You arrive at a casual sushi restaurant in Minakami, a town in Gunma Prefecture known as a gateway to the mountains of northern Kanto. The setting is relaxed and approachable rather than formal, giving you a comfortable introduction to one of Japan’s most recognised culinary traditions. As you settle in, your guide introduces the session and explains how the next 90 minutes will unfold.

Your guide demonstrates nigiri-making techniques directly in front of you, and you follow along step by step. You handle the rice, position the fish, and practice the hand movements your guide shows you, repeating and refining your technique as you go.

When questions come up, your guide explains the instructions and answers your questions so you can follow the process clearly.

By the end of the session, you have shaped your own pieces of nigiri using the techniques introduced during the experience. You sit down to eat what you have made, finishing the experience with sushi that reflects the skills you practised during the class.