< Discover the soul of Japanese bento culture >
Learn how to make a classic Japanese lunchbox favorite, Nori Ben—simple, comforting, and loved by all generations. Includes a traditional wooden bento box for you to take home! (different from above)
❀ LESSON INTRODUCTION ❀
In Japan, a bento is more than a packed lunch — it’s a reflection of care, balance, and mindfulness.
From school lunchboxes to beautifully arranged ekiben (station bento!) on cross-country trains, or combini (convenience store) bentos, bento is woven into everyday life in Japan.
In this hands-on class, we will make Noriben (海苔弁) — the most classic and nostalgic homemade bento.
Simple yet deeply flavorful, noriben represents the heart of Japanese home cooking: thoughtful, humble, and full of umami.
You’ll prepare simple bento menus and learn how to pack your meal beautifully into a wappa bento box (wooden lunch box) — a keepsake you’ll take home.
- DATES: Refer to booking below
- TIME: 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
- FEE: ¥11,000 (Tax included) per person
- LOCATION: Wa + Sabi Home Studio (Hiyoshi, Yokohama / 30 to 40 min from Shibuya or Yokohama station – exact address shared upon reservation, but if you wish to know beforehand, please contact at kaori@wasabiplus.com)
- INCLUDES: All ingredients / Full textbook/ 1 × wappa bento box per person to take home (filled with your bento) / bento-making gadgets / and all the fun time!
- MAX PARTICIPANTS: 5 people
- LEVEL: Beginner Friendly (Taught in English)
- FORMAT: In-person, hands-on cooking class
- Learn the cultural meaning and history of Japanese bento
- Cook a complete traditional style bento (2 mains + balanced sides)
- Discover how to build flavor, color, and nutritional harmony in a compact box
- Practice the art of packing — layering rice, nori, and side dishes beautifully
- Receive tips on how to keep bento fresh, safe, and visually appealing
- Learn how to care for and maintain a wooden wappa bento box
- Your beautifully arranged Noriben Bento, ready to eat!
- A wappa bento box to reuse at home
- Bento-making gadgets for your fun bento-making experience at home
- Recipe booklet with step-by-step instructions
- Cultural notes about the history and significance of Japanese bento
Main:
- Grilled soy sauce marinated salmon
- Chikuwa no Isobe-age (crispy fried fish cake with aonori seaweed)
Side dishes:
- Tamagoyaki (Japanese rolled omelet)
- Kinpira gobo (burdock & carrot stir-fry)
- Pickled daikon (Takuan) or Japanese pickles
- Tako-san sausage (sausage cut into octopus shape)
- Edamame on a pick
Base:
- Rice topped with soy-seasoned nori seaweed sheet (all-time lunchbox classic)
By the end of this lesson, you’ll have more than just a full bento box to take home — you’ll carry with you a piece of everyday Japanese life. From the quiet thoughtfulness behind each ingredient to the satisfaction of packing a beautiful box with your own hands, noriben is a small thing that says a lot.
Spaces are limited to 5 people, so book now and come experience the humble charm of Japan’s most beloved lunchbox — I can’t wait to share this little piece of my culture with you!
❀ BOOKING & PAYMENT ❀
Don’t see a date that works? OR if you wish to arrange a private class for you or your group, just send me an email at kaori@wasabiplus.com, we’ll find the perfect time!
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