3 hour private experience
Location: Bunkyo Ward, Tokyo
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
What you’ll do
Visit an Edo kachu studio to see samurai armor made on a miniature scale. Observe how two generations of craftsmen work side by side using techniques like threading, lacquerware, and metalwork. Then, learn some of the intricate threading processes used to bring a helmet together, creating a bag tag or brooch to take home.
Availability
Only on Wednesdays
Session 1 (14:00 - 17:00)
Who can attend
Children must be 10+
Access
20 minutes by car from Tokyo Station
Worn by warriors
With towering metal prongs, gleaming black lacquer, tightly woven cords, and a distinctive flared helmet designed to shield the neck and shoulders, samurai armor cuts an unmistakably imposing figure. For centuries, samurai charged into battle under clouds of flying yumi arrows, their katana in hand, defending their domains and the daimyo lords to whom they swore loyalty. Between life and death stood only the armor on their backs—a masterpiece of form and function. Though Japan’s warring age has long since ended, the spirit of the samurai endures. Today, armor no longer serves to wage battle but to celebrate life. During Tango no Sekku, the Boys’ Festival held each May, families display miniature suits of armor or samurai helmets to honor their sons and wish them strength, courage, and good fortune. Carrying forward a lineage of Edo-period armor makers, a father-and-son duo continues this proud tradition, crafting each piece by hand with the same precision once reserved for the battlefield. The carry on the work started by the studio's original founder, an award-winning master artisan whose expertise has been recognized not just by various organizations and agencies, but also by decades of devoted customers. Their crafts transform symbols of conflict into emblems of hope—reminders that the heritage of the samurai lives on, not in combat, but in craftsmanship, loyalty, and enduring spirit.
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.
