Tempura & Udon Making Class in West Tokyo with Optional Walking Tour of Hino

Overview

Book a tempura and udon noodles cooking class at Teuchi Udon Dontaku — a handmade-udon restaurant in Hino City, Tokyo. Dress up in traditional wear and take photos. Select a Hino walking tour to visit the area’s historical temples or learn about samurais and try sword fighting!

Highlights

Key Information

Description

Visit Teuchi Udon Dontaku in Hino City, Tokyo to learn how to make authentic udon noodles and tempura—two tasty traditional Japanese dishes that are still widely enjoyed by people of all ages. Udon Noodles Udon noodles are thick wheat flour noodles often served as a hot noodle soup. Japanese commonly serve udon as 'kake udon' in 'kakejiru' (a mild broth made from 'dashi,' soy sauce, and 'mirin') and topped with thinly chopped scallions. Tempura Tempura is battered and deep-fried seafood or vegetables. Portuguese living in Nagasaki during the 16th century introduced the fritter-cooking techniques that inspired this dish and the name "tempura." Choose the "Make Udon Noodles & Tempura" option to meet your host directly at the handmade udon restaurant, Teuchi Udon Dontaku. The restaurant is a four-minute walk from Koshu-Kaido Station on the Tama Toshi Monorail Line in Hino City. During this two-hour experience, you'll dress up in traditional Japanese clothes and step into the restaurant's kitchen to learn how to make deliciously doughy udon noodles by hand. There'll even be time to take photos with your freshly made noodles before you begin cooking them. Alternatively, book either of the "Make Udon & Tempura with Hino City Tour" options to explore Hino City on foot, before moving on to Teuchi Udon Dontaku to learn how to make udon and tempura. On this guided walking tour, you'll get to see Hino City and learn about its history, including its strong ties to the Shinsengumi police force. Meet your host at JR Hino Station on the JR Chuo Line. (If you're taking the Monday tour, meet your host at Takahatafudo Station
 on the Keio Line or Tama Monorail.) From your meeting point, you will set out on this walking course that includes historically significant temples. On Mondays, you'll visit Takahata-Fudoson Kongoji Temple. On Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, you'll see two significant historic structures: Hosenji Temple and Hinoshuku Honjin. Hosenji Temple Rinzai-sect Buddhists established this temple during the Gentoku period (1329 – 1331). Here, you'll find the graves of Genzaburo Inoue, the leader of the sixth troop of the Shinsengumi, and his older brother, Matsugoro of the Hachioji Sennin Doshin, a group of Shogun retainers based in Hachioji. Shinsengumi Established in 1863 by the Edo Bakufu—Japan's last feudal military government that reigned between 1603 and 1867— the Shinsengumi was a special police force in the final years of the Edo period during which the Edo Bakufu fell from power. The Shinsengumi remained active in Japanese society until1869. Hinoshuku Honjin Slip back to the Edo period (1603 –1867) with a visit to Hinoshuku Honjin—an exclusive inn for distinguished guests such as government officials. During the Edo period, travelers lodged in 'shukuba' (stations) along the five major routes leading to Edo. These places offered supplies as well as stables for horses and 'honjin' (exclusive inns) for significant persons. Unlike ordinary inns, honjin exclusive inns were staffed and equipped to host high-ranking officials and other distinguished guests, including feudal lords and Shogunate government administrators. The town that would later become modern-day Hino City functioned as a shukuba known as 'Hinoshuku.' The town's mayor, a merchant, named Sato Hikogoro, owned and operated the town's honjin, 'Hinoshuku Honjin.' As Hino was a famous station on the Koshu Kaido highway, Hinoshuku Honjin hosted historically significant guests, including the famous military commanders Isami Kondo, Soji Okita, and Keisuke Yamanami. Takahata-Fudoson Kongoji Temple This is the main temple of Shingon Buddhism's Chisan-ha sect. It's also one of the Kanto region's three largest Fudoson temples, which are dedicated to the deity Fudo Myo-o. Established in the 8th century, this sprawling, historically and culturally significant temple was once one of the Kanto region's largest. For those interested in Japanese history and the Shinsengumi, Takahata-Fudoson Kongoji is Toshizo Hijikata's family temple. Here, you'll find monuments dedicated to Hijikata and his close friend Isami Kondo. Alternatively, book “Make Udon Noodles & Tempura With Bushido Samurai Experience” to learn about ‘bushido,’ the samurai code of conduct and experience handling a wooden sword, before moving on to learn to make udon and tempura. On this tour, you’ll visit Inoue Genzaburo Museum, where you can observe Tennen Rishin Ryu-style sword fighting, as well as try swinging a wooden sword for yourself — you’ll even wear ‘hachigane,’ a samurai's headband, and ‘haori,’ a traditional kimono-style jacket worn by samurais. Your guide will also introduce you to the exhibition on the first floor—you can go around and take photos of the artifacts on display. This tour also includes an informative tour of Hinoshuku Honjin; afterward, you’ll head to Teuchi Udon Dontaku to get cooking.