Thinking about craft workshops in Tokyo? TYO directories #2
A small roundup of wonderful workshops that bring you closer to Japanese craftsmanship
(tldr; here is the google list link!)
It feels like everyone you know and their Shibu Inu is visiting Japan right now - maybe you have your trip readily booked in, or perhaps it is still existing firmly in the realm of fantasy. Either way, you have come to the right place (and by this I mean right here, to this list of recommendations).
I need not continually state the national importance and global recognition of Japanese craft, but after half a year of living here (!) I feel I am capable of giving direction on where to access those crafts in Tokyo. Below, I have included four fantastic recommendations for craft workshops and experiences that either I have attended and loved, or are up next on my to-visit list. All the locations are linked and can be navigated to via the google maps list above.
If you, like me, are often thinking about craft and happen to be in Tokyo, I would highly recommend these workshops…
Has the art form of calligraphy ever peaked your interest? Maybe you’re a collector of Japanese-made Pilot pens. Or possibly you played ‘potions’ in the bath a lot as a child. If you ticked yes to any of the above boxes then this experience provided by Ink stand will absolutely be ticking yours.
Split into two parts, this workshop first offers you the choice of 17 different pigments which you will merge and mingle to create your ideal colour, shade and finish of ink. The technicians at inkstand will then take your exacting recipe and create a bottle of water-based fountain pen ink in your completely custom shade. And that’s not the only joy available at Ink stand by Kakimori! Whilst the workshop is held on the 2nd floor (that translates to the 1st floor for all my dwellers of the European continent), the floor below holds a really beautiful stationery shop containing a myriad of Japanese-made goods.
Cost: ¥5500 for experience and first bottle of ink. ¥3000 for all additional bottles.
Whilst lesser known outside of Japan, the art of Wagashi making (traditional Japanese confectionery) has a long and important history within the country - they are most often presented during tea ceremonies or on special occasions. Kominka (a word that literally translates to traditional Japanese folk house) offers a workshop which teaches the art of making nerikiri wagashi - alongside which you can sip away at a freshly whisked bowl of matcha. These pieces of confectionary are predominantly made from bean paste and sugar which, under the specialist tutelage, you mould and colour to create extremely delicate and beautiful creations.
This experience certainly offers an insight into the traditional Japanese culture that so many tourists seek, but is not always as readily available close to Tokyo as in maybe Kyoto or more rural areas.
Cost: ¥3700 per person (with extra ¥500 fee for english translation).
Japanese floristry has long held a position of cultural importance, beyond merely a practice focusing on aesthetics alone. Ikebana (can be translated to both; ‘arranging flowers’ or ‘making flowers alive’) is a practice that uses flower arranging as tool to invoke symbolic meaning, most often expressions of harmony with nature. The workshop at Atelier Soka provides a first taste of how complex this practice is and how, for many, it is a lifelong pursuit. Practitioners of the Sogetsu school of Ikebana, the instructors at this workshop create a sense of calm within the session, bringing you to a place of mindful reflection before you even touch a pair of shears.
Despite ikebana’s sparse aesthetics and minimalism, every stem you wield during this workshop is strictly guided by geometrical rules and regulations (each stem in an ikebana arrangement is actually named and possesses a symbolic meaning). Yet, with the supplementation of an informative booklet, these guidelines never feel overwhelming. Instead, I found the general principles of ikebana have greatly bled over into my casual flower arranging at home; gone are the days of full and bushy western-style arrangements. In this video here I speak about my time at Atelier Soka.
Cost: ¥28000 per person.
Tucked away in a far less visited, but still very central, neighbourhood is Letterpress Letters. A creative studio, active workshop space and cafe - this space does it all. In recent years, certainly in Europe and the US, the letterpress has had a great revival, However, Japan has a rather brief history with the letterpress as it eschewed the technique in favour of woodblock printing largely until the Edo Period. So perhaps unsurprisingly, Letterpress Letters in Tomigaya have an sizeable array of english language type that can be used during their workshops! Each of the workshops available teach the basics of the letterpress machine, however, different workshops can be chosen if you wish to create either a poster or name cards.
Whilst the studio may be operating their own quiet revival of the letterpress technique, they are certainly having an impact across the city. Their very recognisable ‘It’s your day!’ greeting card series can be found at many of the most popular shopping spots in Tokyo, offering a handcrafted and japanese-made alternative. A workshop at Letterpress Letters surely offers a Japanese perspective on a western tools*.
Cost: from ¥13200 per person