1.5 hour private experience
Offered in Japanese, with a friendly Deeper Japan guide interpreting in your language
A minimum of 2 guests is required to book. Solo participants are welcome but will be charged the 2-person rate
Meet the Master
What you’ll do
Enter the workshop studio of a butsudan artisan, specialized in lacquer coating, and see a gallery of completed projects. Then, catch a glimpse of in-progress projects, as well as the lacquer workshop, and learn about the lacquering process. Finally, decorate a miniature Buddha statue with gold leaf, using the same techniques done by butsudan artisans.
Availability
Everyday
Session 1 (10:00 - 11:30)
Session 2 (13:30 - 15:00)
Session 3 (15:30 - 17:00)
Who can attend
Children must be 6+
Access
40 minutes by car from Hiroshima Station
Assembling Faith and Tradition
The arrival of Buddhism in Japan brought with it various crafts as well as crafting techniques, with the ancestor of the butsudan being one such crafted object. Originally a storage for Buddhist iconography, this object was designated by the then-Emperor Tenmu as a sacred space for Buddhist iconography to be worshipped from, first only allowed for nobles and high-ranking officials, during the Nara Period. It was not until the Edo Period that the general public would be able, and required, to own a butsudan, as part of the danka system, where every family was required to support their local Buddhist temple, as the shogunate sought to prohibit the practice of Christianity. Since the butsudan has evolved to be more of a place to honor the departed within the walls of the family home, outside the temple, instead of a means of restricting religious worship. For the creation of the traditional Hiroshima butsudan, it takes around 3 to 5 years, with 7 different craftspeople working in each of their area of expertise to come together to assemble the finished product. At this butsudan workshop, the master craftsman, who specializes in lacquer coating, seeks to revitalize old butsudan for the next generations to come, rebuilding butsudan to fit the smaller homes of modern Japan. Join the butsudan artisan on a tour of his workshop studio and get a glimpse into completed and ongoing projects. Enter his lacquer workshop and learn about the lacquering process. Finally, decorate a miniature Buddha statue with gold leaf, following techniques utilized by butsudan artisans, and take home with you a piece of this sacred and detailed craft.
Cancellation Policy
Please make your booking at least 7 days in advance. See cancellation policy here.
A detailed itinerary will be emailed to you once your booking has been confirmed.
