Wagashi Workshop
What You Will Gain from This Tour
1. Learn from Japan’s top wagashi artisans how to make traditional sweets.
2. Taste the renowned flavors of "Baikatei," a favorite among high-end hotels.
3. Enjoy a tea ceremony in an authentic tea room, savoring matcha with the wagashi you made during the experience.
Why not expand your creativity through the art of wagashi-making and let it blossom into something new?
Kagurazaka's esteemed Baika-tei
A Wagashi (Traditional Japanese Sweets) Class with Matcha, Led by Artisans from Baika-tei, a Long-Established Confectionery Founded in 1935.
Kagurazaka's esteemed Baika-tei, known for its commitment to natural, additive-free ingredients, crafts seasonal wagashi with heartfelt care. Particularly notable is Baika-tei's signature Anko, meticulously prepared in 23 different varieties, each tailored to complement the specific outer layer of the wagashi. These exquisite sweets are made with the highest quality ingredients and the skilled craftsmanship of master artisans.
Fufumi-an
The wagashi class is held at Fufumi-an, nestled in the hidden backstreets of Yokotera-machi in Kagurazaka, an area once loved by literary figures of the Meiji era. The name "Fufumi" is an ancient Japanese word that describes the budding of flowers.
The Fufumi-an building was completed in August 2024. The building is a wooden structure that aligns with Japan's climate and natural environment, featuring domestic cypress wood crafted by master Sukiya-Zukuri (Sukiya architects), Jūraku walls, and an entrance paved with Tanba stones.
Note:
Sukiya-Zukuri refers to an architectural style not only for tea ceremony spaces but also for incorporating the noble class's free design into the Shoin-zukuri style.
Jūraku walls are earthen walls made from Jūraku soil, sourced from the area around the former site of Jurakudai in Kyoto's Nishijin district. Jūraku soil is highly prized, and walls finished with it are known for their fine texture and the elegant beauty of the earthy material.
Tanba stone is granite from around Kameoka City, Kyoto, known for its unique rust-like appearance.
The Craftsmanship of Baika-tei
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What is Wagashi?
Wagashi are traditional Japanese confections deeply connected to the seasons. Beyond their delicious taste, wagashi are known for their visual beauty, which reflects the essence of each season, making them popular worldwide.
The primary ingredients in wagashi are plant-based, such as rice, wheat, and beans. Although generally low in calories, wagashi tend to be high in sugar and starch, leading to a higher carbohydrate content.
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Wagashi Class at "Fufumi-an"
In this class, you will create two types of high-quality Jo-Namagashi (a premium category of Namagashi) under the guidance of a skilled wagashi artisan from Baikatei. Namagashi refers to Japanese sweets with more than 30% moisture content.
After making your own wagashi, you can enjoy them with matcha in a traditional tea room.
With a wagashi-making kit provided, even children aged 10 and above can participate. The class size is small (up to 10 people), ensuring detailed instruction.
Through this experience, we hope you will gain a closer connection to Japanese culture.
Nerikiri (Wagashi Terminology)
"Nerikiri" is formally known as "Nerikiri-an," but it is commonly referred to simply as "Nerikiri."
It kneads Shiro-an (white bean paste) with sugar and binders like yam. The nerikiri-an (white bean paste) serves as the main ingredient.
Nerikiri is often crafted into shapes representing the seasons or special events and is frequently used as a premium Jo-Namagashi for celebratory occasions or tea ceremonies.
Introduction to the Wagashi Artisan (Head of the "Fufumi-an")
Takeshi Inoue, the fourth-generation representative of Baikatei, is recognized as both a Tokyo Meister and an Excellent Wagashi Artisan.
A Tokyo Meister is an individual working in Tokyo who possesses exceptionally high skills and serves as a model for other artisans. They are awarded the Tokyo Governor's Prize as an acknowledgment of their mastery.
"Excellent Wagashi Artisan" is a title given to highly skilled wagashi makers who are recognized for their craftsmanship and creativity, marking the highest honor in the field of wagashi production.
Takeshi Inoue - Profile
4th-generation representative of Baikatei
Tokyo Meister, Excellent Wagashi Artisan
Excellent Wagashi Artisan is a craftsman selected after undergoing the strict examination by the National Wagashi Association. There are only 150 certified Excellent Wagashi Artisans in Japan.
2015: Certified as a First-Class Confectionery Manufacturing Technician, recognized as a Excellent Wagashi Artisan
2016: Awarded the title of Tokyo Meister
2017: Dispatched by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the "Japan Brand Communication Project," where he conducted lectures on wagashi in the UK
2018: Received the tea name "Sōgō" from the Grand Master of the Urasenke school of tea
2023: Contributed to the registration of wagashi as an Intangible Cultural Heritage
2024: Established "Fufumi-an" in celebration of Baikatei's 90th anniversary
Wagashi workshop Information
Meeting point
"Fufumi-an"
Currently, the building shown on Google Maps differs from the actual one. The correct location is as stated in the address.
Yokoteramachi 10 Shinnjyuku-ku Tokyo JAPAN
Meeting place will be decided upon consultation with the customer.
Hotel pickup is also available for an additional fee.
Tour Duration
Approximately 2 hours.
Accessibility
Children aged 10 and above are welcome to participate.
Please inform us in advance if you have any food allergies.
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Insurance
We are covered by Tour Operator Liability Insurance, so you can join our tours with peace of mind. In the event of an injury during the tour, please go to a hospital promptly with your guide and receive a medical examination. If the hospital confirms that the injury was due to an accident during the tour, we will cover the medical expenses. However, please note that if the hospital does not recognize the injury as tour-related, we will not be able to cover the expenses.