Experience the layered process of 200-year-old Edo ukiyo-e woodblock printing
2 hour private experience
Location: Shinjuku 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 Master
What you’ll do
Tour the workshop studio and learn about the history of Edo ukiyo-e, as well as see examples of both historical prints and prints reproduced by the master himself. Then, under guidance from the master, ink and print your one-of-a-kind ukiyo-e print.
Who can attend
Children must be 7+
Availability
Everyday
Session 1 (09:00 - 11:00)
Session 2 (13:00 - 15:00)
Access
10-minute walk from Akebonobashi Station, Wakamatsu-Kawada Station, and Higashi-Shinjuku Station
25 minutes by car from Tokyo Station
What’s included
A hand-printed woodblock print of your choice.
Marked Precision
Blossoming in the Edo era between the 17th and 19th centuries, ukiyo-e, or woodblock prints and paintings of the floating world, were known for depicting everything from popular culture, such as kabuki and sumo, to natural landscape scenes, as well as images from folklore and history. They were often rendered in black and white or with a limited number of colors, either painted by hand or with one or two additional color ink blocks. With the introduction and popularization of the nishiki-e multi-colored woodblock printing by Suzuki Harunobu, ukiyo-e were able to be produced as full color images, with each color corresponding to a separate carved woodblock. In addition to a variety of colors, different traditional inking techniques, including bokashi (gradation), were employed to enhance the details of the artwork. Experience the careful and precise process of ukiyo-e woodblock printing with an ukiyo-e printing expert trained in color division. With up to 30 years of training necessary to perfect it, color division is an art in itself, as it designates how many woodblocks the carver has to make as each block corresponds to one color, as well as what colors should be used and in what order to create the desired outcome. Though laborious, this artform has survived the test of time, with its traditional techniques being used to restore and reproduce masterpieces of the past. Try your hand at printing your own unique ukiyo-e to take home a piece of this traditional Edo art form.
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.
