Japanese culture

Gourmet

Tokyo

great for couple

great for family

great for photo shoot

Japanese Home Life Masterclass: An Authentic 3-Hour Short Homestay

Japanese Home Life Masterclass: An Authentic 3-Hour Short Homestay

Welcome to the Authentic Heart of Japan!

While Tokyo offers breathtaking sights, true immersion comes from connecting with its people. Skip the tourist crowds for a few hours and experience life as a local resident. This 3-hour authentic home experience invites you into a real Japanese home—not a staged traditional house, but a true living space—to discover the daily routines, culinary traditions, and warm hospitality that define our culture.

What You Can Expect (Masterclass Content):

1. Local Life Stroll:
Meet your host at a local station and stroll through a typical neighborhood, visiting a community shrine or passing through quiet parks—experiencing Japan through a resident's eyes.

2. Authentic Supermarket Experience:
Visit a local supermarket rarely frequented by tourists. See how we select ingredients for our daily meals, discovering the real flavors of Japanese food culture.

3. Home Cooking Masterclass:
Together with your host in their real home, prepare delicious, common Japanese dishes (not just sushi or ramen, but everyday comforting meals). While we are not professional chefs, we are passionate home cooks who share practical, modern techniques used in Japanese households today.
*Please inform us of any dietary restrictions

4. Cultural Exchange & Conversation:
Share a delicious, home-cooked meal while engaging in deep conversations about work, life, and culture in Japan.

Duration: 3 hours
Location, Instructor: <Location>
Our hosts live in charming residential areas within 1 hour of central Tokyo. This "doughnut-shaped" commuter belt is where most locals truly live, offering a peaceful escape from the city crowds. A few days before your experience, we will introduce your specific host and provide the meeting station details.

<Hosts>
- Ayaka: The Global Storyteller & Home Chef
With a professional background as an English news writer and translator for NHK World and The Asahi Shimbun, Ayaka has spent years sharing Japan’s stories with the world. Now, she brings that passion into her own kitchen. As a dedicated home cook, she masters the art of practical, everyday Japanese meals that define modern local life. Combining her exceptional English communication skills (STEP Eiken Grade 1) with her warm hospitality, she offers a masterclass that is both culturally insightful and deliciously authentic.

- Ms. Michiko: The Organic Lifestyle Expert
A certified Japanese organic food sommelier with over 20 years of experience hosting cultural events. Carrying on the artistic legacy of her father (a prominent movie poster artist), she is also a talented graphic designer. Join her in her cozy seaside house in Kanagawa for a masterclass in healthy, local living.

- Ms. Yuri: The Temple Life Expert
Living in a historic temple in Tokyo’s Taito district, Yuri offers a unique glimpse into spiritual Japanese life. Along with home cooking, she specializes in "Shojin Ryori" (Buddhist vegetarian cuisine). You can also enjoy a mindful Matcha experience and a visit to her family’s temple.

- Ms. Cindy: The Modern Local Expert
After a career in major Japanese corporations, Cindy now enjoys life in a typical modern home in Kawaguchi with her cat. Her experience is perfect for those who want a truly authentic neighborhood feel, including a stroll to see the local community cats and cooking at home or visiting one of her favorite hidden-gem restaurants.
What's Included: ・Host & Instruction Fee
・Ingredients & Food Expenses
・All Taxes Included
Not Included: -
What to bring: -
Notes: ・Age Limits: Guests under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
・Punctuality: To respect the host's schedule and the experience flow, we start exactly on time. Late arrivals cannot join, and no refunds will be issued.
・Dietary Requirements: If you have any food allergies or ingredients you prefer to avoid, please inform us before completing your reservation.
・Authentic Modern Life: Our hosts are modern Japanese families living real, everyday lives. This experience focuses on contemporary culture rather than a preserved traditional lifestyle.

Reviews

Pierpaolo 2023/5

Nice experience of tasting Japanese cuisine and Matcha!

Samuele 2023/4

My friends and I really enjoyed spending time with Nobuko! She speaks perfect English and she is a really nice and caring person, but what really amazed us was her food! We had fun making lunch with her and then we ate the most delicious fish ever!!! Overall, a great experience, Nobuko is fantastic!

José Manuel 2023/4

I booked this experience hoping to meet a local and get an authentic culinary experience, and that’s exactly what I received!! Nobuko, my host, picked me up from the train station and took me on a nice stroll through town under the Sakura blossoms. Her English is great and we were able to communicate perfectly. The meal we prepared was delicious and I’ll never forget the time I was able to share with Nobuko!

Blake 2023/3

My home stay with Nobuko was amazing. We had a great time chatting about our lives while we prepared a lovely miso salmon meal at her home. If you are like me and love to see how locals live outside the tourist zones, this is the perfect experience.

Alex 2019/12

Really enjoyed this experience - the cooking was simple enough that much of it could be replicated at home (which I certainly plan to do!), but the context provided throughout the process is what really made it special. It's in a beautiful location, slightly off the beaten path, but an easy walk from the subway station. The hosts couldn't have been kinder, and the temple was stunning. Highly recommend.

Jill 2019/12

It’s a really spiritual experiences.
We cook with Yuuri in a small neighborhood temple. Yuuri not only show my their religion and culture but also their living style. And Michiko, she traveled more than one hour to do translation for us. Really appreciate their efforts. Nice experiences :)