A woman kneeling on a mat in a hallway, smiling, with framed certificates and a portrait on the wall behind her.

Step into the World of Japanese Fermentation at a Traditional Home in Nakatsu, Oita

Meet your host, Haruka, a certified bilingual Gut Health Coach, and experience Japanese fermentation in her welcoming home

Start Your Fermentation Journey

Choose Your Fermentation Experience in Nakatsu

A smiling woman with black hair tied back, wearing a blue top and patterned black and white pants, appears to be working in a kitchen with red tiled walls, various kitchen utensils hanging on the wall, and kitchen appliances and bottles on the counter.

Half-Day Private Japanese Home Fermentation Experience

Explore a traditional 1978 Japanese home and experience everyday Japanese food culture through fermentation, seasonal ingredients, and simple vegan-friendly home cooking.

Explore Experience Details

A woman with long blonde hair smiling and holding a framed certificate of completion for a Japanese fermented foods practitioner program, standing in front of a traditional Japanese shoji screen.

4-Day Private Japanese Fermented Foods Certificate Course

Are you a health coach or wellness practitioner ready to deepen your knowledge of Japanese fermented foods?
Join this 4-day certificate course to explore traditional fermentation, its cultural roots, and its connection to gut health.

Apply for the Course

The Gut Chef Japan Difference

✅ Your host, Haruka Kato, is a bilingual certified Gut Health Coach with experience hosting cooking classes and half-day retreats
✅ A private experience rooted in Nakatsu, a historic castle town known for its deep fermentation culture and food traditions.
✅ Small, thoughtfully designed experiences and certificate courses for a more personal, hands-on learning journey.

Who will be your host?

A woman in a blue shirt kneels on a traditional Japanese tatami mat floor, holding a tan dog with a red collar. Another dog, a gray tabby cat, is sitting in the foreground, facing the woman and the dog. The room features shoji sliding doors, wooden cabinetry, and decorative Japanese wall art.

Hi, I’m Haruka — thank you so much for being here.

I’m based in Nakatsu, Oita, where I specialize in Japanese fermented foods and medicinal-style home cooking.

My time living in Vancouver helped me reconnect with Japanese food culture in a deeper way, and since then I’ve been sharing this perspective with travelers and guests from around the world.

Through my experiences, I aim to make Japanese fermentation and home cooking feel simple, meaningful, and something you can confidently bring into your everyday life.

Learn More About My Story

How to Plan Your Trip to Nakatsu for This Experience

Where do you host your experiences?

Our “temple of fermentation” (our fermentation studio) is just a 5-minute drive from Nakatsu Station, where I will pick you up.

We’re easy to reach by express train - around 1.5 hours from Fukuoka Airport or 30 - 45 minutes from Beppu.

Click here to learn more about how to get to our location from Fukuoka airport or Beppu station.

When do you accept bookings for your experiences?

Private Fermentation Experience: Every Thursday through Saturday
Private Japanese Fermentation Practitioner Certificate Course: Every Wednesday through Saturday

Is it cash only?

We accept all major credit cards, as well as Link, Apple Pay, and Google Pay.

Do you have any accommodation recommendations in Nakatsu or Beppu?

I’ve put together my guide on where to stay & explore in Nakatsu and Beppu. Click the button below to see what works for you!

Discover Nakatsu and Beppu