Japanese Desserts "Wagashi" (Nerikiri), Matcha Green Tea
The astringent constituent in Japanese tea is a type of polyphenol called catechin. Japan has done a great deal with the humble tea leaf. For example some benefits of the catechin in the tea leaf can lower cholesterol in some cases. Roasted over charcoal at a high temperature and grown under shade for at least 20 days are one of the examples. The most popular Japanese tea might be ryokucha. Depending on the timing of picking the leaves, the grade, the price can be noticeably different.
In this experience, you will have the opportunity to create beautiful "Wagashi"—traditional Japanese confectionery—and enjoy them alongside matcha green tea served in traditional tea bowls.
I will demonstrate how to make nerikiri dough from scratch. Then, you’ll tint the dough and create three types of seasonal confections. Once you’ve made your treats, you can savor the Wagashi with matcha green tea in my cozy dining room.
Throughout the lesson, I will share not only the creation techniques but also the cultural stories behind the confectionery. Each participant will receive a copy of the recipe in English.
Please visit my IG (@misswagashi) for my Wagashi creations!
IMPORTANT
Please read below before you register:
1. The minimum number of participants for this class is two. If you register as an individual and the minimum is not met, I may have to cancel the class.
2. Currently, I don't offer pick up service from the station. Please come directly to the studio venue. The location will be provided after you register.
Thank you for your understanding!
Please come directly to the studio for the workshop. My home studio is situated in a lovely residential area. You can enjoy a pleasant 10-minute walk along a comfortable street from Yoyogi Uehara Station, where you’ll find plenty of greenery and beautiful cherry blossoms (sakura) along the way! The location will be provided after you register.
I am so excited to have you here!
I’ll give you a brief overview of what we’ll be making today!
I will teach you how to make the dough from scratch. Then, you’ll learn how to tint the dough in beautiful, seasonal colors. Unlike other classes, this workshop goes beyond just molding and shaping—you’ll gain the skills to create authentic, detailed Wagashi from start to finish!
I’ll first teach you how to use the essential tools, then guide you step by step as we shape the dough into beautiful, intricate flowers!
Don’t forget to take photos of your stunning creations!
I’ll serve you a bowl of matcha in my collection of tea bowls, which have been passed down through generations. Let’s enjoy this special tea time together! As a fellow foodie, I’ll also share my personal recommendations for shops and restaurants. And don’t worry—you’ll receive a copy of the recipe to take home!
Hi! This is Mai!
I am wagashi (Japanese confectionery) artist and potter based in Tokyo. Also known as 'Miss Wagashi' on social media.
My passion is to explore the aesthetics of Wagashi - traditional Japanese confectionery and create experiences that allow me to share this beautiful culture with visitors from around the world!
With over 10 years of experience as an instructor, I will guide you step by step in creating perfect desserts. Let’s have a wonderful time together in my kitchen in Tokyo!
Instagram :@misswagashi
YouTube Channel: MissWagashi TV
【講師プロフィール】
入江 麻以
バイリンガル和菓子アーティスト/陶芸作家
慶應義塾大学卒業後、外資系証券会社勤務。
東京、香港で勤務のかたわら、柳原料理教室にて日本料理、茶懐石を学び、近茶流講師免許取得。大手料理教室の講師として３年勤務。
現在は都内にて和菓子教室を主宰。
グローバル企業での経験を生かし、英語で食文化や和菓子を訪日外国人にお教えすることを積極的にに行う。和菓子を通じ、食に息づく「美」を芸術的観点から紐解くことで、人々に親しまれる食体験を編み出している。
（実績）雑誌掲載、エルグルメフードクリエイター部、web連載
米国NBCテレビ 朝番組 Today 出演等
（SNS)
インスタグラム @misswagashi
YouTube チャンネル: Miss Wagashi TV
The closest station
Yoyogi Uehara Station
How to get to the station?
From Shinjuku Station: 10mins
Exact location provided after booking.
Sam, Australia
★★★★★This was a wonderful experience to tie up my vacation to Japan. The class was very inspiring and I feel eager to learn more about Nerikiri. Mai sensei is a very patient and encouraging teacher and communicates in English very well.
Apr 2023
Alice, France
★★★★★An amazing lesson. Mai sensei's explanations were clear and easy to understand. She speak english well and answer all your questions.
Apr 2023
Elliot, Canada
★★★★★I had a great time doing the wagashi workshop with Mai! She explained the steps very well, made it fun and was opened to answering questions. Highly recommend
Feb 2023
ghada belhadj, Canada
★★★★★Very happy with this class. The host, Mai-san, was very welcoming and friendly. She received my friends and me at her lovely house and made us feel comfortable and safe thanks to all the precautions she took in regards to Covid-19. Her explanations were clear and detailed and it was very easy for us to follow them. It was quite satisfying to be able to make our own wagashis and have them look as great as the ones sold at shops. I highly recommend this class to anyone who's interested in Japanese sweets and Japanese culture in general.
Sep 2020
Elena, Spain
★★★★★Mai Sensen was such a wonderful, professional and kind teacher! She transmitted perfectly the technique of Nerikiri sweets, it looks so easy to make! The experience was so interesting to make this special sweets and so funny as well. You feel very comfortable in her house all the time. Thanks to Mai for such a good time learning new type of Japanese cuisine. Also, her place looks so nice and tidy, all the cooking process were so clean and safe. Hope to repeat another class again with Mai sensei!
Aug 2020
Sepfitri, Indonesia
★★★★★Love it very much
Feb 2020
Jun, Canada
★★★★★This was a very informative, and fun class. Mai-san is very professional, and very knowledgeable about wagashi, and she will walk you through each process step by step.
Feb 2020
Boon Li , Malaysia
★★★★★Mai is a great instructor her explanation is clear and easy to understand. Will highly recommend
Feb 2020
Grâce, France
★★★★★Thank you Mai for this amazing experience! It was really great to learn how to make those traditional Japanese deserts from the start, and to know a bit more about the history of it. Your explanations were good and I felt like I could dive deeper into the Japanese culture. My fiancé and I really enjoyed the class, thank you from both of us!
Jan 2020
Robin, New Zealand
★★★★★The only thing that could have been done better is needing more stars to give! This was the perfect first cooking class experience. Mai was patient, very instructive, friendly and even went through the effort to engage in conversation regarding where we come from with genuine current affairs which shows the great lengths of effort she goes to for a customer. I will one hundred percent recommend anyone to try this class no matter what level of cooking you are at. Because if I managed to do something with 0 ability anyone can under her guidance =). Best part of the trip so far! 10 out of 5 stars for sure! Thank you Mai!
Dec 2019
Myrtle, United States of America
★★★★★Really enjoyed making nerikiri wagashi with you, Mai. Your excellent English conversation and clear instructions/demonstration made it a wonderful experience. Loved making the dough and coloring it myself instead of simply shaping it. Really appreciated recipe in English and learning that the ingredients we're readily available at the Odakyuu OX store at the Yoyogi-Uehara Station near your house. I bought enough to make more nerikiri for Christmas presents for my friends when I return home to Hawaii. Thank you for sharing.
Dec 2019
Christine BERGNA, France
★★★★★Cet atelier m'a beaucoup plu. Les explications du professeur sont très précises et j'ai pu réaliser de jolis wagashis.
Nov 2019
Chloe Lambert, United Kingdom
★★★★★This class was a wonderful experience and Mai was so patient and clear with her instructions. She was also very informative and gave me the names of places around Tokyo where I could buy ingredients and wagashi tools. I would definitely recommend this wagashi class!
Nov 2019
Seiji, United States of America
★★★★★Never had Wagashi class before? No worry. The host Mai teaches you from scratch and navigate you to a quick Wagashi master! Mai provided everything necessary and explained step by step with perfect English. We U.S. team best enjoyed her class and our own Wagashi!!
Nov 2019
Gerda Andonian, Austria
★★★★★Dear Mai, Thank you for making this experience so much fun. We enjoyed everything about it: from preparing the dough all the way to the finished beautiful sweets that also tasted wonderful :) We are looking forward to booking another class with you when we are back in Tokyo in the spring of 2020 :) Arigatou!
Nov 2019
YI HSUAN, Taiwan
★★★★★We can't believe that we can make wagashi well someday, but we really did it. Thanks to Mai. Mai is a warm ,patient and professional teacher. Also, we can have a chance making wagashi with people who come from different country, it is a very precious and unforgettable experience in life. Mai can speak English well, so you don't have to worry about understanding obstacles. We are from Taiwan and we can learn it well, too. We trust that you won't regret to learn making such beautiful artwork.
Nov 2019
Kelly Graham, Great Britain
★★★★★I really enjoyed this class, I had such a great time and I learnt so much. I will definitely recommend it to my friends and anyone else who is looking to make beautiful wagashi! Mai was so nice, she explained everything so well and the instructions were easy to follow. I am so happy I found this class! I highly recommend. :)
Nov 2019
Christina, Switzerland
★★★★★Mai was an absolutely marvelous host - kindly and skillfully she guided us through the whole process of preparing and shaping beautiful wagashi. We recommend this experience to anyone staying in Tokyo!
Nov 2019
Julie, France
★★★★★Very nice experience! Mai was a superb host!
Oct 2019
Jun Kai, Singapore
★★★★★Great wagashi making experience with Mai! She was very patient with us and was very helpful and a great teacher. Overall an amazing experience that everyone should try.
Nov 2019
Brayden, United States of America
★★★★★So much fun! Me and my girlfriend live close by and my Mom was coming to visit, so we wanted to try something new, and I am so glad that we did. Mai is an awesome teacher and super energetic. Awesome experience!
Nov 2019
Greg, Singapore
★★★★★Amazing and friendly host..highly recommend. Irie sensei was patient and very detailed in her explanations and made the whole experience worthwhile.
Oct 2019
hadas, Israel
★★★★★Had a great time:) Learned a lot about japan and was really happy to have met such a wonderful person :) Hopefully we will meet again Thanks Hadas
Oct 2019
Ingrid, United States of America
★★★★★Mai is an excellent teacher! We loved making wagashi with her in Tokyo! I highly recommend this experience.
Oct 2019
Queenie, Hong Kong
★★★★★We enjoyed the wagashi making class by Mai so much!! She is a patient, caring and cheerful teacher, shared with us the skills of making wagashi and some Japanese culture. Highly recommended if you want a relaxing and fruitful time in Tokyo.
Sep 2019
Nadalia shofia, Indonesia
★★★★★Mai was wonderful host. She is very informative, warm n gives examples well. I enjoyed the class very much. Its a recommended class while you are in Tokyo.
Sep 2019
Brenda, Canada
★★★★★Our wagashi class with Mai was perfect. We appreciated her taking the time to meet us at the station and to host us in her home. Mai is a very friendly hostess who enjoys meeting and teaching people from all over the world. It was a special treat, not only how to learn to make the candies, but to enjoy with matcha tea which Mai prepared for us. This was a fabulous way to spend 2 hours and learn something new and different. Thank you, Mai!
Sep 2019
May, Singapore
★★★★★I had so much fun learning wagashi from Mai-san! She is patience, helpful and cheerful. Love this exclusive experience in her cozy apartment, would love to come back for other classes when I am in Tokyo again!!! Recommend this to anyone who is interested in making wagashi :)
Sep 2019
Debora, Ecuador
★★★★★My cooking experience with Mai was truly exceptional. Her skills are impressive and she is also a wonderful person, extremely kind and patient. I really recommend this class.
Aug 2019
benedetta, Italy
★★★★★I really had a nice class with Mai-san! She speaks fluent English and she she is a very good teacher! I had so much fun making nerikiri.. it was definitely a good idea to attend this lesson. She also gave me some useful tips about tools, ingredients and where to find them in Tokyo! Thank you so much!
Jul 2019
Philippine, Netherlands
★★★★The wagashi class with Irie Mai was nice. She is lovely and welcoming.
Jun 2019
Tara, Australia
★★★★★Mai was a fantastic host. Her class was informative and entertaining. She is a lovely person. The steps were easy to understand and achievable. Definitely a great Japanese cultural experience.
Jun 2019
HELEN, Australia
★★★★★Mai was a wonderful host, it was a very fun and informative class, the step by step instruction was very clear, I didn't realize I could make pretty things. The wagashi was delicious together with the green tea and we got to take the rest home. Thanks Mai!! I highly recommended this class.
May 2019
Priscilla, United States of America
★★★★★I loved it! Wishing for more!!
May 2019
Christina, United States of America
★★★★★Mai is an excellent host! From meeting us at the station, to going into detail with every step on making the nerikiri, providing us with matcha tea to eat the sweet with, and finally having the recipe, containers, and carrying bags prepared! Nothing could go wrong under her watchful eyes! She had such a sweet personality and made the experience fantastic! Would do it again in a heartbeat!
May 2019
Yvonne, Australia
★★★★★Mai was an absolutely lovely host, even picking us up from the train station. The wagashi session was very practical and we managed to produce delicious wagashi and were able to take some home. Mai gave us a detailed recipe and I am looking forward to making them at home soon. :) Thank you again, Mai!
Apr 2019
Aurea, United States of America
★★★★★Mai is a wonderful host! Her instructions were always clear, the class was fun and the Wagashi was delicious. She also gave us great recommendations on where to find the tools and materials to take back home.
Apr 2019
Tiphaine, United Kingdom
★★★★★We had a fantastic experience making wagashi with Mai! We all ended up with good-looking and delicious wagashi at the end to enjoy together with matcha, and have a recipe to keep too. Would recommend to anyone!
Mar 2019
Ksenia, Russia
★★★★★We had wonderful time with Mai at her cozy kitchen! Wagashi were not easy to cook but under Mai's careful guidance we were able to complete the task and later we all had tea in a traditional Japanese style with matcha tea and delicious wagashi=)))
Mar 2019
Sharlene, Singapore
★★★★★We enjoyed our Wagashi class with Mai-San very much! Thank you for being such a great teacher.
Feb 2019
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Response from Mai
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Up to 4 people can join Mai's cooking class.
Duration of this cooking class is 2.5 hours.
It costs 12000 per person.
Yes, Learn Japanese Desserts (Wagashi) from a popular Wagashi Artist - Including a tea ceremony experience has a vegetarian option.
Yes, Learn Japanese Desserts (Wagashi) from a popular Wagashi Artist - Including a tea ceremony experience has a vegan option.
You will receive the confirmation within 24 hours.
We accepts these cards on airKitchen.
Cancellations up to 48 hours prior to the class begins will be fully refunded by the airKitchen cancellation policy.
 from a popular Wagashi Artist - Including a tea ceremony experience | Cooking Class in Tokyo/Japan){kind=link}