Traditional Japanese Cooking Class in Tokyo with a Local

"Our cooking class with Emi was such a special experience! We made some absolutely delicious Japanese dishes, and Emi guided us through each step with patience and care. She shared so many useful tips that we can’t wait to bring back home and try in our own kitchen. The whole experience felt super authentic and local—like cooking with a friend in her home. Emi was incredibly sweet, knowledgeable, and made us feel so welcome. Highly recommend this class if you’re looking for a meaningful, hands-on experience in Japan. :)"

"Emi’s cooking lesson was one of the best experiences during our trip to Tokyo! Emi is hospitable and amazing teacher!
All the interactions before the lesson were very smooth: Emi asked us about dishes preferences, sent us recipes and a clear instruction of how to get to the studio.
During the lesson it was great to chat with Emi! There was no language barrier – we all spoke English. We discussed products and ways of cooking that are used in our countries, culture, languages and traditions. Also, she advised us several nice places to see around Tokyo.
The dishes that we cooked under her supervision turned out to be very tasty and quite easy to repeat (if we manage to get the proper ingredients).
Thank you very much for this wonderful evening!
I recommend this course to anyone who likes cooking and is eager to learn more about Japan and respect the Japanese culture!"

"Excellent cooking course in Emi's studio. She had prepared the recipes well and sent them in advance. The route planning provided was very clear"

"My wife Sheila and I attended this class and she wrote the review:

I booked a private cooking class for me and my husband with Emi. She emailed a couple of options for the menu that I wanted to learn to make. I chose the pork and vegetable pot stickers, pork with ginger sauce and shrimp and vegetable tempura. The class start time was 10am however we were a half hour late due to the wrong instructions about when to get off the train that was given to us by the hotel where we were staying.
When we arrived Emi was very gracious about it.
We talked for a bit and then commenced to do the prep work for our dishes. She explained that the dishes needed to be cooked one at a time. The first thing we made were the pot stickers. They were delicious. Next up was the shrimp and vegetable tempura which was another winner. Last but not least was the pork with ginger sauce. It was a tasty dish as well.
If you are in Tokyo and want to learn to make authentic Japanese dishes you can't go wrong picking this class. I would advise to book early as this is a popular class."

"We had such a wonderful time at Emi’s cooking class in Tokyo - it was truly one of the highlights of our trip! The experience felt incredibly personal and authentic, as it took place in Emi’s home, which gave everything a warm and welcoming atmosphere right from the start.

Since it was a private cooking class, we were able to choose from a variety of delicious menu options so we went with salmon, gyoza and okonomiyaki - all of which turned out very delicious, thanks to Emi’s instructions and tips.

But what made the class extra special was how open and engaging Emi was. We didn’t just learn how to cook, we also had conversations about life in Japan, culture, and everyday experiences. We came away with not just new cooking skills, but also a deeper appreciation for Japanese life and hospitality.

If you’re looking for a cooking class that goes beyond recipes and gives you a genuine, heartfelt connection to Japanese culture, Emi’s class is absolutely perfect. Highly recommended!"

"My husband (who is not a cook) and I thoroughly enjoyed this class. You can pick three items to make from a list of Japanese food so you can try something new. Emi is a fun host and speaks English very well. We had an interesting conversation on all sorts of topics and I learned so much about Japanese culture. I highly recommend this class for a unique and personal experience in Tokyo."

"My husband (who is not a cook) and I thoroughly enjoyed this class. You can pick three items to make from a list of Japanese food so you can try something new. Emi is a fun host and speaks English very well. We had an interesting conversation on all sorts of topics and I learned so much about Japanese culture. I highly recommend this class for a unique and personal experience in Tokyo."

"My husband (who is not a cook) and I thoroughly enjoyed this class. You can pick three items to make from a list of Japanese food so you can try something new. Emi is a fun host and speaks English very well. We had an interesting conversation on all sorts of topics and I learned so much about Japanese culture. I highly recommend this class for a unique and personal experience in Tokyo."

"Emi was wonderful and even took us to the supermarket afterwards to help us buy
Japanese ingredients to take home with us.. dishes were authentic and delicious!!"

"We had a 2h cooking lesson with Emi and it was fantastic! The lesson took place in Nerima, easily accessible from the center of Tokyo but a lot less crowded. Emi was extremely welcoming and a great teacher, we learned a lot, had interesting conversations about Japan and culture differences and of course we ate some amazing food prepared during the lesson. We are looking forward to try again these recipes on our own. Please try this lesson with Emi, our trip wouldn't have been the same without it. I highly recommend it!!"

"We had a bunch of fun cooking with Emi. She’s a phenomenal teacher and also offered a lot of insight about Japanese culture. We had a great time discussing each other’s cultures.

I highly recommend to anyone who wants to learn how to make authenticate Japanese dishes while in Japan."

"I booked Emi’s cooking class as a surprise for my girlfriend during our trip to Japan.

The preparation was very smooth. Emi contacted me in the weeks leading up to the class to arrange everything from pickup location to our dietary preferences.

The class itself was exactly what we were looking for. As non-Japanese speakers it can be difficult to experience ‘authentic’ Japan. We not only learned how to cook authentic Japanese recipes, but also got the chance to discuss so many topics from 80’s Japanese music to the best hiking spots.

All in all a great experience, one of the highlights of our trip. Would 100% recommend!"

"Our cooking class with Emi was an unforgettable experience. Emi was patient, knowledgeable, and we had lovely conversations with her while learning how to cook tempura, tonkatsu, and onigiri. I can’t wait to cook these at home to remember our lovely morning with Emi. Thank you so much for having us!"

"Thanks a lot, Emi! Cooking with you on my birthday in your cozy home was a lot of fun, educational, and of course, delicious. :)
100% recommended.
Greetings from Germany and Venezuela!"

"Emi was an excellent host and her recipes were delicious! Our favourite dish was the Onigiri.
Emi was also helpful in directing us on how to best get to her place from our hotel in
Asakusa. Highly recommend"

"It was a really pleasant, fun afternoon that we had with Emi. She taught us how to cook Katsu, Tempura and Okonomiyaki. Apart from that, we learnt from Japan culture as well as tell her about ours. It was a very nice cultural exchange. We would recommend it to any Tokyo visitor. Buen provecho y muchas gracias."

"What a pleasent and tasty experience!

Emi is a wonderful host and cooking teacher. We cooked the gyoza, okonomiyaki and the salmon from high quality ingredients with clear instructions. Totemo oishii!!

Emi was also kind enough to pick us up from a local metro station as well as to walk us back and to a super market to buy some local ingredients.

Highly recommended home cooking experience 😊"

"It was a very good experience! Emi was very available and very pleasant. She welcomed us with tea. We cooked okonomiyaki, pork with ginger and a salad of raw vegetables with sesame. She even came with us to the supermarket to advise us on products. I highly recommend."

"Emi was wonderful. Humorous and kind and she put us at ease. We were very nervous, but she made us feel comfortable.

The food was delicious! We made four dishes and they went so well together. It was very hands on, we didn’t just sit and watch Emi cook.

This is one of the most memorable experiences we’ve had in Japan, and it was a gift to be able to take something home with us that we can make again and again."

"Loved cooking dinner with Emi! The gyoza were delicious and really enjoyed hanging out with Emi for an evening. Can't wait to cook everything again at home. Would recommend booking for the start of your trip so you can use the etiquette tips she gives throughout and have plenty of time to pick up the ingredients you want to take home."

"Thanks to Emi so much for a wonderful experience! We learned how to cook Karaage, the best I have ever had, and all the ingredients so fresh. Emi spoke excellent English and easy to communicate. She was warm and welcoming in her home, and we chatted all throughout and learned a lot from her not about Japanese food and many more. She also came to meet us at the station to take her to her home, it was all arranged very well, and super smooth. Arigatou Gozaimasu!"

"My family and I thoroughly enjoyed our cooking class with Emi. She was warm, kind, and had excellent English. We learnt how to make tempura, udon, and a side dish with her (which were incredibly tasty). We really enjoyed talking about Japanese culture with Emi, and were able to learn a lot about Japanese cuisine from Emi. We highly enjoyed our class with Emi, and will definitely book in another class when we return to Japan. I highly recommend this class if you are looking for an authentic experience in Tokyo."

"It was an amazing experience. Learning the methods to cooking our particular dish along with learning the etiquette of having dinner in that particular setting is something that we honestly loved. Truly I recommend this cooking class. It’s something that you can look back at and be thankful for. Emi was also so patient with us as we were struggling to wrap the gyoza. We really appreciated that!"

"Emi was a fantastic teacher and host, with a well curated several hours of cooking, chatting and eating. We went with the udon with tempura dish - and it turned out delicious. She rounded out the meal with some sake and watermelon for dessert. As for Emi herself - she is warm and keen to teach us all about life in Tokyo. This was absolutely one of the highlights of our trip!"

"The time with Emi was so nice. She picked us up from the train station and we walked the roughly 10 minutes to her apartment. We got there, and we started to cook the delicious karaage chicken with miso soup and a nice tomato sesame salad.

We chatted about Japanese life, watched super cute dog videos on YouTube, and then she walked us through a nearby grocery store to show us ingredients and explain some nice Japanese snacks.

It was overall a great experience in Japan, and I can only recommend it for everyone to try!"

"We had a great time at Emi's! Her English is very good and she not only teaches you about
Japanese Cousine, but also a lot about Japanese culture and habits. It was a very
interesting night with her and a great start to our Japan trip!"

"We were picked up from the train station on time as agreed and after a short walk we arrived at Emi's. We had previously been asked what we would like to prepare as a main course and since we had no experience with Japanese cuisine, we decided on gyoza (a kind of dumpling) - the ingredients were ready and we and Emi first brought a salad with us Sesame was prepared, then a miso soup, the aforementioned gyoza (unfortunately ours didn't look as perfect as Emi's) and for dessert there was also fruit - we also got sake and it was so tasty that we had it too bought it myself the same evening. Emi offered to go to a supermarket with us - we gladly accepted.
We talked a lot and had a fantastic evening - A very personal evening that we have never had before as part of a cooking course - Emi is super nice - THANK YOU very much and greetings from Katja and Bernd from Hamburg"

"Excellent experience spending time with Emi and learning not only some Japanese cooking
but also about local culture and people. A nice relaxing change from the hectic Tokyo
scene."

"
Recomendable 10000%
Emi is an excellent hostess, she taught us in a friendly way and her company was very pleasant, it is an experience that allows you to see the real life of a Japanese that is definitely worth experiencing
The food was very good, we left very satisfied with the visit
:)
She was interested in knowing where we came from and getting to know a little more about our culture and helped us understand a little more about hers."

"My boyfriend and I recently attended a cooking class with Emi and had an excellent time!

Emi met us at a local subway station and walked us to her home which was extremely helpful since it gave us a break from navigating! A quick 10 min walk to her home and soon after we were cooking up a storm! Emi was very friendly and took the time to explain all the steps to the recipe and in general Japanese food/cooking/culture.

After the meal, she was also kind enough to offer to take us to the local supermarket if we wanted and guide us to some of the ingredients we were interested in taking home with us. It was absolutely great grocery shopping with a local. She gave us so much knowledge and could provide insight into what was worth trying/buying.

As a bonus, after the cooking experience, Emi also sent us the recipes of the meals we made and we've already recreated the meals at home! Though it wasn't quite as delicious as when we cooked with Emi!

If you're looking for an authentic and delicious Japanese cooking experience, I highly recommend Emi!"

"We met Emi at Nerima station, then she guided us to her apartment. We learned how to prepare tomato salad with sesame sauce, miso soup, and especially gyozas. Everything was very good.

Emi is a pedagogue and patient, speaks very good English, and the recipes are simple enough to be reproduced at home. Also throughout the experience, we were able to chat with Emi about Japanese culture and cuisine.

Emi also very kindly accompanied us to the supermarket to give us advice on Japanese products. (translated by Google)"

"Marvelous. Emi is a sweetheart, with my partner we speak Spanish, we thought it would be a bit complicated for us since the class is in English. We used Google translate and Emi welcomed us happily, she used the translator too to communicate with us and even learned a few words in Spanish. The food was delicious, he very kindly taught us how to prepare it by making us participate in the preparation. I give it a 10000000/10. If you want to learn Japanese cooking, this is your moment, don't hesitate and go!!
Greetings Emi, if we go to Tokyo again, without a doubt we will go again to cook more things, and we will prepare the Gyozas in Chile!"

"(Google translated) Marvelous. Emi is a sweetheart, with my partner we speak Spanish, we thought it would be a bit complicated for us since the class is in English. We used Google translate and Emi welcomed us happily, she used the translator too to communicate with us and even learned a few words in Spanish. The food was delicious, he very kindly taught us how to prepare it by making us participate in the preparation. I give it a 10000000/10. If you want to learn Japanese cooking, this is your moment, don't hesitate and go!! Greetings Emi, if we go to Tokyo again, without a doubt we will go again to cook more things, and we will prepare the Gyozas in Chile!"

"Emi was a great host! She made it fun for us by teaching us step by step and having us carry out her instructions. We made udon with tempura and it was delicious! I had a lot of questions about Japanese food etiquette that she answered with pleasure. If you're looking for a fun night to learn about Japanese food/ culture and eat some yummy food, you should totally book this cooking class :-)"

"I was able to go with my brother and we had the best time. We cooked Yakisoba and Emi did a wonderful job of explaining the process and showing each step clearly. Emi is a very nice, patient, and helpful teacher who I would highly recommend for any cooking level or age!"

"Emi was a most pleasant and supportive host. I thoroughly enjoyed our time together and learning how to make these delicious little parcels of goodness. Her teaching was excellent and I was able to practice again the next day with excellent results. Emi is keen to share her knowledge and culture and it was wonderful to work with her. Thank you Emi."

"Emi was a wonderful host! She provided clear guidance on how to make gyoza, included interesting cultural details, and laughed along with our group of friends. Highly recommend her class!"

"Emi was the perfect host. Informative, friendly, a good communicator, and patient with fat-fingered gyoza novices like us :) We thoroughly enjoyed our culinary journey, and highly recommend the course."

"Emi was a fantastic host. She showed us how to make gyoza/dumplings and a delicious vegetable dish. I have always had trouble making dumplings (even when I've done in-person classes), but Emi's way worked for me and my gyoza looked professional! They were also delicious. It was an enjoyable class and I highly recommend it! A great cultural and culinary experience from your own kitchen."

"I can highly recommend a cook along with Emi! I had the best time Learning how to make dumplings a dipping sauce and Goma-æ which I have now made many times afterwards !"

"To begin with Emi was friendly with great communication and provided easy to find her instructions. She then escorted us to her beautiful and clean home. We made delicious gomai, rice, miso soup and the most delicately flavoured salmon! This is a menu that is absolutely reproducible at home which is a key element for us when attending classes! We had a little spare time so Emi kindly toured us around her local supermarket so we could pick up delicacies we wouldn’t otherwise have known about! It was wonderful chatting to Emi about culture and life in Japan, and we would highly recommend this class! Thanks Emi!"

"We had a wonderful time with Emi during our stay in Tokyo ! The cooking part was great but it was nothing compared to the human experience we lived during these few hours chatting and laughing with Emi. We recommand it thousand times! Thanks again for having us!"

"If you love Japanese food, you will love learning to cook it with Emi.
My husband and I had a private class with her yesterday. We knew as soon as we met her we were in for a treat.
Emi is a delightful woman. She welcomed us by making us green tea.
We learned that Japanese food is all about the presentation,- how to make it look inviting. While we were preparing it, we talked about the ingredients and Japanese food in general. We also talked about Japanese caligraphy, culture and festivals. We learned about so much more than cooking.
Having prepared and cooked the food, we sat down to eat a delicious lunch of miso soup, chicken and green onions with sesame flavoured spinach, and a sweet treat, finished with a glass of sake.
We were surprised to find two and a half hours had flown by, while we were getting to know an interesting and very different side of Japan.
It was a wonderful experience that we would highly recommend to everyone."

"The cooking class with Emi was lovely and such a treat to experience while in Tokyo. We learned all about Japanese food traditions as well as cultural insights, like why rice is always served on the left. We got to experience the intricate techniques of folding gyoza along with some delicious flavor combinations like toasted sesame spinach. Emi is very sweet, easy to talk to and is very informative! We really enjoyed our cooking experience with her."

"My partner and I enjoyed an excellent private cooking class with Emi and learnt some great Japanese home cooking recipes. If you enjoy cooking and Japanese food, this is a great class to take and you’ll bring home some skills to recreate the recipes."

"Spent the night cooking up gyoza, miso soup and spinach with crushed sesame seeds for dinner. She was knowledgeable about the dishes and the traditions around dining etiquette."

"This class was amazing. I attended with my partner. Emi was incredibly friendly and loved teaching us about Japanese culture and learning about Australian culture. Her English was very good which made her easy to understand. We made our own gyoza, and can not wait to make it at home."

"We had such an interesting evening with EMI! She is really nice and taught how to cook 4 dishes from scratch. She was really patient with us and answered every question we had about food and Japanese culture in general. The recipes are easy to reproduce at home as well, we are looking forward to try! We would definitely recommend Emi to anyone looking to experience Japanese home cooking with a Japanese native!"

"She explained in English the ingredients and we all got involved in diving, chopping, straining and Cooking Japanese Chicken Karaage, Daikon Soup and Sesame seed coated Spinach.
Very lively experience and fun cooking with EMI-san."