsche Bahn train, was already waiting for us at the station before we could even wonder where to go. This was our first hint that we were in for a treat.
Welcomed into his home, Satoru transformed our lack of culinary prowess into a delightful soiree of cooking and laughter. Guiding us with the patience of a zen master and the humor of a stand-up comedian, he made us feel at ease and capable of conquering the culinary challenges ahead. The experience was peppered with laughter, especially when toasting our newfound friendship over Asahi Superdry, a gesture that made the delicious meal we prepared together even more special.
But Satoru's generosity extended beyond the kitchen. He shared with us a curated list of Tokyo's culinary gems via WhatsApp, ensuring our gastronomic adventure continued throughout our stay. This level of thoughtfulness and care from someone we had just met was both heartwarming and invaluable.
Saying goodbye to Satoru was bittersweet, but we departed with bellies full and spirits lifted, carrying memories of a day filled with laughter, learning, and the warmth of new friendships. For those venturing to Tokyo, a cooking class with Satoru is not just a lesson in Japanese cuisine, but a gateway to understanding the joy and humor that food can bring into our lives. Arigatou gozaimasu, Satoru, for an experience that was the highlight of our trip. Sayōnara, until the paths of our culinary adventures cross again!"
