Build Your Own Taiki Bamboo Lantern Class: Includes woodworking tools

Cut bamboo, drill a pattern, roast it golden, walk out with a lantern

A private class in Taiki where you build one bamboo lantern from start to finish using traditional hand tools and techniques. You cut the bamboo with a saw, split it lengthwise with a hatchet, choose a paper pattern and drill holes with an electric drill, then roast the piece with a burner to finish it. The lantern is yours to take home and use as a garden light or interior accent.

The experience

The class runs three hours and covers four steps. You start by cutting a piece of bamboo with a saw, then split one side lengthwise using a hatchet. After that you choose a paper pattern, drill the holes with an electric drill, and roast the finished piece with a burner. All the tools (hammer, machete, saw, work gloves, burner, electric drill) are provided, and the guide works in English or Japanese to walk you through each stage.

What you make is a working lantern. Turn on a light inside the tube and it becomes a garden light for the night or an interior accent at your entrance. The piece is small enough to pack and bring home, and it stays functional. The guide makes sure the experience sticks as a memory of Japan, not just a class you took.

Children from age 7 are welcome. The work is hands-on and involves power tools and heat, so it is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries or pregnant travelers, but the physical demands suit all fitness levels otherwise.

What’s included

• All woodworking tools (saw, hatchet, hammer, machete, work gloves, electric drill, burner).
• one bamboo lantern per person.
• English or Japanese-speaking guide for the full three hours.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day6 departure times: the first at 09:30, the last at 15:00

AgesAdult (18 to 70 years) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (7 to 12 years) · Under 7: 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.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomeNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Miyoshi

Is this one for you?Three hours is long enough to move through all four steps without rushing, but short enough to fit into a morning or afternoon without eating your whole day. If you want to explore Taiki beyond the class, the timing leaves room for that.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Japanese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (7 to 12 years). Children under 7 can't be included in the booking.

What exactly do I make in this class?

You make one bamboo lantern per person. The lantern is a hollow bamboo tube with a drilled paper pattern inside. When you light it, the holes cast a pattern on the walls around it. You take it home and use it as a garden light or interior decoration.

How long does the whole class take?

The class runs three hours from start to finish, covering the cutting, splitting, drilling and roasting stages. That leaves the rest of your day open for other plans in Taiki.

What tools will I use?

You work with a saw to cut the bamboo, a hatchet to split it, an electric drill to make the pattern holes, and a burner to roast the finished piece. Work gloves, a hammer and machete are also provided. All tools stay at the studio.

Can I really use the lantern I make?

Yes. Once you finish roasting it, the lantern is ready to light. You can use it as a garden light at night or hang it as an interior accent at your entrance or inside your home.