Discover the elegance of paulownia wood with a 3rd-generation woodworking master
1.5 hour private experience
Location: Kanazawa City
Offered in Japanese, with a friendly Deeper Japan guide interpreting in your language
Meet the Masters
What you’ll do
Visit a paulownia woodworking studio in Kanazawa. Observe the daily woodcrafting processes, such as carving, cutting, and burning, and learn more about the crafting process. Under the guidance of the woodcrafting artisan, craft your own paulownia work by scorching, filing, and branding the carved wooden base provided.
Who can attend
Children must be 10+
What to wear
Clothing that you don’t mind getting dirty
Availability
Everyday except Tuesdays
Session 2 (10:30 - 12:00)
Session 2 (13:30 - 15:00)
Session 3 (15:30 - 17:00)
Access
8 minutes by car from Kanazawa Station
Against the Grain
Concealed among the picturesque side streets of Kanazawa—lined with traditional machiya townhouses and steeped in enduring charm—is a sprawling wood workshop that feels untouched by time. Still operating with the same tools and techniques as in the founder’s era, the air hums with the quiet rhythm of handcraft. Now in its third generation and over 100 years old, the studio continues an unbroken legacy of craftsmanship. At the heart of the workshop’s creations is the paulownia tree, or kiri, long revered in Japanese folklore. In one beloved custom, a paulownia tree is planted at the birth of a daughter and later transformed into a chest for her wedding—a poignant symbol of parallel growth and care. But at this studio, kiri wood finds new life beyond heirloom furniture. With its uniquely lightweight yet durable qualities, paulownia is reimagined into finely crafted incense holders, tea boxes, and even modern coffee grinders—each bearing the warm, smoky luster of the wood’s natural grain, often finished with a traditional charring technique. Join the master's in creating your own paulownia object, assisting with the final steps of the woodworking process. Step inside this living workshop, where history is not preserved behind glass, but built into every object shaped by hand.
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.
