From pottery to flower arrangements, the world of Japanese traditional crafts is beautifully diverse. With different kinds of media, practices, and styles that all encapsulate Japanese culture, many travelers find themselves participating in a workshop or two, bringing home their own little piece of Japan’s traditional crafts. If you’re interested in craftsmanship or how some of the incredible things you see during your travels in this amazing country are made, this blog is for you. Today, we will introduce you to a variety of crafts and workshops we suggest you try on your next trip to Japan!
Calligraphy performed with matcha Credit: shoran.net
Matcha Calligraphy in Suruga
Do you like matcha and are interested in traditional Japanese calligraphy? Looking for a way to combine these two beloved aspects of Japan and its culture? Well, this is the workshop for you, and it’s even perfectly located in Suruga, the number 1 tea-producing region in the whole country! Rather than writing with the typical black ink, for this experience, you will be using 100% natural matcha as your ink, providing a unique twist on the art of calligraphy. The class is taught by a woman named Shoran, who is a renowned and talented Japanese calligrapher, so you are definitely in the best of hands. Once your writing is done and dry, you may notice that, over time, the vibrant green color changes, portraying the change of the seasons but also the wabi-sabi aesthetic, which represents finding beauty in the imperfect. If you get the opportunity to join this workshop, you can write any type of kanji that speaks to you to frame and take home, leaving you with a unique, beautiful and meaningful souvenir you’re sure to love for time to come.
Price: 27,000 yen
Website: https://shoran.net/
Address: 2 Chome-2ｰ5 Gofukucho, Aoi Ward, Shizuoka, 420-0031, Japan
Ceramic mug Credit: tougei-tocoton
Tougei Tocoton
Ceramics is a huge staple when it comes to traditional Japanese crafts, and you can learn and experience more about the beautiful world of pottery in Osaka within a quaint workshop led by two artisans, Anna and Ryo. The pottery made at this workshop focuses heavily on items you may find in the dining room, but you can also make other items, such as vases. From plates, bowls, cups, and even chopsticks rests, you can make whatever you desire, all led by very talented and passionate women in the popular city that is Osaka. After you’re finished, Anna and Ryo will fire your piece and ship it out to you, so you can display your new, handmade work of art proudly in your home.
Website: https://tougei-tocoton.com/
Address: 2 Chome-7-17 Ikunohigashi, Ikuno Ward, Osaka, 544-0025
Taiko Studio Credit: taiko-lab
Taiko
Taiko, also known as drums, might be a Japanese cultural activity many already know about. Whether you’ve seen taiko performances online or played a bit of taiko no tastujin at a Japanese arcade, these drums are important instruments in Japan, from which you can feel the strong energy and spirit not just from the resounding beat. But this isn’t the only way you can truly experience these beautiful drums. How? By giving it a shot yourself, of course! Luckily for those who are visiting Japan and are interested in this traditional instrument, many places allow you to try your hand at striking these large-sounding drums with wooden “bachi”, or sticks. One of these particular workshops, run by Taiko-Lab, offers excellent instructors who will introduce you to the world of Taiko and how to play properly, either by yourself or with friends and family! If you’re in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka or Kobe, we definitely suggest you check out their workshop!
Website: https://www.taikolab.com/english/
Address: 3 Chome-1-30 Jingumae, Shibuya, Tokyo 150-0001, Japan (Aoyama)
18-1 Kanda Neribeicho, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 101-0022, Japan (Akihabara)
Japan, 〒650-0021 Hyogo, Kobe, Chuo Ward, Sannomiyacho, 1 Chome−8−1 さんプラザビル 地下1階 (Kobe)
Kayoko Kondo Teaching an Ikebana Class Credit: ikebanaworkshop
Ikebana
Having been around since the end of the 15th century, Ikebana, or the art of flower arranging, is still widely practiced today, even in Japanese schools. From different techniques, styles and bases, Ikebana is a beautiful expression of art created from flowers, perfectly representing the country’s love and strong relationship with nature. In Japan, you can experience this creative, traditional medium of plants over ink in your workshops. Creator of the Ikebana Workshop, Kayoko Kondo, teaches a well-structured Ikebana class where you can make your own work of art, whether in Nagoya, Kyoto or Tokyo. We’re positive you will love the class, and leave not only being filled with beauty, but also serene and relaxed.
Price: 20,000 yen per person in person, 4250 yen for online
Website: https://ikebanaworkshop.com/
Washi Paper Workshop Experience Credit: daisuki-nippon
Washi Making
If you’ve ever tried your hand at origami before, you may have heard of washi paper. Taking a thin, near-transparent form, these often flat, colored, or even patterned sheets of paper are another staple of Japanese crafts. Beyond paper cranes, washi can be found in traditional Japanese lanterns, umbrellas, and even sliding doors. With such beautiful uses, why not learn how to make some yourself while in Japan? If you’re in Tokyo, you can find a workshop called Ozu Washi that not only sells and makes washi paper, but also offers guests classes all about this amazing piece of Japanese tradition. If this piques your interest, we urge you to sign up to one of their classes where you will learn how washi paper is made, its history, and even take part in making some for yourself that you will even be able to take home!
Price: 800-1,300 yen
Website: https://www.ozuwashi.net/en/workshop.html
Address: 3 Chome-6-2 Nihonbashihoncho, Chuo City, Tokyo 103-0023, Japan
Daruma Painting at Daimonya Credit: daimonya
Daruma Workshop
If you’ve been to Japan before, you may remember seeing small, round, typically red figurines called daruma. These dolls, which come in a variety of sizes, are symbols of good luck and fortune and are hand-painted. So, you might be thinking that must mean there’s a workshop, and you’d be right! In a city called Takasaki in Gunma Prefecture, renowned as the birthplace of these unique Japanese dolls, you can find a workshop at a warehouse called Daimonya. This spot produces about 70,000 daruma a year, so you’ll be in good hands, and so will your own personalized daruma doll that you will get to make, under the guidance of professional craftsmen. The prices are affordable as well, varying from 1,500 to 2,500 yen depending on the variety of daruma. Once you’re done, you can also visit their shop full of unique daruma you won’t find anywhere else!
Price: Starts at 1,500 yen
Website: https://www.daimonya.jp/en/experience/
Address: 124-2 Fujizukamachi, Takasaki, Gunma 370-0875, Japan
Workshop Participants Blowing Glass Credit: livejapan
Edo Furin Making
A beautiful, delicate symbol of summer, a glass windchime blowing in the breeze, chiming with its gentle tune. If you’ve been to any shrines during the summer, you’ve probably come across this very scene, known as Furin in Japanese. These unique windchimes are incredibly popular in Japan. It has even become synonymous with the hotter months. Made using glass-blowing techniques and careful hand painting, these quaint works of art have become a perfect decoration hung on porches during the summer, being found outside of shops, and as mentioned earlier, in huge assortments within shrines. In Edogawa, Tokyo, you can experience a glass blowing and painting workshop at Shinohara Maruyoshi, and make your own windchime! If glass blowing isn’t your style, don’t worry, you won’t have to sit this one out, as you can always opt to paint a pre-made chime.
Price: 1,800-2,500 yen
Website: https://www.edofurin.com/
Address: 4 Chome-22-5 Minamishinozakimachi, Edogawa City, Tokyo 133-0065, Japan
The perfect way to bring back a memento from your travels is to bring back something you made that is deeply Japanese. No matter where you go in Japan, without a doubt, that region, city, or even area is sure to have a certain unique, sometimes even local craft that you can join in on and make yourself. These workshops give you the chance to get in touch with the world of traditional Japanese crafts, whilst also giving you an understanding of the wabi-sabi aesthetics of Japan, and bring you one step closer to appreciating all of the hard work that goes into these Japanese traditions. If you’re looking for something to do this year in Japan, why not try one of these workshops, or even find one we missed yourself?
Featured Photo Credit: Alina Kruk
If you’re interested in adding any of these fun workshops to your trip plan, be sure to mention them when planning your full itinerary with our Tailored Travel experts!
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