Learn Japanese Home Cooking in Shinjuku！

Every room in MIMARU comes equipped with a fully-stocked kitchen. And while eating out is

fun, you may want to try your hand at making some local Japanese dishes. We highly recommend

this cooking class in Shinjuku, where you can learn authentic Japanese home cooking!

↓We would like to introduce the following shop!↓

The Wa No Kokoro Cooking Activity Class is a cooking school that teaches Japanese home

cooking to international travelers and foreigners living in Japan. You can choose in advance which

dish you'd like to make from various options including not only traditional Japanese cuisine but

also modern Japanese dishes often seen on social media.

The nearest studio is just a 10-minute walk from MIMARU Tokyo Shinjuku West.

Our staff had the chance to experience the Okonomiyaki Course firsthand!

The class started with making “dashi” (Japanese broth), the base for all the dishes. You'll learn

how to make it, along with knowledge about ingredients like “katsuobushi” (dried bonito flakes).

English-speaking support is also available!

The finished dashi tasted surprisingly light!

The rich umami flavor forms the foundation of Japanese cuisine.

Next up was making the popular “tamagoyaki” (Japanese omelette) using a special Japanese frying pan.

To help you perfect the art, you’ll learn tips such as the perfect timing to pour the egg mixture

into the pan. Thanks to the helpful tips, our staff were able to make it like a pro!

Taste-testing your own home-made tamagoyaki is truly delightful.

Even our manager couldn’t wait to try the freshly-made tamagoyaki！

It was a great way to enjoy cooking and learning together.

There are courses which are prepared without the use of knives or

grills, so you can also have a great time cooking together with your children.

The highlight of the experience was making the main dish, okonomiyaki. With the teacher’s

guidance, you’ll learn the perfect time to flip it over, and...

both of our staff succeeded at a clean flip!

After arranging the completed dishes, it was time for lunch with the teacher! The 2.5 hour-long

experience allowed us to have a great time cooking together and enjoying a filling, home-cooked

Japanese meal.

As a souvenir, you’ll receive a recipe book for the dishes you cooked! It includes advice from the

teacher, so you can recreate the dishes not only in the MIMARU kitchen but also in your own

kitchen back home.

Let’s hear our staff member’s thoughts about the experience!

It was something I don’t often get to experience even living in Japan! 
The teacher was kind and polite, and explained everything well in English. 
I really appreciated that it’s possible to adjust the seasonings and ingredients based on the participants preferences.
Those who are vegan or have gluten-free diets can also be accommodated.
The instructors explain each step in a way that’s easy to understand even for people who don’t often cook. 
This time it was only our group participating, but in the open class, there may be others joining as well.
I think it’s a great opportunity to meet new people! Meeting, talking, and exchanging experiences with people from other countries during your Japan trip will surely create a fond memory of your time here. 
The okonomiyaki we made this time is something I’ve only ever eaten in restaurants, so it was fun trying to make it myself. 
The other dishes were also ones made often in Japanese households, so I think they are great for people who want to learn more about Japan.
The ingredients used are simple, so its easy to recreate the dishes even after returning to your home country.  
I felt that this cooking class was more of a cultural experience than just a regular cooking lesson!

I had never made Japanese food before, so it was a great learning experience.  
In Korea, we use sardines to make the base for soup, so it was interesting to me that in Japan they use bonito flakes to make the dashi (broth).  
At first I thought it was strange to add sugar and dashi to the tamagoyaki, but apparently this recipe is a Japanese tradition.
The finished product was fluffy and tasty, with a unique flavor.  
Although rolling the eggs with chopsticks in the frying pan was a challenge, the teacher was there to help me, so I didn’t have to be worried.  
The technique of mixing powdered sesame with spinach was impressive to me, and the result was super delicious.  
Even for someone like me who comes from a somewhat similar culture, the difference in techniques and ingredients was intriguing, so I think the course would be even more special for people coming from Western countries! 
I also think that even people who don’t normally cook would have a good time if they were to go with friends or family. 
After you’ve finished cooking, you can eat the food you made together with the teacher and other participants, and compare your dishes with one another.
I think it’s sure to be a highlight of your Japan trip!