Available Today: Experience Kintsugi & Learn to Breathe New Life into Broken Pottery in Minami-Aoyama

Tokyo
from ¥32,000 /person
120mins
Private: 1~8
experience-image-0

Overview

Experience the art of kintsugi and Japanese table coordination in this special Wabunka plan at the tableware gallery Utsuwa Omusubi HANARE. Established in 1986 in Minami-Aoyama, Tokyo, the store has supplied tableware to many top Japanese restaurants. Learn an ancient Japanese repair technique, create a one-of-a-kind work of art and embrace Japan's timeless beauty, sustainable spirit, and the philosophy behind kintsugi.

Key Features

  • Learn the traditional Japanese art of kintsugi and take home your finished piece the same day. You can also bring broken ceramics for consultation
  • Enjoy a lecture on kintsugi history and wabi-sabi culture in English, learning about the values and philosophy expressed through kintsugi
  • Delight in Japanese sweets and tea during a tea break, while appreciating the beauty of Japanese table coordination

*The standard plan uses silver powder for the finish, but you can upgrade to gold powder for an additional fee.

Tokyo

120 mins

¥32,000 /person

Private: 1 - 8

English-speaking host

Cancel free up to 11 days prior

Details

A Hidden Japanese Tableware Gallery in Minami Aoyama

Minami-Aoyama, close to Shibuya and Harajuku, is one of Tokyo's most sophisticated areas. It is home to art galleries like the Nezu Museum and the Taro Okamoto Memorial Museum, as well as trendy fashion and gourmet food. The venue for this experience, Utsuwa Omusubi HANARE, is near Kotto Dori, an area once known for its many antique shops.

A serene workshop that lets you escape the city's hustle and bustle

In a room within a vintage apartment building, you are welcomed by a display of carefully chosen Japanese tableware from across Japan. Designed for Japanese food culture, most pieces are small or medium, suited for lifting with hands and using chopsticks. Utsuwa Omusubi HANARE offers a variety of dishes that fit comfortably in the hand.

A diverse display of ceramics, from elegant to chic, all in one place

The Joy of Selecting Japanese Tableware That Speaks to You

Kintsugi, a traditional Japanese repair technique, is featured in this plan. The word "kintsugi" means "gold" and "to connect" or "to inherit" in kanji characters. Broken or chipped pottery are joined with lacquer, and the cracks are adorned with silver (gold can be used for an additional fee). This technique turns the broken parts into a design element, giving new life to the vessels.

The repaired part in kintsugi is called "scenery"

First, choose a pottery piece for kintsugi repair from the selection prepared for this experience. Each piece is unique, so picture its restored appearance and select the one you like best. The pottery used in this experience is not for sale due to small scratches and cracks from manufacturing and distribution, but remains high-quality and valuable.

You can also bring your own objects for kintsugi repair. Please provide us with the size and a photo when making your reservation.

Quality ceramics with minor imperfections from manufacturing and distribution

Once you have chosen a vessel, carefully sand the edges, apply a thin layer of glue evenly, and join the pieces together. Use your fingertips to check for any unevenness caused by misalignment. Once the adhesive sets, gently remove any excess with a rounded knife for a smooth finish.

The instructor will help you with challenging tasks

Active Meditation Through Focused Craftsmanship, Embracing the Spirit of Kintsugi

Carefully apply putty to areas with fine grooves or chips using your fingers. Once the putty hardens, gently scrape off excess with water-resistant sandpaper. Repeating this process improves the appearance and texture of the piece. As you focus on the vessel and immerse in the work, you will enter a pleasant state of active meditation.

Using putty to shape the piece

While waiting for the pieces to harden, listen to your instructor speak on the history and philosophy of kintsugi. You will gain deeper insight into the spirit of this restorative craft, exploring its meaning beyond mere technique. This perspective can bring moments of lightness and calm. You will also learn how kintsugi's influence has expanded beyond Japan, impacting the global art scene. This lecture offers a valuable opportunity to understand the charm and meaning behind kintsugi, and to appreciate the culture and spirit of Japan in greater depth.

Sharpen your senses as you engage in the process

Turning Imperfections into Unique Art

Following the lecture, it is time to apply the lacquer. Lacquer is the filtered and refined sap of the lacquer tree. Its strong adhesive and antibacterial properties, as well as beautiful shine make it a staple in Japanese crafts. Remember to wear gloves when handling lacquer to avoid skin irritation.

Using black lacquer with silver powder and vermilion lacquer with gold powder enhances the shine of each metallic color

While the lacquer dries, indulge in a tea time with Japanese sweets and tea. Coordinate trays and dessert plates with the Japanese tableware from the gallery. Create your original setup by mixing and matching tableware with different textures.

Enjoy a variety of tableware combinations

After tea time comes the highlight of the experience. The finishing touch involves applying silver powder (or gold powder with the optional upgrade) to the lacquered areas. Brush on the powder, then polish with a cotton ball, and watch as the vessel starts to shine. It is as if it was meant to be this way from the start. Witness the magical transformation of a broken and imperfect object reborn into a one-of-a-kind piece of art.

Silver for a modern look, gold for a luxurious finish

Understanding Japanese Aesthetics and Spirit with Kintsugi

You can take your finished piece home on the same day. To ensure proper drying of the lacquer, place moistened cotton inside the wooden box. You can begin using it two weeks after the experience. Use it as daily tableware or display it as an art piece. Avoid using dishwashers, dryers, microwave ovens, and abrasive detergents.

Delight in discovering unique tableware

Kintsugi's philosophy of "repairing and enhancing beauty" instead of discarding broken pieces, and "embracing individuality" may be an answer to the challenges of today's consumer society. Why not experience the rich Japanese aesthetics and spirit of kintsugi at Utsuwa Omusubi HANARE?


https://images.microcms-assets.io/assets/a061b71b7a084ccfa781f19d8659cbbd/c4cde555f8894e2599f84f7b24680bea/en_utsuwa-omusubi-kintsugi_780-520_11-cnew.jpg


Utsuwa Omusubi / Utsuwa Omusubi HANARE

A curated shop of Japanese tableware run by a well-established wholesaler since 1896. Alongside the main store in Minami-Aoyama, Tokyo, there is also a branch in Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture, and an online store. Utsuwa Omusubi HANARE, a gallery with workshop space, showcases the beauty of Japanese tableware through kintsugi workshops and exhibitions.

Location

Utsuwa Omusubi HANARE
Minato Ward, Tokyo

Request for booking

Select first preferred date (JST)

April 2026

Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

17

Instant Booking

17

Request Booking

17

Full

17

Unavailable

  • Instant Booking: Your reservation is confirmed immediately upon payment.
  • Request Booking: You will receive confirmation after the host reviews your request.

If your preferred dates are not available, you can explore recommended experiences or .

Tokyo

120 mins

¥32,000 /person

Private: 1 - 8

English-speaking host

Cancel free up to 11 days prior

Reviews & Reflections

36 Reviews

We enjoyed everything and very much appreciated the extra history and explanation about the philosophy.

A.O. Australia

From start to finish the Kintsugi experience was AMAZING! The host was a lovely person, wonderful teacher, and fantastic guide in learning the powerful art of Kintsugi. Dōmo arigatōgozaimasu! The room that the hose had set up was beautiful, and made the experience immersive and spiritual.

A.D. United States

Overall a lovely experience.. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Everything was explained well

A.T. South Africa

It was by far my best experience in Japan ever! The host was perfect, I felt very welcomed, she was so kind and super friendly. It was a new experience for me and I liked it a lot

S.R. Germany

Ata was great! Amount of time not rushed. So peaceful. Love the product at end.

A.S. Australia

This was an incredible experience for my family's first visit to Japan. It showcased an unique aspect of culture and lifestyle. A wonderful experience from start to finish and incredibly informative.

J.S. United States

Good fun

R.G. India

Wonderful host and experience. Very nice and memorable.

J.S. Hong Kong

It was a very informative and great learning experience. Very well presented too.

J.B. United States

I had a wonderful experience at the kintsugi workshop and I am extremely pleased with the pieces I took home and the expert knowledge of the instructor.

E.D. United States

Aya was a great host and teacher. She was very welcoming and patient with us as we repaired our pottery and asked questions. Very informative presentation and fun experience overall.

V.P. France

Highly recommend. Very peaceful and just the right amount of learning & doing!!

P.B. New Zealand

Overall it was a fantastic experience, and a highlight of our trip to Japan

J.S. United Kingdom

Great teacher, she was so lovely! Loved that it was a private class, my boyfriend probably wouldn’t have participated if it had been in a group. It was so great being able to leave with our own things.

S.W. Australia

Wonderful. We learned so much

T.M. United States

My husband and I had a great time in this experience and our expectations were fully fulfilled!

R.P. United States

The experience was unique and extremely special, and Aya was very gracious, we had a great time. My sister and I had a sentimental piece we wanted to repair, and Aya graciously also allowed us to repair two other pieces, and helped us actively throughout the process to get the best result. She also kindly stayed extra time to help with the complex repair of our plate, which was a gift from our mother. She was so knowledgeable and clearly passionate about kintsugi. We felt that passion and love radiate throughout the experience and her explanations. It was actually very emotional for both of us! Thank you so much Aya!

L.M. United States

Everything was memorable.

A.K. Romania

The entire workshop was enjoyable and memorable. Definitely will recommend.

L.N. Singapore

The place was beautiful and the teacher was amazing. She helped my son who is in a wheelchair. Gave us excellent knowledge of the process and the culture. She was incredible.

D.S. United States

Everything was perfect. Suki was also such a wonderful teacher and host. Her hospitality and patience were very much appreciated. I learnt a lot about the history of Kintsugi and really valued the teachings on its cultural significance and philosophical reflection on life and art. The studio was a beautiful and everything was carefully curated for us to have a lovely and relaxing time.

B.L. Australia

Our host was very friendly, knowledgeable and overall incredibly welcoming! She was not only very knowledgeable of her craft, but she also had fantastic recommendation for the local food scene.

A.R. Mexico

Such a wonderful experience from beginning to end. Aya, our kintsugi master was so patient and encouraging. We learned about the beautiful concept of Wabi-Sabi. The entire experience was relaxing, calming and serene from beginning to end. Repairing a piece of porcelain in such a beautiful manner was enlightening! Loved the whole process.

A.D. United States

The workshop is such a beautiful cultural experience. It’s a hands-on lesson for all the senses - the workshop featured quiet background music and incense whilst we completed our art. The experience speaks volumes about Japanese culture and the brief history story really helped to link it all together. Try this experience to immerse yourself in a part of Japan that you’ll remember for a long time because creating something with your own hands is quite heartwarming.

M.P. Australia

Just with my daughter, group of 2 make it private. The explanation of the philosophy gives a broader view of the workshop itself. It's not a touristic attraction, it's a professional artistic experience.

B.D. France

Be ready for one of the most meaningful experiences of your life. Toward the last step of the process, suddenly the beauty of the process came together and it overwhelmed me.

E.B. France

I loved everything about this experience and it was good value. Learning about why our instructor started the kintsugi class was very moving. Absolute mist, one of a kind experience. I will come back and tell everyone I know that visits Tokyo they have to experience this and take home a one of a kind treasure they made themselves.

J.B. United States

First, Aya was a gem! She taught with such kindness and love for the art of kintsugi. We loved her! Second, the beauty and meaning of kintsugi, in context of the Japanese culture, was so well explained and demonstrated. Both gave such a positive impression of Japan and its culture. The experience was pricey but I would ultimately pay it again because everything else about it was so great. Being able to actually create a kintsugi object with such beautiful symbolism was really special. It was an outstanding guided experience in a beautiful art form unique to Japan where you make a piece of pottery even more lovely by joining its broken parts back together.

K.H. United States

A high quality, relaxing experience, making something beautiful while guided by a very patient and skillful teacher. I was very satisfied with the experience overall. The fact that the experience was private really allowed us to take our time and enjoy the activity, as well as ask any questions and discuss with our teacher. The final result (repaired ceramics) was also wonderful!

A.S. Romania

The host, Aya, was absolutely great. Welcoming, patient, talanted, has good English and really made us feel at home. Her explanations were interesting and the effort she put in the experience is really noticable. She even ordered the mochi from another prefecture! It is a great way to actually meet a Japanese person and ask all the things you wanted to. Also, you appreciate the tradition while performing it.

B.B. Israel

The instructor’s personal touch of why the art form is meaningful to her. It helped me appreciate the skill of Japan’s artisans and made me concerned for the decline of the art form as related by the instructor. It was a wonderful experience and well worth the time invested. I could not imagine a better person to expose us to this art form. We talked about the class and instructor throughout the day and plan to give the pottery made as a gift. We also want to take the class again with our teen children and hope they enjoy the art philosophy as much as we did. We also plan on having on offering this class as gifts for friends.

J.G. United States

A zen practice of repairing pottery with precious metals.

P.S. Australia

My impressions and memories center on the personal pride and care that Aya infuses in the experience. Her care with the craft and desire that each participant execute it to the best of their ability makes the time exceptionally rewarding and educational. Aya’s ability to make everyone feel accomplished and give them an authentic understating of this Japanese craft and philosophy makes it a must do while in Tokyo. This experience reinforced my love of the culture. My experience was not only educational, but also affirming.

M.G. United States

We had a wonderful kintsugi experience. The instructor, Aya, was amazing—whenever she demonstrated a task, I grasped it instantly. While there was a slight language barrier that made some verbal explanations challenging, her skillful teaching transcended it completely. She successfully taught my wife and me a beautiful new skill. Teaching is hard, and teaching across a language barrier is a true gift. I would highly recommend this class to anyone visiting Japan. It is a profound reminder that anything broken can be fixed. Thank you very much, Aya!

B.T. United States

It’s perfect. That’s broken yet wanted to restore it back to perfection. It taught me that everything in life can be fixed, although it takes time and that the pure beauty is in simplicity.

M.F. Russia

This was one of the highlights of our visit to Japan. Our workshop was the perfect mix of information, history, hands on crafting and enjoyable, meditative work. I really appreciating Aya sharing her experience of her mother's illness and loss and showing how the principles of kintsugi, finding beauty and strength in imperfection, can apply to our lives. This experience happened at the beginning of our trip and really helped set the tone for how we viewed and what we expected on our visit -- a culture with intention, wisdom, respect, and deep hospitality.

M.M. United States

Things to know

Contact Us

If you have any questions, please contact us using the form below.
We also accept bookings from corporate clients and travel agencies.