Culinary Expert will guide you through the art of
Simple, easy and delicious Japanese food to you!
The best cooking class in Japan 2018 - 2023 by TripAdvisor! See more detail.
As of 2025, we have been selected as the No.1 Japanese cooking class on Tripadvisor.
We offer 7 classes at YUCa's private kitchen studio. Each class takes 2.5 hours and hands-on class. Please push button to know more detail.
We introduce Japanese home cooking recipes (both video and text) for free. Please watch and try them out! Smart phone app is available too.
A casual look into everyday life in Japan. From home cooking and family meals to seasonal moments, our vlogs share the real, simple joy of Japanese daily living.
A Rolling Knife Sharpener is a simple and user-friendly tool designed to sharpen kitchen knives by rolling a cylindrical sharpening device along the blade.
It typically consists of two main parts: a rolling drum coated with abrasive materials such as diamond or ceramic, and a magnetic angle guide that holds the knife at a fixed angle. To use it, you place the knife against the guide and roll the sharpener back and forth. This motion allows the blade to be sharpened evenly without needing advanced skills.
Unlike traditional whetstones, which require practice to maintain the correct angle, a Rolling Knife Sharpener ensures consistent results with minimal effort. It is especially popular among beginners and home cooks because it is quick, safe, and easy to use.
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Yuzu yokan with pieces of yuzu peel is a traditional Japanese sweet made by adding yuzu peel to sweet bean jelly. It is characterized by an elegant flavor that balances sweetness with a refreshing aroma and a slight bitterness. The smooth texture is complemented by the subtle chewiness of the yuzu peel, and its appearance is visually appealing. It is often enjoyed with green tea.
Japan’s cherry blossom forecast has been announced! 🌸
Reservations for my cooking classes are filling up, and only a few spots remain.
If you’re planning to visit Japan during cherry blossom season, I’d be delighted to have you join my class.
For classes, please check our class calendar! I look forward to welcoming you!
Saibashi (菜箸) are long chopsticks used in Japanese cooking. They are longer than regular chopsticks used for eating, typically measuring about 30–40 cm (12–16 inches) in length. Their length helps keep your hands away from hot oil or boiling pots, allowing you to handle food safely while cooking. There are several cultural reasons why Japanese people use cooking chopsticks, closely connected to Japan’s food culture and cooking methods. First, Japan has a long tradition of eating with chopsticks, and naturally this utensil became useful in the kitchen as well. Japanese cuisine often emphasizes handling ingredients delicately and cooking them carefully without breaking their shape.
Japanese Ebi Furai is a dish where shrimp is coated in batter and deep-fried, resulting in a crispy exterior and a tender, juicy interior. Typically, the shrimp is peeled, deveined, and seasoned with salt and pepper, then coated in flour, egg, and breadcrumbs before being fried. Ebi Furai is often served with tartar sauce, and commonly accompanied by shredded cabbage, rice, and miso soup. It is a popular dish in home cooking, casual eateries, and restaurants.
If you’re searching for fresh mochi in Tokyo or the perfect matcha dessert experience, look no further than SASUI ITO EN at NEWoMan Takanawa. Located just steps from Takanawa Gateway Station, this modern Japanese tea café offers something rare: freshly pounded mochi served daily, paired with premium Japanese tea.
This is not just a café visit — it’s a refined tea and sweets experience.
About a year and a half ago, two guests from the UK joined one of my classes. Recently, they returned to the studio—this time bringing their parents and siblings with them.
Throughout the class, I could truly feel how lovingly they had been raised by such wonderful parents. The warmth and closeness of their family shone through in every moment we shared.
What made me even happier was hearing that they have since gotten engaged. Knowing that they have stepped into a new chapter of their lives filled my heart with joy.
I may simply be a food-loving cook, but being able to share in the meaningful milestones and precious memories of my guests’ lives is something I treasure deeply. It is truly one of the greatest joys of what I do.
A heartfelt congratulations on your engagement, Lucy san & Tommy san! I can’t wait to see you again.
Japanese tartar sauce is slightly different from the typical Western version, as it incorporates Japanese ingredients. Its characteristics include the use of Japanese mayonnaise, onions, boiled eggs, and cucumbers instead of pickles. To add sweetness, sugar and soy sauce are often used. If acidity is needed, a small amount of lemon or rice vinegar may be added. Japanese tartar sauce is commonly used in home cooking and Western-style restaurants, providing a mild and rich flavor that complements dishes. It is often paired with simple fried foods and fish dishes.
The other day, we welcomed a very special guest to our Japanese cooking class in Tokyo.
He was a young boy who absolutely loves Japanese food — especially Japanese sweets.
With shining eyes, he showed me a notebook filled from cover to cover with the names of Japanese snacks and desserts. Before coming to Japan, he had carefully researched them all and written them down himself, preparing for this trip with incredible dedication.
After our class, we stopped by a local supermarket.
Notebook in hand, he made a beeline for the snack aisle. Checking each name one by one, he excitedly filled his basket with the sweets he had dreamed of trying. The determination and pure joy on his face were unforgettable.
Moments like this remind me why I love hosting a Japanese cooking class in Tokyo.
Seeing a child so wholeheartedly passionate about Japanese food is truly inspiring.
His parents watched nearby — slightly amazed and perhaps a little overwhelmed — but smiling warmly at his enthusiasm.
If you’re wondering where to buy high-quality nori in Tokyo, look no further than Yamamoto Nori-ten in Nihonbashi. Founded in 1849, this historic seaweed specialty store has been perfecting the art of nori for over 170 years — making it one of the most respected nori shops in Japan.
Located in Nihonbashi, a district known as the birthplace of commerce in Tokyo, the shop perfectly matches its surroundings: refined, traditional, and deeply connected to Japanese culture.
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