Handmade Soba Making & Fresh Wasabi Lunch
An immersive experience within a local cuisine!
Foods & Drinks / Private Cooking Class
Nagano is a place of mountains, pristine waterways and abundant farmlands that produce some of the country’s best food. Known as “soba” in Japanese, buckwheat is one of the most common crops you will see here, a crop that has for centuries been grown for the purpose of making soba noodles. Matsumoto is renowned for the quality of its soba noodles, often paired with fresh “wasabi” in what is surely the most local of meals.
Learn the Art of Soba-making from a Local Soba Master
Soba is, at first appearance, a simple dish. Yet the process of making noodles from scratch takes time, skill and patience with relatively few people mastering the art. Our Handmade Soba-Making & Fresh Wasabi Lunch guides you in preparing your own soba noodles, guided every step of the way by a local soba master. As the master says, “Nothing tastes better than soba noodles made with your very own hands.” Let’s put that statement to the taste test!
Under the watchful eye of your master, you will take on the role of an apprentice soba chef as you are guided through the basic steps of preparing, kneading and cutting your own noodles using specialist soba-making utensils. This is a 100% hands-on private experience from start to finish, capped-off by sitting down to your self-made soba lunch.
Savor the Taste of Real Wasabi
Known throughout the world for its heat and zing, “wasabi” tends to divide opinion. You either love it or hate it. But did you know that most wasabi sold around the world is in fact colored horseradish? Real wasabi has a much more subtle, nuanced flavor and the largest wasabi farm in Japan is located just outside of Matsumoto. As such, the area is synonymous with wasabi which is often served as a condiment with local soba.
Your soba-making experience reflects this tradition by including fresh wasabi sourced from a local farm. You’ll have the chance to grate your own wasabi and appreciate the difference in flavor. You might just be surprised how pleasant and versatile the taste of real wasabi is.
Go Slow & Explore the Surrounding Countryside
Once you have kneaded and cut your own noodles, your soba master will cook your lunch while you sit comfortably and relax. Lunch is served with seasonal accompaniments including “tempura” or “sanzokuyaki” fried chicken, vegetables, salad and other dishes. Complimentary tea and water are available with additional dishes and drinks, including local “sake” available for purchase should you wish to. Please refer to the menu on the day of your tour.
Our Handmade Soba-Making & Fresh Wasabi Lunch is hosted at a venue around 20 to 25 minutes drive to the north of Matsumoto Station. Set within picturesque countryside, it’s a beautiful area to explore after lunch. We’ll be happy to suggest the best places to visit!
Group Type: Private Tour
Terms & Conditions: Please see our Terms & Conditions
Foods & Drinks / Private Cooking Class
Nagano is a place of mountains, pristine waterways and abundant farmlands that produce some of the country’s best food. Known as “soba” in Japanese, buckwheat is one of the most common crops you will see here, a crop that has for centuries been grown for the purpose of making soba noodles. Matsumoto is renowned for the quality of its soba noodles, often paired with fresh “wasabi” in what is surely the most local of meals.
Learn the Art of Soba-making from a Local Soba Master
Soba is, at first appearance, a simple dish. Yet the process of making noodles from scratch takes time, skill and patience with relatively few people mastering the art. Our Handmade Soba-Making & Fresh Wasabi Lunch guides you in preparing your own soba noodles, guided every step of the way by a local soba master. As the master says, “Nothing tastes better than soba noodles made with your very own hands.” Let’s put that statement to the taste test!
Under the watchful eye of your master, you will take on the role of an apprentice soba chef as you are guided through the basic steps of preparing, kneading and cutting your own noodles using specialist soba-making utensils. This is a 100% hands-on private experience from start to finish, capped-off by sitting down to your self-made soba lunch.
Savor the Taste of Real Wasabi
Known throughout the world for its heat and zing, “wasabi” tends to divide opinion. You either love it or hate it. But did you know that most wasabi sold around the world is in fact colored horseradish? Real wasabi has a much more subtle, nuanced flavor and the largest wasabi farm in Japan is located just outside of Matsumoto. As such, the area is synonymous with wasabi which is often served as a condiment with local soba.
Your soba-making experience reflects this tradition by including fresh wasabi sourced from a local farm. You’ll have the chance to grate your own wasabi and appreciate the difference in flavor. You might just be surprised how pleasant and versatile the taste of real wasabi is.
Go Slow & Explore the Surrounding Countryside
Once you have kneaded and cut your own noodles, your soba master will cook your lunch while you sit comfortably and relax. Lunch is served with seasonal accompaniments including “tempura” or “sanzokuyaki” fried chicken, vegetables, salad and other dishes. Complimentary tea and water are available with additional dishes and drinks, including local “sake” available for purchase should you wish to. Please refer to the menu on the day of your tour.
Our Handmade Soba-Making & Fresh Wasabi Lunch is hosted at a venue around 20 to 25 minutes drive to the north of Matsumoto Station. Set within picturesque countryside, it’s a beautiful area to explore after lunch. We’ll be happy to suggest the best places to visit!
Group Type: Private Tour
Terms & Conditions: Please see our Terms & Conditions
Program Details
| Basic Fee | Adult: 16,700 JPY per person Children: 13,200 JPY per person *Children less than 6 years old can participate for free (Please note that the lunch is still extra) *Prices include tax. |
|---|
| Event Period | Year-round activities |
|---|---|
| Holiday | Monday／Tuesday |
| Open | From 10:00am to 1:00pm Closed on: Mon & Tue |
| Schedule for Experience | Soba-making Experience (90 minutes) Wasabi Grating & Tasting Experience (15 minutes) Lunch (75 minutes) Please note that the above times are estimates and that the tour may end earlier or later. Allergies: Please let us know if you have any food allergies or other restrictions. Vegetarian and vegan options are available upon request. Should you wish to request either, please advise us at time of booking. A minimum of 500 grams is required to prepare soba therefore, the soba-making experience includes a shared serving suitable for 2 or 3 people. The soba-making venue is located 20 to 25 minutes drive from Matsumoto Station. If you wish to experience soba-making in downtown Matsumoto, please see our “Matsumoto Castle Tour & Soba Noodle Making” page. You have different options when it comes to accessing the venue including local bus, taxi or to drive yourself. Should you need assistance in terms of planning how to get there, please contact us for advice. |
| Maximum number of participants | Up to 6 people (7+ people only available upon request) |
| Time required | Approx. 3 hours |
| Reservation deadline | Please book at least 7 days before event |
Access map
| The place where you experience | Asama Onsen / in front of the Lawson convenience store |
|---|---|
| Access | By Taxi (Recommended) From Matsumoto Station, a taxi to Asama Onsen takes about 20 minutes and costs approximately ¥3,000, depending on traffic. By Car Driving from central Matsumoto takes about 20 minutes. Free parking is available near the Lawson. For navigation, search “Lawson Matsumoto Asama Onsen” on Google Maps. By Bus From outside the Matsumoto Station East Exit (Castle-side Exit), take the Asama Line (浅間線) – “Bus Stop No.23” / “Bus Line No.32”, bound for Asama Onsen. Buses run approximately every 30–60 minutes and the ride takes about 20–25 minutes. |
| Parking lot | available |
Reservation and Inquiries
| Company | Matsumoto Experience |
|---|---|
| Reservation Form | https://matsumotoexp.com/activity/handmade-soba-making-sake-wasabi-lunch |
| Website | https://matsumotoexp.com/ |
| E-mail address | info@matsumotoexp.com |
