Tokyo: Private Sushi Making Class with Tempura in Asakusa

Step inside a real sushi restaurant in Asakusa and learn how to make nigiri sushi with hands-on guidance.

This private workshop takes place at Sushi no Wa in Tawaramachi, near Asakusa.

Rather than simply watching sushi being prepared, you will learn the basic process yourself—from handling sushi rice and shaping nigiri to adding toppings and adjusting wasabi.

After making your sushi, sit down and enjoy what you created together with the included tempura.

No previous cooking experience is required.

Begin inside a real sushi restaurant

Meet your host at Sushi no Wa Asakusa Tawaramachi.

The venue operates as an active sushi restaurant and also officially offers sushi-making programs for inbound travel groups.

This means you are learning inside a working Japanese restaurant rather than a sightseeing-only cooking studio.

Start with hygiene and preparation

Before handling ingredients, receive a short introduction to the workshop and food-safety procedures.

Wash and sanitize your hands and use the protective equipment provided for the confirmed session.

The current product states that hygiene gloves are included, so guests should not also be instructed to bring their own gloves unless the operating procedure has changed.

Watch the sushi-making demonstration

First, watch the instructor demonstrate the basic process.

Learn how sushi rice is handled and shaped without pressing it too firmly.

Depending on the confirmed program, the instructor may also explain:

• Sushi rice

• Vinegar seasoning

• Nigiri shape

• Toppings

• Wasabi

• Soy sauce

• Basic sushi etiquette

The exact preparation steps should match what guests actually perform during the class.

Make nigiri sushi yourself

Then it is your turn.

Shape individual portions of sushi rice and add the prepared toppings under the instructor’s guidance.

The current Sushi no Wa inbound program officially uses seven pieces of nigiri—two tuna, two salmon, one sea bream, one shrimp, and one shellfish—but this should only be advertised on the Alva product if the same menu is included in the Alva contract.

If Alva uses a different private menu, list that menu instead.

Learn through your hands

The goal is not to turn a beginner into a professional sushi chef in two hours.

Instead, notice the small details that make nigiri surprisingly difficult:

• How much rice to use

• How firmly to shape it

• How to keep the rice together without crushing it

• How the topping sits on the rice

• How much wasabi to use

Your instructor can give feedback as you make each piece.

Learn simple sushi etiquette

Along the way, learn practical tips for eating sushi in Japan.

Keep this section focused on useful restaurant knowledge rather than presenting one rigid set of “correct” rules.

The guide or instructor can explain the customs relevant to the sushi actually served during the workshop.

Enjoy the sushi you made

Once the hands-on portion is complete, sit down and eat your own sushi.

Eating your creation is part of the experience—not a separate restaurant reservation afterward.

The exact number and types of sushi must be confirmed before publication.

Enjoy included tempura

Tempura is also included under the current Alva package.

The official Sushi no Wa inbound course currently lists a tempura assortment of shrimp, squid, shiso leaf, and nori, but this exact selection should only be promised if Alva receives the same menu.

Otherwise advertise simply:

an included tempura dish

with the daily ingredients subject to the confirmed plan.

Ask questions about sushi culture

Use the meal as a chance to ask questions.

Depending on the instructor, topics may include:

• Different sushi styles

• Common fish and toppings

• Sushi rice

• Wasabi

• Eating customs

• Sushi restaurants in Japan

The exact cultural content may vary according to the instructor.

Dietary requests must be confirmed in advance

The current Alva listing advertises:

• Vegetarian

• Halal

• Gluten-free

options.

However, Sushi no Wa’s current public inbound page does not publish these three guarantees.

Until the partner confirms the exact preparation procedures, use:

Dietary adjustments may be available on advance request and must be confirmed before booking.

Do not advertise “Halal” as an unconditional option unless the restaurant confirms:

• Ingredients

• Seasonings

• Soy sauce

• Mirin / alcohol

• Cooking oil

• Cooking equipment

• Cross-contact

• Whether the kitchen itself is Halal-certified

Similarly, gluten-free service requires confirmation of soy sauce, sauces, tempura batter, frying oil, and cross-contact.

Finish with a meal, not just a lesson

This experience combines a hands-on workshop with lunch or dinner.

Rather than leaving with only cooking knowledge, you finish by eating the sushi you created together with the other food included in your confirmed package.