Make Your Own Premium Miso Soup in a Historic Kanazawa Machiya House

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Step into a 150-year-old traditional townhouse in Kanazawa and experience a hands-on culinary journey into the heart of Japanese home cooking. At the Miso Soup Club Kanazawa, miso soup is more than just a dish — it’s a story of umami, fermentation, and regional craft. In this immersive workshop, you’ll learn how to make miso soup from scratch using some of Japan’s most iconic and time-honored ingredients. You’ll begin by making dashi, the delicate broth that’s central to Japanese cuisine. Using premium kelp and shaving dried bonito flakes by hand with a traditional grater, you’ll experience the essence of umami through touch, taste, and aroma. Next, you’ll explore the world of miso — tasting over five types of fresh, unpasteurized miso (nama miso), and even creating your own original miso blend to use in your soup. Along the way, you’ll discover how fermentation, koji, and local ingredients come together to create the deep, comforting flavor of miso soup. To round out your meal, you’ll also learn how to make onigiri, Japan’s beloved rice balls. With guidance from our instructor, you’ll cook Japanese rice, select your favorite fillings, and shape your own onigiri by hand. At the end of the session, everyone gathers around the table to enjoy a light traditional Japanese meal featuring the miso soup and onigiri you made, along with a fluffy dashimaki tamago (Japanese-style rolled omelet) and local pickles. It’s a relaxed, communal moment to savor your creations and connect with the deeper stories behind Japanese food culture — through taste, conversation, and shared experience.