A proud mother of three beautiful children who are fussy eaters, Machiko comes up with new and interesting meals for her family everyday. This has made Machiko very passionate about cooking and experimenting with new recipes. She learned to cook from cookbooks and by watching cooking videos online. Machiko is excited to share home cooking with travelers visiting Hiroshima, so they can learn more about the everyday lives, culture and cuisine of Hiroshima. Machiko is eager to accommodate your preferences so feel free to include in your booking request if there are specific dishes you are interested in trying.
Please note menu might vary. If there are particular dishes you are interested in trying, please include your request in the booking form.
In-home meal: (1-4 guests) Machiko lives in a beautiful house with her children and husband, Daishi, who will join you for your experience whenever they are available. Machiko lives in a leafy residential neighborhood, located about a 20-minute streetcar ride from the city center. Her home is artistically decorated with an old turntable and several albums, an aquarium, family photos and the children's toys! Enjoy a meal of typical home-cooked Japanese dishes that Machiko cooks for her family. Your menu might include dishes such as miso soup, salad with sesame dressing and Japanese omelet or karaage/tempura (meat or seafood deep-fried) with rice balls or hand-rolled sushi. For dessert enjoy green tea flavored sweets.
Cooking experience:
(1-4 guests)
Enjoy homestyle Honshu cooking in Hiroshima with a local family. Join Machiko in her home for a traditional Japanese cooking class in Hiroshima. During your 1.5 hour cooking class with this Hiroshima local in her kitchen, you will learn to cook 2-3 homestyle dishes from Machiko's family recipes. Machiko likes to use traditional cooking techniques - for example, when you learn to make the salad dressing, Machiko will teach you to use a mortar and pestle to crush the sesame that is the dressing's base. After cooking, sit down together at her dining table and share the authentic Japanese meal you helped prepare.
Machiko's Japanese cooking class in Hiroshima is suitable for couples, families, beginners and children. Immerse yourself in the culture and cuisine of Hiroshima.
Notes: This is a family-friendly experience! Your children of any age are welcome in Machiko's home.
Languages spoken: English, Japanese
Machiko is a warm and wonderful host, who lives in a very convenient location near from the city center. She welcomed us with warm smile into her clean and tidy house. Although she was a little nervous at first (since it was her first-time hosting), Machiko tried to know about us and listened to us very thoughtfully. She puts a lot of effort into making the cooking and dining experience with her as enjoyable as possible, by reading books and customizing the dishes based on the travelers needs. You will get to taste a real Honshu family meal with Machiko. And, she has beautiful Japanese style table wares - you can feel the Japanese atmosphere while eating food with these. If you are interested in something or have any questions, she will be happy to answer them!
Miki and John , Traveling Spoon Ambassador
Machiko is a very nice hostess and we are looking forward to recreating the dish at home. It was a great experience and we would book again anytime. Thank you so much!- jasmine March 05, 2026
Machiko & Daishi were so welcoming We had a wonderful time - the best food we have had on our trip so far, I would highly recommend ❤️- olivia February 27, 2026
This event is much more than a cooking class. His is an opportunity to connect and share with with people from another culture. During the class, Machiko showed how to prepare Hiroshima style okonomiyaki, rice with mushrooms and chestnuts, miso soup with vegetables, steamed vegetables with sesame and tofu, sliced fresh persimmons, and sea bream sashimi. The produce and ingredients were fresh and quality. All of the food we made was beautiful, fragrant, and delicious. I cannot wait to share the dishes I learned from Machiko with friends and family back at my home. Visiting with Machiko and Daishi was every bit as enjoyable as the cooking. Their warmth and hospitality made this a unique and unforgettable experience. Highly recommend this to everyone who loves food and friends.- Thomas November 13, 2025
What a wonderful experience! Thank you so much, Machiko and family for being so welcoming and engaging. We loved the cooking class and Machiko’s expertise and guidance. We laughed, chatted about life at home and life in Japan all while making a delightful lunch together. It was a pleasure to meet the part of Machiko’s family who happened to be home the day were there and wish them well in their studies. Overall we would highly recommend this experience! What a pleasure and unique opportunity for us! Thank you!- Arnold October 14, 2025
The cooking class was an amazing and private experience. The host welcomed us in her family home and we cooked a tasty menu together with her. We would definetly do this again.- Florine September 23, 2025
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