Tokyo Kintsugi Workshop: Repair a Sake Cup & Take It Home in a Box
Discover the art of kintsugi with our hands-on kintsugi workshop in Tokyo. In a quiet craft studio near Todoroki Valley, you’ll mend a broken sake cup with lacquer and your choice of brass powder (gold-tone) or tin powder (silver-tone), guided step by step by a local artisan, then take your finished piece home the same day in a traditional wooden masu box.
- 90 Mins
- 1-4 Participants (Larger groups on request)
- Tokyo
- Easy
★★★★★
?? Reviews on Trip Advisor
From
¥ 12,500
Per Person
- Introduction to kintsugi history and urushi lacquer
- Sake cup (ochoko) of your choice to repair
- All tools and materials, with step-by-step instruction
- Finished cup presented in a wooden box to take home
Experience Overview
Looking for a meaningful way to experience Japanese craft in Tokyo? Our kintsugi workshop in Tokyo invites you to slow down and learn the centuries-old art of mending broken ceramics with lacquer and metallic powder.
Your session takes place at Studio CIRCOLO, a bright, quiet craft studio in Setagaya, a short walk from Todoroki Station and the green ravine of Todoroki Valley. After an introduction to kintsugi and natural urushi lacquer, you’ll choose a broken or chipped sake cup and repair it step by step with guidance from the studio’s instructor: rejoining the pieces, refining the repair, brushing on lacquer, and finishing the lines with your choice of brass powder (gold-tone) or tin powder (silver-tone).
Whether you’re a craft lover, traveling as a couple, or simply looking for a calm moment away from the city, this kintsugi experience leaves you with a one-of-a-kind sake cup, presented in a traditional wooden box (masu), and a new way of seeing beauty in imperfection.
Your Experience & Highlights
What to Expect
Introduction to Kintsugi
Learn the history and philosophy of kintsugi and the natural urushi lacquer used in traditional repair
Choose Your Sake Cup
Pick a broken or chipped ochoko from the studio's collection of shapes, colors and patterns
Hands-On Repair
Rejoin, fill and refine your cup with step-by-step support from the instructor
Metallic Powder Finish
Brush on lacquer and dust the repair lines with brass (gold-tone) or tin (silver-tone) powder, then take your cup home in a wooden box. Real gold or silver powder is available as an upgrade.
Take It Home & Let It Cure
Let the lacquer fully cure before using your cup for drinking. The studio will explain how long to wait and how to care for it.
Why Choose This Experience
A Living Japanese Craft
Experience the philosophy of kintsugi, which celebrates repair and imperfection rather than hiding them
Natural Urushi Finish
While many short kintsugi workshops use synthetic materials, your cup is finished with natural urushi lacquer
Beginner-Friendly
No experience needed. The instructor guides you through every step, with an illustrated English guide provided
A Meaningful Souvenir
Take home your one-of-a-kind sake cup the same day in a traditional wooden masu, ready to display or give as a gift
Flexible Time Slots
Choose morning, afternoon or Tuesday evening sessions on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays
Important Details
Know Before You Go
- Duration: 1.5 hours (about 50 minutes of hands-on work)
- Difficulty: Easy, no experience needed
- Group Size: up to 4 participants per online booking. For groups of 5–12 or a private studio session, please contact us.
- Age: 18+ only, because the workshop uses lacquer and broken ceramics
- Location: Studio CIRCOLO (Todoroki), a 7-minute walk from Todoroki Station
- Language: The workshop is conducted in Japanese and simple English, supported by an illustrated English step-by-step guide and a translation app. Studio staff are not fluent in English. For detailed explanations, we recommend booking a professional interpreter (available on request at extra cost).
- Allergy Notice: natural urushi lacquer may cause skin irritation in some people. Aprons and arm covers are provided, and disposable gloves are used when handling lacquer. Long sleeves are still recommended.
- Exclusions: transportation to and from the studio, interpreter fees, personal expenses
Cancellation Policy
- Bookings of 1–4 guests: free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start time
- Cancellations within 24 hours of the start time: 100% charge
- No-shows: 100% charge
- Groups of 5 or more (booked on request): cancellations within 15 days of the experience are charged 100%
- Date changes: please contact us if you wish to change your booking date. Changes depend on studio and instructor availability and may not always be possible.
Meeting Point
Studio CIRCOLO (Todoroki)
〒158-0082 4-18-12-102 Todoroki, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Nearby Attraction: The studio is a 10-minute walk from Todoroki Valley, a leafy ravine along the Yazawa River and one of Tokyo’s few natural valleys. Its shaded walking trail leads to Todoroki Fudōson Temple, making it a peaceful stop before or after your workshop.
