Japanese Sweets (Mochi & Nerikiri) Making At A Private Studio

My daughter and I had a wonderful experience at this Wagashi-making class and are so grateful to the instructor for accommodating us when we mistakenly missed our original class time. The studio is small and intimate, which made the experience feel very personal. We joined a small class and immediately felt welcomed. The instructor was knowledgeable, patient, and did an excellent job explaining the history, techniques, and cultural significance behind both mochi and nerikiri. One of the things we loved most was learning how much care and artistry goes into traditional Japanese sweets. The attention to detail was incredible, and we gained a whole new appreciation for Wagashi. Creating the intricate designs was both challenging and fun, and we were proud of what we made. Not only were the sweets beautiful, but they were delicious as well! My daughter especially enjoyed the hands-on nature of the class. This was a unique cultural experience that gave us a deeper understanding of Japanese traditions. I would highly recommend it to anyone visiting Tokyo who is interested in food, culture, or family-friendly activities.

Owa was incredibly friendly, and very warm. Her directions made the location easy to find (a private studio in a residential location), and she taught us not just how to make the beautiful wagashi, but also the history and culture behind them. She also suggested modifications we could make when we made them at home. This was a super fun afternoon, I'll be recommending it to my friends

Our friend group of 7 participated in this class and absolutely loved it! We got to understand some of the history of mochi and how the seasons are important inspirations in the beautiful presentation. I could not believe how beautiful the mochi were that we created. Our instructor was incredible and facilitated a warm and inviting experience. This would be great for families, couples, friends etc. to do together. At the end we made matcha and enjoyed our delicious treats. I left with a much deeper respect for the art of mochi.

Yukka gave a short presentation of the different kinds of mochi for the different seasons of the year as well as a little background which gave us an understanding of the mochi we were making. She gave such great instructions and was quite organized. She was also very patient since we all have never made mochi before.. We were all quite surprised how beautiful our mochi pieces turned out. Attention to the details made us more appreciative of this art and it was so delicious! We had so much fun!

Lovely class and Waka is wonderful!. Took the class with my 7 year old daughter really enjoyed it too.

Fun and easy to follow. My 10 year old daughter and I loved this cooking class!! Delicious and we even took some creations home. Would totally recommend!

It was a nice experience. I learned a lot about the culture & background of mochi. The teachers were so helpful and we achieved great results 😊

very authentic and lovely experience . all questions were answered patiently. i learned a lot about the cultural backgrounds of the traditional use of these sweets. 10/10 would recommend!

This class was really fun. We learned heaps about mochi! Our instructor was excellent and had great English. I recommend this to any mochi and matcha lovers

The class was absolutely amazing. Definitely recommend. It’s so so worth it. The teacher is super lovely and easy to follow along with. I was amazed I was able to make things so pretty

Excellent and fun workshop for learning how to make mochi and nerikiri wagashi. I really liked that there was plenty of time to go through the different processes, from mixing ingredients, to kneading until you get the right consistency (and what to look for), cooking and presenting, as well as different variations to try to get different flavors. I also appreciated the fascinating insights on Japanese cultural context with respect to mochi and mochi making tradition, like the Kagami New Year mochi. The excellent communication throughout, from booking to the class itself so we knew how to find the studio, what ingredients to buy to make wagashi at home, and tips on substitutions that can be used if specific ingredients aren't available. Highly recommended!

A wonderful way to spend time with a local, learning some history and craft. Miho was gentle and kind and we learned skills to bring back to our own country. I loved hearing about the symbolism of each color and shape: so much meaning lives woven throughout this culture.

While visiting Tokyo, this was one of two nerikiri classes attended. We joined an established class (date & time) set by the Wagashi school, so there were 4 students total. The instructor was clear and easy to understand and took time to explain and demonstrate steps, and templates were provided to assist in sizing portions properly. Did not feel rushed, and had time to carefully assemble. Especially nice was that we were also provided with a printed recipe. In addition to working the dough into shapes, we were also instructed on what qualities make a good dough, how to achieve that, and also had hands on in coloring our own pieces of dough (the dough itself was pre-made). In the time allotted, we each made 4 pieces (Fall inspired design), each with a different filling (red bean, white bean, pumpkin, sweet potato). At the end of the lesson, after all photos were taken, we ate our creations with traditional matcha. I really enjoyed the flavor and texture of the nerikiri made, even when compared to ones purchased from a shop (which seemed too sweet and soft). I'd take this again -- and closer to the end of my trip. Although best on day made, they seemed to keep for a few days and the protective / decorative box helped.

I wasn't sure if to take a workshop. With so many information out there on line, is there a need ? My answer is, YES. There is such a big difference seing a professionalist at work! Satoko San, was patient, explained everything in detaile, hands on....I got so many tips and info, there is no way I will not succeed alone at home. And she was fun to talk to! Such a wonderful experience!

Waka was a wonderful teacher. We made all of the beautiful and tasty Japanese traditional sweets that were pictured on the website. She showed us how to make tea ceremony matcha to eat with our treats. We were proud and amazed at our creations!

Wonderful class. My two teenage daughters, husband and I really enjoyed learning about Japanese sweets and how to make them. Kaoru had everything ready when we got there and walked us step-by-step through making both mochi and nerikiri. Both beautifully artistic and sweetly delicious.

Very nice experience and hosts, getting to mix and cook the ingredients for one of the sweets was very fun.

Absolutely fantastic! My 9 years old and I love learning the story behind wagashi, create nerikiri, as well as learning about tea ceremony to pair our creation with matcha. We are going home with the recipe and we have access to a video to remembrer how to make them. The host have a perfect english and was very kind.

Pros: Easy to find location. Friendly and knowledgeable workers. Explained history of mochi. My family had fun doing this activity. Cons: We felt like they were rushing us during the 2nd half of the session even though we had ample time. One of the workers was doing most of the mochi/nerikiri shaping for a couple of our family members. She should have let them do it themselves. However, we would consider doing another class in the future.

This class was excellent! The session started with a brief history of mochi and its relevance. We then got to make several types of sweets. The whole process was very easy to follow and the instructor was by your side the whole time. I would absolutely do this class again if I ever return to Tokyo!

Such a friendly host. Perfectly explained, took all the time. Would really recommend! Great to be a guest in her house.

Learning about the significance of Mochi to Japanese culture. Meeting new people from all over the world. Having some quality time with my family.

Amazing experience. You will get a history on mochi and learn several ways to make it. I still have a long way to go to master it but this is the first steps.

<p>The teacher, Miyuki Suyari, was amazing. My daughter and I felt very welcome and comfortable in her home. She explained everything so perfectly and provided us with advice on places in Tokyo to shop where we could purchase some of the tools for making our own wagashi when we get back home. I actually feel pretty confident that we will be able to re-create what she taught us! It was a great class, it got us into a different part of Tokyo that we probably would not have visited, and Miyuki's advice and suggestions for the rest of our time in Tokyo led us toward some cool experiences.</p>