Venture into the heart of Japan's woodworking culture at a 4th-generation studio
3 hour private experience
Location: Nanto City, Toyama
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
Visit a Toyama town famed for wood-crafting and enter a prestigious studio carrying on tradition for future generations. Led by the 4th-generation master, observe the wood carving process up close, then see some finished works. Enter the gallery to view a collection of his family's masterpieces and history, including preserved sketches of prior carvings.
Who can attend
Children must be 10+
Availability
Everyday
Session 1 (10:00-13:00)
Session 2 (14:00-17:00)
Unavailable on Obon and New Year's holidays
Access
45 minutes by car from Kanazawa Station
8 minutes walk from Zuisenjiguchi Bus Station
Born from the Chisel
A community of wood carvers once gathered around the temple grounds of Zuisen-ji Temple, contracted to construct and maintain the grand wooden structures of this iconic Toyama religious site. Now, centuries later, Inami still remains a famed location for woodcrafting in Japan, with woodworkers honing a diverse range of carving skills and often utilizing several hundred different tools to create their lifelike, expressive works. In this still-active artisanal village, nestled at the bottom edge of one of the region's staggering mountain ranges, enter a woodcarving studio led by a 3rd-generation master. Here, an impressive amount of disciples, including both those training for the day and those completing traditional Japanese live-in apprenticeships, join the master in tackling an array of projects, from intricate ranma carvings that adorn the top portion of traditional Japanese rooms and temples, to the hefty wooden entrance signs to some of Japan's most famed shrines and temples. Since 1898, this woodcarving studio has created carved designs with the desires of the client kept firmly in mind, with craftsmanship built to last for centuries: exacting with their preferences, it can often take 4 to 5 months just to select the right cut of wood to use for a project, while completing a project can take up to 5 years. Yet, they continue to carry on their original heritage of this historic village in every new creation they design. Encounter this thriving culture of crafting up-close in the expansive beauty of Toyama's countryside.
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.
