Looking for a unique activity in Tokyo, especially on a rainy day? Well I had a few of those days on my trip to Japan thanks to a passing typhoon. A chopsticks workshop in Tokyo ended up the perfect way to spend an hour or two indoors while experiencing a little Japanese culture. Get hands-on creating your own set of chopsticks, from selecting the wood to the finishing details. You’ll end up with an amazing personalized souvenir to take home. Here’s what you can expect from this creative chopsticks workshop Tokyo activity.
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Where Is The Chopsticks Workshop Tokyo?
Good news is there isn’t just one chopsticks workshop Tokyo location. There are a number of them around the city, and a couple of different companies. That gives you a good chance of finding one without having to travel too far.
I was staying in Ginza, and found a workshop not far from Tokyo train station – Chopsticks Studio Ginza. Access to a number of metro stops and walkable from Tokyo station made it very easy to find.
You’ll also find workshop locations at a number of companies in other popular areas such as Shinjuku, Shibuya or Asakusa. All offer different variations of the same workshop, with pretty competitive prices.
TOP TRAVEL TIP: This isn’t just something you’ll find in Tokyo, these workshops will be in other major cities like Osaka and Kyoto. But I took my class in Tokyo, so that’s what this post will cover.
How To Book Your Workshop
Workshops start pretty much every hour in most locations, so you can easily fit this around any other plans you might have. Because there are so many workshops, this also means you might not have to book too far in advance. I was able to book on the same morning I took the class, but we did travel in the quieter season.
I booked my chopsticks workshop Tokyo experience through GetYourGuide. You can also book on the likes of Viator, or with the studios directly.
If it’s not too busy, you may also be able to just walk in off the street without a booking. That’s what some people did where I was. I do prefer to book things though.
How Much Is A Chopsticks Workshop In Tokyo?
You might see these workshops advertised for around $10 and think “there’s no way that’s the final price!”. But if you don’t care about any specialized wood or upgrades to your chopsticks, you can actually take the class for that price. There are, of course, additions that will raise the cost of your workshop, and they are tempting. Once you’re there you are likely to go for at least one of them, but you won’t feel pressured.
I chose to go with a prettier wood, which had an upgrade cost. I also chose to get my chopsticks engraved with my name, another additional cost. But if you choose one of the base wood types and don’t do anything else, you can really take the class for around $10.
TOP TRAVEL TIP: You may see workshops for a higher price online or through GetYourGuide. These probably include premium wood varieties, and could essentially be “pre-paying” those upgrades I mentioned. Best to check what’s included in whatever you book.
How Long Will It Take To Make Your Chopsticks?
This isn’t an activity that needs to be done in a rush, nor is it something that will take the whole day. Expect to spend around one hour in any chopsticks workshop Tokyo has to offer. If you don’t want to feel rushed, have more questions or need more help, or if it’s busy with a larger class then you might spend closer to 1.5 hours.
The speed with which you move through the class will mostly come down to how comfortable you are at woodwork. And whether you choose a harder or softer type of wood for your chopsticks. Either way, instructors are at hand to guide you throughout.
Since we were hiding from the rain, we were in no real rush so spent almost 90 minutes. But others were fitting this workshop in between other activities so were there only an hour. Workshop spaces are typically large enough to accommodate the consistent wave of people looking to create their own custom souvenirs. So enjoy your experience and go at a pace that you feel comfortable.
Detailed Guide To A Chopsticks Workshop Tokyo
My experience may differ from an experience you encounter since different studios could have slightly different methods or payment plans. That said, in all the research I did for a chopsticks workshop Tokyo (or elsewhere), they all appear to be quite similar. Want to know more about what’s involved in making your very own souvenir from Japan? Keep reading…
CHOOSE THE WOOD
If, like me, you’ve already researched the class, you know there will be a choice of woods to use. Choosing the wood might be a quick or slow process depending on how torn you are between the beautiful choices. In the workshop I took, there were 11 woods available to use.
The class I booked was very cheap. Therefore only 3 of the 11 wood types available were included in the base price for the class: Chestnut, Beech and Japanese Hinoki. They were all lighter in color and perfectly nice woods for your custom-made chopsticks. Choosing any of the remaining 8 wood types required an additional fee ranging from 1000-6000 Yen per pair.
The cheaper upgrade options included a darker brown Walnut, or a native Japanese hardwood called Keyaki with it’s unique grain patterns. The most expensive were Yakusugi ancient cedar or the durable (and aptly named) Purple Heart.
I compromised by selecting the beautiful orange-red Padauk wood, a strong hardwood from Africa. The color was what drew me in. It cost me an additional 4000 Yen, but I’m happy with my upgrade choice.
SHAPE YOUR CHOPSTICKS
After selecting your wood you’ll spend the bulk of your energy on your next task – shaping it. You’ll take your chosen wooden sticks over to a workbench and learn how to use a wood plane to get that typical tapered chopsticks shape. Good news, this is a pretty foolproof activity.
The custom-built wooden planes have a slot for your wooden stick which allows you to chop away to the required thickness. You have to turn the wood as you go, but as long as you keep it in place you’re golden. It is a great workout too!
The hardwoods take a little more effort than the softer woods, but instructors will guide you as needed. I panicked as the plane made my hardwood sticks a little too jagged in one spot, but was able to right it by going with the grain the other way. Once you’re done though, your wood will look more like chopsticks.
SAND THEM DOWN
Next up, smoothing your chopsticks down. Using some sandpaper you’ll systematically buff the sticks, rounding the sharper edges, and smoothing out any bumps. My biggest challenge was not getting carried away and making them uneven.
Here’s where you can shape them to your own preference. Want a finer point on your chopsticks? Prefer your handles a little rounder or a little more square? Test as you go, but keep working on them until they feel right in your hands.
PERSONALIZE YOUR CHOPSTICKS
You may call it a day with your chopsticks modifications at this point. Or, like me, you might opt for the extra personalized touch. Most workshops will give you the option to have your chopsticks engraved.
This isn’t usually included in any pre-paid fees, even with premium wood choices. But, it’s not super expensive, probably only around 1000-1200 Yen.
Given the choice of having my name written in English or Japanese characters, I went with the latter. When in Rome, right…er, I mean Japan! Our instructor had us write down our names, then came back with options on how to write in Japanese Kanji since there aren’t direct translations of English names to Japanese.
You’ll end up with something closest sounding to your name, and hopefully nothing that isn’t a stupid translation. After years of living in China, where my name can translate as “hungry “hungry horse”, I figured it couldn’t get much worse. With a little bit of trust, and whole lot of Google translate checking, my chopsticks were engraved.
TREAT AND PACKAGE
The last step in your chopsticks making journey will be treating them and packing them for the long journey home. You’ll put a little bit of oil on the wood, in the same way you might a chopping board. This will stop the chopsticks from drying out, and protect them against food.
Next, pop them in a package, with a few of your hard earned wood shavings if you like. That’ll keep the oil from getting on your clothes or bag while it dries in. And give a little more protection to your new souvenir.
TOP TIP: At home, simply rub in some food based oil (canola, vegetable, whatever you like) every so often to maintain them.
EXTRA ADD ONS
Congratulations, you’ve got your own unique pair of chopsticks. What else can you possibly need? While you can certainly call it a day here here and pay for your outstanding bill (if you upgraded the wood, or chose a personalization), the workshops usually have a few other items you can purchase.
I was so close to being out the door when I spotted some cute little chopsticks rests. Impossible to resist due to the utter cuteness of some of them, I dropped another couple of thousand Yen. Zero regrets, I’m now the proud owner of my own little dumpling chopsticks rest.
Chopsticks Workshop Tokyo Final Thoughts
Touristy? Yes. Gimmicky? A little. A fun way to spend an hour with a non-mass produced souvenir? Absolutely! This was my favorite souvenir from my trip, more than any of the magnets or other generic gifts you will find.
On a rainy day, a chopsticks workshop Tokyo experience is a great way to stay out of the rain. The instructors were friendly, helpful and very reassuring in my quest to make the best possible paid or chopsticks the world has ever seen. Success…I love the chopsticks I made.
With the wood upgrade and engraving my chopsticks cost me around $50-60 to make. I could have made them for a fraction of that cost without any of the extras, it’s true. Since I was only going to do this once, though, I was happy to have exactly what I wanted for a little more. But if you’re looking for a cheap (and unique) experience then you can happily walk away with your own chopsticks for little more than you’ll pay for a pair in the store.
Overall I couldn’t be more pleased with my chopsticks, and would absolutely recommend this activity to anyone looking for something different to do in Tokyo. Since my trip to Japan left me with a new ramen obsession, this souvenir couldn’t be more practical either. And chopsticks are way easier to make than forks!
If you’ve enjoyed this post, leave a comment or share using the social media buttons below. Would you be tempted by a chopsticks workshop Tokyo experience on a trip to Japan? Would you keep your activity cheap and cheerful, or splash out for some upgrades?
