Enjoying a Modern Wagashi Making Experience in Tokyo
During my last trip to Tokyo, I had the opportunity to attend a private modern wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets)-making experience arranged by Wabunka. I’m a flower lover and have always had a sweet tooth, so I was very excited to take part in this introductory workshop led by a Japanese expert, where I learned how to make delicate "sweet bean paste flowers".
The experience was fun and enriching, and it offered a deeper, more hands-on way to connect with Japanese culture through the discovery of a refined culinary art I knew nothing about. I’m happy to share my experience in details in this article.
What is Wabunka?
Wabunka is a curated platform for international travelers offering exclusive, private cultural experiences across Japan, designed to connect travelers with the country’s traditions on a deeper level. Through private sessions led by skilled artisans and local experts, accompanied by an English-speaking interpreter or host, it provides rare access to places, crafts, and practices, going far beyond typical sightseeing. Founded in 2019, Wabunka is run by Japan Culture and Technology (J-CAT), which also operates Otonami, a booking platform for domestic travelers (this might be of interest if you live in Japan and speak Japanese and do not require an interpreter).
On my Japan blog, I focus on sharing off-the-beaten-path experiences and highlighting destinations and activities that foster a authentic, meaningful connection with Japan. I believe that going beyond the usual sightseeing and including cultural experiences in your travel plans contribute to such appreciation.
Wabunka’s approach aligns well with what I aim to promote so I reached out to them with the intention of trying one of their experiences during my recent trip.
To be transparent, although I was invited to take part in this experience, I did not receive any payment for this article and had no obligation to publish any content or follow any specific guidelines. I chose to write it voluntarily to share my experience, and all opinions expressed here are entirely my own. Please also note that some links in this article are affiliate links. This means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through them, at no extra cost to you.
Why Did I Choose this Experience?
I was very excited to attend this private modern wagashi-making experience in Tokyo for three main reasons:
I’m a big fan of Japanese wagashi. Wagashi are traditional Japanese sweets, typically made from plant-based ingredients such as sweet bean paste, rice flour, and sugar. They are often served with tea, especially during tea ceremonies and are known for their delicate flavors and seasonal, nature-inspired designs.
I am a big flower lover, which you can definitely know from all my flower-related blog articles on flower spots I’ve discovered in Japan. I was drawn to the beautiful floral designs of the wagashi made by the Wanaha Art Food Association, host of this workshop. This organization focuses on teaching the art of creating flowers with sweet bean paste, a classic ingredient in Japanese sweets. You can see more of their beautiful work on their Instagram page.
I love baking as well as hands-on crafts, especially drawing and painting, and was instantly drawn to the idea of creating something so delicate and ephemeral.
In addition, the class was conveniently located near Tokyo Station in Nihombashi, making it easy to add to my day of exploring in central Tokyo, which was about admiring the cherry blossoms at Chidorigafuchi moat, one of Tokyo’s most famous sakura spots, visiting the Imperial Palace East National Gardens, and shopping at the Pokémon Center Tokyo DX and in Ginza.
My Experience and Review of This Modern Wagashi-Making Class
A few days before the experience, I received a message from the interpreter with detailed instructions about the meeting time and location. It made everything very straightforward. We met in front of the building and went together to Salon de H, a stylish event space where the class was held.
We were welcomed by Yukari Suehiro, president of the Wanaha Art Food Association, who would be my instructor for the next hour and half. Although I can speak Japanese, I was thankful to be accompanied by an interpreter who was very professional and made the communication with Suehiro-san seamless during the whole experience.
Suehiro-san started by explaining more about her association and her art, including how she refined her craft by by exploring ways to reinterpret traditional wagashi made from sweet bean paste, avoiding artificial coloring and using only natural ingredients. She also focuses on using dietary-friendly ingredients, ensuring the sweets are healthy but also gluten-free and dairy-free.
Another interesting fact is that the flower motifs created in this class vary by season, so because I attended the class in late March, it was all about cherry blossoms. But you might be making hydrangeas motifs in summer, cosmos in autumn, or camellias in winter.
After her presentation and introducing the different tools she uses, Suehiro made a demonstration of the flower-making process, with precise and elegant movements that were super impressive to observe. It was then my turn to try making my own flowers. It was more challenging than I thought, but rapidly under Suehiro’s guidance, I got the hang of it and could see my progress in each new flower I made.
The flower at the top is the model created by Suehiro-san. The four below are mine: the second from the top was my first attempt, and the one at the bottom my last. 😁
Once my box of nine decorated wagashi was complete, I was served a cup of green tea along with a delicate bean paste flower sweet. Not only was it beautiful visually, but tasted delicious!
We then spent some relaxed, quality time chatting with Suehiro-san and the interpreter. Our conversation went far beyond wagashi, we talked about life in Japan, our respective activities, and shared experiences, which made the moment feel even more personal and memorable. Before leaving, I was given a sheet summarizing the class along with the list of ingredients, in case I wanted to recreate the recipe at home. I was pleasantly surprised by how simple and accessible the ingredients were, which definitely made me want to try making these delicate sweets again in the future.
Final Thoughts on this Experience
I thoroughly enjoyed this wagashi making class in Tokyo. Beyond the technical aspect of crafting wagashi, it offered a quiet moment to slow down in a middle of a busy exploring day, and to create and connect with a lesser-known side of Japanese culture. A huge thanks to my teacher, Suehiro-san, for her warm welcome and for sharing her passion with me, and to Wabunka for inviting me to attend this experience and making this article possible!
More Wabunka Experience Ideas in Tokyo
Authentic Japanese Tea ceremony with Tea Master (image courtesy of Wabunka)
➡️ You can check out all Wabunka’s experiences in Tokyo here, or in other cities such as Kyoto, Kanazawa, Hiroshima and more places across Japan.
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