Private Tsukiji outer market tour and cooking class in Tokyo

Meet Junko

Junko is a delightful, fun-loving local and foodie who lives close to the Tsukiji fish market in Tokyo. She loves living here because of the easy access to Tsukiji and other local markets where she procures the freshest fish, meat and vegetables for her cooking. Many of the vegetables she uses are also sourced from her brother’s organic vegetable field. She enjoys creative and seasonal Japanese cooking. Junko's enthusiasm for cooking and eating delicious food made her want to be more than a home cook. She was popular amongst her friends, not only for her personality but also her cooking skills, and eventually her regularly held home cooking parties turned into cooking lessons. Being a passionate foodie herself about different cuisines around the world, she would love to help travelers experience authentic and delicious Japanese cuisine in Tokyo. She believes good food can be a bridge between cultures and looks forward to sharing happiness through food with fellow Traveling Spoon foodies.

What to expect

Please note menu might vary. If there are particular dishes you are interested in trying, please include your request in the booking form.

In-home meal (2 - 4 guests) Meet Junko at the Tsukishima station and walk together to her apartment. After relaxing with a refreshing drink you will start your authentic home-style Japanese meal with an appetizer like cucumber salad with shrimp or pickled vegetables. Next you will try dishes such as dashi egg rolls, eggplant with dengaku miso, a sweet and flavorful handmade miso and a main of rice rolls wrapped in pork, marinated and grilled fish, teriyaki chicken or the traditional nimono (slow-cooked vegetable and meat stew). Junko lives with her brother who might be present and share the meal with you on occasion.

Cooking experience (2 - 4 guests) Meet Junko at the Tsukishima station and walk together to her small and simple apartment where you will join her in her kitchen for a hands-on Japanese cooking class. You will learn to cook 3-4 of Junko's favorite, savory Japanese dishes made from seasonal ingredients as part of a Teishoku meal. Some of the dishes you might learn to cook are teriyaki chicken, ginger pork or fish stew for a main, eggplant with dengaku miso, tamagoyaki (traditional Japanese rolled omelet) and a sweet and savory miso soup made with homemade miso. You can expect your cooking class to take about 1.5 hours. After cooking sit down together to share the meal you helped prepare with Junko.

Market visit (2 - 4 guests) Meet Junko at the Lawson store on Tsukiji 4-Chome and walk over to Tsukiji's outer market. Humming with energy and excitement, Tokyo's Tsukiji Market is unlike any other. Get ready for a culinary market adventure as Junko shows you around Tsukiji's outer market. With Junko as your local guide, you will get a glimpse into the incredible local seafood trade and learn about the variety of seafood that passes through the market each day. You will also get to discover in Tsukiji's outer market a variety of Japanese goods, from vegetables and fruits to knives and ceramics. If you'd like a seafood stew, pick up fresh fish from the market. Junko will tell you about her favorite vendors and how to choose the best ones. Her goal is to help you understand the spirit behind Japanese cuisine which is all about enjoying the present moment and season. Please note that this is a tour of the outer Tsukiji market, not the inner fish market that closed and moved to Toyosu. Your host will give you a tour of the outer market including a facility that imitates the Tsukiji Market which has a seafood section. You will also visit Namiyoke Shrine, the guardian deity of Tsukiji Market. After your market tour, you will take the Oedo subway or a Toei bus with Junko to her home to begin your cooking class.

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