JAPAN
Japan's classics.
The 14 most popular dessert tours in Japan. What each one is really like, who runs it, and what you will pay.
Learn matcha step by step in Asakusa with an English-speaking host, then sip your whisked cup with seasonal Japanese sweets.
“I had a very enjoyable experience with matcha. I tried making it for the first time, and it was very tasty and the staff was very fun and attentive. I highly recommend it if you are ever in Asakusa, Tokyo.”
Learn matcha in Osaka with a small-group class, English hosts, and Japanese sweets. Hand-whisk a real cup in about an hour.
“What a great experience learning the art of Matcha. We bought matcha in Kyoto, and now have learned the process. It’s fun learning the ceremony of the tree as well. The instructor was very entertaining.”
Learn matcha in Asakusa with a fun history quiz, whisk your own tea, and pair it with mochi sweets near Tokyo Skytree for $22.
“Had an amazing time with our hosts Honoka and Midori who taught us so much in such a short time about Matcha! My 74-yo mum and 23-yo son enjoyed it equally. Seated activity with video and clear English instructions made it an easy and educational way to spend 1 hour in Asakusa!”
Make seasonal *Nerikiri* sweets with Kyoto bean paste and enjoy single-origin Uji matcha in a hands-on 95-minute Kyoto class.
“Amazing!. Who knew you could make protein filled vegetables into treats. Great fun with the kids”
Matcha Making Osaka teaches you how to whisk and taste matcha with Japanese sweets in central Dotonbori and Shinsaibashi for $22.
“Great host and education on drinking matcha for the first time. Very good English. Very interactive.”
Make traditional nerikiri sweets and sip freshly prepared matcha in Harajuku with a small group, plus tips for Shibuya and take-home creations.
“This was our absolute favorite activity in Tokyo. I took my two sons, age 13 and 11 years to this experience. The hostess was so gracious and patient. She brought us into her beautiful home and taught us how to make intricate Japanese sweets. She also had a wonderful tea ceremony with treats for us.…”
Make seasonal Nerikiri wagashi and learn Uji Matcha tea steps in Osaka, including matcha grinding, then enjoy what you made.
“The class was amazing!!! Loved learning about the wagashi and making it. The matcha ceremony was amazing as well. Our guide explained everything really well and spoke great English too.”
Hands-on mochi and dango class in Sakura’s home near Shibuya. Make fruit daifuku, sip matcha, learn the stories, take treats.
“This experience was fantastic! Sakura was an excellent host. We loved learning about the different types of mochi and then making our own. It was a very authentic experience with personal touches that exceeded our expectations. I highly recommend this experience!”
Make seasonal nerikiri sweets in Nagoya, then grind Uji matcha and enjoy your creations in a guided tea ceremony experience.
“It was so much fun! We made a ginkgo leave and chestnut sweets. Would recommend it!”
Make three Kyoto wagashi near Fushimiinari in a small class, then enjoy matcha in a traditional room. Recipes included.
“We had a great time at this cooking class with Miho. Her studio was easy enough to find, space is nice and clean. Had one of my favorite bites of the trip with one of the desserts with black sesame, I had never had it before and now obsessed. We enjoyed our learning and eating…”
Make seasonal wagashi nerikiri and grind Uji matcha in 95 minutes, using Kyoto bean paste and single-origin matcha at AN Tokyo.
“I liked this activity. I have learned a new skill of making sweets using sweet bean paste. However, I could not remember the name of this technique. Would be good if the organisers wrote the name in the description of this activity.”
Learn delicate Sapporo wagashi with Yuki in her home, with tea, step-by-step English guidance, and sweets you pack up to take home.
“Yuki was a brilliant host and I really enjoyed the class. She was very helpful & even picked me up from the station, she even had some recommendations of places to see and go after. Impeccable hygiene throughout the class and was great fun to learn about different techniques. Definitely recommend - thank you Yuki”
A 2-hour Shimbashi food sprint: gyoza, udon, yakitori and taiyaki, with menu help, local spots, and optional drinks.
“What a wonderful tour. Our guide was very friendly and engaging. He had everything organized and we just walked into each restaurant and enjoyed the food. All the places were within a few blocks of each other and places we would not have gone to on our own. This was a huge highlight of our…”
Kyoto wagashi class near Fushimiinari: make about three sweets hands-on with Miho, then relax with matcha in a garden-view home.
“We really enjoyed the cooking class. We brought our kids ages 8 and 10 and they both had a great time.”
