Embrace imperfection and create dazzling kintsugi art led by a professional artisan
2 hour private experience
Location: Kushiro City, Hokkaido
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
Complete the final stages of kintsugi made with genuine urushi lacquer under the careful observation of a kintsugi master. As your pottery sets, observe as the master demonstrates other time-sensitive processes of creating authentic urushi-based kintsugi. Browse the artisan's gallery of refurbished antiques, then take your own creation home.
Who can attend
Children must be 9+
Availability
Monday to Saturday
Session 1 (10:30 - 12:30)
Session 2 (13:00 - 15:00)
Unavailable on Sundays and New Year holidays.
Access
20 minutes by car from Kushiro Airport.
Beauty From the Broken
A craft of incredible beauty and deep philosophical roots, kintsugi salvages the broken and transforms it into works of subdued elegance that feature prominently in tea ceremonies, samurai culture, and the hearts of modern art enthusiasts. Each piece of pottery embodies the culture of mottainai, a Japanese cultural practice of preserving items that are still usable, as well as wabi-sabi, or acceptance of life's transcience based on Buddhist teachings. In this instructional kintsugi workshop in Kushiro, learn about the art of kintsugi and complete the final steps of the kintsugi creation process with Takahira. Originally hailing from Nara Prefecture, the region that houses Japan's ancient capital where aristocracy and the arts once prospered, Takahira migrated to Hokkaido upon invitation by a friend, and has since set up shop in the region's wide horizons. The refurbished pieces around his workspace feature earthy, neutral tones - gentle ochre, faded umber, hues of sepia, and filmy blue - and are bonded together using genuine urushi lacquer, a traditional material with a time-intensive hardening process that leaves each work durable and lustrous. Join Takahira in his Kushiro kintsugi studio for a hands-on introduction to this centuries-old art.
Cancellation Policy
Please make your booking at least 30 days in advance. See cancellation policy here.
A detailed itinerary will be emailed to you once your booking has been confirmed.
