3 hour private
Location: Naha, Okinawa
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 Masters
A 6th-generation Ryukyu lacquerware artisan, Go carries on the legacy of his family's lacquerware studio, preserving century-old techniques to suit the modern age and customer. From contemporary jewelry to traditional tundabun tiered food coffers, each piece produced possesses its own unique shine.
What you’ll do
Visit a Ryukyu lacquerware with over a century of history. Tour the gallery and learn more about the rich heritage of lacquerware in Okinawa. Head to the studio and observe lacquerware artists at work. Then, try your hand at making your own piece of lacquerware art using the "tsuikin" overlay technique. Afterward, enjoy a calm break with coffee or tea, paired with snacks and served in elegant lacquerware.
Availability
Tuesday to Saturday
Session 1 (10:00 - 13:00)
Session 2 (13:00 - 16:00)
Who can attend
Children must be 10+ years old.
What’s included
A piece of Ryukyu Lacquerware, crafted by yourself under the supervision of the Master.
You will be able to take this piece home with you, but the fresh lacquer will have to dry for around 2 months before the piece can be used.
What to wear
Please wear clothing that you don’t mind getting dirty.
You will have to take off your shoes within the lacquerware studio.
Access
25min from Naha airport by car.
Layers of Lacquer
A lavish vermillion sheen, decorated with the scrawling figure of a dragon, slivers of mother-of-pearl glinting in the sunlight: this is the beauty of Ryukyu lacquerware, a tradition passed down since the 14th Century, when Okinawa existed as the Ryukyu Kingdom. Cultural exchange and trade flourished in Okinawa, with materials and crafting knowledge cultivated from places like China and Southeast Asia, then developed to suit local customs & taste. Despite its origins in importation, Okinawa is an ideal environment for lacquerware, filled with the natural humidity required to set lacquer, as well as a range of indigenous lacquer-producing trees and sturdy hardwoods. Transforming the raw materials into a masterpiece takes incredible patience and artistry, requiring countless layers of lacquer dried and set, plus a range of techniques from inlaying shell fragments to pasting three-dimensional overlays. The effort is worth it for the lustrous final product that emerges, durable and dazzling. At a long-established lacquerware studio with over 120 years of history, step behind the scenes with a master artisan to discover how generations of accumulated knowledge are transformed into works of enduring beauty.
Cancellation Policy
Please make your booking at least 14 days in advance. See cancellation policy here.
A detailed itinerary will be emailed to you once your booking has been confirmed.
