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View all Nara toursMake Three Seasonal Wagashi with a Nara Master, and Taste His Matcha
Top rated4.8
Activity provider: Nara Wellness Tourism (Wellness Inbound Association)
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Ninety minutes in a confectioner's own atelier making three seasonal sweets by hand, with a translator alongside and matcha chosen by the master.
Make Three Seasonal Wagashi with a Nara Master, and Taste His Matcha: Key Facts
| Price | From $50 per person |
|---|---|
| Duration | 1.5 hours |
| Group size | Up to 5 people |
| Languages | English |
| Tour type | Mini Tour |
| Booking | Direct with the local operator — no OTA markup |
Choose from 1 available option
Wagashi Workshop with Matcha
Ninety minutes in the master's atelier making three seasonal wagashi, with tea service, translator and a matcha tasting....
1.5 hours
English
$50
Free cancellation
Full description
This is the smallest and most personal of the sweet-making sessions we list, and the difference shows. The group caps at five, it takes place in the master's own atelier behind the shop, and a local translator sits with you so the conversation actually flows rather than stopping at instructions.
It opens with tea and the shop's history — how long the family has been making sweets in Nara, and where wagashi sit in Japanese culture, which is a more serious question than it first appears. Wagashi exist because of tea: the sweetness is engineered against the bitterness of matcha, the shapes track the seasons closely enough that a confectioner's window tells you the month, and the whole craft is a branch of the tea ceremony rather than of baking.
You then make three, each using a different technique, following the master's demonstration. The filling technique comes first — getting bean paste to sit centred inside an outer layer without tearing it is harder than it looks — then the shaping, where the seasonal designs come from.
Photographs of your three pieces come before eating them, which everyone wants and nobody thinks to arrange. Then you sit and eat what you made with a matcha the master selects, talking to him through your translator, which is where most of the interest of the ninety minutes turns out to be.
The atelier is in Tsurufukuincho in central Nara. Instruction is in Japanese with translation provided, and everything is included — the three sweets you make are yours.
Tour Itinerary
Itineraries are customisable as per your request
The schedule below is a suggested plan and can be adjusted to suit your preferences.
Arrive and take the seasonal tea service
The shop's history and the place of wagashi in Japanese culture
Enter the master's atelier
Learn the filling technique
Make three seasonal wagashi, each by a different method
Photograph your work
Taste them with the master's matcha
Includes
- Hands-on wagashi-making session, three pieces made by you
- Seasonal tea service on arrival
- Matcha tasting chosen by the master
- Local translator throughout
- All ingredients and tools
Excludes
- Transport to the atelier
- Additional food and drinks
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
Important information
Meeting point
31 Tsurufukuincho, Nara 630-8393.
Know before you go
- Free cancellation available up to 24 hours before the activity starts
About this activity
Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Secure payment
Complete your booking safely with Razorpay. Full refund if you cancel 24h prior. Read more
Duration 1.5 hours
Check availability to see starting times
Live tour guide
English
Wheelchair accessible
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Main Tour Price
Starting from $50
$50
Need a custom booking or have a larger group?Contact Support via WhatsApp
Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Secure payment
Complete your booking safely with Razorpay. Full refund if you cancel 24h prior. Read more
Frequently Asked Questions
31 Tsurufukuincho, Nara 630-8393.
The price does not cover transport to the atelier, additional food and drinks and hotel pickup and drop-off. Everything it does cover is listed in full on this page, so if something is not on that list, budget for it separately.
Unless the option says private, this runs as a small group. The operator caps it rather than filling a coach, and if you want it to yourselves the private option is priced separately on this page.
Nara Wellness Tourism (Wellness Inbound Association). We book with them directly rather than through a reseller, which is why we can confirm your place with the operator before taking it as final.
We confirm your booking with the operator before we treat it as final, and we need at least one day's notice outside India. Once it is confirmed you get the meeting point, the time and a contact number for the day. If the operator cannot take your date we tell you and refund you rather than leave you waiting.
Hands-on wagashi-making session, three pieces made by you, Seasonal tea service on arrival, Matcha tasting chosen by the master, Local translator throughout, All ingredients and tools
The duration of the Make Three Seasonal Wagashi with a Nara Master, and Taste His Matcha is typically 1.5 hours. We recommend arriving 15 minutes before the scheduled start time for a smooth check-in. Your guide will meet you at the designated meeting point and ensure the experience runs on schedule while remaining flexible to your pace.
For most experiences, we highly recommend an early morning start. This allows you to avoid the midday heat, bypass the largest crowds, and capture the best lighting for photography. Your guide can advise on the optimal timing based on the season and specific attractions included.
Yes, once your booking is completed via our secure payment gateway, you will receive an instant confirmation email with your tour details, meeting point address, guide's name, and direct contact information. You can also view and manage your booking through your AsiaByLocals account dashboard.
Yes! All our private tours are fully customizable. Whether you want to add extra stops, skip certain locations, change the pace, or adjust the start time — simply let your guide know in advance or on the day. We aim to create a personalized experience tailored to your interests and energy level.
We offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before the scheduled start time for a full refund. Cancellations within 24 hours may be subject to a partial charge depending on the tour type. Weather-related cancellations for outdoor and boat tours are handled on a case-by-case basis, with full refunds or free rebooking offered when safety is a concern.
Most of our experiences are family-friendly and suitable for children of all ages. However, some tours involving extensive walking, water activities, or early morning starts may be better suited for children aged 5 and above. Please check the specific tour description for age recommendations, or contact us for personalized family itinerary advice.
After booking, you will receive detailed meeting point instructions via email. Most tours include complimentary hotel pickup within the central area. For tours without pickup, your confirmation email will include the exact address, Google Maps pin, and your guide's phone number for easy coordination. Guides typically arrive 10 minutes early and will message you on WhatsApp.
We accept all major credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express), PayPal, Apple Pay, and Razorpay for Indian cards. All payments are processed through a PCI-compliant secure gateway with 256-bit encryption. You can also pay in multiple currencies — the price is automatically converted to your local currency at checkout.
Yes, all AsiaByLocals guides are licensed professionals who have been rigorously vetted through background checks, skill assessments, and customer reviews. Many hold government-issued tourism licenses, university degrees in history or cultural studies, and have years of experience leading tours for international travelers. Every guide maintains a minimum 4.5-star rating to remain active on our platform.
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