Activities
Food experiences in Japan
SHINOGI DMC organizes food experiences in Japan for corporate groups: sushi and washoku workshops in Tokyo, an Osaka street food tour, a Fukuoka yatai challenge, a private izakaya dinner and a dinner cruise on Tokyo Bay. We select the chefs and venues, handle dietary requirements and adapt each format to group size, from 10 to 200 people.
Fukuoka
Fukuoka yatai challenge
An evening in teams among Fukuoka's yatai street stalls in Nakasu and Tenjin: tastings, missions and conversations with stall owners, ending at a shared final venue.
2.5 to 3 hours, in the evening · 10–120 pax
Kyoto
Private kaiseki dinner in a Kyoto ryotei
A seasonal kaiseki dinner served in a private room of a traditional Kyoto ryotei, with each course, its tableware and its meaning explained through an interpreter.
About 2.5 hours · 4–60 pax
From ¥42,500 per person
Kyoto
Sake brewery visit and tasting in Fushimi
A private visit to a historic sake brewery in Fushimi, south Kyoto, followed by a guided tasting of several sake styles paired with small bites.
1.5 to 2 hours · 6–80 pax
From ¥25,000 per person
Osaka
Japanese cooking class in Osaka
A private cooking class built around dashi and Osaka's home-style dishes, led by a Japanese cook and followed by a shared lunch or dinner of what the group has prepared.
About 2 hours, meal included · 6–40 pax
From ¥34,500 per person
Osaka
Osaka street food tour
A walking exploration of Osaka's specialties from Dotonbori to Shinsekai in small guided groups, with pre-booked tastings and an optional team challenge format.
2.5 to 3 hours · 10–150 pax
Osaka
Osaka sushi class: nigiri and oshizushi
With a sushi chef, the group learns the hand movements of nigiri, then Osaka's own speciality, sushi pressed in a wooden mould (oshizushi), before tasting what it has made.
About 2 hours 15 minutes, tasting included · 6–40 pax
From ¥39,000 per person
Tokyo · Kyoto · Osaka · Fukuoka
Private izakaya dinner
A dinner in an izakaya reserved for your group, with a sharing menu, free-flow drinks and light entertainment: Japanese conviviality without the constraints of a crowded restaurant.
2 to 2.5 hours · 15–150 pax
Tokyo
Sumo stable experience
Watch the morning practice (asa-geiko) of a Tokyo sumo stable, then share chanko nabe, the wrestlers' hot pot: a rare immersion arranged through our partners and subject to the tournament calendar.
About 3 hours, early morning, meal included · 4–30 pax
Tokyo · Kyoto · Osaka
Sushi and washoku workshop
In this sushi workshop in Tokyo, Kyoto or Osaka, a Japanese chef introduces your group to sushi rice, fish cutting and the basics of washoku, followed by a shared meal of what each team has prepared.
2 to 2.5 hours, including the meal · 8–100 pax
Tokyo
Tokyo Bay cruise
A private dinner cruise on Tokyo Bay, aboard a traditional yakatabune or a modern restaurant boat, with views of Rainbow Bridge, Odaiba and the illuminated skyline.
2 to 2.5 hours on board · 20–300 pax
Tokyo
Geisha evening in Tokyo
A Japanese dinner in a private room, with geisha from Tokyo's traditional districts performing dance to shamisen music, leading ozashiki party games with guests and joining the conversation, with an interpreter.
About 2 hours · 6–60 pax
From ¥36,500 per person
Tokyo
Sake tasting with a sake sommelier
For this sake tasting in Tokyo, a certified sake sommelier (kikizake-shi) leads the group through six or seven sakes of different styles, explains how they are made and pairs them with small Japanese bites.
About 1.5 hours · 6–60 pax
From ¥15,000 per person
Tokyo
Toyosu market tour and sushi session with a chef
A morning that starts at dawn at Toyosu wholesale market, with the tuna auction and the wholesalers' aisles explained by a guide, followed by a private sushi session with an experienced chef.
About 4 hours, from 5:00 to 9:30 am · 6–40 pax
From ¥55,000 per person
Tokyo
Wagashi making class in Tokyo
A Japanese confectionery class with a professional confectioner: a demonstration, each participant shapes two or three seasonal wagashi, then tastes them with a bowl of matcha.
About 1.5 hours · 6–60 pax
From ¥21,500 per person
The table as a way into Japan
Japanese cuisine (washoku) has been on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list since 2013. It is built on seasonality, produce and great precision of technique. For a group, cooking or eating together is one of the most direct ways to understand the country.
It also makes excellent team building: workshops and food challenges require coordination, shared tasks and some humility in front of a chef's technique.
Formats by city
- Tokyo: sushi / washoku workshop with a chef, private izakaya dinner, yakatabune dinner cruise.
- Osaka: street food tour in Dotonbori, Kuromon and Shinsekai (takoyaki, okonomiyaki, kushikatsu).
- Fukuoka: yatai challenge in Nakasu and Tenjin, Hakata tonkotsu ramen.
- Kyoto: kaiseki dinner, tea ceremony with wagashi.
Dietary requirements and allergies
Dashi (bonito and kelp stock) and soy sauce appear in most Japanese dishes. Vegetarian, vegan, halal, gluten-free or allergy-related requests should reach us at least two weeks before the event.
We check every menu with the chef and arrange discreet labeling of adapted plates. On street food tours and yatai evenings, some stops can be swapped for the participants concerned.
Frequently asked questions
Does a sushi workshop work for a large group?
Yes, up to about 100 people in a hotel function room or dedicated space, with several chefs at a ratio of roughly one chef per 10 to 15 participants. In a restaurant, workshops are usually limited to 10–30 people.
Are food experiences suitable for vegetarians?
Yes, if we are told at least two weeks ahead. Since fish-based dashi is everywhere, we ask chefs for a properly adapted version rather than simply removing an ingredient.
How much does a food experience cost for a group?
As a guide, allow from about €90 per person for a street food tour and from about €120 for a sushi workshop, excluding transfers. Private dinners and cruises sit higher.
Can food and team building be combined?
Yes. The Fukuoka yatai challenge, the team-based Osaka street food tour and sushi workshops with a judging panel are designed as group challenges, with briefs, scoring and prizes.