{"id":6784,"date":"2025-11-27T17:34:08","date_gmt":"2025-11-27T08:34:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/?p=6784"},"modified":"2025-11-27T17:34:08","modified_gmt":"2025-11-27T08:34:08","slug":"premium-experience","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/recommended\/premium-experience\/","title":{"rendered":"&#8220;Kintsugi at Shikata Kizou Lacquerware Shop, Mogami Kogei, and Old Tokaido Highway Hiking&#8221; &#8211; Three Premium Experiences to Discover the Depths of Japanese Culture"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_73 ez-toc-wrap-center counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-white ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/recommended\/premium-experience\/#From_Kyoto_to_Hakone_A_Journey_to_Learn_the_Beauty_of_Traditional_Crafts_%E2%80%93_Touching_with_Hands_Feeling_with_Heart_the_Japanese_Tradition\" title=\"From Kyoto to Hakone: A Journey to Learn the Beauty of Traditional Crafts &#8211; Touching with Hands, Feeling with Heart the Japanese Tradition\">From Kyoto to Hakone: A Journey to Learn the Beauty of Traditional Crafts &#8211; Touching with Hands, Feeling with Heart the Japanese Tradition<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/recommended\/premium-experience\/#First_Experience_Kintsugi_at_Kyotos_%E2%80%9CShikata_Kizou_Lacquerware_Shop%E2%80%9D\" title=\"First Experience: Kintsugi at Kyoto&#8217;s &#8220;Shikata Kizou Lacquerware Shop&#8221;\">First Experience: Kintsugi at Kyoto&#8217;s &#8220;Shikata Kizou Lacquerware Shop&#8221;<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/recommended\/premium-experience\/#Established_in_1867_A_Long-Standing_Lacquerware_Shop_Where_Artisan_Culture_Thrives\" title=\"Established in 1867: A Long-Standing Lacquerware Shop Where Artisan Culture Thrives\">Established in 1867: A Long-Standing Lacquerware Shop Where Artisan Culture Thrives<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/recommended\/premium-experience\/#What_is_Kintsugi_Japanese_Aesthetics_That_Transform_Damage_into_Beauty\" title=\"What is Kintsugi: Japanese Aesthetics That Transform Damage into Beauty\">What is Kintsugi: Japanese Aesthetics That Transform Damage into Beauty<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/recommended\/premium-experience\/#Experience_Details_Learning_Two_Techniques\" title=\"Experience Details: Learning Two Techniques\">Experience Details: Learning Two Techniques<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/recommended\/premium-experience\/#Value_After_the_Experience_Breathing_New_Life_into_Vessels\" title=\"Value After the Experience: Breathing New Life into Vessels\">Value After the Experience: Breathing New Life into Vessels<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/recommended\/premium-experience\/#Participant_Testimonials\" title=\"Participant Testimonials\">Participant Testimonials<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/recommended\/premium-experience\/#Second_Experience_Woodworking_Experience_at_Tokyos_%E2%80%9CMogami_Kogei%E2%80%9D\" title=\"Second Experience: Woodworking Experience at Tokyo&#8217;s &#8220;Mogami Kogei&#8221;\">Second Experience: Woodworking Experience at Tokyo&#8217;s &#8220;Mogami Kogei&#8221;<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/recommended\/premium-experience\/#Established_in_1912_Preserving_the_Tradition_of_Edo_Sashimono\" title=\"Established in 1912: Preserving the Tradition of Edo Sashimono\">Established in 1912: Preserving the Tradition of Edo Sashimono<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/recommended\/premium-experience\/#What_is_Edo_Sashimono_Beauty_That_Dwells_in_the_Invisible\" title=\"What is Edo Sashimono: Beauty That Dwells in the Invisible\">What is Edo Sashimono: Beauty That Dwells in the Invisible<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/recommended\/premium-experience\/#Experience_Details_The_Path_to_Craftsmanship_Begins_with_Chopstick_Making\" title=\"Experience Details: The Path to Craftsmanship Begins with Chopstick Making\">Experience Details: The Path to Craftsmanship Begins with Chopstick Making<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/recommended\/premium-experience\/#The_Joy_of_Taking_Home_Finished_Product_in_a_Paulownia_Box_and_Sustainability\" title=\"The Joy of Taking Home: Finished Product in a Paulownia Box and Sustainability\">The Joy of Taking Home: Finished Product in a Paulownia Box and Sustainability<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/recommended\/premium-experience\/#The_Value_of_Meeting_Craftsman_Yutaka_Mogami\" title=\"The Value of Meeting Craftsman Yutaka Mogami\">The Value of Meeting Craftsman Yutaka Mogami<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/recommended\/premium-experience\/#Participant_Testimonials-2\" title=\"Participant Testimonials\">Participant Testimonials<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/recommended\/premium-experience\/#Third_Experience_Hakone_%E2%80%9COld_Tokaido_Highway_Hiking%E2%80%9D\" title=\"Third Experience: Hakone &#8220;Old Tokaido Highway Hiking&#8221;\">Third Experience: Hakone &#8220;Old Tokaido Highway Hiking&#8221;<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/recommended\/premium-experience\/#Historical_Significance_of_the_Old_Tokaido_Highway_and_Hakones_Position\" title=\"Historical Significance of the Old Tokaido Highway and Hakone&#8217;s Position\">Historical Significance of the Old Tokaido Highway and Hakone&#8217;s Position<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/recommended\/premium-experience\/#Guide_Shin_Kanekos_Vision_Deep_Love_for_His_Hometown\" title=\"Guide Shin Kaneko&#8217;s Vision: Deep Love for His Hometown\">Guide Shin Kaneko&#8217;s Vision: Deep Love for His Hometown<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/recommended\/premium-experience\/#Experience_Details_The_Path_Where_History_and_Nature_Intersect\" title=\"Experience Details: The Path Where History and Nature Intersect\">Experience Details: The Path Where History and Nature Intersect<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19\" href=\"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/recommended\/premium-experience\/#Connection_with_History_Sharing_Time_with_Edo-Period_Travelers\" title=\"Connection with History: Sharing Time with Edo-Period Travelers\">Connection with History: Sharing Time with Edo-Period Travelers<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-20\" href=\"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/recommended\/premium-experience\/#The_Value_of_Relationships_with_Local_Guides\" title=\"The Value of Relationships with Local Guides\">The Value of Relationships with Local Guides<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-21\" href=\"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/recommended\/premium-experience\/#What_the_Three_Experiences_Share_and_Their_Significance\" title=\"What the Three Experiences Share and Their Significance\">What the Three Experiences Share and Their Significance<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-22\" href=\"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/recommended\/premium-experience\/#The_Essence_of_Monozukuri_Direct_Relationships_with_Craftsmen\" title=\"The Essence of Monozukuri: Direct Relationships with Craftsmen\">The Essence of Monozukuri: Direct Relationships with Craftsmen<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-23\" href=\"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/recommended\/premium-experience\/#Practicing_Japanese_Aesthetics_Understanding_Wabi-Sabi\" title=\"Practicing Japanese Aesthetics: Understanding Wabi-Sabi\">Practicing Japanese Aesthetics: Understanding Wabi-Sabi<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-24\" href=\"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/recommended\/premium-experience\/#Sustainability_and_Continuity_A_Culture_That_Thinks_in_Century-Long_Terms\" title=\"Sustainability and Continuity: A Culture That Thinks in Century-Long Terms\">Sustainability and Continuity: A Culture That Thinks in Century-Long Terms<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-25\" href=\"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/recommended\/premium-experience\/#Respect_for_Regions_and_Craftsmen_Rediscovering_Local_Value\" title=\"Respect for Regions and Craftsmen: Rediscovering Local Value\">Respect for Regions and Craftsmen: Rediscovering Local Value<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-26\" href=\"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/recommended\/premium-experience\/#Learning_Through_Experience_From_Knowledge_to_Physical_Understanding\" title=\"Learning Through Experience: From Knowledge to Physical Understanding\">Learning Through Experience: From Knowledge to Physical Understanding<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-27\" href=\"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/recommended\/premium-experience\/#Conclusion_A_Proposal_for_How_to_Engage_with_Japanese_Culture\" title=\"Conclusion: A Proposal for How to Engage with Japanese Culture\">Conclusion: A Proposal for How to Engage with Japanese Culture<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-28\" href=\"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/recommended\/premium-experience\/#What_is_%E2%80%9CTrue_Richness%E2%80%9D\" title=\"What is &#8220;True Richness&#8221;?\">What is &#8220;True Richness&#8221;?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-29\" href=\"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/recommended\/premium-experience\/#Why_Japanese_Culture_is_Needed_in_the_Age_of_Globalization\" title=\"Why Japanese Culture is Needed in the Age of Globalization\">Why Japanese Culture is Needed in the Age of Globalization<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-30\" href=\"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/recommended\/premium-experience\/#A_Call_to_Participants_To_the_Next_Step\" title=\"A Call to Participants: To the Next Step\">A Call to Participants: To the Next Step<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-31\" href=\"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/recommended\/premium-experience\/#Finally_Reconstructing_Relationships_with_Objects\" title=\"Finally: Reconstructing Relationships with Objects\">Finally: Reconstructing Relationships with Objects<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"From_Kyoto_to_Hakone_A_Journey_to_Learn_the_Beauty_of_Traditional_Crafts_%E2%80%93_Touching_with_Hands_Feeling_with_Heart_the_Japanese_Tradition\"><\/span>From Kyoto to Hakone: A Journey to Learn the Beauty of Traditional Crafts &#8211; Touching with Hands, Feeling with Heart the Japanese Tradition<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Japanese traditional culture is infused with techniques and spirit that have been passed down for hundreds of years.<br \/>\nIt&#8217;s not merely tourism or entertainment, but a &#8220;living culture&#8221; imbued with the souls of craftsmen.<br \/>\nThe moment of restoring a vessel with kintsugi, the process of carving wood to create chopsticks, and the experience of walking with your own feet on the path traveled by Edo-period travelers\u2014all of these serve as gateways to understanding Japanese aesthetics and philosophy through your body.<br \/>\nIn this article, we&#8217;ll introduce three premium cultural experiences: the kintsugi experience at Kyoto&#8217;s long-established lacquerware shop &#8220;Shikata Kizou Lacquerware Shop,&#8221; the woodworking experience at Tokyo&#8217;s Kuramae-based &#8220;Mogami Kogei,&#8221; and hiking the Old Tokaido Highway in Hakone.<br \/>\nWhat these share in common is respect for craftsmanship, the essence of monozukuri (craftsmanship), and Japanese aesthetics represented by &#8220;wabi-sabi.&#8221; We invite you on a journey where you can truly understand the depths of Japanese culture not just by observing, but by creating with your own hands, walking, and feeling.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"First_Experience_Kintsugi_at_Kyotos_%E2%80%9CShikata_Kizou_Lacquerware_Shop%E2%80%9D\"><\/span>First Experience: Kintsugi at Kyoto&#8217;s &#8220;Shikata Kizou Lacquerware Shop&#8221;<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/kogei-japonica.com\/media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/images_en_shikata-kizou_sub_0_b21db6ab.webp\" alt=\"Kintsugi experience at Kyoto's Shikata Kizou Lacquerware Shop\" width=\"780\" height=\"520\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8834\" \/><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Established_in_1867_A_Long-Standing_Lacquerware_Shop_Where_Artisan_Culture_Thrives\"><\/span>Established in 1867: A Long-Standing Lacquerware Shop Where Artisan Culture Thrives<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Located in Kyoto&#8217;s Shijo Kawaramachi, &#8220;Shikata Kizou Lacquerware Shop&#8221; is a lacquer specialty store established in 1867 (Keio 3) at the end of the Edo period. For over 150 years, it has inherited all techniques related to lacquer, from refining and selling lacquer to creating lacquerware and kintsugi restoration.<br \/>\nWhat makes this long-established shop special is that it doesn&#8217;t just sell lacquer\u2014it refines sap collected from lacquer trees, creates lacquerware, and is highly regarded for its kintsugi technique that breathes new life into damaged vessels.<br \/>\nLacquer is called &#8220;lacquer&#8221; in English and is a natural coating refined from sap collected from lacquer trees. Since ancient times in Japan, lacquerware has been highly valued for its beautiful luster and durability. While Shikata Kizou Lacquerware Shop continues to protect this tradition, it also devotes energy to activities that convey the culture of kintsugi to those of us living in the present day.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Experience kintsugi at Kyoto&#8217;s long-established lacquerware shop &#8220;Shikata Kizou Lacquerware Shop&#8221; here<\/strong><br \/>\n<div class=\"linkcard\"><div class=\"lkc-external-wrap\"><a class=\"lkc-link no_icon\" href=\"https:\/\/wabunka-lux.jp\/experiences\/en_shikata-kizou\/?ref=afazaxes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener\"><div class=\"lkc-card\"><div class=\"lkc-info\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lkc-favicon\" src=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/s2\/favicons?domain=wabunka-lux.jp\" alt=\"\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" \/><div class=\"lkc-domain\">wabunka-lux.jp<\/div><\/div><div class=\"lkc-content\"><figure class=\"lkc-thumbnail\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lkc-thumbnail-img\" src=\"\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/wp-content\/uploads\/pz-linkcard\/cache\/03deba55bf49a13e7afd636cf324ca0e775e57c4122da08c3788651e380f1fb3.jpeg\" width=\"100px\" height=\"108px\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"lkc-title\">Kintsugi Experience at Shikata Urushi, A Centuries-Old Japanese-Urushi Shop i...<\/div><div class=\"lkc-url\" title=\"https:\/\/wabunka-lux.jp\/experiences\/en_shikata-kizou\/?ref=afazaxes\">https:\/\/wabunka-lux.jp\/experiences\/en_shikata-kizou\/?ref=afazaxes<\/div><div class=\"lkc-excerpt\">Kintsugi is the art of repairing broken ceramics through the application of urushi lacquer mixed with metallic powder su<\/div><\/div><div class=\"clear\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_Kintsugi_Japanese_Aesthetics_That_Transform_Damage_into_Beauty\"><\/span>What is Kintsugi: Japanese Aesthetics That Transform Damage into Beauty<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/kogei-japonica.com\/media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/shikata-kizou_780-520_01.webp\" alt=\"Kintsugi\" width=\"780\" height=\"520\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8852\" \/><br \/>\nKintsugi is a traditional technique for repairing broken or chipped ceramics using lacquer and metal powder.<br \/>\nIn recent years, it has attracted attention overseas as &#8220;kintsugi,&#8221; with its background rooted in the uniquely Japanese aesthetic of &#8220;wabi-sabi.&#8221; Rather than seeking perfection, it accepts and even celebrates imperfection and damage as beauty\u2014kintsugi is a technique that truly embodies this philosophy.<br \/>\nInterestingly, while the name &#8220;kintsugi&#8221; contains the character for &#8220;gold,&#8221; in reality, not only gold but also metal powders such as brass, tin, and silver can be used. The main player is always lacquer, with metal powder added as a finishing touch to the repair.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Experience_Details_Learning_Two_Techniques\"><\/span>Experience Details: Learning Two Techniques<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>At the kintsugi experience at Shikata Kizou Lacquerware Shop, you&#8217;ll learn two major techniques from skilled craftsmen: &#8220;ware&#8221; (breakage) and &#8220;hibi&#8221; (cracks).<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>In the ware technique, you bond scattered fragments together with special resin (a mixture of base material and hardener) to reunite them. If the two materials aren&#8217;t mixed thoroughly, curing failure will occur, so thorough mixing is necessary. This work requires caution and concentration.<\/li>\n<li>The hibi technique repairs fine cracks by carefully painting lacquer along the cracks with a brush. The trick in this process is to hold your breath and move the brush slowly.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>First, you select the ceramic to repair. Vessels with different colors, shapes, and types of damage are lined up, and you pick them up with your own hands to examine them while imagining the finished product. As a special option, you can also upgrade to Kyoto-specific Kiyomizu-yaki. This exquisite pottery historically made around Kiyomizu Temple is known as a masterpiece of Kyoto&#8217;s traditional crafts.<br \/>\nSince you use real lacquer in the experience, wearing gloves is mandatory. Lacquer can cause inflammation if it touches the skin. After you finish painting lacquer in all the cracks, you polish it with silk floss. Additionally, you can use Shikata Kizou Lacquerware Shop&#8217;s unique vibrant colored lacquer or choose gold or silver powder for an additional fee.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Value_After_the_Experience_Breathing_New_Life_into_Vessels\"><\/span>Value After the Experience: Breathing New Life into Vessels<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>When the work is finished, take a break with coffee served in a lacquered cup.<br \/>\nWhile feeling its lustrous beauty and smooth texture in your hands, you can reflect on the vessel you just repaired.<br \/>\nThe true value of this experience lies not merely in learning the technique. It&#8217;s about encountering the cultural value of not discarding broken things, but repairing and continuing to use them.<br \/>\nThrough kintsugi, we gain an opportunity to reconsider our very relationship with objects. In the past, many towns had kintsugi craftsmen who repaired people&#8217;s daily items.<br \/>\nIn our modern age where sustainability is valued, incorporating the philosophy and technique of kintsugi into daily life can be said to be extremely meaningful.<br \/>\nThe craftsmen at Shikata Kizou Lacquerware Shop emphasize that kintsugi is not only for art pieces or antiques. Any vessel you have attachment to is worth repairing.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Participant_Testimonials\"><\/span>Participant Testimonials<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>&#8220;During the drying time, I could ask questions and hear explanations, so I was able to spend the time without feeling bored&#8221; (Kyoto Prefecture, woman in her 50s)<\/li>\n<li>&#8220;I was attracted by the fact that I could experience kintsugi for both chips and breaks. It turned into a work with originality and became a good memory&#8221; (Osaka Prefecture, woman in her 40s)<\/li>\n<li>&#8220;It was also good that I could change to Kiyomizu-yaki as an option. The coffee in between was also very delicious&#8221; (Osaka Prefecture, woman in her 50s)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Second_Experience_Woodworking_Experience_at_Tokyos_%E2%80%9CMogami_Kogei%E2%80%9D\"><\/span>Second Experience: Woodworking Experience at Tokyo&#8217;s &#8220;Mogami Kogei&#8221;<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/kogei-japonica.com\/media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/images_en_mogami-kogei_sub_0_e12b64f8.webp\" alt=\"Woodworking experience at Tokyo's Mogami Kogei\" width=\"780\" height=\"520\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8835\" \/><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Established_in_1912_Preserving_the_Tradition_of_Edo_Sashimono\"><\/span>Established in 1912: Preserving the Tradition of Edo Sashimono<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Tokyo&#8217;s Kuramae is a charming neighborhood where traditional craftsmen and cutting-edge creators coexist\u2014a place where old meets new. Established in 1912 (Taisho 1) in this area, &#8220;Mogami Kogei&#8221; has preserved the techniques of Edo sashimono for over 110 years.<br \/>\nThe third-generation master, Yutaka Mogami, is one of only about ten traditional craftsmen of Edo sashimono remaining in Japan. In the showroom &#8220;Mokume-an,&#8221; masterpieces that incorporate traditional beauty into modern life are displayed, including elegant tansu chests and chic vases. You can also see innovative works such as wooden bags and neckties that debuted at Paris Collections.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Experience woodworking at Mogami Kogei to create your own chopsticks \u2013 in a paulownia box here<\/strong><br \/>\n<div class=\"linkcard\"><div class=\"lkc-external-wrap\"><a class=\"lkc-link no_icon\" href=\"https:\/\/wabunka-lux.jp\/experiences\/en_mogami-kogei\/?ref=afazaxes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener\"><div class=\"lkc-card\"><div class=\"lkc-info\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lkc-favicon\" src=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/s2\/favicons?domain=wabunka-lux.jp\" alt=\"\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" \/><div class=\"lkc-domain\">wabunka-lux.jp<\/div><\/div><div class=\"lkc-content\"><figure class=\"lkc-thumbnail\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lkc-thumbnail-img\" src=\"\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/wp-content\/uploads\/pz-linkcard\/cache\/2127883a87365228ef5d9816c612c600308bdd73acad756ece747a71618428f5.jpeg\" width=\"100px\" height=\"108px\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"lkc-title\">Woodworking Your Own Chopsticks at Mogami Kogei \u2013 with Paulownia Box<\/div><div class=\"lkc-url\" title=\"https:\/\/wabunka-lux.jp\/experiences\/en_mogami-kogei\/?ref=afazaxes\">https:\/\/wabunka-lux.jp\/experiences\/en_mogami-kogei\/?ref=afazaxes<\/div><div class=\"lkc-excerpt\">Founded in 1912, the Mogami Kogei workshop boasts 110 years of Edo sashimono woodworking history. Here in Tokyo\u2019s Kurama<\/div><\/div><div class=\"clear\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_Edo_Sashimono_Beauty_That_Dwells_in_the_Invisible\"><\/span>What is Edo Sashimono: Beauty That Dwells in the Invisible<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The word &#8220;sashimono&#8221; derives from &#8220;fitting wood together&#8221; or &#8220;making things using a ruler.&#8221;<br \/>\nDuring the Edo period, furniture such as tansu chests, shelves, and desks were made for the upper classes, including samurai and merchants. Traditional dressing tables and cosmetic boxes still used in kabuki dressing rooms are also a form of Edo sashimono known as &#8220;Narien sashimono.&#8221;<br \/>\nThe characteristic of Edo sashimono is its minimalism. Its essence lies in bringing out the natural beauty of wood grain.<br \/>\nJoints using tenons and mortises appear delicate yet are extremely sturdy. This apparent simplicity permeates the entire art\u2014the more you learn, the deeper it becomes and the more impressive the work.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Experience_Details_The_Path_to_Craftsmanship_Begins_with_Chopstick_Making\"><\/span>Experience Details: The Path to Craftsmanship Begins with Chopstick Making<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The workshop of a sashimono craftsman, filled with the scent of wood and oil, is a special space not usually open to the public, lined with specialized tools such as kanna (planes), nokogiri (saws), and nomi (chisels). You step into this secret world and begin with chopstick making, just as all apprentices of Japanese sashimono learn from their masters.<\/p>\n<h4>The Importance of Wood Selection<\/h4>\n<p>The work of a sashimono craftsman begins with selecting wood. Hardwoods such as maple, ash, and oak have tightly packed grain, making them hard and durable.<br \/>\nSoftwoods such as hiba and hinoki tend to be softer. Feel the texture and smell of the wood yourself, and examine the color and grain up close. Make your chopsticks with wood that suits your preferences.<\/p>\n<h4>The Carving Process Using Kanna<\/h4>\n<p>Once you&#8217;ve selected your wood, you repeatedly plane it to shape it into a comfortable grip.<br \/>\nYou gradually shave the corners of the square wood evenly bit by bit, approaching roundness through regular octagon, then regular hexadecagon. You adjust the direction of planing and the kanna according to the grain. This process is by no means easy, and through the experience, you&#8217;ll gain a new appreciation for the wonder of craftsmanship.<br \/>\nThe workshop has over 100 hand planes of various sizes, each used according to the specific wood and purpose.<br \/>\nWood is transformed in color and luster through sandpaper and oil finishing. Edo sashimono is an art where one craftsman handles all processes from beginning to end, not a team with division of labor. Because the craftsman&#8217;s soul dwells in the work, your chopsticks become truly yours in the deepest sense.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Joy_of_Taking_Home_Finished_Product_in_a_Paulownia_Box_and_Sustainability\"><\/span>The Joy of Taking Home: Finished Product in a Paulownia Box and Sustainability<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The chopsticks you made for yourself, with your own hands, are perfectly suited to you in both ease of use and beauty. Take them home in a craftsman-made sashimono box created from the finest Aizu paulownia wood. The memory of this experience and your new understanding of craftsmanship will brighten your days each time you use them.<br \/>\nAs an option, you can also have Edo-moji calligraphy carved into the chopstick box (paid, reservation required 10 days in advance). Edo-moji, characterized by thick, powerful lines, has been considered an auspicious symbol since the Edo period (1603-1868). A personalized box adorned with this traditional Japanese design becomes a unique keepsake.<\/p>\n<h4>Durability is Sustainability<\/h4>\n<p>One of the charms of custom-made Edo sashimono is its durability and longevity.<br \/>\nEven after a lifetime of use, by shaving the soiled surface and reapplying oil or lacquer, it can be reborn as a century-old family treasure that can be passed down to your grandchildren&#8217;s generation. In our modern age where sustainability attracts attention and we&#8217;re rediscovering the importance of humans living in balance with the environment, this old-fashioned technique is more important than ever.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Value_of_Meeting_Craftsman_Yutaka_Mogami\"><\/span>The Value of Meeting Craftsman Yutaka Mogami<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/kogei-japonica.com\/media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/images_en_mogami-kogei_sub_5_9a5831ce.webp\" alt=\"Third-generation master Yutaka Mogami\" width=\"780\" height=\"520\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8854\" \/><br \/>\nMogami Kogei boasts 110 years of Edo sashimono history since its establishment in 1912.<br \/>\nThird-generation master Yutaka Mogami is an expert in traditional joinery techniques passed down since the Edo period (1603-1868).<br \/>\nSpecializing in sashimono works for modern homes, his forms and functions have been praised and won numerous awards both domestically and internationally.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Participant_Testimonials-2\"><\/span>Participant Testimonials<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>&#8220;The work of shaving the corners of the square wood with a kanna was fun. Finishing it evenly and roundly was difficult, and I realized how amazing the craftsman&#8217;s skills are&#8221; (Tokyo, woman in her 40s)<\/li>\n<li>&#8220;Before going, I was nervous about being taught directly by a craftsman, but I was able to enjoy the experience&#8221; (Tokyo, woman in her 40s)<\/li>\n<li>&#8220;The work of shaving and shaping the wood with a kanna was difficult but very enjoyable. I was also healed by the good scent of wood from the shavings&#8221; (Kanagawa Prefecture, woman in her 50s)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Third_Experience_Hakone_%E2%80%9COld_Tokaido_Highway_Hiking%E2%80%9D\"><\/span>Third Experience: Hakone &#8220;Old Tokaido Highway Hiking&#8221;<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/kogei-japonica.com\/media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/images_fdea48ac-aa56-4b77-92ab-b39ab666f470.webp\" alt=\"Hakone Old Tokaido Highway Hiking\" width=\"1170\" height=\"780\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8833\" \/><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Historical_Significance_of_the_Old_Tokaido_Highway_and_Hakones_Position\"><\/span>Historical Significance of the Old Tokaido Highway and Hakone&#8217;s Position<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Traveling between Tokyo and Kyoto today is a journey of just 2 hours by shinkansen.<br \/>\nHowever, for hundreds of years, this journey was an arduous one requiring at least 2 weeks on foot. The Old Tokaido Highway played a special role in Japanese history as an important road connecting Edo (present-day Tokyo) and Kyoto.<br \/>\nIn this unique Hakone experience, you&#8217;ll walk &#8220;Hakone Hachiri,&#8221; one of the best-preserved sections of the Old Tokaido Highway, together with a local guide.<br \/>\nOn the way to Hakone Pass and the magnificent views of Lake Ashi, by visiting local woodcraft shops, soba and udon restaurants, and the 400-year-old Amasake Chaya, you can feel the long history of travel and hospitality in the Hakone region.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Hike the Old Tokaido Highway to Hakone Pass with a local guide here<\/strong><br \/>\n<div class=\"linkcard\"><div class=\"lkc-external-wrap\"><a class=\"lkc-link no_icon\" href=\"https:\/\/wabunka-lux.jp\/experiences\/en_explorehakone\/?ref=afazaxes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener\"><div class=\"lkc-card\"><div class=\"lkc-info\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lkc-favicon\" src=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/s2\/favicons?domain=wabunka-lux.jp\" alt=\"\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" \/><div class=\"lkc-domain\">wabunka-lux.jp<\/div><\/div><div class=\"lkc-content\"><figure class=\"lkc-thumbnail\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lkc-thumbnail-img\" src=\"\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/wp-content\/uploads\/pz-linkcard\/cache\/45fb427f327d87fdb25473b1fab68de3a95c346cd657974cff77f17331a1d869.jpeg\" width=\"100px\" height=\"108px\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"lkc-title\">Hike the Old Tokaido Road up to the Hakone Pass with a Local Guide for Specta...<\/div><div class=\"lkc-url\" title=\"https:\/\/wabunka-lux.jp\/experiences\/en_explorehakone\/?ref=afazaxes\">https:\/\/wabunka-lux.jp\/experiences\/en_explorehakone\/?ref=afazaxes<\/div><div class=\"lkc-excerpt\">Traveling between Tokyo and Kyoto these days involves just two hours on the Tokaido shinkansen, but for hundreds of year<\/div><\/div><div class=\"clear\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Guide_Shin_Kanekos_Vision_Deep_Love_for_His_Hometown\"><\/span>Guide Shin Kaneko&#8217;s Vision: Deep Love for His Hometown<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/kogei-japonica.com\/media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/en_explorehakone_AR2.webp\" alt=\"Guide Shin Kaneko\" width=\"780\" height=\"520\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8861\" \/><br \/>\nShin Kaneko was born and raised in Hakone and later studied abroad at the University of Southern California in America. After graduating, he worked at AEON Co., Ltd. supporting new business development, human resources, education, and management, and from his second year, engaged in management planning at the group headquarters&#8217; strategy department. He later participated in launching a startup company, but his feelings for his hometown were irresistible.<br \/>\nNoticing that many foreign travelers seemed to rush through established tourist routes, he returned to his hometown of Hakone at age 30 and established &#8220;Explore Hakone&#8221; in 2015 to provide opportunities for genuine interaction with local people so visitors could build deeper connections with Hakone&#8217;s history, culture, and nature.<br \/>\nAs an experienced certified trekking guide, Kaneko believed that by walking part of the ancient Hakone Hachiri, he could make the region&#8217;s history of travel and hospitality more tangible for guests.<br \/>\n&#8220;I&#8217;m impressed by how knowledgeable people from around the world are about Japanese history,&#8221; he explains.<br \/>\n&#8220;However, reading about the Old Tokaido Highway in history books is completely different from actually feeling the elements in that place. Hearing birds sing in the trees, the sound of wind passing through leaves, climbing the slope with determination step by step\u2014you feel what people of the past felt.&#8221;<br \/>\nWhile Kaneko and his fellow guides recommend that all guests try walking at least part of the Hakone Hachiri path, they also have options available for different experience and fitness levels. Using buses or private cars by advance reservation (additional fee) is also possible.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Experience_Details_The_Path_Where_History_and_Nature_Intersect\"><\/span>Experience Details: The Path Where History and Nature Intersect<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<h4>A Journey Beginning with an Encounter with Traditional Crafts<\/h4>\n<p>The journey begins with hiking along the beautiful Sukukawa River.<br \/>\nTo start the day while feeling regional culture, you first visit &#8220;Hatajuku Yosegi Kaikan&#8221; to learn about the local woodworking tradition known as Yosegi Zaiku. Hakone&#8217;s unique yosegi zaiku combines fragments of wood from various trees with different grains and colors to create intricate patchwork patterns that decorate boxes, cups, dishes, and other attractive objects.<\/p>\n<h4>Local Flavors: Lunch at a Soba and Udon Restaurant<\/h4>\n<p>Since travelers on the Old Tokaido Highway often spent more than 2 weeks on the road, they tended to welcome occasional home-style cooking.<br \/>\nSmall eateries and tea houses were born at various locations along the route, including Hakone Hachiri. To taste this tradition, you and your guide will have lunch at &#8220;Kikuya,&#8221; a local restaurant specializing in soba and udon noodle dishes.<\/p>\n<h4>Into the Deep Forest: Climbing Hakone Hachiri<\/h4>\n<p>Satisfied and enlightened, you and your guide begin the hike climbing the forest-covered hills that lead to Hakone Pass.<br \/>\nWalking slowly, savor the sights and sounds of this secluded natural world, and feel beneath your feet the earth trodden by generations of travelers. Since all of Explore Hakone&#8217;s guides are extremely knowledgeable about local history, geography, biology, and culture, feel free to ask questions anytime about whatever interests you most about the region.<br \/>\nAs you proceed along the path with your guide, you&#8217;ll encounter sections where ishidatami (stone pavement) laid in the late 17th century still remains.<br \/>\nThese road works were part of the Tokugawa Shogunate&#8217;s efforts to establish Hakone Hachiri as a new section of the Old Tokaido Highway, to better manage movement and trade, and to use the mountains as a natural fortress against possible invasions from the west.<\/p>\n<h4>Break at the 400-Year-Old Amasake Chaya<\/h4>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/kogei-japonica.com\/media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/en_explorehakone_AR6new.webp\" alt=\"Amasake Chaya\" width=\"780\" height=\"520\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-8863\" \/><br \/>\nAmong the small eateries scattered along the Old Tokaido Highway were modest establishments called &#8220;chaya.&#8221;<br \/>\nThey served tea, light meals, and snacks. Incredibly, one of Hakone&#8217;s tea houses established in the early Edo period has survived to this day. With its thatched roof and beautiful wooden architecture, &#8220;Amasake Chaya&#8221; is a living embodiment of local history, operated by the 13th generation of the same family that has welcomed weary travelers for over 300 years.<br \/>\nIn addition to tea and light meals, this historic local establishment is famous for its signature drink, amasake.<br \/>\nBrewed from rice since ancient times using methods similar to sake, amasake is a delicious non-alcoholic beverage with a creamy texture and sweet, revitalizing taste. Amasake Chaya&#8217;s amasake is made with the family&#8217;s original recipe passed down through generations. It can be enjoyed cold in summer and warm in winter, along with light snacks.<\/p>\n<h4>Sense of Achievement and Magnificent Views at Hakone Pass<\/h4>\n<p>For centuries, the climb to Hakone Pass was considered the most difficult section of the 2-week Old Tokaido Highway journey from Kyoto to Edo.<br \/>\nWhen the ground beneath your feet begins to level out and you catch your first glimpse of Lake Ashi&#8217;s deep blue waters, think of all the men and women who experienced this moment\u2014captivated by equal parts awe and relief.<br \/>\nThe hike continues to the lakeshore, where you stop to view the spectacular sight of Lake Ashi with Mt. Fuji towering in the distance on clear days.<br \/>\nOne of the best-preserved sections of the Old Tokaido Highway runs along the lake&#8217;s eastern shore. The gravel path is bordered by towering cedar tree-lined avenues planted over 300 years ago under the Tokugawa Shogunate, continuing to provide shade today just as they did for travelers of that time.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Connection_with_History_Sharing_Time_with_Edo-Period_Travelers\"><\/span>Connection with History: Sharing Time with Edo-Period Travelers<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>As you traverse this impressive section of the Old Tokaido Highway, you approach the old Hakone Sekisho checkpoint that once strictly controlled entry and exit to the Kanto region.<br \/>\nWhile it may have been a somewhat tense time for Edo-period travelers, for you it becomes the culmination of a day of discovery, exercise, and connection in Hakone.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Value_of_Relationships_with_Local_Guides\"><\/span>The Value of Relationships with Local Guides<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Having traveled widely and spent years as a guide, Shin Kaneko understands well that the people you meet while traveling leave a lasting impression that complements the places you visit. All guides working at Explore Hakone have deep personal connections to Hakone, either having grown up there or actively choosing to relocate to the region. And since all guides are fluent in English, spending time with them is a wonderful way to gain an insider&#8217;s perspective on life in Hakone through casual conversation.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_the_Three_Experiences_Share_and_Their_Significance\"><\/span>What the Three Experiences Share and Their Significance<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Essence_of_Monozukuri_Direct_Relationships_with_Craftsmen\"><\/span>The Essence of Monozukuri: Direct Relationships with Craftsmen<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>There&#8217;s something you&#8217;ll notice for the first time only after participating in these three experiences. It&#8217;s the importance of facing craftsmen directly at the site of monozukuri (craftsmanship).<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>At Kyoto&#8217;s Shikata Kizou Lacquerware Shop, craftsmen from a long-established shop operating continuously since 1867 provide guidance right beside you.<\/li>\n<li>At Tokyo&#8217;s Mogami Kogei, third-generation master Yutaka Mogami offers hands-on instruction.<\/li>\n<li>On the Hakone hike, you move together with an experienced guide rooted in the local area.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>What these experiences share in common is not merely learning techniques, but directly absorbing through words and body the craftsmen&#8217;s &#8220;attitude toward monozukuri,&#8221; &#8220;feelings for their region,&#8221; and &#8220;approach to tradition.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The reason participants&#8217; testimonials frequently include comments like &#8220;I felt the craftsman&#8217;s attitude up close&#8221; and &#8220;I was overwhelmed by the master&#8217;s presence&#8221; is precisely because of these direct relationships.<br \/>\nIn modern society, mass production systems have completely separated consumers from producers in monozukuri.<br \/>\nHowever, these three experiences provide an opportunity to reconnect that separation. Understanding the thoughts and techniques that bring forth the things we hold\u2014grasping that complete picture fundamentally changes how we relate to objects themselves.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Practicing_Japanese_Aesthetics_Understanding_Wabi-Sabi\"><\/span>Practicing Japanese Aesthetics: Understanding Wabi-Sabi<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Kintsugi is the most symbolic expression of wabi-sabi aesthetics.<br \/>\nThis technique of reconnecting broken ceramics with gold or silver is not mere repair but the crystallization of the Japanese aesthetic sensibility of &#8220;finding beauty in imperfection.&#8221;<br \/>\nThe perspective that views damage or breakage not as &#8220;the beginning of the end&#8221; but as &#8220;the birth of new life&#8221;\u2014this is the very essence of wabi-sabi.<\/p>\n<p>The aesthetics of Edo sashimono are similar. What participants feel in the process of selecting wood and carving it out with hand planes at Mogami Kogei is the attitude of trying to bring out the natural beauty of the material.<br \/>\nEliminating unnecessary decoration and maximizing natural expressions such as the wood&#8217;s annual rings and coloring. This is also the practice of wabi-sabi&#8217;s &#8220;refinement within simplicity.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>And on the Old Tokaido Highway hike in Hakone, walking through nature allows you to feel layers of time.<br \/>\nStone-paved roads continuing from the Edo period, cedar tree-lined avenues planted 300 years ago, tea houses with 400 years of history.<\/p>\n<p>All of these embody the aesthetic of wabi-sabi that &#8220;accepts the passage of time and change as they are.&#8221; Deterioration and discoloration are also respected as evidence of history.<br \/>\nThrough these three experiences, participants can experience Japanese aesthetics not &#8220;as concepts&#8221; but &#8220;physically.&#8221;<br \/>\nOnly by moving their hands, breaking a sweat, and taking time does the concept of wabi-sabi truly sink in\u2014not as mere theory, but as a value system deeply rooted in Japanese life and thought.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Sustainability_and_Continuity_A_Culture_That_Thinks_in_Century-Long_Terms\"><\/span>Sustainability and Continuity: A Culture That Thinks in Century-Long Terms<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>In today&#8217;s consumer society, &#8220;disposability&#8221; is the norm.<\/p>\n<p>However, the chopsticks made at Mogami Kogei have the potential to become &#8220;century-old family treasures.&#8221;<br \/>\nEven if scratched or dulled, you simply shave the surface. Apply oil or lacquer again, and they regain new brilliance. This cycle can theoretically be repeated forever.<\/p>\n<p>Kintsugi at Shikata Kizou Lacquerware Shop is the same. Broken ceramics are revived with new attire. They may break again someday. But when that happens, they&#8217;re repaired again with kintsugi. Through this repetition, a single object lives on for a hundred, two hundred years.<br \/>\nThis way of thinking even transcends the concept of &#8220;environmental consideration&#8221; preached by modern sustainability discourse.<br \/>\nIt&#8217;s a fundamental change in the relationship with objects. A shift in positioning where objects are not &#8220;things to possess&#8221; but &#8220;things to nurture&#8221; and &#8220;things to care for.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>In the Hakone hiking experience, this essence of sustainability appears most clearly.<br \/>\nThe Old Tokaido Highway has been preserved and loved in units of 400 and 800 years.<br \/>\nWalking this path is about feeling what previous generations left for future generations, and it&#8217;s also about accepting the obligation to preserve similarly for the next generation.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Respect_for_Regions_and_Craftsmen_Rediscovering_Local_Value\"><\/span>Respect for Regions and Craftsmen: Rediscovering Local Value<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Kyoto&#8217;s Shikata Kizou Lacquerware Shop, Tokyo&#8217;s Mogami Kogei, Hakone&#8217;s Explore Hakone. What these three experiences share is that they&#8217;re all provided by &#8220;craftsmen and businesses deeply rooted in their regions.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The craftsmen at Shikata Kizou Lacquerware Shop have continued to face the material of lacquer and its culture for 156 years since 1867 in the ancient capital of Kyoto. The Mogami family at Mogami Kogei has protected and developed the traditional technique of Edo sashimono since its establishment in 1912. Shin Kaneko of Explore Hakone studied in America, gained experience in corporations, saw the world, yet still chose to return to his hometown of Hakone at age 30.<br \/>\nThese choices are by no means nostalgia. They&#8217;re endeavors to deeply recognize the value of &#8220;cultural assets&#8221; existing in their regions and to pass them on to the next generation while further developing them.<br \/>\nIn an age of advancing globalization where the same things can be obtained anywhere, region-specific cultures and techniques are becoming increasingly rare and precious. Yet at the same time, many of these values are overlooked and face the danger of extinction.<\/p>\n<p>What these three experiences provide is not simply experiencing &#8220;nostalgic Japan,&#8221; but helping us realize the importance of &#8220;rediscovering local value.&#8221; Through interactions with craftsmen and local guides, participants witness firsthand the richness of region-rooted wisdom, techniques, and human relationships. And through that experience, they begin to realize that similar local values exist in the regions where they themselves live.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Learning_Through_Experience_From_Knowledge_to_Physical_Understanding\"><\/span>Learning Through Experience: From Knowledge to Physical Understanding<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Finally, what&#8217;s important is that the essence of these three experiences lies in a &#8220;qualitative transformation of learning.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>You can read explanations of kintsugi on websites. You can watch videos of Edo sashimono on YouTube. You can learn the history of the Old Tokaido Highway from books.<br \/>\nHowever, these are merely information inputs to the &#8220;head.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>You actually grip a hand plane and shave wood while adjusting the amount of force. At that moment, the resistance transmitted to your fingertips, the sound of the wood, the rising fragrance\u2014all of these enter your brain at once. And only then does the answer to the question &#8220;Why do Edo sashimono craftsmen train for decades?&#8221; become engraved as bodily memory.<br \/>\nSimilarly, the tension when carefully drawing lacquer with a brush in kintsugi. The sense of achievement upon reaching Hakone Pass and the scenery of Lake Ashi spreading before your eyes. These multi-sensory experiences can never be obtained through mere knowledge.<\/p>\n<p>Such experiential learning is also proven neuroscientifically. Learning that stimulates multiple senses simultaneously is engraved in many areas of the brain at once and stored as deeper memory. Moreover, learning while moving the body activates broader areas of the brain.<br \/>\nIn other words, these three experiences are not just &#8220;tourism&#8221; but are also the most effective learning methods from a neuroscientific perspective. The reason participants comment that &#8220;my life changed&#8221; or &#8220;my way of seeing things changed&#8221; is because not just their knowledge level but their body and brain itself have transformed.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion_A_Proposal_for_How_to_Engage_with_Japanese_Culture\"><\/span>Conclusion: A Proposal for How to Engage with Japanese Culture<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_%E2%80%9CTrue_Richness%E2%80%9D\"><\/span>What is &#8220;True Richness&#8221;?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Learning kintsugi in Kyoto, making chopsticks in Tokyo, walking ancient paths in Hakone. After finishing these three experiences, what remains in participants&#8217; hearts?<br \/>\nIt&#8217;s probably an awakening to &#8220;the depth of relationship with objects.&#8221; We who live in modern society are surrounded by objects. However, most of them exist as &#8220;things to consume&#8221; or &#8220;things to dispose of.&#8221; Even the joy of acquiring objects vanishes in an instant.<\/p>\n<p>But what about the chopsticks you made yourself? What about the kintsugi you repaired yourself? What about the Old Tokaido Highway you walked with your own feet?<br \/>\nIn all these objects and experiences, your own time, effort, joy, and connections with craftsmen and regions are engraved.<\/p>\n<p>Such objects and experiences exist precisely in material environments that are not necessarily &#8220;rich.&#8221; Rather, the simpler the object, the more deeply you can feel the thoughts and techniques embedded in it.<br \/>\nThe &#8220;richness&#8221; modern society provides is primarily quantitative. More things, newer technology, more convenient functions. However, what these three experiences suggest is that &#8220;richness&#8221; may rather be qualitative. Deep relationships with objects. Taking time to nurture objects. Feeling connections with craftsmen and local people. Inheriting culture from the past and passing it on to the next generation.<\/p>\n<p>Don&#8217;t all of these constitute true richness?<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_Japanese_Culture_is_Needed_in_the_Age_of_Globalization\"><\/span>Why Japanese Culture is Needed in the Age of Globalization<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Interestingly, many participants in these three experiences are foreigners. Why do people from around the world participate in these experiences?<br \/>\nOne reason is that in a world homogenized by globalization, the desire for &#8220;local and unique culture&#8221; has actually increased. In an age where there&#8217;s a Starbucks everywhere you go, the same fashion brands line up, and the same smartphones are used\u2014within that, cultures and techniques that exist only in specific regions, such as Kyoto&#8217;s lacquer, Edo&#8217;s sashimono, and Hakone&#8217;s ancient paths, appear extremely precious and attractive.<\/p>\n<p>However, that&#8217;s not all. Another reason is empathy with the &#8220;alternative values&#8221; that Japanese culture provides. In the world of global capitalism that prioritizes efficiency, speed, and newness above all, Japanese culture presents values such as &#8220;time, craftsmanship, and local wisdom.&#8221; These values can serve as a counterbalance to the problems modern society has fallen into (environmental problems, overconsumption, diluted human relationships).<br \/>\nIn other words, Japanese cultural experiences are not merely &#8220;nostalgia for the past&#8221; but presentations of &#8220;different approaches&#8221; to problems modern society faces.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_Call_to_Participants_To_the_Next_Step\"><\/span>A Call to Participants: To the Next Step<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Participating in these three experiences itself is already one important choice. However, how you incorporate the insights gained from the experiences into daily life is where their true value is tested.<br \/>\nHow to reflect the wabi-sabi aesthetics learned through kintsugi in how you relate to objects in your own home. How to apply the essence of monozukuri learned through Edo sashimono to your own profession and human relationships. How to apply the layers of time and respect for regions felt on the Old Tokaido Highway to how you face the place where you live.<br \/>\nExperiences are, in a sense, only &#8220;beginnings.&#8221; Real change occurs in the daily life that follows.<\/p>\n<p>At the same time, what these three experiences suggest is that many more craftsmen, techniques, and region-specific cultures still exist throughout Japan. After Kyoto, Tokyo, and Hakone, where will you head next? Takayama&#8217;s woodwork, Wajima&#8217;s lacquer, Sado&#8217;s gold and silver mine sites, and small workshops run by unknown craftsmen.<br \/>\nParticipants who once awaken to the depths of Japanese culture eventually transform into &#8220;seekers.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Finally_Reconstructing_Relationships_with_Objects\"><\/span>Finally: Reconstructing Relationships with Objects<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Currently, interest in sustainability is growing worldwide.<br \/>\nHowever, true sustainability cannot be achieved through environmental technology and policy alone. It requires a transformation of the relationship with objects itself.<\/p>\n<p>Kintsugi, Edo sashimono, the Old Tokaido Highway. Through these three experiences, participants learn a &#8220;different way with objects.&#8221; It&#8217;s one wisdom accumulated over thousands of years of Japanese culture.<br \/>\nIsn&#8217;t that wisdom one of the things most needed in the world today?<\/p>\n<p>The spirit of cherishing objects. The attitude of respecting craftsmanship. The endeavor to protect regional culture. The patience to nurture something over time. And the sense of responsibility to connect culture from the past to the future.<br \/>\nAll of these are passed from the hands of Kyoto&#8217;s lacquer shop, Tokyo&#8217;s woodwork craftsman, and Hakone&#8217;s guide to participants, one by one. At that moment, Japanese culture becomes not a relic of the past but a bridge to the future.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>From Kyoto to Hakone: A Journey to Learn the Beauty of Traditional Crafts &#8211; Touching with Hands, Feeling with Heart the Japanese Tradition Japanese traditional culture is infused with techniques and spirit that have been passed down for hundreds of years. It&#8217;s not merely tourism or entertainment, but a &#8220;living culture&#8221; imbued with the souls<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":6786,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[171],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6784","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-recommended"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6784","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6784"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6784\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6786"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6784"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6784"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.kogei-japonica.com\/media\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6784"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}