Make Piroshki in Hakodate and Visit Hidden Spots While Baking

Getting a taste of Hakodate’s multicultural roots while learning to bake traditional Russian-style pirozhki sounds like a recipe for a memorable day. This 2-hour experience offers more than just cooking—it’s a chance to explore some of Hakodate’s lesser-known sights, all with friendly guidance and a cozy, renovated café setting.

What truly makes this tour stand out is the combination of hands-on baking with a city tour that’s both relaxed and insightful. We love how the experience balances culture with local sightseeing—perfect for those who want an authentic, laid-back adventure. However, if you’re expecting a large-group, high-energy activity, keep in mind that this tour is intimate, with a maximum of 10 people.

This experience is ideal for food lovers, curious travelers, and anyone interested in seeing a different side of Hakodate beyond its famous views and temples. If you’re ready to roll dough while discovering hidden corners of this port city, this is definitely worth considering.

Key Points

• Authentic cooking: Learn to bake traditional Russian-style pirozhki with a local twist, including ingredients like Ezo-shika (Hokkaido deer) and Ezo-maitake mushrooms.
• Cultural blend: Discover Hakodate’s history as a settlement for international residents, with influences from Russia and Japan intertwined.
• Friendly guides: Enjoy a relaxed, careful instruction suitable for beginners, led by knowledgeable hosts in a stylish, renovated café.
• Sightseeing: During the baking, explore Hakodate’s secret spots and lesser-known churches, giving you a deeper connection to the city.
• Valuable insights: An English city guide is provided while your pirozhki ferment, adding context and local tips.
• Good value: At approximately $48 per person, this experience offers a balanced mix of cooking, sightseeing, and cultural discovery.

The Setting: A Stylish Café with Old-World Charm

The tour begins at Marutamagoya, a charming café located in an old house approximately 80 years old, now beautifully renovated to combine rustic charm with modern comfort. This cozy atmosphere immediately puts you at ease, making it an inviting space for a hands-on cooking session. The café is situated conveniently in the Motomachi area, close to Hakodate’s popular sights, so you can easily combine this with a sightseeing day.

The interior’s blend of vintage and contemporary decor adds to the experience, making the workshop feel more like a casual gathering among friends than a formal class. The environment is quiet enough for focused cooking but lively enough to keep the mood cheerful and relaxed.

What to Expect During the Cooking Workshop

This is a completely hands-on experience, tailored for beginners and seasoned cooks alike. The instructor provides friendly, careful guidance, ensuring everyone feels comfortable with kneading, stuffing, and shaping the dough. As you roll out the dough, you’ll get to choose from a variety of fillings—both savory and sweet—highlighting the diversity of this iconic dish.

The fillings are notable for their local twist: alongside classic options, you’ll find ingredients unique to Hakodate, such as Ezo-shika (Hokkaido deer) and Ezo-maitake mushrooms. These local ingredients add an authentic regional flavor to the traditional Russian recipe, making your pirozhki uniquely Hakodate-style.

The original recipes crafted at this café have earned praise from previous participants, who appreciated the chance to see how local ingredients are incorporated into traditional dishes. One reviewer highlighted her enjoyment of the variety of fillings and the delicious final products, including optional borscht—a hearty beet soup that pairs beautifully with baked pirozhki.

The Baking Process and Fermentation

While your pirozhki are in the oven, a local city guide provides insights into Hakodate’s hidden spots, beyond the usual tourist highlights. This walking tour during the fermentation gives you the chance to explore some of Hakodate’s lesser-known churches, local parks, and secret corners. Reviewers have described this as a “lovely walk,” and one even mentioned that it was a “quirkiest, last wonderful adventure,” emphasizing the relaxed, intimate nature of this part of the tour.

The guided walk is a real highlight, especially because it allows you to see a different side of Hakodate—away from the crowds—while learning interesting tidbits about the city’s multicultural past. This combination of culinary and cultural exploration makes the experience richer and more memorable.

The Final Product: Tasting and Enjoying Your Pirozhki

Once baked, you get to enjoy your handmade pirozhki fresh from the oven. Participants rave about the deliciousness—the dough is perfectly crisp on the outside and tender inside, with fillings bursting with flavor. One reviewer mentioned that their final pirozhki were “delicious,” including the optional borscht, which proved to be a delightful accompaniment.

For those with a sweet tooth, there are options to try different fillings, making this a versatile tasting experience. Guests also noted that everything necessary for the workshop—ingredients, equipment, and guides—was provided, making it straightforward and hassle-free.

Value and Practicalities

At just under $48 per person, this experience offers a surprising value considering the personalized guidance, local ingredients, and city tour included. It’s a well-rounded activity that combines cultural learning, culinary skills, and sightseeing—all in a comfortable, intimate setting.

The tour length of approximately 2 hours fits well into a day’s itinerary, especially if you’re planning to explore Hakodate’s other sights afterward. The small group size—max 10 people—ensures plenty of attention from the hosts and a relaxed atmosphere.

Who Will Love This Tour?

This tour is perfect for foodies eager to learn a new skill, cultural explorers interested in Hakodate’s multicultural history, or those who enjoy a relaxed, guided walk combined with local cuisine. It’s especially suitable for beginners thanks to the friendly, careful instruction, and for anyone who appreciates authentic, homemade dishes.

It’s also a good choice for travelers who want to see beyond the typical tourist spots and get a more intimate look at Hakodate’s hidden gems.

This experience offers much more than just cooking. It’s an opportunity to connect with Hakodate’s diverse past, taste local ingredients, and discover some of the city’s hidden corners—all in a cozy setting led by friendly guides. The hands-on nature of the workshop means you leave with a new skill and a sense of accomplishment, along with delicious food to enjoy.

While it’s priced reasonably, the true value lies in the mix of cultural insight, authentic flavors, and a relaxed, personal atmosphere that makes you feel more like a guest than a tourist. If you love food experiences that combine learning, sightseeing, and local stories, this tour will hit the spot.

The only potential limitation is the relatively small scale—if you’re after a large-group, high-energy activity, this might feel a bit mellow. But for those craving genuine, meaningful engagement with Hakodate’s multicultural roots, it’s a standout choice.

Do I need any prior cooking experience?
Not at all. The guides are friendly and careful, making this suitable for beginners and experienced cooks alike.

What ingredients are used in the pirozhki?
Traditional ingredients are used, with local touches like Ezo-shika (Hokkaido deer) and Ezo-maitake mushrooms, creating a regional flavor.

Is the tour suitable for vegetarians?
The fillings include local ingredients that may not be vegetarian, so if you have specific dietary restrictions, it’s best to inquire beforehand.

How long does the entire experience last?
It lasts approximately 2 hours, including baking and the city walk while your pirozhki are baking.

What should I wear?
Casual, comfortable clothing suited for kitchen activities. An apron is usually provided or available if needed.

Is transportation to the meeting point easy?
Yes, the meeting point is near public transportation, and free Wi-Fi is available at a nearby site for planning your trip.

Can I join if I have dietary restrictions or allergies?
The experience provides everything needed for the workshop, but specific dietary restrictions are not accommodated, so check in advance.

Is this experience family-friendly?
Yes, it’s suitable for anyone comfortable with basic kitchen activities, making it a fun outing for families or groups of friends.

In essence, this Hakodate baking and sightseeing tour offers a wonderful blend of cultural discovery, culinary skill, and local charm. Whether you’re a foodie, a history buff, or simply curious about Hakodate’s multicultural side, this experience promises a memorable, authentic adventure.