ZOSHIGAYA · TOKYO
Authentic Japanese Home Cooking in Tokyo
Learn recipes, ingredients, and techniques behind the food Japanese families enjoy every day.
ABOUT UMAMI ONE
Learn the food Japanese families really cook.
Authentic Japanese home cooking, explained in a warm and practical way.
Real Japanese Home Cooking
Recipes that belong on everyday Japanese tables, taught with cultural context.
Learn the “Why”
Understand what each ingredient and technique is doing, instead of simply copying steps.
Cook It Again at Home
Leave with practical knowledge you can reproduce using ingredients available where you live.
OUR COOKING CLASSES
Choose your experience.
Tokyo Ikebukuro: Chef-Led Small Group Cooking Class: Ramen, Gyoza & Matcha
Special Group Discount for 2+ Guests! Just ¥14,994 per person for a party of 4! Vegetarian Options Available! Join a professional chef in a cozy home environment just minutes from the station, and learn how to make authentic miso ramen and gyoza from scratch! You’ll craft rich dashi stock from the ground up, and prepare your very own individual portion step-by-step, from start to finish. To top off the experience, unwind with matcha green tea that you whisk yourself, served alongside a traditional Japanese confection. Offered as a private or small-group class, this is a warm, memorable Japanese culinary experience you won't want to miss.
Tokyo Ikebukuro: Authentic Okonomiyaki (2 Ways) & Matcha Experience with a Chef
Special Discount for 2+ Guests! Just ¥14,994 per person for a group of 4! Vegetarian Options Available! Join a professional chef in a cozy, welcoming home environment in Ikebukuro, Tokyo, and learn how to make authentic okonomiyaki from scratch! You’ll craft delicious savory pancakes with pork and seafood from the basics—mastering essential techniques like mixing the batter and flipping, so you can easily recreate them at home. As a fun culinary bonus, you’ll also try your hand at crafting a decorative cucumber tornado!
Tokyo Ikebukuro: Futomaki Sushi & Dashimaki Tamago Cooking + Matcha – Small-Group Japanese Cultural Experience
Special Discount for 2+ Guests! Just ¥17,537 per person for a group of 5! Vegetarian Options Available! Join a professional chef in a cozy, welcoming space near the station, and learn how to make authentic futomaki sushi from scratch! You’ll discover the history of sushi while mastering essential techniques, including how to prepare seasoned sushi rice and roll futomaki step-by-step. You’ll also try your hand at making dashimaki tamago (Japanese rolled omelet) using a specialized rectangular pan, learning the secrets to achieving a soft, fluffy texture. To complete the experience, unwind with matcha green tea that you whisk yourself, served alongside a traditional Japanese confection.
Tokyo Ikebukuro: Make 3 Types of Sushi & Matcha with a Professional Chef – Small-Group Japanese Culinary Experience
Craft Authentic Nigiri Sushi from Scratch with a Professional Chef! Join a professional chef in a cozy, welcoming home near the station, and learn how to make authentic nigiri sushi from scratch! While discovering the rich history of sushi, you’ll learn essential techniques step-by-step—from preparing seasoned sushi rice to shaping perfect shari (sushi rice balls). Beginners can join with confidence, as the chef provides clear and gentle guidance throughout the class. Enjoy your handcrafted sushi made with fresh, seasonal seafood, served alongside a warm bowl of miso soup. To wrap up the experience, unwind with matcha green tea that you whisk yourself, served with a traditional Japanese confection. This is a warm, unique, and memorable Japanese culinary experience that will truly highlight your trip!
HOW THE CLASS WORKS
How the Class Works

Welcome
Arrive, get comfortable and meet your instructor in a relaxed small-group setting.


Learn
Discover ingredients, dashi, seasoning and the cultural context behind the dishes.


Cook
Prepare everything hands-on with clear guidance and practical tips.


Enjoy
Sit down together and enjoy what you made while talking about food and life in Japan.


Take Home
Take the recipes, techniques and confidence with you, ready to cook again at home.

GUEST REVIEWS
What our guests say.

“Hisako was a wonderful teacher and the ramen and gyoza were fantastic. My parents and I had a great time learning this great cooking art. Thank you Hisako for sharing your home and recipes with us.”
Hisako was a wonderful teacher and the ramen and gyoza were fantastic. My parents and I had a great time learning this great cooking art. Thank you Hisako for sharing your home and recipes with us.

“Best and friendliest experience ever! We made ramen, gyoza, and matcha, and everything turned out perfect and delicious. Chef Hisako speaks fluent English, is incredibly friendly, and easily accommodated our dietary needs (veggie & special meat requirements). Uncomplicated, welcoming, and 100% recommended — we’d love to come back!”
Best and friendliest experience ever!
We made ramen, gyoza, and matcha, and everything turned out perfect and delicious. Chef Hisako speaks fluent English, is incredibly friendly, and easily accommodated our dietary needs (veggie & special meat requirements). Uncomplicated, welcoming, and 100% recommended — we’d love to come back!
“We had a great time taking the ramen and gyoza cooking class. The class was small which made it easier to learn and the hands on lesson was great. The lesson took place in a home which felt really authentic. The hosts were very friendly. I am looking forward to trying my new recipes at home.”
We had a great time taking the ramen and gyoza cooking class. The class was small which made it easier to learn and the hands on lesson was great. The lesson took place in a home which felt really authentic. The hosts were very friendly. I am looking forward to trying my new recipes at home.

“Потрясающий мастер класс! Очень гостепреимные шеф и переводчик. Безумно вкусная еда получилась. Будто побывали в гостях”
Потрясающий мастер класс! Очень гостепреимные шеф и переводчик. Безумно вкусная еда получилась. Будто побывали в гостях


“Es war eine super tolle Erfahrung, die ich auf jeden Fall weiterempfehle. Das Essen war das beste, was wir in Japan gegessen haben. Ich habe es sehr geschätzt, dass wir alles ohne Fisch & Meeresfrüchte machen konnten und sie unseren Wunsch berücksichtigt haben. Vielen Dank!”
Es war eine super tolle Erfahrung, die ich auf jeden Fall weiterempfehle. Das Essen war das beste, was wir in Japan gegessen haben. Ich habe es sehr geschätzt, dass wir alles ohne Fisch & Meeresfrüchte machen konnten und sie unseren Wunsch berücksichtigt haben. Vielen Dank!


MEET YOUR INSTRUCTORS
Cook with a local expert.
Mr.Oodaira
Experience
Profile:
I am a chef with over 10 years of experience in Japanese cuisine, specializing in traditional methods. Working in a traditional Japanese restaurant, I have honed my skills in incorporating seasonal ingredients and bringing out the natural flavors of the ingredients. I have also provided fugu (blowfish) dishes, which require specialized training.
Background:
I studied Japanese cuisine at a culinary school, where I learned the fundamentals of cooking. I further polished my skills by working at a renowned traditional Japanese restaurant frequented by those in the financial industry. Subsequently, I diversified my culinary repertoire beyond Japanese cuisine and became an instructor at a cooking school, teaching the joy and techniques of cooking to others. Additionally, I have organized cooking classes tailored for individuals with disabilities to support their independence.
Specialties and Style
Specialties:
My specialties lie in traditional Japanese cuisine, where I emphasize techniques such as proper fish filleting, vegetable cutting, and cooking methods to bring out the best flavors of the ingredients. I also enjoy adapting Japanese dishes into home-cooked meals that are easy for anyone to prepare.
Style:
In my cooking classes, I focus on simplicity and ease of preparation while imparting depth and richness to the dishes. I emphasize using seasonal ingredients and teach students how to maximize the flavors and umami of the ingredients.
Mrs.Hisako
Experience
Profile:
I have over 15 years of experience working in professional kitchens, including French restaurants, Western-style eateries, bakeries, and Japanese cuisine.
Specialties and Style
Specialties:
My culinary journey has taken me across different styles of cooking, giving me a broad understanding of both traditional and modern food culture.
I also had the opportunity to work with Japanese cuisine in the United States, where I shared Japanese food and culture with people from around the world. Through this experience, I learned how exciting it is to connect with others through cooking.
In addition to my restaurant experience, I have taught cooking classes and appeared on television as a cooking instructor. I love helping guests discover Japanese food in a fun, relaxed, and hands-on way.
Style:
Having lived overseas for many years, I speak English fluently and love connecting with people from different cultures through food. My passion is not only teaching recipes but also sharing the stories, techniques, and culture behind each dish.
Whether you are a complete beginner or an experienced home cook, I look forward to welcoming you into my kitchen and sharing a special culinary experience with you.
ACCESS
Find us in Zoshigaya, Tokyo.
Just a 2-minute walk from Zoshigaya Station. We can meet you at the station and walk you to the kitchen.
MEETING POINT
Meet at Zoshigaya Station
Take Exit 2 at Zoshigaya Station, come up to street level, and wait by the benches in the plaza. We will meet you at the station and walk you to the kitchen.

2 min from Zoshigaya Station Exit 2

15 min walk from Ikebukuro Station
FAQ
Everything you need to know.
CONTACT
Have a question about your class?
Ask us about dietary needs, private lessons, group visits, or anything you would like to know before booking.
Ready to cook?
Book your class and bring Japanese home cooking into your own kitchen.



