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VIEW PHOTOS
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Host: Shiori

Sapporo, Japan

USD
$74-$98 per person

Japanese Cooking Class in Sapporo with a Local Chef

Host offerings
  • House
  • Professional cook
  • Pets
  • Vegetarian
  • Alcohol
  • Transportation
  • Cooking class
  • Market visit
  • Food tour

Meet Shiori

Shiori, a warm and hospitable host with a great smile, was born and raised by a gastronomic family in the northernmost city of Hokkaido. She, in addition to every other member of her family, is a professional chef. Shiori has had a successful career as a chef and manager at restaurants and hotels for over two decades. After becoming a mother to two boys, she now teaches cooking to local moms at her home and school. She enjoys teaching the art of creating delightful food using fresh, inexpensive produce that is easy to replicate back home. Always eager to learn new things, Shiori has learned Ikebana (Japanese traditional flower arrangement), kimono dressing, and matcha (traditional green tea ceremony). Shiori is happy to have you experience one of these Japanese traditions during your Traveling Spoon experience - just let her know which one in your booking request! She is also happy to recommend the best ingredients and snacks at local supermarkets to take back home.

What to expect

Please note menu might vary. If there are particular dishes you are interested in trying, please include your request in the booking form.

In-home meal: (1-6 guests) Escape from the busy city center and enter a peaceful residential neighborhood of Sapporo where the people are generous and caring. Your host Shiori will welcome you into her newly-built beautiful family home. As you sip on a refreshing drink she will walk you through the menu of the day. You will then enjoy authentic Japanese cuisine lovingly prepared and beautifully presented. Your meal will include dishes such as handmade sushi roll, somen noodles, grilled chicken and vegetables or fried chicken or vegan nikujaga (slow-cooked vegetables and soy bean) and nimono of fish cakes.

Cooking experience: (1-6 guests) During your Sapporo cooking class, cook alongside a professional culinary instructor, Shiori. She will expertly walk you through every step of creating a great Japanese dish. The cooking portion of your experience will last about 1 hour, during which you will learn to make 1 main dish and 1 side dish. Shiori will peel and cut vegetables in advance and you will help her prepare the dishes together.

Notes: Vegetarians and children are welcome!

Languages spoken: English, Japanese

Sample menu

This is just a sample menu to give you an idea of the types of dishes the host cooks. Your menu will vary according to seasonal availability.
  • Handmade sushi roll
  • Somen noodles
  • Grilled chicken and vegetables or Vegan nikujaga (slow-cooked vegetables and soy bean)
  • Nimono of fish cakes

Traveler reviews

5.0 (21)
Shiori-san's generosity and friendliness was the highlight of our trip to Sapporo. The cooking is the solid base upon which a delightful experience is built- learning about Japanese family cooking, enjoying a delicious meal while sharing stories and experiences, and truly sharing Japanese hospitality with us are memories we won't forget. This is not lecture or classroom, it is a home you are being invited into to see a slice of someone's life and learn much more than just how to make food. This value is far beyond what we expected and we are extremely grateful to have met them!
- ryan March 01, 2026
All directions for pickup were clear and concise. Shiori is a wonderful host, happy to share her tips and tricks for Japanese cooking. She was very patient, helpful and answered all the questions we asked. There was a fabulous variety of food and plenty of it. We got a little bag of goodies to bring home and even had a kimono experience.
- bren February 27, 2026
This is a fantastic experience! Shiori is happy to explain, demonstrate, and teach the background behind home cooking in Japan. This is not aimed at teaching you what a chef does at a restaurant, but how real people make typical Japanese meals (albeit very grand meals!) on a daily basis for their friends and family. It provides an amazing insight into Japanese culture. More than anything, though, Shiori goes above and beyond to make it a special experience - you leave feeling like you've spent the day with a new friend, not just taken a cooking class!
- estel February 18, 2026
Shiori was extremely friendly, full of Japanese cooking history and knowledge, and welcoming in her home. The food was delicious. Shiori made this an unforgettable evening.
- kelsey November 18, 2025
The food was exceptional! Showcasing the best of Hokkaido’s seafood and produce, we felt so very welcome in her home. Shiori is a talented chef and a gracious host. She accommodated dietary allergies with care and shared lots of useful information. We had made sushi previously but enjoyed doing it again under her guidance. An unexpected bonus was the invitation to try on her family kimonos - it was a privilege. We would have liked the recipes for some of the delicious dishes we sampled, and maybe a glass of sake.
- Julie October 03, 2025
An absolutely delightful experience! Our host welcomed us into her home, which was more than beautiful. Shiori is wonderful, kind, and attentive, and she demonstrates and explains new techniques in an engaging and easy-to-follow way. She had prepared a rich variety of dishes, explaining their origins and how they were made. Everything was incredibly delicious, and her company was wonderful! It’s truly a pleasure to have the opportunity to connect with a local in such a warm and relaxed way. We had so much fun and wholeheartedly recommend this cooking experience to anyone who wants to learn, enjoy amazing food, and soak in a fantastic atmosphere!
- Beth October 01, 2025
Shiori was a fabulous hostess! She was warm and welcoming, patient, clear, and made the whole experience interesting and enjoyable. I learned a lot and enjoyed the scrumptious feast. I will definitely be applying the techniques she shared when I get home.
- Anne September 24, 2025
It was amazing. Shiori is a lovely host and everything was delicious. We learned some new skills about japanese homestyle sushi.
- Yanni September 21, 2025
I had a wonderful time at Shiori-san’s place. Finding my way to the station where she picked me up wasn’t difficult at all thanks to prior communication. Since I was travelling alone and my Japanese was very limited, I was worried that it might be a little awkward at first but from the moment we met, Shiori-san was very friendly and welcoming and the conversation, using both English and Japanese, kept flowing. • Once we arrived at her home, we started cooking almost right away. Shiori-san was very patient with me and explained all the steps as well as the ingredients we used. Shiori-san had also prepared some additonal food beforehand, so I got to enjoy a full-course home cooked menu and it was one of the best meals I had during my trip in Japan. I also met some members of her family and all of them treated me just as kindly as she did. • Overall it was an wonderful experience and even though I was quite nervous ahead of it, I am more than happy that I booked it. It turned out to be one of the most memorable and precious moments of my trip and I can highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for an authentic experience.
- Annika September 09, 2025
Shiori makes you feel at ease in no time. She's open, friendly, and extroverted. The fact that she's also a trained chef and teaches you how to make sushi almost becomes a side issue. Besides sushi, there's a whole table full of other local delicacies. By the end, I could almost have been rolled over 😅. A truly wonderful experience that I can recommend to everyone.
- Boris July 24, 2025
We had a truly wonderful time at the cooking class! Shiori welcomed us into her lovely home with such warmth and kindness. She taught us how to make delicious sushi with great care and attention to detail. The ingredients she prepared were fresh and locally sourced, and every bite was absolutely divine. It was a heartwarming and unforgettable experience — we would wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone visiting Japan!
- Nikolina July 07, 2025
A very warm welcome, and the food was cooked like a typical Japanese household, including sushi. It tasted fantastic!
- Vivi May 30, 2025
Cooking with Shiori was an absolute pleasure. She was so welcoming and I really enjoyed how she shared her life with me. The food was delicious and I can’t wait to have a go cooking it myself when I get home.
- Lorra May 22, 2025
Shiori-san was the best! So knowledgeable about Hokkaido cooking and traditions. Learning from her was amazing and the food was absolutely delicious!
- violettala March 04, 2025
Shiori was so kind to welcome our family into her charming home and such a patient teacher! I would recommend this experience for sure.
- Michael February 10, 2025
Shiori and her husband invited me into their home for a great evening of cooking, dinner and conversation. It was a lovely way to experience what local life and food culture is like in Sapporo. I recommend you skip lunch, and make sure you try Shiori’s plum saké, you won’t regret it!
- Josh-bot July 08, 2024
authentic cooking experience in Siori’s home. Siori taught us how to make fresh sushi in a traditional Japanese way that is different than what we usually found in restaurants. Siori also cooked a very big meal consisting of a variety of traditional Japanese dishes. Everything was delicious and we loved the experience.
- TrishB3 January 05, 2024
Shiori was very good company. I enjoyed rolling sushi and eating it but the joy was conversation and spending time in her home. She was proud that 99% of the food she offered was from Hokkaido. And offer food she did with a description of each. This was my first full day in Sapporo and was nice to relax and talk. Food is fun but sharing a part of one’s life is the real reward.
- chrisWK June 10, 2023
A Hokkaido native, Shiori was a fantastic host and absolutely amazing chef. She's a trained professional chef who used to own her own restaurant and is now a housewife, so there is so much flavor in every dish. After picking my husband and I up from a train station just a few minutes from Sapporo Station, she walked us through how to make sushi with a whole bunch of different ingredients in her home. It's also worth mentioning that she was very accommodating to our dietary needs (we don't eat fish). She also had several other delicious dishes prepared when we arrived to add to dinner. We really appreciated her time to walk us through each dish and even teach us about some regional specialties. We got to taste cherry blossom tea and her homemade lemon sorbet as well. It was our honeymoon so Shiori even went out of her way to get us a bottle of champagne to enjoy with dinner. This was the highlight of our 2 week trip in Japan and I can't recommend Shiori enough!
- raquel March 26, 2023
Shiori and her family were wonderful hosts. We made several dishes and she had prepped extras for a resulting feast that was scaled for home cooking - perfect for our interests to learn recipes we would cook again! We especially loved the practical approach to home made sushi and the noodle dishes that featured a lovely display but also practical for individual portions.
- ccgarciadiscovery December 03, 2019
Today I had an excellent experience in Sapporo: I booked a cooking lesson with Shiori Ogawa. We cooked in her house a sample but very tasteful lunch vegan menu. I learn many things about Japanese food, ingredients and recipes. Shiori is a very good teacher and a wonderful host.Luisa
- lulic592019 October 04, 2019
Read More

Shiori

$74-$98 USD

per person
100% VETTED
Learn more
  • 100% satisfaction guarantee or your money back
  • Credit card is not charged until the host confirms your booking
  • Private experience
Pricing (per person)*
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
 $98 $86 $80
Cooking Experience + Meal
 $86 $80 $74
Alcohol
 $12 per person
Transportation
 $58 per car
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
 $98 $86 $80
Cooking Experience + Meal
 $86 $80 $74
Alcohol
 $12 per person
Transportation
 $58 per car
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
In-Home Meal
 12:00pm-2:00pm 7:00pm-9:00pm
Cooking Experience+ Meal
 11:00am-2:00pm 6:00pm-9:00pm

Meet Shiori

Shiori, a warm and hospitable host with a great smile, was born and raised by a gastronomic family in the northernmost city of Hokkaido. She, in addition to every other member of her family, is a professional chef. Shiori has had a successful career as a chef and manager at restaurants and hotels for over two decades. After becoming a mother to two boys, she now teaches cooking to local moms at her home and school. She enjoys teaching the art of creating delightful food using fresh, inexpensive produce that is easy to replicate back home. Always eager to learn new things, Shiori has learned Ikebana (Japanese traditional flower arrangement), kimono dressing, and matcha (traditional green tea ceremony). Shiori is happy to have you experience one of these Japanese traditions during your Traveling Spoon experience - just let her know which one in your booking request! She is also happy to recommend the best ingredients and snacks at local supermarkets to take back home.

What to expect

Please note menu might vary. If there are particular dishes you are interested in trying, please include your request in the booking form.

In-home meal: (1-6 guests) Escape from the busy city center and enter a peaceful residential neighborhood of Sapporo where the people are generous and caring. Your host Shiori will welcome you into her newly-built beautiful family home. As you sip on a refreshing drink she will walk you through the menu of the day. You will then enjoy authentic Japanese cuisine lovingly prepared and beautifully presented. Your meal will include dishes such as handmade sushi roll, somen noodles, grilled chicken and vegetables or fried chicken or vegan nikujaga (slow-cooked vegetables and soy bean) and nimono of fish cakes.

Cooking experience: (1-6 guests) During your Sapporo cooking class, cook alongside a professional culinary instructor, Shiori. She will expertly walk you through every step of creating a great Japanese dish. The cooking portion of your experience will last about 1 hour, during which you will learn to make 1 main dish and 1 side dish. Shiori will peel and cut vegetables in advance and you will help her prepare the dishes together.

Notes: Vegetarians and children are welcome!

Languages spoken: English, Japanese

Sample menu

This is just a sample menu to give you an idea of the types of dishes the host cooks. Your menu will vary according to seasonal availability.
  • Handmade sushi roll
  • Somen noodles
  • Grilled chicken and vegetables or Vegan nikujaga (slow-cooked vegetables and soy bean)
  • Nimono of fish cakes

Traveler reviews

5.0 (21)
Shiori-san's generosity and friendliness was the highlight of our trip to Sapporo. The cooking is the solid base upon which a delightful experience is built- learning about Japanese family cooking, enjoying a delicious meal while sharing stories and experiences, and truly sharing Japanese hospitality with us are memories we won't forget. This is not lecture or classroom, it is a home you are being invited into to see a slice of someone's life and learn much more than just how to make food. This value is far beyond what we expected and we are extremely grateful to have met them!
- ryan March 01, 2026
All directions for pickup were clear and concise. Shiori is a wonderful host, happy to share her tips and tricks for Japanese cooking. She was very patient, helpful and answered all the questions we asked. There was a fabulous variety of food and plenty of it. We got a little bag of goodies to bring home and even had a kimono experience.
- bren February 27, 2026
This is a fantastic experience! Shiori is happy to explain, demonstrate, and teach the background behind home cooking in Japan. This is not aimed at teaching you what a chef does at a restaurant, but how real people make typical Japanese meals (albeit very grand meals!) on a daily basis for their friends and family. It provides an amazing insight into Japanese culture. More than anything, though, Shiori goes above and beyond to make it a special experience - you leave feeling like you've spent the day with a new friend, not just taken a cooking class!
- estel February 18, 2026
Shiori was extremely friendly, full of Japanese cooking history and knowledge, and welcoming in her home. The food was delicious. Shiori made this an unforgettable evening.
- kelsey November 18, 2025
The food was exceptional! Showcasing the best of Hokkaido’s seafood and produce, we felt so very welcome in her home. Shiori is a talented chef and a gracious host. She accommodated dietary allergies with care and shared lots of useful information. We had made sushi previously but enjoyed doing it again under her guidance. An unexpected bonus was the invitation to try on her family kimonos - it was a privilege. We would have liked the recipes for some of the delicious dishes we sampled, and maybe a glass of sake.
- Julie October 03, 2025
An absolutely delightful experience! Our host welcomed us into her home, which was more than beautiful. Shiori is wonderful, kind, and attentive, and she demonstrates and explains new techniques in an engaging and easy-to-follow way. She had prepared a rich variety of dishes, explaining their origins and how they were made. Everything was incredibly delicious, and her company was wonderful! It’s truly a pleasure to have the opportunity to connect with a local in such a warm and relaxed way. We had so much fun and wholeheartedly recommend this cooking experience to anyone who wants to learn, enjoy amazing food, and soak in a fantastic atmosphere!
- Beth October 01, 2025
Shiori was a fabulous hostess! She was warm and welcoming, patient, clear, and made the whole experience interesting and enjoyable. I learned a lot and enjoyed the scrumptious feast. I will definitely be applying the techniques she shared when I get home.
- Anne September 24, 2025
It was amazing. Shiori is a lovely host and everything was delicious. We learned some new skills about japanese homestyle sushi.
- Yanni September 21, 2025
I had a wonderful time at Shiori-san’s place. Finding my way to the station where she picked me up wasn’t difficult at all thanks to prior communication. Since I was travelling alone and my Japanese was very limited, I was worried that it might be a little awkward at first but from the moment we met, Shiori-san was very friendly and welcoming and the conversation, using both English and Japanese, kept flowing. • Once we arrived at her home, we started cooking almost right away. Shiori-san was very patient with me and explained all the steps as well as the ingredients we used. Shiori-san had also prepared some additonal food beforehand, so I got to enjoy a full-course home cooked menu and it was one of the best meals I had during my trip in Japan. I also met some members of her family and all of them treated me just as kindly as she did. • Overall it was an wonderful experience and even though I was quite nervous ahead of it, I am more than happy that I booked it. It turned out to be one of the most memorable and precious moments of my trip and I can highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for an authentic experience.
- Annika September 09, 2025
Shiori makes you feel at ease in no time. She's open, friendly, and extroverted. The fact that she's also a trained chef and teaches you how to make sushi almost becomes a side issue. Besides sushi, there's a whole table full of other local delicacies. By the end, I could almost have been rolled over 😅. A truly wonderful experience that I can recommend to everyone.
- Boris July 24, 2025
We had a truly wonderful time at the cooking class! Shiori welcomed us into her lovely home with such warmth and kindness. She taught us how to make delicious sushi with great care and attention to detail. The ingredients she prepared were fresh and locally sourced, and every bite was absolutely divine. It was a heartwarming and unforgettable experience — we would wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone visiting Japan!
- Nikolina July 07, 2025
A very warm welcome, and the food was cooked like a typical Japanese household, including sushi. It tasted fantastic!
- Vivi May 30, 2025
Cooking with Shiori was an absolute pleasure. She was so welcoming and I really enjoyed how she shared her life with me. The food was delicious and I can’t wait to have a go cooking it myself when I get home.
- Lorra May 22, 2025
Shiori-san was the best! So knowledgeable about Hokkaido cooking and traditions. Learning from her was amazing and the food was absolutely delicious!
- violettala March 04, 2025
Shiori was so kind to welcome our family into her charming home and such a patient teacher! I would recommend this experience for sure.
- Michael February 10, 2025
Shiori and her husband invited me into their home for a great evening of cooking, dinner and conversation. It was a lovely way to experience what local life and food culture is like in Sapporo. I recommend you skip lunch, and make sure you try Shiori’s plum saké, you won’t regret it!
- Josh-bot July 08, 2024
authentic cooking experience in Siori’s home. Siori taught us how to make fresh sushi in a traditional Japanese way that is different than what we usually found in restaurants. Siori also cooked a very big meal consisting of a variety of traditional Japanese dishes. Everything was delicious and we loved the experience.
- TrishB3 January 05, 2024
Shiori was very good company. I enjoyed rolling sushi and eating it but the joy was conversation and spending time in her home. She was proud that 99% of the food she offered was from Hokkaido. And offer food she did with a description of each. This was my first full day in Sapporo and was nice to relax and talk. Food is fun but sharing a part of one’s life is the real reward.
- chrisWK June 10, 2023
A Hokkaido native, Shiori was a fantastic host and absolutely amazing chef. She's a trained professional chef who used to own her own restaurant and is now a housewife, so there is so much flavor in every dish. After picking my husband and I up from a train station just a few minutes from Sapporo Station, she walked us through how to make sushi with a whole bunch of different ingredients in her home. It's also worth mentioning that she was very accommodating to our dietary needs (we don't eat fish). She also had several other delicious dishes prepared when we arrived to add to dinner. We really appreciated her time to walk us through each dish and even teach us about some regional specialties. We got to taste cherry blossom tea and her homemade lemon sorbet as well. It was our honeymoon so Shiori even went out of her way to get us a bottle of champagne to enjoy with dinner. This was the highlight of our 2 week trip in Japan and I can't recommend Shiori enough!
- raquel March 26, 2023
Shiori and her family were wonderful hosts. We made several dishes and she had prepped extras for a resulting feast that was scaled for home cooking - perfect for our interests to learn recipes we would cook again! We especially loved the practical approach to home made sushi and the noodle dishes that featured a lovely display but also practical for individual portions.
- ccgarciadiscovery December 03, 2019
Today I had an excellent experience in Sapporo: I booked a cooking lesson with Shiori Ogawa. We cooked in her house a sample but very tasteful lunch vegan menu. I learn many things about Japanese food, ingredients and recipes. Shiori is a very good teacher and a wonderful host.Luisa
- lulic592019 October 04, 2019
Read More
Pricing (per person)*
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
 $98 $86 $80
Cooking Experience + Meal
 $86 $80 $74
Alcohol
 $12 per person
Transportation
 $58 per car
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
 $98 $86 $80
Cooking Experience + Meal
 $86 $80 $74
Alcohol
 $12 per person
Transportation
 $58 per car
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
In-Home Meal
 12:00pm-2:00pm 7:00pm-9:00pm
Cooking Experience+ Meal
 11:00am-2:00pm 6:00pm-9:00pm
ABOUT TRAVELING SPOON

Traveling Spoon connects you with meaningful culinary experiences, from private cooking lessons to homecooked meals in people's homes. Enjoy an immersive cultural experience that gives you a glimpse into the local way of life.

FAQ

    You can cancel your reservation up until 48 hours before your experience for a full refund minus a 4% processing fee. Experiences within 48 hours are not refundable.

    If you have a question for your host, you can include a note in the field "Write a note to your host" during the booking process. Once your booking is confirmed, you will be emailed your host's direct contact information and you will also be able to message the host through your profile. You can always cancel your booking and receive a full refund 48 hours or more before your experience. If you have other questions you can also email us at reservations@travelingspoon.com.

    Most of our hosts are able to accommodate dietary restrictions and allergies, including vegetarian and gluten free options. For vegetarian travelers, we have an icon on each host profile to indicate whether that host can also offer a fully vegetarian menu. There is a section in the booking form to note any allergies or dietary restrictions which will be sent directly to your host.

    Some hosts offer alcohol as an optional add-on for travelers who are of legal drinking age. Pricing for alcohol is visible on the host profile page and includes one to two glasses of wine, beer or local alcohol.

    Have a flight or other tour planned and can't make the timing provided? If the timing listed on the host's profile doesn't work for you, our hosts can often accommodate timing changes. Because all of our experiences are private our hosts are happy to tailor experiences to meet your travel needs. Simply note your request in the booking process.

    Your card will not be charged until your host accepts your booking. Typically hosts respond to bookings within 72 hours. In the event your host is unavailable on your selected date and your host rejects your booking your credit card will not be charged.

    Your host's detailed contact information, including their phone number, address, and direction notes, will all be provided immediately upon successful confirmation of your experience (after your hosts accepts your booking and your credit card is successfully processed). This information will be emailed to you to the email address you used to sign up, and will also be visible on your Traveling Spoon profile.

    All prices are noted per person prices unless otherwise specified. Transportation is typically charged on a per car basis. Children aged 5-11 are 50% off, and infants aged 0-4 are free. Hosts set their own prices and Traveling Spoon marks up the experiences; on average hosts receive over 70% of the price paid by the traveler.

    100% of Traveling Spoon experiences are private! Just you and your host and host's family.

    Hosts typically respond to booking inquiries within 72 hours. If for some reason you have not heard from your host or if you have any questions you can always contact us at reservations@travelingspoon.com.

    Your safety and security are our top priority. To ensure this, Traveling Spoon personally vets 100% of all hosts, including an in-person host visit, to ensure each host and experience meets our strict quality requirements.

    Some hosts offer transportation as an optional add-on for travelers. Typically this is round trip transportation with pick up and drop off at your hotel. Pricing is quoted per car. Specific instructions for transportation will be provided in your confirmation details when your booking is confirmed.

    Many of our hosts accommodate solo travelers. You can see if a host accepts solo travelers by looking at the traveler range found next to the experience descriptions on the host profile (indicated by the numbers in parentheses next to "In-home meal", "Cooking experience" and "Market visit").

    Most of our Traveling Spoon experiences are incredibly family friendly and can accommodate infants and children. If a host is unable to accommodate children that will be noted in the "Notes" section of their profile. Our child pricing policy is children aged 5-11 are 50% off, and infants aged 0-4 are free.