Plan Status:
EXPERIENCE/
CULTURE/
FOOD
Onigiri (Japanese Rice Ball) Making Experience
Hyogo
1hours
Onigiri is a simple and traditional Japanese food made with rice and a filling. In Japan, it has long been enjoyed as part of homemade lunch boxes, picnics, and everyday meals, and many people grow up eating onigiri from a young age. In this experience, you’ll make onigiri by shaping rice with your own hands, without using any molds. Using your sense of touch to gently form the rice is an important part of Japanese home cooking culture. In Japan, there is a cultural belief that making food by hand is a way to put care and feeling into it. You can choose your favorite filling from 5 different options and create your own original onigiri. The process is very simple, so even those with no cooking experience can feel comfortable joining. Once completed, you can enjoy your onigiri on the spot or take it with you for a walk around the city (If you choose to take your onigiri with you, please make sure not to litter and to dispose of trash properly). The finished onigiri is also visually appealing, making it perfect for photos and sharing on social media. Experience Japan’s lunch box culture and enjoy exploring the streets of Himeji with your handmade onigiri.
Highlights
Max Number of Guests
3 People
Itinerary
Meeting Point
In front of the central ticket gates at JR Himeji Station
188 Ekimae-cho, Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture
Map
What To Bring
Credit cards or Japanese yen (PayPay is also accepted)
Precautions
• Please let us know in advance if you have any food allergies or dietary restrictions. • Languages: English / Japanese only (My English isn’t perfect. I may use a translator sometimes, but please forgive me.) • The cost of the onigiri-making experience and transportation to the meeting point will be paid individually on-site. The fee for the onigiri-making experience is 3,000 yen per person. • The host will pay for everything the host orders. If you choose to take your onigiri with you, please make sure not to litter and to dispose of trash properly.
Not Allowed:
• Harassment or rude behavior toward other customers or restaurant staff (verbal, physical, or inappropriate remarks) • Photographing or recording other customers without permission • Aggressive solicitation • Participating while under the influence of drugs or excessive alcohol • Behavior that disturbs other customers at the venue • Participating while feeling unwell
About Host
" Nice to meet you！ My name is Yuma, and I’ve been living in Himeji City for seven years. I do not hold a national or regional licensed guide –interpreter certification, and I am still studying English. However, I really enjoy talking with people from different countries, and I’d love to help visitors to Japan have fun and make great memories. Since I’ve lived in Himeji for a long time. I can also share local recommendations and hidden spots that only locals know, as well as useful local tips. Himeji is a former castle town best known for Himeji Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. While many visitors focus only on the castle, Himeji has much more to offer beyond it. Historically, Himeji was not only a castle town but also an important hub where people and goods traveled west across Japan. Even today, traditional merchant townhouses remain, and cultural traditions such as Japanese sweets and local crafts —once closely tied to the city’s prosperity —are still carefully preserved. Blessed with a mild climate and a location close to both mountains and a harbor, Himeji has developed a rich food culture that makes the most of fresh, local ingredients. Around Himeji Station, cozy izakayas and cafés line the streets, where a nostalgic atmosphere blends naturally with a modern cityscape. Himeji is a city where Japan’s past and present coexist. Take your time and experience it at a relaxed pace. "