All Reviews for Art & Crafts Workshops

Very warm and simple introduction to kintsugi with the possibility to check picture books about its history and evolution.
As a complete beginner I was glad to meet the adorable teachers and to taste their delicious welcome cake and fruit tea :).

This workshop remains one of the best memories of my stay Tokyo! And a list of tools is provided so you can even buy them afterwards.

If you want to spend a good time and discover the basics of contemporary diy kintsugi, while visiting a cute and quiet, non-touristy area of Tokyo, this is your activity!

江戸切子のレッスンはすべて英語で行われました。ドイツからのオフィスの交換同僚がいて、説明や指示は非常にわかりやすかったです。

良い点：
- 駅から近い会場
- 英語での指示が理解しやすい
- 選べるグラスがたくさんある
- 当日に自分の「アート作品」を持ち帰れる
- 切ったり彫ったりする作業があるものの、とても安全
- みんなが完成した作品にとても満足していた
- 写真映えする
- 食事を楽しめる興味深い場所がたくさんある（良いロケーション）
- とても楽しく、美しい

悪い点：
- 当日の支払いは現金のみ
- 2回目以降の割引はあるのか？
- 一度に6人以上のチームにはあまり向かないかもしれない（切断機が6台しかないため）
- 90分では1つ以上作りたい場合は十分な時間ではないかもしれない

The Edo Kiriko lesson was done all in English.
We had office exchange colleague from Germany and the explanation/instructions were very easy to follow.
Pros:
-venue close to the station
-easy to understand instructions in English
-lots of glasses to chose from
-can take your "art work" home on the day
-though it involves cutting and carving, it was very safe
-everyone was very happy with the finished work
-very photogenic
-many interesting places to eat out afterwords (good location)
-lots of fun and it is beutiful
Cons:
-could only use cash for paying on the day
-any discount prices for second time on words?
-many not be so good for a team of more than 6 at a time since they only have 6 cutting machines
-90 min may not be enough time if you want to make more than one

The kind couple who run Kuge Crafts make very efficient use of the time allotted. You’ll repair only a very small break in a beautiful cup, but while you wait for various materials to harden/dry/etc., you’ll learn about the history of kintsugi, other similar art forms, and other kintsugi techniques besides epoxy putty. The treats served are delicious too. I came away wanting to do this at home; luckily you’ll receive a shopping list and photo to take to Tokyo Hands so you can buy anything you won’t find at home before you leave town.

I participated with my mother to celebrate her birthday. It was our first time, and I was worried about whether we could do it well, but the instructor was very kind, and both of us were able to create beautiful glasses. We could take the glasses home, and I think the price is very reasonable. It was a great experience.

母の誕生日お祝いに、母と2人で参加しました。初めてで、うまくできるか不安でしたが、インストラクターの先生がとても親切で、2人ともとても素敵なグラスを作成することができました。グラス、お持ち帰りができ、この価格はコスパ高いと思います。とても良かったです。

I participated alone. Everyone else was in pairs, making a total of four groups. The small number of participants allowed for thorough explanations. At the beginning, there was practice time to dig three stars, and then we used our favorite glass for the actual event. For the design, we chose our favorite from the samples on the table. It was difficult to replicate the samples perfectly, but the staff helped cover up any major mistakes. There is an additional charge for colored glasses.

一人で参加しました。私以外はペアで参加していて、全部で4組です。
少人数で説明も丁寧でした。初めに星を3つ掘る練習の時間があって、好きなグラスで本番です。デザインは机上のサンプルから好きなデザインを選びます。なかなか見本のようにできませんが、大きな修正はスタッフの方がごまかしてくれました。
色付きのグラスは追加料金が発生します。

The shop owners are stunning experts of the craft. They were extremely kind and wonderful teachers! An incredible and authentic experience that I recommend to all!

I really enjoyed this introduction to kintsugi and came away with a lovely souvenir! The couple who ran the course were very patient and the cake was delicious.

Even though I couldn't cut it neatly, the teacher skillfully supported us, and we were able to create a proper piece. The advice was kind and thorough, and they patiently worked with me, despite my clumsiness. My friends, who came from afar to participate, were also very satisfied, and we're all saying we want to do it again together.

きれいに切れなくても先生がうまくフォローしてくださりちゃんとした作品に出来上がりました。アドバイスも親切丁寧、不器用な私にも根気よく付き合ってくださいました。
遠方からわざわざ参加した友人達も大満足で、皆でまたやりたいね、と言っています。

What a beautiful experience with KUGE Crafts - we would definately visit again as it was educational as well as practical. We really learnt a lot and we took our art home with us!

Very friendly and helpful instructors, easy to learn activity.
This was my first time and I loved it

There is a little time for practice. However, if you extend the practice time, the actual performance will just be shorter.

During practice,
- Aim to create a straight and deep line.
- Without fear, slowly and firmly press the rotary file against the glass.
- Ensure the grooves are beautifully shaped like a V.

Once you grasp these tips, it's better to quickly move on to the actual draft and carving. If the V-shaped grooves are not deeply carved, they won't cast shadows, resulting in a flat finish that lacks the beauty of Edo Kiriko.

Although I booked this tour to earn points, I was able to take home a finished product that I can use, making it a fun experience that was worth more than the price. If I make it again, I’m sure I can do it even better... I think...

練習時間は少しあります。ただ、練習時間を延ばすと本番が短くなるだけです。
練習では、
・まっすぐに深めの線を作る。
・怖がらずにゆっくり強めに回転ヤスリをグラスに押し当てる。
・溝がキレイなV字型に。
なるように心がけて、少しコツを掴んだらすぐに本番の下書きと削りに入った方がよいです。
溝のV字型が深く彫れていないと、影ができずにのっぺりとした仕上がりになり江戸切子の美しさが出ません。
ポイント消化のためと予約したツアーでしたが、成果品も持ち帰れて使っていけますし、お値段以上の楽しいツアーでした。
もう一度作ればきっともっと上手にできる…と…思います…。

It has been such a nice experience because the hosts were kind and wanted so much to share their knowledge.
Kintsugi wasn't has difficult as I taught : I've just followed what they showed me.
They explained me where I can buy the tools. They made me discover another kind of japanese artcrafts like liquerware.
I loved the way they welcomed me with a delicious mango pie and a fresh fruits drink.
A delightful moment, I advice you to try this experience !

This was such a fun, interesting and enjoyable experience! Yoshiichiro and Yoshiko were so kind, knowledgeable, helpful. They were very patient as they tried to bridge the language barrier while giving instructions. They had several “cheat sheets” in English to help me understand.

They also were quite hospitable, providing snacks and even taking my photo several times during the repair process. Yoshiko also kindly showed me her ceramics studio, as I had made the piece that I used.

The entire process was easy enough, but patience and care are necessary. They gave me a list of supplies to purchase (and the address of a store so that I could bring those home with me.

Overall, I would highly recommend this experience. It’s a great introduction into the beautiful art of Japanese kintsugi! As an aside, I had mentioned to some of the staff at our hotel that I was taking this class and they scoured the hotel to find some old examples that they had in their possession. When I returned with my piece, the staff were impressed and asked for the contact info so they could recommend the Kuge’s to other hotel guests.

I had such a good time learning kintsugi, I went straight from their workshop to a craft store (with their extremely helpful bilingual shopping list!) to be able to do it more at home. The Kuge-sans were so welcoming and kind. I brought a small bowl that I had recently broken, and they helped me magically put it back together. They also had beautiful tea cups available to repair.The Kuge-sans do a wonderful job of communicating the joy of kintsugi even without too much English. They were prepared with photos and examples to make every step clear. Overall, the experience was peaceful and satisfying, and definitely a lovely way to rest from the hurry and stress of international travel.

Arrived 20 min late because we were an hour away and got a little lost, but they didn’t mind.

The workshop is led by an elderly couple who have been doing kintsugi for many years. They were even featured in a few books and magazines!

When we arrived, there was mango Mille crepe cake and apple tea, which were both SO GOOD. It’s summer when we went, so the snack and drink were both so refreshing.

We picked our cups and got right to work. They walked us through the process step by step and gave us a list of the steps and materials to buy at the store if we wanted to do kintsugi on our own at home.

We got to see some of the kintsugi works they fixed, and some were so intricately re-pieced, it blew our minds.

Overall, I had so much fun. The couple is super sweet and take pics of you on their iPad as you’re working and email them to you, since your hands are full.

The next time I go back to japan, I will take their class again, without a doubt. I really do recommend taking this class because it’s such a unique experience that I’ll always remember, along with having a completely uniquely fixed cup .

The picture I attached from the book is the picture of the couple.

We participated as a couple. We had accumulated points on Veltra, so we decided to join this experience that we were interested in. The instruction was kind and thorough, and after some practice, we were ready for the real thing! Experiencing it deepened my appreciation for Edo Kiriko. The way to apply force and the difficulty of achieving uniformity were all refreshing, and enjoying a drink from the finished glass was the best!

夫婦での参加です。ベルトラでのポイントが溜まっていたので興味のあったこちらに参加しました。親切丁寧に教えていただき、練習してから本番！
体験してみて江戸切子の魅力がまた深まりました。力の入れ方、均一にする難しさ、何もかもが新鮮で出来上がったグラスで飲む晩酌は最高です。

I had a delightful time at this class. Every effort was made to make it a special experience. I cannot wait to reveal my work in two weeks time.

Yoshiichiro and Yoshiko were wonderful hosts! Kintsugi and the philosophy of wabi sabi are very important to my husband and I, so while we were on our honeymoon in Japan we were so excited to take this class.

The Kuge's welcomed us with refreshing apple tea and a fruit / tart dessert and gave us aprons before getting started. They had several cups that we could choose from to repair. The process was relatively quick, with some repetitive sections (filing) and some waiting for our cups to dry before moving on to the next step. Yoshiko had a very good English level, and we appreciated her explanations and perspective.

Their art and ceramic studio have been featured in various guides and magazines. You are in good, expert hands in this class.

We also took their recommendation and ate dinner at Tensuke (tempura restaurant in Koenji) after the class. It was one of our favorite meals of the trip!

I would 100% do this activity again as well as any others run by Kuge Crafts. Despite being early I was welcomed in with homemade sweets and tea. I've only booked the session for myself despite travelling with my friend, she said she'd be happy walking around the local area for the 2 hours or so while I was in there, but upon seeing her they welcomed her to stay and offered her the same food and drink with the most wonderfully giving attitudes, genuinely the height of Japanese hospitality.

The method of kinstugi, the pattern on my bowl, and the making of the brushes, epoxies involved were all explained in detail, and as we waited for the putty on my bowl to set, Yoshiko showed my friend and I her other workshop and the pieces of artwork she was most proud of.

Both Yoshiko and Yoshiichiro spoke enough English to have a nice conversation. You really are getting and entire experience as well as just learning a traditional craft. Can't recommend this enough.

This was a wonderful afternoon. Our hosts were very kind and patient teachers. The homemade apple tea was lovely. Loved that we could take home a project. One misunderstanding however: A couple of us brought pieces to work on but they were not appropriate as they were not chipped or cracked. There is not enough time to break and glue a piece during the class. There were a variety of chipped and cracked, (antique!) vessels that we could choose from. During down time, our host showed us pieces she had completed to demonstrate the possibilities for future projects. Loved that she gave us a list of supplies and where to buy them, in Tokyo, if we want to continue. Great event.

The Kintsugi class was everything I had hoped for and more. Yoshiichiro and Yoshiko are probably the sweetest people you will ever meet. When I arrived, they had a delicious snack that Yoshiko had prepared and served me some tea. After a bit of conversation, we started the workshop. They were thorough with the instructions, gave me time to write notes and assisted when necessary. They gave me a tour of the pottery studio next door while I was waiting for my piece to dry. When I finished the workshop they gave me a list of supplies for doing Kintsugi at home and encouraged me to message them if I had any questions. I went to Tokyu Hands the next day, gave them the list and purchased all the supplies needed. I would recommend this workshop to anyone going to Tokyo. I didn't take many pictures because I was charging my phone during the workshop. I will try to upload the finished product after the 2 weeks required for my piece to set. They packaged up my cup nicely for me to travel home with.

The teacher was very kind and took the time to help us create something we were satisfied with! It became a wonderful memory.

先生も丁寧に教えてくださり、時間をかけて満足いくものを作れました！とてもステキな思い出になりました。

I celebrate my birthday every year with my close friend, and this year is a milestone year. I was thinking of something memorable when I came across this experience. The explanation was very thorough, and I received various thoughtful gestures, allowing us to have a wonderful time together. I would like to use this service again if the opportunity arises. I also want to share it with my friends!

誕生日が近い親友と、毎年二人でお誕生日を祝っております。今年は節目の年。何か思い出になる品を。
と思っていた時に、こちらの体験を見付けました。
説明は大変丁寧でしたし、様々な気配りも頂き、
体験と共に、素晴らしいひとときを過ごす事が出来ました。また機会がありましたら利用したいです。
お友達にも広めたいな、と思いました！

Cannot recommend this experience enough. Not only were we served delicious tea and cake handmade by Mrs. Kuge, she and her husband were very diligent with their teaching and even showed us where to buy everything we needed to make our own lacquerware at home. Definitely bringing visiting friends and family here again in the future. A little Japanese will go a long way, but not necessary. Mrs. Kuge speaks English well, and her husband is so sweet it doesn’t matter :)

Yoshiichiro and Yoshiko Kuge are an amazing, knowledgeable, jovial, kind, patient, and helpful couple. Husband speaks limited english but the wife speaks decent English for non-Japanese speakers to get by. I truly truly enjoyed the class and getting to know them and the other guest with us that afternoon. They were even kind enough to let me practice my proficient but very rusty Japanese with them :) I learned so much and was completely engrossed in the experience. For this lesson, they taught us how to repair an antique Japanese cup of our choice to bring home or BYOC (bring your own ceramic!). It was an intimate setting and they gave us the knowledge, tips/tricks, and a list of recommended materials we can go out and buy ourselves at a local crafts shop for about ~3000 yen. Home baked sweets, snacks, and iced tea were provided during breaks and it was all so yummy!! I was given a peanut snack and informed them that I was allergic, but no problem! I was immediately given a better snack! Shinsetsu na~! They even took pictures of/for us as we were repairing our ceramics and sent it back to us over email to share with our friends/family! I couldn't be more thrilled about this experience and recommend it to anyone visiting the area. Also important to note: they have a cute 19 year-old half-blind cat that may come out from hiding to say hi if you're lucky enough.

The tutor is so nice and his English is easy to understand. We feel a little bit strange when we are on the way because it is located in residential area. However, the image changed when we get into the classroom.

The tools are well prepared, instructions are clear, the tutor is very nice. And the most important thing is we like our product so much!

Just one concerning point for foreigners that we need to buy some boxes to store our product well. Or else, we are not able to bring them to our home safely since we need to take flight.

The total experience is amazing. I will recommend it to my friends. I'd also like to try other food sample classes from this tutor when I travel to Tokyo later.

Really enjoyed spending time at kuge! I learned to repair ceramics and create art with a technique called kintsugi. They were very welcoming and exemplified Japanese hospitality. Highlight of my time in japan. Inspired to practice what I have learned!

With all the beautiful places and amazing things to do in Japan, it would seem hard to pick a favorite. But this is easily my favorite thing I did while in Japan. The art of Kintsugi is very interesting and I had read about it a few times. I am so happy that now I got to experience it myself. Yoshiichiro and Yoshiko were incredibly nice hosts who made the experience so much better. This an actual souvenir that I will use and cherish because I made it myself with the help of wonderful teachers, instead of buying something.

I highly recommend this experience to everyone, you will not regret it. Thank you Yoshiichiro and Yoshiko!

Since experiencing this, I've been really curious about the cut part of the cup (laughs). My family and I have started discussing how difficult it is. I'm grateful to the very kind and encouraging lady. I think it became a wonderful memory at the end of the Heisei era. If I have the chance again, I would definitely like to participate.

この体験をしてから、コップの切り込み部分が気になって気になって（笑）
これは難しいなぁ、とか家族で語るようになりました
とても親切で褒め上手なお姉さんに感謝です
平成最後にとても良い記念になったと思います
また機会があれば是非参加してみたいです

This was an amazing experience that I highly recommend. Yoshiko and Yoichiichiro were incredibly welcoming and kind, even going so far as to give us homemade cake and flavored tea.

I went with my boyfriend and we were the only ones in the workshop, which turned out great. I knew just enough Japanese and they knew just enough English for us to communicate well and even have some fun conversation. They are clearly accomplished artists and were great teachers as they walked us through the process of repairing our teacups. We left with two beautiful pieces that we repaired ourselves with their instruction, and I couldn't be happier with the experience.

On top of everything else, we received a comprehensive list of materials to go purchase at Tokyo Hands later if we wanted to try kintsugi on our own at home (which we immediately went out and got). If you have any interest in the art of kintsugi and want instruction from a very knowledgeable and kind couple, this workshop is definitely the way to go.