Cooking classes - a glimpse into Japan's culture through food

Japan has many different ways that visitors and locals alike can embrace the culture here. From seasonal festivals to arts and crafts that are hundreds (and even thousands!) of years old, if you want to learn about Japan and the traditions here in more detail there are no shortage of ways to do that.

One of my personal favorite ways to soak up Japanese culture is through the amazing food here. Lately, City-Costers have been sharing their favorite regional eats that they've enjoyed across the country, and traveling across Japan gives you a taste of local specialties -- often including recipes that have been passed down from generation to generation. Have you ever considered taking a class to learn how to cook some of those dishes yourself, though?

A home-food style cooking class I attended in Tokyo - we made several dishes!

Some of my most memorable experiences in Japan have been learning how to cook traditional foods. I've done classes through two different Tokyo-based cooking schools - Buddha Bellies in Jinbocho and Mari's Cooking School which was based near Shintomicho Station in Tokyo at the instructor's home. Right now, Mari's Cooking School is on a hiatus as she is living in the United States for a few years, but if she resumes her cooking school I'd highly recommend it for home-style Japanese cooking.

Wondering about how to find a cooking class?

There are a few ways to do that. Firstly, Google is your friend - if you simply search for the city or prefecture you're in and "cooking school" or "cooking class" you should get multiple results back if you're lucky! It's worth bearing in mind that some cooking classes will have a set menu, whereas others allow you to choose in advance what you're going to cook from several different options. If you want to learn how to cook something specific, it's worth checking ahead of time as to whether or not the class can accommodate what you want to learn about.

Carefully arranging the pork on the okonomiyaki we learned to make!

Another great way to find potential cooking school options are through prefectural tourism websites. Just about all of them have a section dedicated to food, showing off those local specialties - and even if there's not a specific cooking class available they often list places where you can experience their famed foods for yourself.

What's great about attending a cooking class?

Where to start! It's a way of finding new, like-minded friends - I've found several friends through the cooking classes I've attended. 

You'll also be able to add some new dishes to your own cooking repertoire. Ever had times where you're wondering what to cook for dinner, and you're going through the same rotation of meal options weekly? Attending a cooking class is a great way to shake that up! If one of your New Year's resolutions was to learn a new skill, this is a perfect way to do that.

I've found that I've learned bunches about Japanese culture through the classes I've attended as well. For instance at one cooking class we made a New Year's side dish called kuri kinton, which consists of candied chestnuts mixed with mashed sweet potato. It's often enjoyed around the New Year's period as a way of promoting financial good fortune - hence the gold color of the dish. I'd probably have never known that if I didn't attend that particular class!

And naturally, the perks of getting to eat and enjoy what you've made has to be another great benefit to attending.

Taking the opportunity to learn about Japan's culture through food is a wonderful experience for so many reasons - if you have the chance to participate in one I'd highly recommend it!