Programs
English language culinary arts programs in Tokyo, Japan
With regret, I must temporarily suspend all in-person programs. I am not accepting new requests at this time.
In early September, I contracted shingles, a painful viral infection, that has progressed to postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). My medical team has advised that recovery will require several months. Accordingly, I have made the difficult decision to cancel all scheduled programs through year’s end, with the likelihood of extending that suspension into early 2026.
During my recovery, I will be focusing my energy—limited though it may be—on writing. My columns for The Japan Times and The Japanese Pantry will continue, as will my newsletter and additions to this website. These remain my connection to you, and to the culinary culture we share.
I am hopeful that my condition will improve over the coming months and permit me to resume in-person teaching. When that time comes, I will announce it here—gleefully. Until then, I encourage you to explore the many resources available throughout this site.
With sincere appreciation for your understanding,
Elizabeth Andoh
October 16, 2025
Kitchen PROJECTS
Kitchen PROJECTS is a resource of seasonal and year-round cooking projects related to Japan’s culinary culture.
You don’t need to be Japanese, or live in Japan, to enjoy and benefit from Japan’s kitchen wisdom. Kitchen PROJECTS encourages and supports all those who want to explore and practice washoku and kansha in their own kitchens.
The day we spent cooking with Elizabeth brought Japanese culture to life for us in ways only sharing time in the kitchen can do. When we arrived, Elizabeth and her gracious husband Atsunori, welcomed us into their home…the perfect place to learn more about traditional Japanese cooking. We tasted, compared, cooked and learned about Japanese ingredients all against a backdrop of gaining new understanding of the philosophy of balance and harmony that underpins the Japanese meal. Nature, local seasonal ingredients, presentation and, of course, taste all combine to create Washoku in Elizabeth’s kitchen. One word to describe the entire experience: Oishii!!
Praise for
A Taste of Culture
It seems anyone who has flown over a country in daylight can be a food writer/expert these days. Elizabeth Andoh is the real deal. I have lived and traveled in Japan extensively for nearly 30 years, but it was Elizabeth, with her encyclopedic knowledge of Japanese cuisine, faithfulness to Washoku practices, and attention to detail, that made all the cultural puzzle pieces fit together for me. She has the unique ability to explain Japanese cuisine and culture in English in a way a Japanese person would. Expertise like hers is rare and a treasure.
During our many visits to Japan, I took several cooking classes (in Tokyo and Kyoto), both with Japanese home cooks and professional chefs. But finally I planned a special trip with the main purpose to be able to participate in one of Andoh-sensei’s “Intensive 3-day Workshops” and luckily found what I had been looking for all these years: excellent preparation as well as exceptional course material, intensive but highly structured content, learning not only the “what” but also the “why”, a “taste of (Japanese) culture” in its literal sense and in her home, access to a wealth of information even after the workshop, and so much more. Therefore, I was more than happy to come back with my son for a “private class + market tour” as well as for her excellent “tsukémono” workshop – we are forever grateful for the great experience and hospitality. A real “highlight” worth at least one special trip!
Program Catalog (taught in recent years)
Japanese menus reflect the seasons and classes at A Taste of Culture do likewise. Here is a taste of some of the programs taught in recent years. Click through the links for more details.
Autumn Glory – 2 day intensive
Tsukémono – Japanese pickling
Hanami Bento – flower-viewing picnic lunch
Summer Survival: Cold Noodles
Private Market Tours with YUKARI SAKAMOTO
Chef, sommelier, shochu advisor and Food Sake Tokyo author Yukari Sakamoto offers a variety of market tour options including Toyosu fish market, depachika, and supermarkets.
To find out more, visit her site foodsaketokyo.com.
Follow her on Twitter @YukariSakamoto.