Arrive in Hakodate, a city shaped by its proximity to the sea and its long history as a trading port. Head to a casual, Tabelog-listed sushi or seafood restaurant where your session takes place. This is not a formal fine-dining environment — the setting is relaxed and welcoming, designed for hands-on participation.

Once inside, a local sushi chef stands before you and walks through the fundamentals of nigiri sushi. Watch the technique up close, then step in to shape the rice, handle the fish, and press each piece together yourself.

A guide is present throughout to bridge communication and keep the session moving, so you follow the chef’s instruction directly and work at a comfortable pace from your first attempt to your last.

By the end of the 90-minute session, have a plate of nigiri you shaped yourself using Hokkaido seafood in one of Japan’s most celebrated seafood cities. Direct questions to the chef through the guide — about fish selection, rice preparation, or technique — and leave with a clearer understanding of what goes into each piece.