2 hour private experience
Location: Kamakura City, Kanagawa 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 permanent exhibition of the museum and learn about the process of nihonga painting. Then, explore the rotating exhibition. Finally, try your hand at painting with the traditional nihonga materials.
Availability
Everyday except Mondays
Session 1 (10:00 - 12:00)
Session 2 (13:30 - 15:30)
Session 3 (15:00 - 17:00)
Who can attend
Children must be 6+
What’s included
A Japanese-style painting on a shikishi (square art board), drawn by yourself.
What to wear
Clothing that you don't mind getting dirty.
Access
5 minutes by car from Kamakura Station
45 minutes by car from Yokohama Station
Borrowing Nature's Palette
The terminology of "nihonga" developed during the Meiji Era as a means to differentiate Japanese art from Western art. With the Western oil paintings being considered the art of shadow and light, Japanese nihonga paintings were considered the art of lines, not relying so much on shadows to create depth and motion. However, the most notable difference between nihonga and Western oil painting was the different types of materials used to produce the works of art. The materials used in nihonga all come from aspects of nature, developed throughout its long history: traditional washi paper, silk, wood, or plaster as the base, and sumi ink, mineral-based pigments, white gofun (a white pigment made from finely crushed seashells), animal-based or vegetable-based coloring materials, and other natural pigments as the color base, mixed with nikawa, an animal hide glue, as the adhesive to hold the pigments to the base surface. At this museum in Kamakura, which preserves the artwork and the history of a nihonga artist known for both small-scale and large-scale illustrations. Join a museum representative on a tour of the museum, exploring the life and work of this artist. Then, delve into the medium of nihonga by trying your hand at painting a small piece and take home with you your very own nihonga work of art.
Cancellation Policy
Please make your booking at least 1 month in advance. See cancellation policy here.
A detailed itinerary will be emailed to you once your booking has been confirmed.
