・Japanese Bento Making Experience
In this experience, we will make a traditional Japanese “bento” together.
A bento is a home-style packed meal that focuses on color, balance, and presentation.
Let’s create a beautiful and fun-to-eat Japanese lunch box.
・Onigiri (Rice Balls)
We will make onigiri, a classic Japanese food.
You can try simple salted onigiri with seaweed, or choose your favorite fillings such as furikake or tuna mayo, and shape them by hand.
・Karaage (Japanese Fried Chicken)
A very popular dish in Japan.
I will show you how to prepare karaage that tastes delicious even after it cools, making it perfect for bento.
・Octopus Sausage
A fun and classic item often seen in Japanese bento.
We will cut the sausage into a cute octopus shape to make your bento more playful and enjoyable.
・Japanese Omelette (Tamagoyaki)
A slightly sweet and fluffy rolled omelette.
You will learn how to cook and roll it nicely using a frying pan.
・Chikuwa Dishes (Cucumber & Cheese Tempura Style)
Chikuwa is a traditional Japanese food made from ground fish paste.
We will make two types: one stuffed with fresh cucumber, and another with cheese, coated and lightly fried in a seaweed-flavored batter.
You can enjoy a unique Japanese ingredient and its different ways of preparation.
Tempura (天ぷら) is a classical Portuguese dish brought to and popularized by Japan, consisting of seafood or vegetables that have been battered and deep fried. Tempura is a typical home-style cooking in Japan. It is often referred to as a representative dish to Japan. Although there are various theories, it is said that Tokugawa Ieyasu, the general of the Edo period, liked tempura so much that he allegedly died from eating too much.
Onigiri is a Japanese comfort food made from steamed rice formed into the typical triangular, ball, or cylinder shapes and usually wrapped with nori(dried seaweed). Stuffed with a a variety of fillings and flavors, these rice balls make an ideal quick snack and are a fun alternative to sandwitches for lunch.
Japanese fried chicken, karaage is made by marinating bite-size pieces of chicken in sake, soy sauce, ginger and garlic before coating them generously with potato starch. When fried, the starch turns into an ultra crispy shell encasing a flavorful juicy bite of chicken. Absolutely great with beer.
Rice is a staple food in Japan. In all most every family, there is a rice cooker. There is variety of Japanese rice brands such as Koshihikari and Hitomebore.
In this experience, we will enjoy making a traditional Japanese “bento” together, a style of home-cooked meal loved in everyday life.
At the beginning, I will serve you tea (sanpin-cha, Okinawan jasmine tea) and a small traditional sweet (brown sugar), which have been enjoyed in Okinawa for a long time. Please relax and enjoy the atmosphere while experiencing a part of Okinawan daily life.
After a brief self-introduction, I will explain the ingredients we will use and the characteristics of a Japanese bento.
We will start by making onigiri (rice balls). You can try simple salted onigiri with seaweed, or choose your favorite fillings such as furikake or tuna mayo, and shape them by hand. This is a simple yet essential part of Japanese food culture.
Next, we will make Japanese omelette (tamagoyaki) and octopus-shaped sausages. You will learn how to roll the omelette using a frying pan and create cute sausage shapes. We will also prepare chikuwa by cutting it together, enjoying the visual and creative aspect of bento-making. In Japanese bento culture, presentation is just as important as taste.
Then, we will make two types of chikuwa dishes. Chikuwa is a traditional Japanese food made from ground fish paste. One will be stuffed with fresh cucumber, and the other will be filled with cheese and lightly fried in a seaweed-flavored batter.
Finally, we will cook karaage (Japanese fried chicken). The chicken will be pre-marinated, and I will introduce the seasonings commonly used in Japanese home cooking. You will coat it with potato starch and flour, then fry it yourself. I will also share tips on how to make karaage that tastes delicious even after it cools, perfect for bento.
After all the dishes are ready, we will arrange them into your own bento box, focusing on color and balance to create a beautiful and personal meal.
You will have a small tasting at the end, along with kachuyu, a simple Okinawan soup made with miso and dried bonito flakes, often enjoyed in home cooking.
After the experience, you will take your bento with you. Please enjoy it at a beach or park in Okinawa, like a picnic, and experience Japanese local food culture in a special way.
This is a relaxed and friendly experience where you can enjoy Japanese home cooking and the lifestyle of Okinawa.
Hi! I'm Ami from Ginowan, Okinawa.
I love "Bento"! I started this experience because I want to share the wonderful Japanese Bento culture with the world. Bentos are well-balanced, delicious even when cold, and best of all, you can enjoy them anywhere you like!
In my clean and organized kitchen, we will make Onigiri (rice balls) using rice cooked in a traditional "Donabe" (clay pot). We’ll also cook my special fried chicken (Karaage) and Japanese omelets (Tamagoyaki), which I’ve perfected through many trials.
Before and after cooking, let’s relax with Okinawan "Sanpin-tea" and a traditional soup called "Kachu-yu." After our bento is ready, I recommend taking it to the beautiful beach or a park on the hill, just a 10-minute drive away. Eating a handmade bento in Okinawa's nature will surely be a wonderful memory!
I'm looking forward to meeting you!
The closest station
Tedako Uranishi station
How to get to the station?
From Tedako Uranishi station: 0mins
Exact location provided after booking.
Up to 2 people can join ami's cooking class.
It costs 8000 per person.
Duration of this cooking class is 2 hours.
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.
