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Tokyo Shinjuku: Chopsticks Making Class with Japanese Wood

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Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/12

Duration1h

GroupUp to 32

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

Shape Wood Into Chopsticks the Way Japanese Craftspeople Do

You'll spend two hours shaping raw wood into a finished pair of chopsticks using a traditional Japanese hand plane, guided step-by-step by English-speaking staff. The workshop includes tool use, materials, and a choice of standard woods; premium options cost extra. You leave with a handmade souvenir and the muscle memory of how to do it.

Step-by-step itinerary

Choose wood type
Shape wood with kanna
Smooth and polish chopsticks
Personalize your chopsticks

The Experience

The sound of the kanna—that thin, sharp blade—biting into raw wood is what stops you. You're standing at a workbench in Shinjuku with a block of pale timber in front of you, and your guide is showing you how to angle the plane so the grain splits clean instead of splintering. It's a small motion, almost meditative, and it's the first thing you actually make with your hands that becomes something you'll use. That's the whole point of this chopsticks making class: you walk in with nothing, and you walk out with a pair of chopsticks you shaped yourself.

The workshop is set up for people who've never touched a kanna before. Your guide talks you through each step—how to hold the tool, how to read the wood, when to switch to the finer finishing plane—and the pace is slow enough that you're not rushing. You get to choose from different Japanese woods; two types are included, and if you want something with a tighter grain or a deeper color, there's a small upgrade available. The whole thing takes a couple of hours, and by the end your hands smell like fresh wood shavings and you've got a functional pair of chopsticks that actually feel good to hold. No woodworking experience needed—the staff speak English and keep things relaxed.

The workshop is in a public area of Shinjuku with good transport links nearby, and the space itself is fully accessible. Just note that it's cashless only—bring a card (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, JCB, Diners, or Discover)—and if you're running late, let them know; arrivals more than 15 minutes past your booking time might need to reschedule since the next group is already waiting.

What’s included

Your experience includes the chopsticks making workshop, use of all tools and materials, standard wood for crafting your pair, and guidance from English-speaking staff throughout the two-hour session. Premium wood upgrades are available for an additional cost.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Traveling Tokyo

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a hands-on souvenir you actually made, not bought—the kanna technique and the choice of wood are what turn a craft class into something you'll remember using every time you pick up the chopsticks.