Arrive at a casual sushi restaurant in Hamamatsu, a city in Shizuoka Prefecture positioned between the seafood-rich waters of Enshunada Sea and Suruga Bay. Meet your bilingual guide who will introduce the session and the chef, setting the tone for an informal, accessible experience rather than a formal culinary class.

Watch as the chef demonstrates the nigiri technique in front of you, walking through each step — how to portion and press the rice, how to handle the fish, and how to bring the two together into a finished piece. Then, replicate each step yourself, shaping nigiri with your own hands.

The guide will translate the chef’s instructions and any feedback, so the process stays clear and interactive throughout the 90-minute session. As the workshop progresses, build a small selection of nigiri pieces that you have shaped yourself.

The session closes with the opportunity to eat what you have made, giving you a direct, edible result from the skills you practiced. Any questions you held back during the demonstration can be directed to the chef through the guide before the session wraps up.