Arrive in Takayama, a city in Gifu Prefecture known for its well-preserved historic streets and position deep in the Japanese Alps. Step into a side of local life that goes beyond sightseeing. Head directly into a casual sushi restaurant where the setting is welcoming and the focus is on participation.
Meet your guide, who will introduce the plan for the session and connect you with the chef who will be leading the hands-on portion. Watch as the sushi chef walks you through the fundamentals of nigiri, demonstrating how to shape and press the rice, handle the fish, and bring each piece together with proper form.
Follow along, shaping your own nigiri piece by piece with the chef’s guidance close at hand. Your guide translates and relays instructions throughout, and you can direct questions to the chef at any point during the session, whether about technique, ingredients, or the craft itself.
By the end of the 90 minutes, shape a selection of nigiri with your own hands, guided by someone who works with these techniques daily. Sit down and eat what you have made, tasting the direct result of your effort.
