Kintsugi Experience using Arita Ware in Nihonbashi Tokyo

Learn the Traditional Japanese Craft of Pottery Repair.

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Highlights

  • 100 Years of Tradition: Established in 1923, Nihonbashi Mutoh Main Store is a historic shop specializing in high-quality lacquerware and glassware.

  • Authentic Kintsugi Workshop: Experience the traditional Japanese art of Kintsugi and repair pottery with gold in a one-day hands-on class.

  • Cultural Experience in Nihonbashi: Learn the philosophy of wabi-sabi—finding beauty in imperfection through the art of Kintsugi.

  • Discover Arita Ware: Explore Japan’s first porcelain, originating from Saga Prefecture and once exported to Europe as “IMARI.”

  • Bring Your Own Pottery: Participate in the Kintsugi experience using your own ceramic or porcelain item

  • Ideal for Culture Enthusiasts: A must-visit destination in Tokyo for travelers seeking authentic Japanese craftsmanship and heritage.

  • Duration

    1 hour and 30 minutes

  • Offered in

    English

What is included

  • Admission to Kintsugi Workshop for 90 minutes.

  • All necessary materials

  • An English-speaking instructor

  • A plate used in the experience (available to bring home)

What is not included

  • Personal expense

ITINERARY

Meeting / Pickup Point

Nihonbashi Mutoh Main Store
〒1030023 JP Tokyo 1-8-13 Nihonbashihoncho Chuo City

Start time

10:30:00

What To Expect

Discover the charm of Nihonbashi Mutoh Main Store, a historic shop in Tokyo established in 1923, known for its exquisite Japanese lacquerware and glassware. Visitors can enjoy a unique cultural experience by learning the traditional art of Kintsugi, where broken pottery is beautifully repaired with gold, reflecting the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi embracing beauty in imperfection. The store also showcases the elegance of Arita ware, Japan’s first porcelain, once exported to Europe as “IMARI” and treasured by nobility. Guests can even bring their own ceramic or porcelain items to take part in a hands-on Kintsugi workshop, making it a must-visit destination for those seeking authentic Japanese craftsmanship and culture in Tokyo.


【About Nihonbashi Mutoh Main Store】
Immerse yourself in the charm of traditional crafts, surrounded by beautiful lacquerware, at a shop with a history of about 100 years. Nihonbashi Mutoh Main Store, established in 1923, is a wholesale dealer of high-quality lacquerware and glassware, with department stores as its main clientele. You can learn about and experience the entire kintsugi process in a day.

【What is Kintsugi?】
Kintsugi is the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery pieces back together with gold. It values imperfection, turning flaws into unique features. Originating in the 15th century, it's rooted in the philosophy of wabi-sabi, celebrating impermanence and embracing scars in life. Kintsugi teaches resilience, acceptance, and finding beauty in adversity. Immerse yourself in authentic Kintsugi.

【About Arita Ware】
Arita ware refers to porcelain manufactured in Arita Town and its surrounding areas in Saga Prefecture, and it is recognized as the first porcelain produced in Japan. In the early Edo period, porcelain production began in Izumiyama in Arita Town when the raw material for porcelain, known as pottery stone, was discovered by Korean potter Yi Sam-pyeong. Arita ware became a major industry of the Saga domain and was exported to Southeast Asia and European countries under the name "IMARI" by the Dutch East India Company via the nearby Imari Port. It became a status symbol among the nobility in Europe that previously lacked technology to produce porcelain, and it had a significant influence on subsequent European porcelain production.

【Bringing Your Own Item for Kintsugi Experience】
You are welcome to bring your own item for the kintsugi experience, as long as it meets the following conditions:

Size: Up to approximately φ15 cm in diameter and 15 cm in height
Damage: 1 to 2 broken parts
Material: Ceramic or porcelain























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    • Availability: CURRENTLY ONLY 10:30AM & 13:30PM SESSION

    • Available daily from October 28, 2025, to March 31, 2026, except December 26, 2025, to January 7, 2026.

    • 【Simple Kintsugi Precautions】After kintsugi work, bring it home and dry it indoors for about 1 week.

    • 【Simple Kintsugi Precautions】Hand wash only with dishwashing detergent.

    • 【Simple Kintsugi Precautions】No microwave and no dishwasher, please.

    • 【Simple Kintsugi Precautions】Please use it for decoration, not for eating or drinking.

    • Please note that minimum age for participation is 13 years old.

    • Please note that the workshop may be conducted alongside regular customers.

    • Please note that no refunds will be issued if you do not participate in the experience on the scheduled day.

    • If you arrive late, the experience will still end at the originally scheduled time.

    • YOMIURI