Tsukiji Sushi Making Experience | Make Your Own Sushi in Tokyo

If you're looking for an authentic Japanese food experience during your trip to Tokyo, I highly recommend joining a sushi-making workshop in Tsukiji.

I recently had the opportunity to participate in one, and it was even more enjoyable than I expected.

Our group had 18 participants, and interestingly, I was the only Japanese guest. Everyone else had traveled from overseas, so I immediately thought, "This is something the readers of our blog would love."

In just over an hour, you'll learn how to make authentic sushi using fresh seafood from Tsukiji, pack it into a beautiful traditional sushi box, and enjoy eating your own creations.

Let me show you what the experience was like.

Easy to Reach from Ryogoku

Getting there is simple.

From Ryogoku Station, take the Toei Oedo Line toward Daimon and get off at Tsukijishijo Station, just six stops away.

Leave through Exit A1, walk straight ahead, and you'll soon find yourself surrounded by the lively Tsukiji Outer Market.

The streets are lined with seafood restaurants, sushi shops, grilled seafood stalls, Japanese sweets, shaved ice, ice cream, and many other delicious treats.

Even before the workshop begins, exploring the market is part of the fun.

The Workshop Venue

Turn right into the market, take the second left, and continue walking until you see the famous Sushizanmai restaurant.

The workshop takes place on the third floor of that building.

When we arrived, our host Masa and his friendly staff welcomed everyone with warm smiles.

Each participant had a seat reserved with their own name, making the experience feel personal from the very beginning.

Once everyone had arrived, the workshop began.

A Beautiful Traditional Sushi Box

We were told that we would arrange our sushi inside a handmade wooden sushi box lined with beautiful washi paper.

The cherry blossom pattern immediately caught my attention.

It was such a lovely detail that made the experience feel even more Japanese.

Before we started cooking, the instructor explained the history of Tsukiji Market and the story behind the traditional sushi box through an easy-to-follow presentation.

By the time it was over, everyone was excited to start making sushi.

The instructions were clearly displayed on a large monitor, making each step easy to follow.

Making Nigiri Sushi for the First Time

Like many of the other participants, it was my first time making nigiri sushi.

We wet our hands with water, took a small ball of sushi rice—about the size of a ping-pong ball—and gently shaped it.

Watching professional sushi chefs makes it look effortless.

Trying it yourself is a completely different story!

The key was not to squeeze the rice too tightly but to shape it lightly so the sushi stayed soft and airy.

The final challenge was making a Negitoro Roll.

We spread the sushi rice evenly over the seaweed, added chopped fatty tuna and a little wasabi down the center, then carefully rolled everything into a neat square shape.

Finally, we used an incredibly sharp knife made in Tsukiji to slice the roll.

Time to Eat!

I was honestly expecting my homemade sushi to taste just "okay."

But I was wrong.

It was delicious!

The seafood came from Tsukiji and, according to our instructor, was the same high-quality fish supplied to many premium sushi restaurants.

Our sushi box included:

Top row

• Tuna Nigiri
• Salmon Nigiri
• Pickled Daikon
• Inari Sushi

Bottom row

• Negitoro Roll
• Japanese Omelet (Tamagoyaki)
• Pickled Ginger (Gari)

Even the pickles were specially selected from Tsukiji.

Everything was fresh, beautifully prepared, and absolutely delicious.

Interested in trying it yourself? You can find more information about the sushi-making workshop here.

Create a Beautiful Sushi Bento Box at Tsukiji Market

A Perfect Experience to Combine with MERI

One of the things I love most about Tokyo is how easily you can explore different neighborhoods.

Tsukiji is only a short ride from Ryogoku on the Toei Oedo Line, making it easy to combine several unforgettable experiences in one day.

You could spend the morning creating your own pair of handmade Japanese Zori at MERI, then head to Tsukiji to learn the art of sushi making before enjoying one of the world's most famous food markets.

If you're looking for an authentic Japanese cultural experience beyond sightseeing, I highly recommend adding both to your Tokyo itinerary.

I hope this inspires you to discover another delicious side of Japan.