BENTO box
(Teriyaki chicken, Japanese omelette, pork sausages, variety of veggies)
Tea
Welcome to imi's BENTO project!!!
LGBTQ+ Friendly
Why is Japanese food so delicious, beautiful, and well-balanced at the same time? There is a secret method to make Japanese food so perfect. Even many Japanese do not know this method.
It doesn't have to be Japanese food to fill your BENTO box. Once you learn the secret method, you can make your own BENTO with the foods you cook everyday. You can make these foods more delicious, beautiful and well-balanced than ever.
My goal is to share the secret method with you so that you can continue the BENTO lifestyle after getting back home and to help spread BENTO worldwide. That's why this cooking class is called imi’s BENTO project!
*BENTO class is 10:00-13:00
*Class opens upon requests.
**Please send requests at least 3 days prior to the desired date. Last minute request may not be accepted.
9:45 meet at Kameari station(Tokyo metro Chiyoda line) My place is about 10 min walk
*please be noted that My room is on the 4th floor of the apartment building w/o an elevator. Only stairs.
10:00 introduction and lecture
10:45 cook some popular Japanese BENTO dishes
11:45 be creative! fill your own BENTO box
12:15 let's eat!
13:00 thank you for coming, see you off at Kameari station
*End time may vary depending on the number of attendees.
Please take Tokyo Metro Chiyoda line to Kameari station. Please note that the subway bound for Ayase or Kita-Ayase does not go to Kameari station, so please take subway bound for other than those two. *I will send you specific direction once you know where to stay. *Ten minutes walk to my apartment from Kameari station. *Please be aware that my room is on the 4th floor of the apartment building with NO elevator. Only stairs.
Before we start cooking, there is a lecture to share the secret method of BENTO. This secret method is logical for easy application in different food cultures and life styles. Once you learn the secret method, you can make your own BENTO with the foods you cook everyday. It can be used not only for BENTO but also for daily meals or even for ordering food. This is very different from other cooking classes, which makes my BENTO class unique.
We will cook Teriyaki Chicken for main dish, and some easy side dishes. No charactor-bento but still looks pretty and easy to repeat. Most ingredients are easily found at stores in any country. I will introduce some Japanese unique food and vegetables.
It's time to be creative! Fill your BENTO box with a variety of dishes. About 7 dishes are prepared based on the methods, including the dishes we cook on Step 3.
After taking photos for your SNS, let's eat BENTO!
Class is about 3 hours. After the class, I will walk you back to Kameari station to see you off. *Kameari is located at the east edge of Tokyo. Famous for anime KOCHIKAME, there are many statues anime characters in the town. It is close to Skytree Tower or Asakusa. If you are planning to go there, it is easier to visit after the class.
Imi
★★★★★ (9)Hi, I’m Imi.
When lost weight due to depression, I became aware of that "LIVE=EAT", "we EAT to create our BODY and SOUL, and LIFE", "WHAT we eat creates WHO we are". I quit my office job and enrolled in food business school to be a food workshop organizer 10 yrs ago at age of 40.
Having more than 10 years of experience coordinating seminars for women's sexual wellness as a member of NPO which provides PLHIV with quality care and support, I came to realize that "food" and "sexuality" are directly connected to our wellness, however, especially in Japanese society, they are both tend to focus on someone other than ourselves, such as family and partners.
I believe "food" and "sexuality" are primarily meant to be taking care of your own body and loving yourself. Loving yourself is essential to live a happy life, and food plays an important role as well.
For the Last 6 years I have been organizing "Food x Self-love" themed workshops for Japanese followers. It is time to spread my vision to the world.
I always make sure my food workshops are lots of fun but also inspire changes in people's lives by being logical for easy application in different food cultures and life styles.
Hoping my workshop to be a serendipitous moment in your life.
My mission is to take a part in creating a colorful society where we can freely express who we are and love as we are.
Happiness is always within you.
Join LGBTQ+ friendly imi's BENTO project!!
The closest station
Kameari station
How to get to the station?
From Kitasenju : 5mins
Free pick up service
This host can pick up you for free from the closest station!
Exact location provided after booking.
Valentina Le Thanh, United Kingdom
★★★★★We've loved our cooking experience with Imi! I just regret we didn't do it earlier in our trip (we did it in our last days in Japan), we would have understood the Japanese cuisine much better if we had done it earlier. Imi started with a nice introductions regarding the Japanese cuisine and we talked about the tastes/ingredients, ways of cooking and colours. I never pay too much attention to the specific tastes and ways of cooking when I eat, so I really enjoyed learning this new approach too food. We then cooked tasty but simple food, which we could easily replicate at home, even with a busy schedule. Finally we had a delicious and healthy lunch, while chatting about Japan, our lives and future projects. Imi is a wonderful host and it was a real pleasure spending the morning with her and learning about Japanese Bento. We strongly recommend this cooking class and we'll certainly use these tips for our future bentos!
May 2023
Response from Imi
Valentina and Dario
Thank you for taking your time to write such a nice review!!!
I’m glad you enjoyed my class not only cooking but also the lecture about Japanese food. It’s very important for me to share the methods to be more practical.
I loved your free mind and challenging spirit for unknown foods. I was happy you ate more from the plates after eating up everything in the bento box.
Looking forward to seeing your own bento pics!
Jim Andretta, United States of America
★★★★★Imi was spectacular! We learned a ton from her informative session about her approach to Japanese food and how to balance the various flavors of local cuisine. It was great getting to know her and we felt so welcome in her home. Cannot recommend highly enough!
May 2023
Response from Imi
Jim and Lauri
Thank you for choosing my cooking class! It was so nice to see son and mother enjoying time together. I was happy you guys were active participants, answering my questions, taking notes, and asking questions. That I know you will take some of the tips learned from my class into your daily life. I hope you enjoy making your own bento near future!
Evelyn, Germany
★★★★★Our cooking class with Imi was a great experience! She not only showed us how to make the bento, she introduced us to the Japanese cooking style and the different aspects of it. Her openhearted and kind character quickly broke the ice between us! We had wonderful conversations and got lost in time. The Bento Box was super delicious and we can't wait until the next cooking session!
Mar 2020
Response from Imi
Evelyn and Robert
Thank you guys for choosing my class over many others. You guys were so cute cooking together. You made me wish more couples join my class! I was very impressed that you sent me a photo next day, which was your own bento box filled with some deli and rice. It’s easy to buy a ready-to-eat bento at any store in Japan but you created your own bento! You instantly took what you learned into daily life. You made me so happy because this is what “imi’s BENTO project” really means!! My goal is to share the secret with guests so that they can continue BENTO lifestyle even after going back home. Thank you again. Looking forward to seeing you soon!
Ana, Germany
★★★★★I really enjoyed cooking with Imi. We had a great time and I learned so much from this great Bento class. Can‘t wait to start my first bento at home, wirh all the tips ;) Arigatou gozaimasou
Feb 2020
Response from Imi
Thank you for choosing my bento class Ana. I was very impressed you enjoy unique Japanese food such as raw egg on rice, pickled plums and even Fermented Soybeans. You are the first guest who brought a notebook to my class actually taking notes!! You are a serious student! I’m looking forward to seeing your first bento using a long forgotten bento box in the lucky bag. Please come back to Japan for the forth time!
Michael, United Kingdom
★★★★★Very fun session
Jan 2020
Response from Imi
Thank you Michael.
Me too enjoyed the session with you.
Evelyn, Malaysia
★★★★Imi is an excellent host! Her lesson was very informative and interesting and I had a fantastic time! The location is a little out of the central area but it gave me a chance to explore the non-touristy part of Tokyo!
Oct 2019
Response from Imi
Evelyn Thank you for coming all the way to east edge of Tokyo to join my BENTO class. Since you lives in Japan so long, I decided to cook “leave it alone” chicken instead of teriyaki chicken. It’s easy preparation and chicken breast cooked soft and juicy. Hopefully it helps your busy days with baby boy. I enjoyed very much the quality conversation we shared.
Emma, Australia
★★★★★I had a wonderful time at imi’s class! She took the time to carefully explain the method to making a perfect bento before we started cooking, and the cooking itself was very easy to follow so I’m confident I’ll be able to apply what I learned after I return home. I think anyone from a beginner to someone more experienced with Japanese cooking would be able to learn something from this experience. The bento was very tasty, and Imi was also super friendly and easy to talk to. Highly recommended!
May 2019
Response from Imi
Emma
Thank you for the review! I enjoyed sharing bento secrets and talking about your interest in musicals. So excited when you sent me a photo of your bento after returning home. Your bento had everything I shared in the class. You are a wonderful student! Keep your daily bento life going!
Kyle, United States of America
★★★★★Your class was the highlight of my time in Tokyo and possibly my whole trip. Would love to take another of your classes next time i'm in Tokyo
Apr 2019
Response from Imi
Kyle
Thank you for choosing my class. So excited to hear that my bento class was the highlight of your whole trip because I know you had visited many places including Mt.Fuji, Kyoto and Hiroshima. I could tell in your eyes you were so excited about learning the secret methods and enjoyed making bento. I’m so happy you are practicing and asking me questions even after you went back home. Please come back again!
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Response from Imi
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Duration of this cooking class is 3 hours.
Please go to Kameari station which takes 5 mins from Kitasenju . Then Imi (host) will pick you up there!
It costs 13000 per person.
Up to 3 people can join Imi's cooking class.
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.
