If you want to make your own sushi in Tokyo, you have more options than a single "best class" headline usually admits — from casual 90-minute nigiri workshops near Asakusa station to private, chef-led sessions in quiet back rooms. This guide compares seven sushi making classes in Tokyo on the same six criteria, so you can pick the one that actually fits your trip instead of the one that ranks first in a listicle.
Disclosure: Washoku Guide is operated by Food Activity Japan, the company behind Sushi Making Japan, one of the classes reviewed below. We've applied the same evaluation criteria to our own class as to every competitor, and we say plainly where a rival is a better fit than we are. Prices and details for the other six operators come from their own official websites and listing pages as of July 2026.
How We Compared These Classes
Every operator below is scored against the same six criteria. We didn't invent star ratings or review counts for anyone — where an operator doesn't publish a number, the comparison table shows a dash (—) instead of a guess.
| Criteria | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Price | Per-person cost, so you can compare like for like across a wide range from casual workshops to private buyouts. |
| Duration | Longer isn't always better — it depends on whether you want a quick taste or a technical deep dive. |
| Group size | Determines how much individual attention and hands-on instruction you'll actually get. |
| English support | Critical for overseas visitors who need instructions, not just translated menus. |
| Location | Affects how easily the class fits into a Tokyo itinerary built around trains and neighborhoods. |
| Content | What you actually make — nigiri, hand rolls (temaki), gunkan, or a full fish-butchery lesson — varies a lot between operators. |
The 7 Sushi Making Classes We Compared
A quick side-by-side view first, then full details on each class below. A dash (—) means the operator does not publish that information — it is not a low score, just an unknown. Confirm exact pricing, minimum age and current availability directly with each operator before booking; information below is accurate as of July 2026 but menus, prices and schedules do change.
| Class | Price / person | Duration | Group size | English | Location | Content |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sushi Making Japan (our class) | ¥13,000 (tax & all fees included) | ~1.5 hours | — (group format; private plan available) | Yes — professional English-speaking instructors | Asakusa (3 min from station); also Osaka (Shinsaibashi) | Nigiri + maki (rolling) |
| NOBU Sushi Making Class TOKYO | ¥19,500 (group); ¥39,000 (solo); ¥84,000+ (private room) | — | Max 7 | — | Tokyo | Nigiri + 7 gunkan pieces, tamagoyaki, fresh wasabi grating, knife-handling explanation |
| Sushi Matcha | ¥12,000–14,000 | 90 min | Max 20 | Yes — fluent English-speaking instructor | Asakusa (30 sec from Tobu Asakusa Station) | Sushi making + matcha whisking, combined in one session; vegan workshop available |
| Tokyo Sushi Academy | — (see note below) | 90 min (Standard) / 150 min (Premium) | — | Yes | Shinjuku / Ginza | Standard = sushi basics; Premium = you fillet your own fish |
| Asakusa Sushi Making Studio (Tsukiji Tamasushi) | ¥8,000 (Standard) / ¥13,000 (Premium) | 90 min | — | Varies by branch — confirm before booking | Asakusa (EKIMISE) / Tsukiji | Nigiri + temaki, fresh wasabi grating, certificate + souvenirs (mug, coaster) |
| SUSHI MAKING CLASS in TOKYO 咲 -EMI- | — | ~1h 45min | Private format (recommended age 6+) | Yes — native English-speaking guide | Hiroo | Hosomaki, nigiri and gunkan, with a demo from a chef with Michelin-restaurant experience |
| Sushi Bar Yachiyo | — | 90 min | Private, max 6 (age 7+) | — | Shinjuku | 5 types of nigiri + tamagoyaki-zushi, two nigiri-forming techniques, eaten in a private room overlooking a Japanese garden |
1. Sushi Making Japan (Asakusa) — our class
Our class covers both nigiri and maki (rolling) with professional English-speaking instructors, and we accommodate vegan, vegetarian, halal and allergy requests if you tell us in advance. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the session, and a private plan is available if you want the room to yourself.
Where we fall short: our Asakusa venue is built to run multiple groups at once, so it has an energetic, sometimes bustling atmosphere — great if you want a lively, social class, but not the right fit if you're looking for a quiet, intimate room. If that's what you want, see Sushi Bar Yachiyo or EMI below; both run small, private sessions in quieter settings.
Check availability on sushimakingjapan.com/tokyo →2. NOBU Sushi Making Class TOKYO
Trades on the Nobu name and covers nigiri plus seven gunkan pieces, tamagoyaki (Japanese omelette), grating fresh wasabi yourself, and an explanation of traditional knife handling. It's priced well above the mainstream classes on this list, and the official site does not publish class duration or whether instruction is in English, so confirm both directly before booking if that matters to you.
Visit tokyosushimaking.com →3. Sushi Matcha (Sushi Making Class & Matcha Experience)
This is the closest direct comparison to our own class: same neighborhood, similar price band, and English-speaking instruction. The point of difference is the format — Sushi Matcha bundles a matcha-whisking session together with sushi making in one sitting, and offers a dedicated vegan workshop. If you want to combine two experiences in a single booking rather than doing them separately, this is a strong option.
Visit sushi-matcha.com →4. Tokyo Sushi Academy
Tokyo Sushi Academy is primarily a professional sushi chef training school, and its tourist-facing short courses sit alongside that main business. The Standard course covers sushi-making basics in 90 minutes; the Premium course runs 150 minutes and has you fillet your own fish, which is a more technical experience than any other class on this list. The academy's professional one-day training course starts from around ¥66,000, but that is a different product aimed at aspiring chefs, not the tourist short courses — the tourist-course price isn't published on the pages we checked, so confirm current pricing on their site.
Visit sushischool.jp →5. Asakusa Sushi Making Studio by Tsukiji Tamasushi
Run by the century-old Tsukiji Tamasushi restaurant group, this is the most budget-friendly Standard option on this list at ¥8,000. The class covers nigiri and hand-rolled temaki, includes grating fresh wasabi, and sends you home with a certificate plus souvenirs (a mug and coaster). English support reportedly varies by location — the Tsukiji branch is described as Japanese-only while the Asakusa EKIMISE branch is said to offer English guidance — so confirm the language of instruction for your specific branch before booking.
Visit the DiG JAPAN listing →6. SUSHI MAKING CLASS in TOKYO 咲 -EMI-
A fully private class led by a native English-speaking guide, with a demonstration from a chef who has worked in Michelin-recognized restaurants. You'll make hosomaki, nigiri and gunkan. We could not confirm pricing on the official site, so you'll need to inquire directly. If you want a quiet, personal setting rather than a group workshop, this is one of the two best fits on this list (along with Yachiyo below).
Visit emi-sushimakingclass.com →7. Sushi Bar Yachiyo
Held at a working sushi restaurant with a 100-year history, this private class covers five types of nigiri plus tamagoyaki-zushi and two different nigiri-forming techniques, finishing with a meal in a private room overlooking a Japanese garden. It's the most traditional, restaurant-grade setting of the seven classes here. Pricing isn't listed on the page we checked, and English-language support isn't explicitly confirmed either, so ask directly when you inquire.
Visit the byFood listing →How to Choose: Match the Class to Your Trip
- Want a lively, social class to slot into a day of sightseeing? Sushi Making Japan or Sushi Matcha, both in Asakusa, are built for exactly this — easy to reach, group-friendly, and priced in the mainstream 12,000–14,000 yen band.
- Want a quiet, intimate, old-school feel? Sushi Bar Yachiyo and EMI both run small private sessions rather than open group workshops — a better fit if a busy, multi-group venue isn't what you're after.
- Want to actually learn technique, not just eat what you make? Tokyo Sushi Academy's Premium course, where you fillet your own fish, goes further into skill-building than any casual workshop on this list.
- Working with a tight budget? Tsukiji Tamasushi's Standard course at ¥8,000 is the least expensive option here, though it's worth confirming which branch and language of instruction you'll get.
How Much Should You Expect to Pay in 2026?
Across Tokyo, the mainstream band for a standard 90-minute sushi making class is roughly ¥8,000–14,000 per person, which covers most of the classes in this comparison. Well-known-name or private-room formats push higher, from about ¥19,500 up to ¥84,000 for a full private buyout. Professional chef-training courses, aimed at people who want to work toward becoming a sushi chef rather than tourists wanting a one-off experience, start from around ¥66,000 and sit in a different category entirely. These are general market ranges, not quotes — always check the operator's own site for the current price before booking.
Information above is accurate as of July 2026. Prices, class lengths, minimum ages and booking conditions can change — please confirm details directly on each operator's official website before you book.