Zen Buddhist Vegetarian(Shojin Ryori): Cooking Experience

Authentic Japanese cuisine experience!

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!

Response from the operator: Thank you very much for your wonderful review. We’re so happy to hear you enjoyed learning about shojin ryori and that the experience became a memorable part of your trip.

via Viator

Delicious and fun cooking class experience!

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!

Response from the operator: Thank you very much for joining the Zen Buddhist Vegetarian (Shojin Ryori) Cooking Experience. We are truly delighted to hear that you enjoyed the class. We also offer other cultural activities such as sushi making, origami, and tea ceremony, so we would be very happy to welcome you again on a future visit.

via Viator

Delicious, Peaceful dive into Japanese Buddhist cuisine

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!

via Tripadvisor

Unique and super fun learning opportunity!

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!

via Tripadvisor

Highly recommended!

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.

via Tripadvisor