The Guest House Kitayama also offers cooking classes for guests from both Japan and abroad. There is a large local supermarket just a 5-minute walk away, so the class includes a shopping experience. The instructor is Lee Nyok Peng, a Malaysian national who has lived in Japan for about 30 years. In addition to Japanese, she is of Chinese descent, so classes can also be conducted in Chinese or English. We can accommodate a wide range of requests, from local Malaysian dishes to traditional Aomori cuisine.
The Flow of a Cooking Class
STEP
Picking Up Ingredients at a Local Supermarke
First, let’s head to a local supermarket together! We’ll introduce you to ingredients unique to Japan, seasonings you’ve never seen before, and seasonal produce as we handle them firsthand. “What’s this? How do you use it?” We’ll choose ingredients for our meal while enjoying these discoveries.
STEP
Cooking Together
Let’s start cooking together using the ingredients we bought! In a warm and friendly atmosphere, you’ll feel just like you’re visiting a Japanese home. No experience necessary! Let’s spend some time together—it’s even more fun when we cook together.
STEP
Dining While Chatting
Once the meal is ready, let’s all say, “Itadakimasu!” Conversation will flow as we gather around the freshly prepared dishes. Let’s spend a fun time together while experiencing the atmosphere of a Japanese dining table!
Available dishes
Japanese Cuisine Tsugaru Regional Cuisine Southeast Asian Cuisine
Time Schedule
3hours (total time including shopping, cooking, and meal time) The following time slots are available, but can be flexible upon request.
10：30～13：30 15：30～18：30
Price
6,600 JPY / person
includes ingredients & cooking class fee Minimum 2 people / Maximum 5 people
The instructor is a Chinese-Malaysian woman who has been in Japan for nearly 30 years.
This is a unique experience to learn Tsugaru's local cuisine from a foreigner. 🤩
Malaysian dishes are also acceptable if you wish.
Lee Nyok Peng
Malaysia is a multi-ethnic nation primarily composed of Malay, Chinese, and Indian communities. My grandmother immigrated from China, and I am a third-generation Malaysian. Since we spoke Chinese at home and in school, even though the national language of Malaysia is Malay, my native language is Chinese. Due to its history as a British colony, English is also widely used as a common language among the various ethnic groups. Why don’t we chat while cooking together—sharing the local Malaysian dishes I grew up with and the local cuisine I’ve learned since moving to Aomori?
1973: Born in Johor Bahru, Malaysia
1992: Moved to Japan to study
1993: Enrolled in the Faculty of Education at Yokohama National University
1997: Graduated from the Faculty of Education at Yokohama National University
1999: Graduated from the Graduate School of Education at Yokohama National University, specializing in Home Economics Education
2002: Moved to Kuroishi City, Aomori Prefecture, her husband’s hometown
2008: Founded IP Config Co., Ltd. with my husband
2012: Participated in the founding of the Yokocho Jumonji Community Development Association
2014: The Yokocho Jumonji Community Development Association became an NPO
2014: IP Config Co., Ltd. began offering interpretation and translation services
2015: The Yokocho Jumonji Community Development Association opened Jumonji Cafe
2019: Launched “Minpaku Kitayama-ke,” a private home-stay business from my home
2023: Jumonji Cafe ceased operations on March 31
2023: Following the COVID-19 pandemic, home-stay operations expanded in full swing; cooking classes also began in September
