Private Sushi-Making Experience at a Secluded Nature-Rich Villa in Hakone

Relish the Feeling of Having an Elegant House in the Woods All to Yourself

Hakone is one of Japan’s most popular tourist destinations. Among this hot-spring town’s districts, the tranquil Gora area is a refreshing getaway from the rest of the crowd thanks to its clean air and the lush, verdant mountains that surround it. Here, you will spend a relaxing moment in a private villa deep in the woods, rented solely for you. With a venue like this, you can enjoy an authentic sushi-making experience like no other.

A refined but cozy house surrounded by nature—on a clear day, you can unwind in the garden

Your instructor for this experience will be Kazuhiko Tajima, a renowned chef specializing in Japanese cuisine. Having trained at Michelin-starred Japanese restaurants in Kyoto and Tokyo, then serving as the chef for the Consulate General of Japan in San Francisco, Mr. Tajima has an extensive range of experience under his belt. Upon his return to Japan, he drew upon his culinary expertise honed both in Japan and abroad to establish his own restaurant, Kappo Tajima, in 2017. Today, Mr. Tajima is also available as a private chef, and he actively promotes Japanese food culture overseas.

Mr. Tajima demonstrating how to cut sashimi

Make Vinegared Rice and Learn to Fillet Fish

In this experience, you will get a hands-on lesson in each step of the sushi-making process. First, you will make shari, the Japanese term for vinegared rice. As this delicious rice forms the base for sushi, preparing it is one of the most important steps in sushi-making. Spread freshly cooked rice in an oke, a large wooden container that resembles a shallow tub. Then, pour vinegar over the rice, and mix everything quickly. There is a specific way to mix it, so pay close attention to this key point, and try your best to get the hang of it.

Spread the vinegared rice in the sushi oke, then mix it as it cools, letting the distinctive aroma of vinegar fill the air

Next, you will have a whole fish to work on as you learn to fillet fish. The fish provided will vary depending on the season, which means that you can enjoy the season’s finest seafood. Mr. Tajima is quite familiar with Toyosu Market, the largest wholesale fish market in Tokyo, so feel free to ask him all you want to know about fish and seafood.

A whole fish will be provided to each group, so that everyone can experience filleting it entirely

Practice Authentic, Time-Honored Sushi-Making Techniques

At last, it is time to prepare the sushi toppings. For this next task, you will use a sashimi knife, which you might not see often in your home country, as it is specifically used in Japanese cuisine. With a thin, long blade, it is sharpened on only one side so that it can thinly slice fish and finely cut fish fibers. Use this knife to slice the filleted fish into the appropriate thickness. Since neatly cutting fish with a sashimi knife is generally quite difficult, it is considered one of the techniques of a seasoned professional. Do not miss out on this rare opportunity to give this expert-level technique a try.

Use a sashimi knife to slice the fish evenly, one piece at a time

The next step is forming the sushi. Take some vinegared rice in the palm of your hand, then shape it into a bite-sized piece. Place a slice of fish on top of the rice, and lightly press it to make authentic nigiri sushi. (“Nigiri” comes from the Japanese verb that translates to “to grasp” or “to squeeze.”) This process may seem easy, but once you actually try it, you may find it difficult to figure out which hand to use for which step and the right amount of force to use.

Thanks to Mr. Tajima’s detailed explanations, even first-timers can get the hang of sushi making

Forming sushi by hand is the clearest way a chef can demonstrate his skills, but do not feel pressured if you cannot do this well. Rest assured that Mr. Tajima will carefully explain the process to you as you form sushi together. If you can eat wasabi, he can also teach you how to grate wasabi.

Indulge in Sushi While Chatting with Your Instructor

Once you are done making sushi, your creations will be arranged neatly, the way it is done at restaurants. Even if you made a mistake along the way, Mr. Tajima will make sure that everything is presented nicely in the end, so there’s no need to worry. You will then enjoy your finished sushi along with gunkanmaki (rolled sushi with seaweed on the outside and shaped like a traditional battleship called gunkan), miso soup, and side dishes prepared by Mr. Tajima himself. Because you made it from scratch, even preparing shari and filleting fish, your finished sushi will no doubt linger in your taste buds and memories.

Enjoy a lively conversation with Mr. Tajima over sushi

To complement your meal, you can also add a sake-pairing course (optional add-on; additional charges apply). Alternatively, you can request a vegetarian or vegan meal for free; however, please book the relevant option in advance.

An array of multi-colored sushi with seasonal toppings is a sight to behold

Take the time to chat with Mr. Tajima as you savor your meal—you may discover things that you never knew before. He is well-versed in not only sushi, but also Japanese cuisine in general, so don’t hesitate to ask him anything about Japanese food, even seemingly simple questions. For example, ask him about the proper way to enjoy sushi and etiquette for dining at Japanese restaurants, which will surely be useful knowledge.

A Valuable Opportunity to Experience Japan’s Profound Food Culture

Mr. Tajima says, “Even among Japanese people, authentically making sushi by hand is not a common experience. Great as it is to enjoy sushi hand-formed by a professional at a restaurant, I hope that this experience will serve as an opportunity for guests to understand Japan’s well-known sushi culture. I would love it if more people could have fun making sushi for house parties, or even just for enjoyment at home.”

This experience is an opportunity to meaningfully grasp the appeal of Japanese cuisine

Nigiri sushi may seem difficult to make at first glance, but that does not mean that it is impossible to make at home. This experience will teach you sushi-making techniques that you can easily put into practice even after leaving Japan, all while using a variety of ingredients and tools. Step into a private villa in the mountains of scenic Hakone for a memorable immersion in sushi culture, a part of the profound world of Japanese cuisine.