Witness the elegant, spiritual carving of Buddhist iconography at a master's studio
1.5 hour private experience
Location: Mikage-cho, Kanazawa, Ishikawa
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
Learn about the history and philosophy of Buddhist icon production and then watch a demonstration, see the production process, and take a studio tour by Toshiharu.
Who can attend
Children must be 7+
Availability
Monday to Thursday
Session 1 (10:00 - 11:30)
Session 2 (13:00 - 14:30)
Session 3 (14:30 - 16:00)
Session 4 (16:00 - 17:30)
Access
10 min taxi ride from Kanazawa station.
What else you should know
If your nails are too long, they might damage the wood. Please note that you may not be able to participate in part of the program.
With devotion and a sense of responsibility,
Born in Chiba Prefecture, Toshiharu describes his work in Buddhist iconography as a life calling. Toshiharu followed that calling by apprenticing with an iconography master for several years before opening his own atelier. With devotion and a sense of responsibility, he meticulously carves custom Buddhist images at the request of individuals and temples. The splendor of his work is revealed not only through the sculpture itself, but also through the heartfelt memories of a decedent’s family members or the prayers of temple worshippers the sculpture invokes. Despite rapid mechanization of icon production, Toshiharu is committed to the personalized handwork of crafting each image one stroke at a time. Visit Toshiharu’s atelier for yourself, see the subtly unique facial expressions of each individual image, and feel the devotion that went into them all.
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.
