WELCOME TO JAPAN! BREAD BAKING CLASS!

Hi there and welcome! I’m Satomi, your bread baking instructor at JaPan! Bread Baking Class in Nakano, Tokyo. I give hands-on bread lessons for travelers from around the world.

In this page, I will share with you how I started making bread, how I teach my classes now, and why bread-making is so special to me. Thank you for reading!

Where the Love for Baking Began

I have loved making sweets for as long as I can remember. I think it started in elementary school, when I made chocolate treats for Valentine’s Day. In Japan, Valentine’s Day is a little different—girls give chocolate to friends, family, and someone they like. Making those chocolates made me interested in baking, and in high school, I even worked part-time at a muffin shop, helping in the kitchen.

As my love for sweets grew, I naturally became curious about bread. There was one warm memory I always carried with me: the gentle, comforting taste of the raisin bread my mother used to bake. That nostalgic flavor quietly led me to baking bread myself.

At first, it was not as easy as I expected. My bread didn’t look nice, and it often became hard after cooling. But I found so much joy in the process itself that I kept baking whenever I had time, completely absorbed in it.

Finding Peace Through Bread During the Pandemic

Even though I often failed, bread baking stayed my hobby for many years. Then, in 2020, everything changed with the pandemic.

At that time, I was working in a hotel office and taking care of my child at home. Every day felt like a race, with no time to rest. But when the tourists disappeared, we were asked to take time off from work. Suddenly, I had free time—something I hadn’t had in years.

At first, I was confused. But I decided to use that time for myself, and I began to focus deeply on bread baking. This time, something felt different. Instead of just following recipes, I watched the dough carefully and worked with it like I was having a quiet conversation. To my surprise, my bread started to taste better. Every small success gave me warm confidence and made me feel a little stronger inside.

During those uncertain days, baking became healing for me. The quiet time watching the dough rise felt like a moment to look into myself—something I hadn’t been able to do for a long time. It gave me a calm I didn’t know I needed. Bread baking was no longer just a hobby. It had become something deeply therapeutic.

Opening a New Chapter with Bread and Heart

Before this, I worked in hotels for thirteen years, both in Japan and abroad (the Maldives and Thailand), mostly at the front desk. I met many guests and learned about different cultures and ways of thinking. Those years became an important part of my life, and I am proud of them.

When I became pregnant, I moved to an office role at the hotel. That work also gave me new experiences—I learned how the hotel worked behind the scenes, and I talked with many guests over the phone. But over time, I started to feel that something didn’t match what I wanted. I asked myself, “Do I want to work in hotels forever?” The answer was no. I wanted to do something more meaningful—something only I could do. But I didn’t know what that was. I spent many days just scrolling through social media, hoping to find some kind of answer. I never did.

Then, I remembered something a friend had told me a few years before: “Why don’t you teach bread baking?” At that time, I thought it was impossible. But I couldn’t forget those words. Bread baking was the thing I truly loved. It always gave me peace and comfort. Even in the busiest times, when I ignored my own feelings, baking bread was the one moment I felt like myself again. Then I realized—this was what I wanted to share with others.

To be honest, leaving the hotel industry to become a bread baking teacher was a big decision. I was scared to leave a stable job, and I often asked myself if I was really capable of such a change. But deep down, I knew this was what I truly wanted—and if I didn’t take a step forward, nothing in my life would change. So I made my choice: to follow the path toward the life I had dreamed of.

After that, I read many books about bread baking, baked as much as I could, and worked hard to improve my skills. One year later, I left my hotel job and stepped into a new chapter—one where I could finally do what I truly loved: sharing the joy of bread baking with others.

Inspirations Behind My Bread Lessons

My journey as a bread baking teacher began when people still couldn’t go out freely, so I started with online lessons. To my joy, students joined not only from across Japan but also from other countries, and I was able to share the fun of baking with many people.

For those who couldn’t join live lessons—people with full-time jobs, or parents with young children—I made video lessons. Through this, I discovered that I really enjoy creating videos. That was another gift bread gave me. Now, I share many Japanese bread recipes on YouTube so more people can enjoy baking at home.

Then, in 2024, as tourists began returning to Japan, I finally started hands-on classes for international visitors—a dream I had held for a long time. Since then, I have been deeply moved by how warmly my students from around the world welcome not only Japanese bread, but also Japanese culture itself. Seeing people care so much about my country fills me with joy and gratitude.

That is why I don’t just teach bread baking techniques—I also try to share the spirit behind Japanese bread. In Japan, we grow up learning to be thoughtful and kind to others. I believe that spirit lives in how we treat our dough, too. There is kindness in the way we place our hands gently on the dough, and quiet patience in the time we wait for it to rise. Japanese bread is soft, fluffy, and comforting. Behind it is an invisible sense of care—a kindness you can taste. I see this as part of Japan’s quiet beauty, and I hope to share it through every lesson I give.

Thank you so much for reading my story.

From my small kitchen in Tokyo, I dream of sharing Japanese bread and culture with the world. Even if your time in Japan is short, I would be so happy if you could experience the gentle flavors and traditional techniques of Japanese bread—something that has been loved in Japan for many years.

I truly look forward to baking together with you in my kitchen.