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Osaka Gas and Tablecross Collaborate to Promote Culinary Culture Experiences for Foreign Visitors to Japan — Reservations Open for Cooking Classes Provided by Osaka Gas Cooking School
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November 7, 2025
Osaka Gas Co., Ltd.
Osaka Gas Cooking School Co., Ltd.
Tablecross Co., Ltd.
Osaka Gas Co., Ltd. (President and Representative Director Masataka Fujiwara, hereinafter ‘Osaka Gas’) and Tablecross Co., Ltd. (CEO and Representative Director Kaoru Shirotsukasa, hereinafter ‘Tablecross’) have entered into a service agreement aimed at providing inbound tourists with culinary experience programs designed to capture demand related to food (‘Business Development Support for Capturing Inbound Food Demand’), and have initiated collaboration (hereinafter ‘this collaboration’).
As a venue for inbound tourists to experience Japanese food culture, Osaka Gas Cooking School Co., Ltd. (President and Representative Director Satoshi Matsura, hereinafter ‘Osaka Gas Cooking School’), a wholly owned subsidiary of Osaka Gas, will host cooking classes. Through Tablecross’s gourmet platform for inbound tourists, ‘byFood,’ reservations for these cooking classes will begin today.
■ Background of the Collaboration
In recent years, Japanese food culture has been gaining global attention, supported by the registration of ‘Washoku’ (traditional Japanese cuisine) as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage and increasing health-conscious trends.
In addition to enjoying authentic Japanese cuisine, inbound tourists are also highly interested in hands-on experiences such as making the food themselves, leading to a sharp rise in popularity for cooking classes and food experience programs. In particular, there is growing demand for programs that offer deeper cultural insights, including popular menus like sushi and ramen, as well as traditional dishes featuring vegan options and fermented foods. ※1
Furthermore, with the opening of integrated resorts (IRs) following the ‘Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan,’ it is anticipated that many inbound tourists will continue to visit the Kansai region. By creating new food experiences in this area, the three companies aim to not only position cooking experiences as tourism content but also promote Japan’s traditional food culture internationally while establishing a sustainable business model.
※1: Based on reservation data from ‘byFood’
■ Purpose and Overview of the Collaboration
As part of an experimental project with plans for full-scale implementation in the future, a cooking class will be held on November 21 (reservations open on November 7).
Through this collaboration, the global perspective and outreach of Tablecross will be combined with Osaka Gas Cooking School’s expertise in managing cooking classes to create an environment where foreign visitors to Japan can more easily participate in culinary experiences. Furthermore, through surveys conducted at these cooking classes, Osaka Gas Cooking School will gain insights into the preferences and needs of foreign visitors, contributing to the development of more appealing food experiences.
While Osaka Gas Cooking School has previously organized cooking workshops for groups of foreign tourists visiting Japan, this partnership will enable the school to offer comprehensive cooking classes targeting individual participants.
Additionally, the following initiatives will contribute to promoting cultural exchange and advancing sustainable tourism.
■ Dissemination of Japan’s traditional food culture Creating opportunities to share Japanese food culture overseas through culinary experiences.■ Promotion of international exchange Providing a platform for communication between foreign visitors to Japan and Japanese instructors.■ Utilization of local produce and seasonal ingredients Promote the proactive use of local ingredients and the development of recipes that utilize seasonal produce.■Response to Food Diversity Through the development of menus that consider religious and dietary practices, provide an experience accessible to many.■Utilization of a Social Contribution Platform TableCross partners with NPOs, donating school meals equivalent to ten times the number of reservations made on ‘byFood’ to children in developing countries for every reservation.
This collaboration is a new initiative combining Osaka Gas Cooking School’s over 100 years of history and culinary instruction expertise with the outreach of TableCross’s gourmet platform ‘byFood.’
Through this partnership, we aim to promote Japanese food culture internationally through foreign visitors to Japan, deepen international mutual understanding, and establish a model for sustainable tourism.
■Content of the Cooking Class
The cooking class will focus on hands-on experiences preparing iconic Japanese and Kansai dishes such as “takoyaki,” “okonomiyaki,” “sushi,” and “ramen.” Under the guidance of professional instructors, participants will have the opportunity to enjoy cooking these dishes from scratch.
Additionally, gluten-free and vegan-friendly menus have been developed to accommodate diverse dietary preferences and needs.
■Small Class Sizes Solo travelers can also participate comfortably.■English Support In addition to explanations and support provided by instructors or interpreters, recipes are also available in English.■Food Culture Explanation The program is designed to allow participants to learn about the regional characteristics and history behind the cuisine.■Tasting and Networking Participants can enjoy the finished dishes on-site while interacting with the instructor and other attendees.
Reservations are accepted through the platform for inbound visitors to Japan, ‘byFood,’ allowing participants to confirm their preferred menu and any food allergies in advance, ensuring a worry-free experience.
■Future Developments
Through this initiative, the three companies will assess the needs and preferences of inbound visitors regarding Japanese food experiences, aiming to enhance various cooking classes and expand programs targeting foreign residents.
■ About “byFood”
“byFood” is a gastronomy tourism-focused and socially contributive platform designed for foreign visitors to Japan, promoting unique gourmet and culinary cultural experiences. Before traveling, it functions as a media outlet providing information on Japanese food culture in English; during the trip, it serves as an OTA (Online Travel Agency) site for booking dining experiences and restaurant reservations; after returning home, users can purchase Japanese food products via its EC (Electronic Commerce) site, offering end-to-end support for visitors seeking authentic Japanese culinary experiences.
Service site: Here is the webpage.
■ Company Overview
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AloJapan.com