Shape metal under the instruction of master artisans at a 6th-generation studio
2 hour private experience
Location: Tsubame City, Niigata Prefecture
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
Tour the workspace of professional metalsmiths, observing the techniques needed to bring a piece from start to finish. Discover more about the history of the craft and its connection with the region. Then, under the instruction of an artisan, hammer and shape your own copper plate to take home.
Who can attend
Children must be 10+
What you should wear
Clothing that you don’t mind getting dirty
Availability
Monday to Friday
Session 1 (09:00 - 11:00)
Session 2 (13:00 - 15:00)
Session 3 (15:00 - 17:00)
Not available on weekends and national holidays.
Access
40 minutes by car from Niigata Station
7 minutes by car from Tsubame-Sanjo Station
Hammering a Heritage
Flat sheets of metal, cold and seemingly lifeless on the artisan's table, are slowly brought to luminous life by each strike of the hammer. Step by step, the work is passed between the hands of different specialists, each shaping the work with both instinctive expertise and meticulous precision. Since 1816, this metal working studio has fostered both craft and craftsmen alike, supported by the surrounding natural resources of the area and the region's long-standing heritage of maneuvering metal. Currently, more than 20 different artisans operate here under the leadership of the 6th-generation head, whose individual work has received awards all across the country. All handmade and employing traditional techniques that have been honed for countless centuries, the metalsmiths work together to craft intricately stamped teapots, delicately durable sake cups, and gold-bodied kettles with a seamless spout. Join the artisans in a tour of the factory, observing the painstaking process of transforming metal into masterpieces right before your eyes, before taking hammer to hand and forging your own copper work. Let authentic Niigata heritage ring, just as it has for generations.
Cancellation Policy
Please make your booking at least 3 days in advance. See cancellation policy here.
A detailed itinerary will be emailed to you once your booking has been confirmed.
