Accommodation

In Tokyo: Accommodation in a sharehouse with 4 and 6-share rooms with self-catering or upgrade to host family accommodation including half-board. In rural Japan (Sado, Ise Shima, Iwate or other locations): Accommodation is chosen depending on the location of the restaurant where you are doing your internship. In central Sado and Ryotsu area it will be a single room at a 2-share apartment with self-catering. Similar accommodation in other parts of Japan.

Transport

Pick-up and transfer from Haneda/Narita airport on arrival to accommodation in Tokyo Pick-up and transfer from/to Sado (Ryotsu) Ferry Terminal on arrival and departure to/from accommodation or nearest train station in case of other internship locations in Japan In central Sado or Ryotsu (Sado): You can reach your restaurant by walk, bus (local commuting costs not included) or bicycle. In case of other locations local commuting expenses might apply.

Others

All ingredients for cooking lessons are included in the rate, and the dishes resulting from the lessons can be enjoyed after the cooking class

Guide

Personal support staff at our international office Professional Japanese teacher for group language lessons at the language school in Tokyo English-speaking experienced cook for cooking course in Tokyo Arrangement of the internship; professional supervisor at the internship restaurant

Not included:

Others

Commuter ticket in Tokyo (approx. 6,500￥ - 10,000￥ for the entire duration) To Sado: Shinkansen bullet train ticket from Tokyo to Niigata + bus in Niigata + ferry ticket from Niigata Port to Sado Port. You purchase it on your own but we assist you with this. (you would purchase tickets on your own; total cost approx. 14,000￥) Back to Tokyo: Ferry ticket from Sado Port to Niigata + bus in Niigata + Shinkansen bullet train ticket from Niigata to Tokyo. You purchase it on your own but we assist you with this. (you would purchase tickets on your own; total cost approx. 14,000￥) Personal Expenses Vaccinations Weekend leisure activities

Flights

Flights to/from Japan

Insurance

Travel Health insurance Travel Cancellation insurance (you book it on your own, we can assist you)

Meals

Not included in Tokyo at shared accommodation and in Sado/countryside location Breakfast and dinner only included in Tokyo in case you upgrade to host family accommodation

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Arrival In Tokyo
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Arrival In Tokyo

Arrival in Japan, accompanied pick-up from Narita or Haneda airport by public transport and escort to your accommodation. Arrival is usually on a Friday and you would then start the language and cooking lessons on the following Monday.
Day 2 Language Course & Cooking Classes
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Language Course & Cooking Classes

Monday to Friday you will join intensive language lessons from 9:10 to 12:40 (a total of 20 lessons x 50 minutes/week). You can join the course as a beginner, but also at other levels if you already know some Japanese. You need to do a proficiency test if you want to start the course at a higher level than beginner (available up to upper intermediate).

The cooking classes are held 8 times within 4 weeks. Each lesson lasts about 1.5 hours, followed by approximately one hour of dining. Before your arrival, you will receive a schedule with exact dates and times, which are usually in the afternoon. The lessons offered may be together with other cooking students, or private lessons. The lessons take place in the studio kitchen of the cooking instructor in Omiya, who is a passionate home cook and has been providing cooking classes for many years. All ingredients are included in the rate, and the dishes resulting from the lessons can be enjoyed after the cooking class.

Lesson 1 - Japanese food basics:

The 5 taste concepts (sweetness, saltiness, acidity, bitterness, umami)

The 5 colours: red, green, yellow, white, black

The 5 methods: bake, simmer, fry, steam, raw

Chopstick manners and basics of serving meals

Cooking: Grilled fish, steamed egg custard, Japanese mustard spinach with sesame sauce, pork miso soup, white rice

Lesson 2 - Easy Japanese dining table setup with rice pot cooking:

Oyakodon, mizuna and jako salad, instant radish pickles, tofu and shiitake mushroom miso soup

Lesson 3 - Colorful bento with five colors:

Fried chicken, boiled hijiki, tamagoyaki, boiled spinach, kinpira burdock root, white rice bento

Lesson 4 - The concept of "Sashisuseso":

Nabe-daki rice, mackerel simmered in miso, meat and potatoes, vinegared seaweed, ginger and cucumber, miso soup

Lesson 5 - The role of seasonings in Japanese food and how to make dashi:

Mixed rice or sekihan, boiled in Chikuzen, horse mackerel pickled in Nanban, clear soup

Lesson 6 - Japanese Sweets 1:

Mizuyokan

Lesson 7 - Japanese Sweets 2:

Kingyoku and Nerikiri

Lesson 8 - Other Japanese dishes:

Cutlet curry rice and Japanese potato salad or Dumplings and Hiyashi Chuka (Cold Ramen)

*Note: The exact contents and their order may be subject to slight changes.
Day 3 Travel To Your Internship Location
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Travel To Your Internship Location

The internships are organized in small towns on Sado Island, in Ise Shima, and in Iwate. You would typically travel to the location of your internship on the weekend after you complete the language and cooking lessons (we will let you know details about the exact dates and will assist you with the exact travel logistics). You would travel there by shinkansen bullet train, and in case of Sado by train and ferry. Domestic travel costs are not included in the program.

Accommodations vary depending on the location of the restaurant where you do your internship but are generally single rooms in an apartment with shared kitchen and bathroom facilities.

You can reach your restaurant by walk or bus (communiting costs at your own expense).
Day 4 Restaurant Internship
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Restaurant Internship

You will do your restaurant internship. You will be in the restaurant 4-5 days a week for 4-8 hours each as an assistant to the local chefs. Japanese restaurants typically only prepare one type of food, so the restaurant where you will do your internship will most likely specialize in one certain type of food only such as yakitori, ramen, sushi or gyoza.
Day 5 Departure
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Departure

Return travel to Tokyo (at your own expense) for your outbound flight (visa validity for most nationalities is 90 days, so please make sure to book your return flight accordingly)

You can do this program on a Temporary Visitor Status or Tourist Visa (or other long-term visas for Japan that you might arrange on your own). If you are unsure about possible visa options for your nationality, please consult with us before booking the program.

90 days tour

Culinary Internship Program + Cooking & Japanese Lessons In

This tour includes:

Not included:

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Culinary Internship Program + Cooking & Japanese Lessons In

Arrival In Tokyo

Language Course & Cooking Classes

Travel To Your Internship Location

Restaurant Internship

Departure

Experience Style

Accomodation level

Experience Type

Physical Rating

Age range

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