First we had a tour in the city, getting to know it's history and background information with Tomoa. Followed by our cooking lessons from Bob and friends, with a tour through the house and it's history. It was a once in a lifetime, and kindly recommended to follow too.

We were guided round the outdoor morning market and collected fresh local fruit and mochi to try later in her home. We walked through the streets and learned about the buildings, the crafts and the history. We popped into the sake distillery, learned about sake making and had our own private tasting. We returned to her home which is right in the middle of the historic district and has been in her family for generations, met her wonderful family and tried our fruit, mochi, and homemade delicious onigiri and plum sake. A favourite moment of our entire trip ! Thank you to Hisa, Tomoa and Bob

This was a unique chance to spend time with a welcoming and interesting family who took great care in showing us the steps and ingredients to a traditional meal in a historic Japanese home. Bob and Hisa are exceptional hosts. While we have eaten in wonderful places around the world, this experience will be the most memorable that will etch a place on your heart. Our children enjoyed learning from Bob and Hisa and agreed the experience was unforgettable. Thank you for having us in your home.

We started with a visit to a nearby shrine, then walked to the home of tea master Shogo. The setting was beautiful and the whole experience felt relaxed rather than strict, full of warmth and genuine humor from both Shogo and Tomoa. They explained each step clearly, and toward the end we even got to prepare the tea ourselves, a really special moment. Tomoa also took lovely photos throughout and sent them to us afterward, a thoughtful extra touch. Both Tomoa and Shogo were kind, funny, and clearly passionate about sharing their culture. We loved every minute and would highly recommend this experience to any couple looking for something authentic and fun.

If you want a truly authentic experience, this is it. We absolutely loved our experience with Bob and Hisa. They were so warm and welcoming in their home and we got to learn about not only the food, but the culture as well. The food they selected for the menu was fantastic. We had a local fish that was cooked in a soy sauce, mirin and sake base. It was really flavorful. Then we made some sushi. It was fun to learn how to roll it. We also made tempura which was a great, interactive activity. Tempura seems like one of those things that is intimidating to make at home, but now we are going to try it with our kids when we get back! Finally, we had that most incredible Hida beef that melted in your mouth. Bob and Hisa - Thank you and we wish you the best!!