Arrive at a casual sushi or seafood restaurant in Hikone, a city in Shiga Prefecture on the shores of Lake Biwa. Known for its well-preserved castle and its position along historic routes connecting Kyoto and Edo, Hikone offers a grounded, local setting for this hands-on session.

As you step inside, the restaurant’s working kitchen environment sets the tone for a practical, unpretentious introduction to one of Japan’s most recognised culinary traditions.

Watch as the sushi chef demonstrates nigiri technique directly in front of you, and follow along, shaping rice and placing fish by hand. A guide translates the chef’s instructions throughout, so nothing is lost between demonstration and practice.

Press, mould, and form each piece yourself, adjusting your grip and pressure as the chef corrects and refines your technique in real time. Questions are welcomed throughout, giving the session an open, interactive rhythm.

By the end of the 90-minute session, leave with a plate of nigiri sushi that you shaped and assembled yourself. The chef’s direct feedback means each piece reflects your own developing technique rather than a template result. The Q&A format also lets you probe deeper into topics like rice seasoning, fish selection, or knife skills, so what you take away goes beyond the physical act of rolling and pressing.