Bamboo Lantern Art Making in Nagoya: Design & Drill Your Own

Drill your own pattern into bamboo and watch light transform it

Make a bamboo lantern in Nagoya under the instruction of a master craftsman who decorates events across Japan. You'll select bamboo, choose or create a hole-drilling design, drill the pattern yourself, and finish the piece by sanding. The bamboo comes from local Tottori forests and has been dried for over two years before you work with it.

The experience

The bamboo lantern workshop sits near Sekigane, the area linked to "The Tale of the Princess Kaguya": a legend about a princess discovered inside a glowing bamboo stalk. The bamboo you'll work with has been carefully selected from local forests and aged for more than two years, giving it the right density and character for carving. Your guide is a craftsman trusted to decorate events in Kyoto, Nagoya and other cities, so you're learning from someone who does this work professionally.

The process unfolds in six steps. You start by learning about bamboo and lantern-making traditions, then pick the size and thickness of bamboo that appeals to you. Next, you decide on a design: either use a template the craftsman provides or sketch your own pattern. You then drill the holes yourself according to that design, creating the openings that will let light through. After drilling, you sand the bamboo smooth to finish the piece. At the end, you insert a light to see how your pattern looks when illuminated, though the LED lights are sold separately at the workshop.

All materials and equipment are provided for the class. The workshop is wheelchair accessible, and the space accommodates strollers and service animals. A guide fluent in English or Japanese leads the session, so language is not a barrier to following along.

What’s included

• All materials and equipment for drilling and finishing your lantern are provided.
• instruction from a master craftsman in English or Japanese.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day5 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 13:00

AgesAdult (5 to 80 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Japanese

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPets welcome

Operated by 竹灯篭工房

Is this one for you?One hour is enough time to complete the lantern from start to finish, leaving the rest of your day free for other activities in the area. The class moves at a pace suited to all fitness levels, so you can work at your own speed without rushing.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

1 verified traveler review

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Japanese.

Can I choose my own design for the holes, or do I have to use a template?

You can do either. The craftsman will provide a template if you want one, or you can sketch your own design and drill the pattern you've created yourself.

What happens to the bamboo lantern after I finish it?

You take it with you. The lantern is yours to keep once you've drilled, drawn and sanded it. If you want to light it, LED lights are sold separately at the workshop for 2,000 yen each.

What is special about the bamboo used in this class?

The bamboo comes from local forests in Tottori and is dried for more than two years before the workshop uses it. This long drying process gives the bamboo the right properties for drilling and carving without splitting.

Who is teaching this class?

A master bamboo craftsman who is trusted to decorate events across Kyoto, Nagoya and other cities teaches the workshop. He provides templates or guidance on design, and helps you through each step of the drilling and finishing process.

Is this workshop accessible if I use a wheelchair?

Yes. The workshop is fully wheelchair accessible, with all areas and surfaces accessible to you. Transportation options to the workshop are also wheelchair accessible.