TOKYO
The Tokyo shortlist.
The 15 most popular workshops in Tokyo right now. Here is what each one costs, how long it takes, and who actually runs it, so you can pick the one worth a day and book it.
Asakusa sushi class near Tokyo Skytree. Learn sushi history with a quiz, make maki and nigiri, and eat your creations with English help.
Most Popular“My family really enjoyed the experience here with amazing staff! Thank you so much.”
Make nigiri sushi with tuna and salmon in Tokyo, wear a happi coat, and eat your creations after 90 minutes.
“The sushi course was a unique and wonderful experience. We learned a lot about Japanese culture, and during the class everything was explained to us in a very professional and clear way, including how to roll sushi and prepare nigiri. Afterwards, we had the chance to taste the sushi we made ourselves, and it tasted…”
Make your own Ginza chopsticks in one hour. Pick from 24 woods, plane and sand by hand, oil-finish, and optionally engrave names.
“My 17 yo and 20 yo sons loved it. Guides were incredibly engaging, helpful, and gracious. It was busy but they were very attentive and patient and we didn’t feel rushed to finish. 5+ stars, thank you!”
Real dojo training in Machida: iai sword cutting, gekken sparring, and traditional horseback-archery bow with Yoshioki Sumida (3 hrs)
“This is by far one of my favorite experiences I have done, in Japan and in general! I love martial arts, and learning from a true samurai descendant seemed like an amazing opportunity. Though it was a bit expensive, my boyfriend and I are so glad we did it! We are from the US, and…”
Learn nigiri and maki with a pro chef in Tsukiji. Hands-on sushi class in Tokyo with fresh market fish, tea, and dashi.
“Was such a great and in depth sushi making class! Very friendly host, Satoko and chef Tanaka. Highly recommended doing whilst visiting the fish market. Lots of sushi made and ate.”
Make your own wooden chopsticks in a calm Shinjuku workshop with English guidance. Take them home. 1 hour, $12.
“Yuki and the team were very welcoming, happy to help and very friendly. Great English, easy to understand stand. Great choice of styles of wood- only 2 styles come with the price of ticket- you have to pay for other styles. Engraving available too at extra cost but adds a great feature and memory to…”
A hands-on Tokyo sushi making class in a small English-friendly kitchen, learning sushi rice plus nigiri, inari, and rolls.
“The instructors were extremely positive and made an amazing atmosphere, super super kind and very helpful when it comes to how to actually make the food. They explained everything very well and shared a lot of knowledge about the food, as well as Japanese culture in between the cooking. Would highly recommend”
Pick your wood, carve, sand, and oil custom chopsticks in Tokyo. English help, optional name engraving, 1 hour.
“I liked how easy and simple it was. All you gotta do it carve the piece of wood while it’s held in place then sand it down to how you want it. Plus the helpers all speak english and are happy to help.”
Wear samurai armor and learn katana basics in Asakusa, then tour exhibits, pose for photos, and try ninja weapons in 2 hours.
“We loved our samurai sword session with Koki. Not being the most coordinated person we were instructed how to gear up, and shown a routine with our swords. We also had a go with foam swords partnering up and it looked like the older married couples enjoyed this the most! 🤣 Lots of opportunities for…”
Hands-on Tokyo class making Wagyu sukiyaki plus 7 other Japanese dishes, with recipes, friendly English guides, and a full meal.
“This was an absolutely excellent cooking class. Don’t hesitate to sign up. In 3 hours we not only rolled our own egg omelette, made dashi from scratch for miso soup, accordion cut cucumbers for salad, made sesame potato salad. Cooked tofu stuffed with ground chicken ginger and edamame, and did sukiyaki Wagyu hotpot. And cooked…”
Build a custom DMG-01 Game Boy in Akihabara: choose parts and colors, disassemble and rebuild, then take home a working handheld.
“Absolutely fantastic experience!! I can't recommend it highly enough, it's a bit pricey, but when you talk to the staff and consider the costs and incredible difficulty in sourcing enough retro hardware to run a workshop for 4~8 people, two times a day, it ends up being a very fair deal.”
Asakusa chado workshop: learn koicha and usucha matcha, taste Sakura tea and sweets, practice serving, and make your own bowl in 1.5 hours.
“Go for the experience and not the matcha. It was fun to experience with 2 other couples from the UK.”
Tokyo knife workshop in Asakusa: sharpen a Japanese-style blade, engrave your name in Japanese, and take home a custom knife.
“So much fun! The staff were amazing and the experience was great!”
Cook classic Japanese comfort foods near Shinjuku with an English-speaking instructor, choose your menu, handle dietary needs, then eat together.
“We loved how interactive this experience was. The hosts were really helpful and patient with us. We would definitely recommend this activity to anyone.”
Make your own Tokyo chopsticks in a small-group, English-friendly workshop. Choose wood, carve by hand, and take them home same day.
“So engaging and fun and as a family of 5 we all enjoyed it from age 8 to 42. Yuki and Victoria were amazing; so patient, helpful and kind with all. And we made chopsticks we will love for years to come. I would probably say this was the best of our activities like this…”
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