Genial English-speaking chef Inoue Akira is a master of soba — noodles made from nutty buckwheat flour. He's taught chefs who've gone on to win Michelin stars. In a compact kitchen overlooking the Sumida River, you'll learn the surprisingly meditative art of mixing, kneading, and cutting soba by hand. It's the kind of experience where you walk in as a tourist and walk out understanding something fundamental about Japanese food culture.