Japanese food is intensely regional. Hiroshima’s okonomiyaki is layered, not mixed; Sapporo invented miso ramen; Kanazawa sits on one of the richest seafood coasts in Japan. If your itinerary goes beyond Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, a local cooking class is the best way to taste the difference.
Check dates & live availability
Kanazawa: the best regional class in Japan
Sushi & Japanese cooking at a 56-year-old school
Best regional class
- Where: Kanazawa
- Duration: 2.5 h
- Rating: 5.0β Β· 216 reviews
- Price: from βΒ $94
A real Japanese cooking school with decades of experience, in a city famous for its Sea of Japan seafood. Consistently rated 5.0. Combine it with Omicho Market and Kenrokuen garden.
Premium sushi-making with a chef and meal
Premium
- Where: Kanazawa
- Duration: 2 h
- Rating: 4.9β Β· 44 reviews
- Price: from βΒ $125
A premium two-hour sushi class with a master chef β for a special occasion.
Hiroshima: okonomiyaki, the local way
Okonomiyaki cooking class with a local chef
Best in Hiroshima
- Where: Hiroshima
- Duration: 2 h
- Rating: 4.9β Β· 25 reviews
- Price: from βΒ $56
Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki is built in layers β batter, cabbage, noodles, egg β rather than mixed as in Osaka. A fun two-hour class, ideal after visiting the Peace Memorial Park.
Also in Hiroshima: a new « hidden local spotΒ Β» okonomiyaki class (from βΒ $126), and sushi classes in Miyajima, Onomichi and Kure. See all options on GetYourGuide’s Hiroshima cooking class page.
Sapporo & Hokkaido: ramen, soba and seafood
Sapporo ramen-making class
Best in Sapporo
- Where: Sapporo
- Duration: 1.5 h
- Rating: 5.0β Β· 11 reviews
- Price: from βΒ $76
Learn the city’s own style, miso ramen, in a small 90-minute class.
Private soba making & chef-made tempura
Best soba
- Where: Sapporo
- Duration: 1.5 h
- Rating: 4.7β Β· 11 reviews
- Price: from βΒ $69
Knead and cut buckwheat noodles yourself, then eat them with tempura cooked by the chef.
Prefer to taste? The Sapporo guided food tour covers 10+ dishes and drinks (4.7β Β· 23 reviews).
Fukuoka & Kyushu: tonkotsu country
Fukuoka ramen-making and matcha
Best in Fukuoka
- Where: Fukuoka
- Duration: 2 h
- Rating: 4.5β Β· 7 reviews β few reviews so far
- Price: from βΒ $55
Learn about Hakata tonkotsu ramen and whisk matcha. Few reviews so far.
Home cooking class on an island near Fukuoka
Most original
- Where: Fukuoka
- Duration: 2.5 h
- Rating: 5.0β Β· 5 reviews β few reviews so far
- Price: from βΒ $50
Home cooking with local ingredients on a small island. Few reviews, all excellent so far.
Nara: day-trip classes from Kyoto or Osaka
Nara is under an hour from Kyoto and Osaka. Its speciality is kakinoha-zushi, sushi wrapped in persimmon leaves β there is a kakinoha sushi making experience β and a new okonomiyaki workshop in a local home (from βΒ $98). Combine with the deer park and Todai-ji.
Other places
- Matsumoto: soba noodle making with a fresh-wasabi lunch in the Japanese Alps.
- Yokohama and Kobe: few dedicated classes for visitors β easier to book in Tokyo or Osaka, 20β30 minutes away.
Read also: Cooking Class in Japan: The 2026 Guide to the Best Classes (Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka)
| City | Local speciality | Class to book | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kanazawa | Sea of Japan seafood, sushi | 56-year-old cooking school | from βΒ $94 |
| Hiroshima | Layered okonomiyaki | Okonomiyaki with a local chef | from βΒ $56 |
| Sapporo | Miso ramen, soba | Ramen-making class | from βΒ $76 |
| Fukuoka | Hakata tonkotsu ramen | Ramen & matcha | from βΒ $55 |
| Nara | Kakinoha-zushi | Okonomiyaki in a local home | from βΒ $98 |
Good to know
- Fewer reviews: regional classes are newer and smaller. A 5.0 on 10 reviews is promising but less certain than big-city classes.
- Fewer slots: many run only a few days a week. Check the calendar before planning your day around them.
- Language: check that English is listed; some hosts use a translation app.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a cooking class in Hiroshima?
Yes, the most popular is the okonomiyaki cooking class with a local chef (rated 4.9). There are also sushi-making classes in Hiroshima, Miyajima, Onomichi and Kure.
What is the best regional cooking class in Japan?
The sushi and Japanese cooking class at a 56-year-old cooking school in Kanazawa, rated 5.0 with more than 200 reviews.
Can I learn to make soba in Japan?
Yes: in Sapporo (private soba with tempura) and in Matsumoto (soba and fresh wasabi). Tokyo and Kyoto also have a few soba classes.
Is there a cooking class in Sapporo?
Yes, including a ramen-making class, soba classes, sushi classes and an okonomiyaki lunch with locals.
Is there a cooking class in Yokohama?
Very few classes target visitors in Yokohama. Most travellers take a class in Tokyo, about 30 minutes away by train.
Affiliate disclosure: this guide contains affiliate links to GetYourGuide. If you book through them we earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Prices and ratings are indicative (checked November 2026) β the live price on the booking page always prevails.