Buddhist Mandala Painting Experience at a Restored Kura and Tea Room in Kamakura

A Restored Storehouse and Tea Room in the Heart of Kamakura

Located in Kanagawa Prefecture, not too far away from Tokyo, Kamakura is a historical town that's nicknamed "The Kyoto of East Japan" for its traditional Japanese attractions such as old temples and shrines. It flourished as a samurai town during the Kamakura period (1185–1333); today, it remains one of Japan's most popular tourist destinations.

This experience takes place at Kura and Tea Room AWAI, a unique space created by relocating and restoring a traditional storehouse from Sendai and a tea room from Senju, Tokyo. Tucked away in a calm and refined neighborhood just a short walk from Kamakura Station, the venue quietly blends into its natural surroundings, offering a sense of timelessness.

The mandala painting experience is held inside the kura (storehouse), where a spacious gallery unfolds beneath high ceilings supported by large wooden beams and a central pillar. Surrounded by natural materials, the space is filled with a dignified stillness that gently clears the mind and invites deep concentration.

Your instructor for this experience will be Mami Otaki, the owner and producer of AWAI Gallery. After working as a food coordinator, she began to take an interest in traditional handicrafts such as Kyoto's Nishijin-ori textiles and Kamakura's Kamakura-bori lacquerware. In 2017, she began creating such crafts, establishing her brand, AWAI, in the process. 

Not long after, Ms. Otaki held her first exhibition to great acclaim at a gallery in Paris. Currently, she is involved in a variety of artistic endeavors such as pattern and textile design, interior space creation, and adding a contemporary twist to traditional Japanese patterns.

Feel the Harmonious Bond Between Humanity and Water

To start off the experience, Ms. Otaki will tour you around AWAI Gallery, where the key concept is "water of life." “The human body is 60% water, and 70% of the planet Earth is covered with water. Through my creations, I want to convey my gratitude to water, the source of all life,” Ms. Otaki explains.

On display are an array of unique works of art by highly skilled artisans such as Nishijin-ori table runners and bags, as well as pottery and accessories made in the distinctive multi-layered Kamakura-bori style.

Discover the meaning behind the patterns on display — some of which have been passed down since ancient times — and take a peek into the spiritual side of Japanese art and culture. If you see an art piece that you like, feel free to let Ms. Otaki know so that you can purchase it on the spot or order it for overseas shipping.

The Meditative Art of Painting a Buddhist Image

After the gallery tour, it's now time for the main activity: painting a mandala. Derived from the ancient Sanskrit word for "circle,” a mandala is a visual symbol used by some esoteric Buddhist schools for training to attain enlightenment.

Mandalas come in various designs, including geometric patterns symbolizing the universe or the heavens, representations of the Buddha, and so on. For this experience, you'll paint a water-themed mandala designed by Ms. Otaki herself.

Your mandala will be drawn on handmade washi paper, also a traditional Japanese craft in itself. Depending on availability on the day of your experience, AWAI Gallery will provide either 100% Tosa mulberry washi or 100% Nasu mulberry washi — both types are high-grade washi paper. 

Washi made of 100% mulberry from Tosa in Kochi Prefecture then handmade at Ogawamachi, Saitama Prefecture is recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage. The Tosa mulberry washi used for this experience is dyed with cherry wood. Meanwhile, Nasu mulberry washi is handmade from mulberry that has been grown in Nasu, Tochigi Prefecture in recent years. This type of washi is made using a traditional method that dates all the way back to the Edo period.

In addition, the water used when painting the mandala is sacred water drawn by Ms. Otaki herself from Zeniarai Benzaiten Shrine, where she regularly visits. “Please take your time and fully appreciate the experience of painting with this water, which I have continued to cherish and use with care,” she says.

You will color your mandala with watercolors or acrylic paints, but children or those who are not used to working with intricate details may use colored pencils instead. Ms. Otaki will talk in detail about the characteristics of washi paper and give you tips on color coordination, so just relax as you get to work.

Each person has their own different perception of water: the sea that reflects the shining sun and blue sky, clear water flowing through the mountains, waterfalls, rain, the water's edge at sunset, and so on.

Instinctively feel for yourself what "water" means for you, then add colors to your mandala as if water were freely flowing outward from the center. As this is a quiet activity that requires concentration, it can be quite the meditative experience. Holding your brush and gazing at the mandala, you'll feel your breathing stabilizing and your mind-body alignment improving. 

Your completed mandala is, so to speak, a reflection of your current self — but it can also make you aware of sides of yourself that you hadn't discovered before.

A Heartfelt Conversation with Ms. Otaki

After painting your mandala, enjoy a relaxing conversation with Ms. Otaki. Feel free to share your thoughts on the experience, ask questions about Japan, and so on. You can then display your completed mandala at the tokonoma, an alcove-like decorative space that's unique to Japan, for photos.

If you like, you can also purchase a high-grade, artisan-quality hanging scroll as an optional add-on. You can use this scroll to display your work, turning it into an interior decoration for your home. It will surely make for a wonderful memory of your experience here at Hase.

Encountering Japanese Spirituality Through the Mandala

Creating a mandala that expresses Buddhist teachings is, in itself, a meditative act — a quiet opportunity to reflect on yourself. Surrounded by the blessings of nature and a spiritual worldview shaped by deities and the Buddha, this experience offers a moment to pause, reset, and reconnect with your inner self.

This experience provides the opportunity to encounter the beauty and excellence of Japanese traditional craftsmanship, while also offering a brief but memorable connection to Japanese spirituality. Take some time from your busy schedule to unwind, and deepen your understanding of Japanese culture through this meditative mandala-painting experience.