What's the best thing about exploring Japan with kids? For us, it may be the eating. With two kids born in Tokyo, I can say without doubt that one of our favorite things to do together is cook, eat and talk about Japanese food. One of our children's favorite Japanese meals is also one of the simplest: udon. If you've ever dug into a bowl of these thick and hearty wheat noodles, then you'll know why it has its fans.

But can you make them yourself? We recently did, and it made for a fantastic afternoon. At Iricosky (pronounced "Irikosuki"), families learn how to make udon noodles in a small apartment near downtown Osaka. The class is very hands-on. In fact, it's also "feet-on," but we'll get to that in a minute. Here we made udon from scratch, transforming raw ingredients into the delectable noodles kids love so much.

All the ingredients are included in the class; however, there are a few suggested items to bring along, such as an apron and containers to carry your noodles home. If you prefer, you can also eat your creation right then and there for an additional fee of ¥540 per person.