Meet
Satoru
Satoru was born in Hokkaido and grew up surrounded by nature and large vegetable fields. As a child, he would always harvest fresh vegetables from his family's fields and cook with his mother and grandmother who were wonderful home cooks. His grandmother never compromised in quality or technique when cooking and taught him everything she knew. Satoru is now a passionate home cook himself. His grandfather owned an organic miso factory that Satoru believed to be the best in the world. Although it closed after his grandfather passed away, his grandfather passed down his miso making techniques to his mother who sends Sato her handmade organic miso. This miso is the secret of Satoru's signature miso soup, something you won't want to miss. Satoru enjoys teaching people about Japanese food and helping them explore his local culture through food. He believes that there are so many delicious homemade Japanese foods that cannot be found in the restaurants and delights in sharing these dishes with travelers.
What to expect
Please note menu might vary. If there are particular dishes you are interested in trying, please include your request in the booking form.
In-home meal:
(2-4 guests)
Sip on a welcome drink as Satoru welcomes you into his home and shares stories about everyday life, food traditions, and culture in Japan. Then, gather around his dining table to enjoy a traditional Japanese dining experience featuring a seasonal home-cooked meal prepared from family recipes and fresh local ingredients. Your menu will vary based on the day of the week and the availability of seasonal produce, ensuring an authentic taste of Japanese home cooking. Relax over a leisurely meal, ask questions, and enjoy engaging conversation with Satoru as you learn more about Japanese cuisine, local customs, and life in Tokyo.
Cooking experience:
(2-4 guests)
Meet your host, Satoru, at JR Shinjuku Station and walk together to his cozy apartment in the heart of Tokyo's vibrant Shinjuku district. This Tokyo cooking class offers a unique opportunity to step inside a local home and learn to prepare 2–5 authentic Japanese dishes from scratch using fresh, seasonal ingredients and traditional cooking techniques.
During this intimate 1.5-hour Japanese cooking class, Satoru will guide you through each recipe step by step with patience, warmth, and a great sense of humor, making the experience enjoyable for cooks of every skill level. Before sitting down to enjoy the delicious meal you've prepared together, discover the stories behind Japanese home cooking as Satoru shares insights into local food traditions, seasonal ingredients, and everyday life in Japan. From the importance of dashi and umami to family recipes and regional culinary customs, you'll gain a deeper appreciation of Japanese cuisine and culture. Feel free to ask questions throughout the experience - Satoru loves sharing cooking tips, cultural traditions, and his favorite local food recommendations so you can continue exploring Tokyo like a local.
Depending on the day of your experience, you may learn to prepare popular Japanese favorites such as okonomiyaki (savory pancake), karaage (Japanese fried chicken), yakisoba (pan-fried noodles), katsu curry, ramen, gyoza, or a traditional teishoku (Japanese set meal) featuring miso soup, rice, a seasonal main dish, and two side dishes.
Market visit:
(2-4 guests)
After your cooking class, join Satoru for a guided walk through a local neighborhood that most visitors rarely explore. Rather than visiting a food market, you'll discover everyday life in Japan as Satoru shares insights into local culture, traditions, and modern trends while strolling through the streets. Please note that, despite the default title, this experience does not include a market visit. Instead, you'll enjoy a guided walk through a local neighborhood with your host.
Notes:
Please note that a Cooking + Meal experience with Sato will take 2.5 hours instead of 3 hours, so the actual timings would be: 10:30AM - 1:00PM for Lunch, 6:00PM - 8:30PM for Dinner. Please ignore the 'Experience Timings' shown on the right side of this page.
Languages spoken:
English, Japanese
Sample menu
Traveler reviews
We joined Satoru for a cooking class on our recent trip to Tokyo, and we are so glad we did. Communication before our class was clear, and he was early at the meeting point. He welcomed us to his flat, and we had an excellent experience, fixing a lovely lunch with a great host. Satoru is knowledgeable, friendly, and warm. He was generous to provide the recipes for the dishes we made so we could try them at home. The class gave us a good background in Japanese food, cooking and presentation that helped us really appreciate the meals we had on the rest of our trip. We definitely recommend cooking with Satoru for a unique experience in Tokyo.
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Obwan
June 14, 2025
Excellent evening …. Great tutorial and wonderful food with this delightful chef. Highly
recommend this and will be back whenever we can get back to Tokyo
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Judie
April 01, 2025
We had a wonderful evening together with our professional home cooking chef Saturo, who guided us deeper into the knowledge of Japanese food culture and Japanese culture in general. Saturo told us generously about his background, grandparents thought on food, seasons of rice!, the making of magic Miso, just like his grandfather used to make - and lots of other tips and tricks we never will forget. The food we cooked tasted heavenly good, with lots of umami and the best thing is that we got some recipes to bring back home 😄 You don’t have to be a samurai in a kitchen to enjoy Saturos class. He guides you with respect and humor, and you will be amazed of what you’ve accomplished in few hours. With love, The Clausen family.
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haclaus
July 21, 2024
A Culinary Highlight in Tokyo with a Touch of Humor! Kon'nichiwa! Our journey to Japan last October was a tapestry of unforgettable moments, but our cooking adventure with Satoru truly wove a thread of joy through our hearts. As a trio of Germans, not exactly known for our samurai-like skills in the kitchen, we were a bit apprehensive. However, Satoru, embodying the punctuality better than a Deutsche Bahn train, was already waiting for us at the station before we could even wonder where to go. This was our first hint that we were in for a treat.
Welcomed into his home, Satoru transformed our lack of culinary prowess into a delightful soiree of cooking and laughter. Guiding us with the patience of a zen master and the humor of a stand-up comedian, he made us feel at ease and capable of conquering the culinary challenges ahead. The experience was peppered with laughter, especially when toasting our newfound friendship over Asahi Superdry, a gesture that made the delicious meal we prepared together even more special.
But Satoru's generosity extended beyond the kitchen. He shared with us a curated list of Tokyo's culinary gems via WhatsApp, ensuring our gastronomic adventure continued throughout our stay. This level of thoughtfulness and care from someone we had just met was both heartwarming and invaluable.
Saying goodbye to Satoru was bittersweet, but we departed with bellies full and spirits lifted, carrying memories of a day filled with laughter, learning, and the warmth of new friendships. For those venturing to Tokyo, a cooking class with Satoru is not just a lesson in Japanese cuisine, but a gateway to understanding the joy and humor that food can bring into our lives. Arigatou gozaimasu, Satoru, for an experience that was the highlight of our trip. Sayōnara, until the paths of our culinary adventures cross again!
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Pacci110
March 22, 2024
Fantastic time learning and cooking with Satoru! Satoru was very welcoming, relaxed and highly organised. We cooked multiple delicious Japanese dishes and left feeling confident in our ability to cook them at home. Satoru was a great mentor for our 15 year old son who rated his time with Satoru as “excellent, he was really nice and easy to chat with”. Thanks Satoru, we will see you next time we are in Tokyo!
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Oast36
February 24, 2024
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