Zen Buddhistisch Vegetarisch (Shojin Ryori) : Kocherlebnis

If you can spare two hours of your trip learning how to make authentic Japanese cuisine beyond sushi or ramen, this is the real deal. The wife and I aren't experts in Japanese cooking by any standard, but we do our share of Japanese style cooking at home and we were looking for a chance to learn more specifically about "shojin ryori" or vegan Zen Buddhist cooking. This session delivered! We learned what kind of ingredients are used in shojin ryori, like vegetarian dashi stock for soups, flavorful Japanese vegetables like burdock root, "tofu" from arrowroot powder and freshly ground sesame seeds. The kind and patient instructors helped us through the recipes, and even though we only spoke a little Japanese their instructions and cheerfulness shone through! Thank you for a wonderful experience and for recipes and techniques we will take home! And as a plus, you can visit Tokyo Tower right afterward!

This was a very special part of our Tokyo visit. We had the best time cooking and learning about shojin zen vegetarian food. This class, the instructor, and meal prepare were all delightful and it was nice to slow down and do a quiet activity away from the hustle of most tourist destinations. I'm glad that true Japan tours listed this class on viator or we never would have found such a cool experience. They have many class options available and I would love to return and try another class. Thank you so much!

This Shojin Ryori cooking workshop was a wonderful experience. We suited up in aprons and chef hats, then learned about the spiritual roots of this traditional Buddhist cuisine from our kind and knowledgeable host. Everyone got to take part in preparing the dishes, with clear explanations at every step. The soy “meatballs” were surprisingly savory, but the standout was the creamy sesame tofu topped with sweet miso and wasabi — unforgettable. It was hands-on, meditative, and delicious. We left with full bellies, new recipes, and a deeper appreciation for Japanese culture. Highly recommended!

We had an amazing time during the experience! I especially recommend it to travelers looking for truly unique activities. As it was my first time cooking shojin ryori I was a little worried about how difficult it would be or that I wouldn't enjoy the taste much. However, with Kuniko-san as our teacher each step was explained thoroughly and in an easy to understand way, so it was super beginner friendly! Also, Kuniko-san has great English skills, was very cheerful and funny. Instead of being just a cooking class, it was also a deeply cultural experience. Kuniko-san told us about the spiritual significance of this way of cooking, what meaning and health benefits the ingredient have. We also received a printout of all the recipes to try again at home. It was really interesting! Finally, the taste. To my surprise, it exceeded all expectations! Despite using simple and few ingredients, all the dishes were delicious, flavoursome and filling. I especially liked the soy meatballs and sesame tofu! Definitely give this tour a go!

This workshop exceeded my expectations! We made several small dishes, including dessert - a whole meal - and everyone got to do something in every dish. We also plated and garnished our own food. The chef was lovely and kind and explained shōjin ryōri and its principles while we were cooking, and also talked about nutrition, ingredients and the best ways to use vegetables. I would absolutely recommend this workshop even if you already do a lot of Japanese cooking and feel like you know it well. Shōjin ryōri is different and I’m almost certain you’ll learn something new! But the workshop is also very beginner friendly so I would recommend it to anyone who wants to learn how to make beautiful, healthy, colourful, balanced vegan food.

We had such a fantastic time at our Shojin Ryori cooking class in Tokyo! It was a truly enriching experience—learning from a skilled chef and their wonderful assistant, and then sharing a thoughtful conversation over the meal about Japanese culture. Shojin Ryori, the traditional Buddhist vegetarian cuisine, is all about celebrating seasonal vegetables, tofu, and plant-based ingredients in their purest form. We got to try our hand at making dishes like Goma-dofu (sesame tofu), Kenjinjiru (vegetable soup), and even 10-grain rice dressed with cherry blossoms—so beautiful! My favorite part? Definitely making the sesame tofu topped with a dab of wasabi—such a simple yet bold flavor combo. I also loved the creative side of plating and presentation, especially designing the rice and arranging the tempura. It felt like edible art! I highly recommend this class to anyone visiting Tokyo. Whether you're into food, culture, or just looking for a peaceful and inspiring experience, this one’s a gem.

Fun Experience with patient instructors. They were so well prepared and friendly. Was a bit surprised the class wasn’t full. They gave you more then you can eat and put a lot of effort so wish they had more customers.

Fantastic lesson in how to cook vegetarian food in Japan, and interesting insight into the diet of Buddhist monks and eating culture.

We had great fun at the cooking class! Masue and Hiro were friendly, patient and kind instructors. With their detailed instructions and clear demonstrations, even those with limited cooking experience were able to make a delicious meal. It was not a tiring or difficult class - most of the ingredients had been prepared. Yet, we were able to experience traditional aspects of preparation, such as stirring the sesame tofu paste (which was explained as the process of 'shojin', improving one's soul) and grinding sesame seeds using a traditional grinder. They explained to us the details of all the Japanese ingredients used (so we could replicate the dishes at home). The final meal was delicious and well-seasoned despite being vegan. I especially enjoyed the tempura, which was lovely and crispy, and even came with a novel seaweed-flavoured option. There was also a gorgeous photogenic table setting with traditional origami which we could take home as a nice gift. Now we are home and will be giving it another try with the recipes they kindly emailed to us! Highly recommended!!