Private Pewter Sake Cup Experience with a Kyoto Artisan
Description
This workshop is led by the owner of Craft Gallery SALUK, a skilled pewtersmith, who will guide you as you create your own pewter sake cup. Pewter has been part of Japanese culture since the 8th century, first used by nobles and temples. From the 17th century it spread among common people, especially for sake and tea utensils. Even today, many say sake tastes smoother from a pewter cup. By making your own, you connect with this tradition firsthand. Workshops are limited to 4 guests, offering a relaxed atmosphere. Solo travelers, couples, and small groups are all welcome. No experience is needed; clear guidance helps beginners enjoy the process. You’ll also see inside the pewter workshop—normally closed to the public—and gain a deeper appreciation for the craft. Your cup will come in a paulownia wood box, making it a meaningful keepsake or gift. Join us and make a lasting memory with your handcrafted pewter sake cup.
Tour Options
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(33)
This was a absolute wonderful experience. Even if you have artistic experience this will work for you. The host of the shop and is very knowledgeable about the history of pewter craft. It is private with only you, your family and friends. We finished our class was asking about how to get to the train station. We went to lunch in a small Cafe across the street. When we finished, she meet us outside with a hand draw map in English to make sure we didn't get lost. Best experience in Kyoto bar none. I would have given her a 10/5 if I could have.
Thank you so much for your warm and heartfelt review! I’m delighted not only that you enjoyed the workshop, but also that you enjoyed this area itself, including the café across the street and Kurama Onsen. I was especially touched by your story about carrying your ancestor’s name through four generations. It gave me a real sense of your family’s history and tradition, and it was a story that left a lasting impression on me. I hope you will enjoy the beautiful cups you created for many years to come. Even if they are accidentally dropped and become dented, I can repair and polish them again if you bring them back on a future trip to Japan. Pewter is a material that can be restored and enjoyed for a very long time. Just as your family name has been passed down through generations, I hope these cups will remain a part of your family’s memories for many years to come. Thank you again for your kind words. I wish you many more wonderful journeys and happy memories in the years ahead. Kanako
Thank you, Kai-san. We enjoyed this pewter sake cup making experience very much. Your warm hospitality and careful instruction made the experience truly special. Thanks to your guidance, we were able to create our own original sake cup, which was both exciting and memorable. The workshop is located in a quiet area at the foot of the northern mountains of Kyoto, far away from the crowds and bustle of the city. The peaceful surroundings made the experience even more relaxing and enjoyable. This is a rare opportunity to learn a traditional craft and create something unique with your own hands. I highly recommend this experience to anyone visiting Kyoto. Thank you again for a wonderful and unforgettable time. We will treasure our handmade sake cup for many years to come. Ken & Kenny family
Thank you so much for your warm and heartfelt review! I am truly happy that this experience became a part of your memories of Japan. It was a pleasure spending time with your family, and I am delighted to know that you enjoyed creating your own one-of-a-kind sake cup. I am also very pleased that you enjoyed the peaceful surroundings of the workshop. It means a lot to me that you were able to appreciate the quiet atmosphere and beautiful natural environment of this area. I hope that every time you use your handmade sake cup, it will bring back fond memories of your trip to Japan and the special time you spent here in Kyoto. Once again, thank you very much for visiting my workshop. I wish you and your family good health, happiness, and many wonderful adventures and memories in the years to come. Kanako
Such a fun, unique experience. And you get a truly unique memory of your time in Kyoto. Highly recommend : )
Thank you very much for your kind words! I’m truly happy to hear that you enjoyed the experience and that it became a unique and special memory of your time in Kyoto. I’m also honored that you chose this workshop as part of such a special trip, especially with your wife’s birthday coming up. I hope that each time you use the sake cup, it will bring back fond memories of your time in Japan. Thank you once again! Kanako
I had a wonderful time shaping my own pewter sake cup at this workshop. Kanako is a professional in her craft and made the experience easy for beginners and provided clear instructions to help. In the end, I was able to keep an engraved custom souvenir to take home with me!
Thank you very much for joining our workshop! During your trip, I heard that you made not only this sake cup, but also chopsticks, a knife, a shuriken, and even a scarf. I was truly impressed and delighted by your desire to learn more deeply about Japanese culture through crafting. Imagining you cooking with the knife you made, and seeing the chopsticks and this sake cup—also made by you—placed together on your table fills my heart with warmth. I hope you continue to enjoy your wonderful journey. Thank you again very much! Kanako
We had an absolutely wonderful experience creating our own sake cup. Kanako-san guided us through the process of shaping the cup and creating our own pattern on the sake cup. Highly recommend if you like sake, and want your very own unique sake cup.
Thank you very much for your warm review! When I learned that you had tried to book this workshop about a year ago, I felt sorry that it didn’t work out at the time, but I was truly touched that you gave it another try a year later. I sincerely hope this experience became one of the memorable moments of your trip to Japan. Thank you as well for sharing so much about Norway. Although Norway had always felt very far from Japan (even though I love Norwegian salmon and mackerel!), meeting you made it feel much closer to me. I hope to visit Atlanterhavsveien someday. Please come and visit Japan again in the future. Thank you once again! Kanako
Very welcome from Kanako-san who took the time to welcome us, to explain to us how we would proceed. We loved this experience! The fact that you could also discuss your craft and your creations was a plus! We highly recommend this activity! You leave with a unique memory 🤗🥰
Merci beaucoup pour votre aimable commentaire ! J’ai passé un moment vraiment agréable en parlant avec vous de la France. Si j’ai l’occasion d’aller en Europe à nouveau, mon rêve serait de visiter le restaurant à Narbonne que vous m’avez recommandé. J’espère que, en regardant vos tasses, vous vous souviendrez de temps en temps de votre voyage au Japon. Je vous remercie encore une fois ! Kanako
We had such an amazing time getting taught by Kanako how to make our beautiful pewter cups, and being shown the private workshop where she does her incredible work. She was a great instructor, very knowledgeable and super friendly, and made us feel absolutely at home. Can't give this experience enough praise.
Thank you so much for your heartwarming review! I’m so glad that you seemed to have enjoyed both the workshop and the local area. You were so focused and patient in creating the hammer marks, and the result was a beautifully finished cup! I truly enjoyed spending such a warm and pleasant time with you both. Thank you again! Kanako
What an amazing experience! Our whole group loved it, and would definitely recommend it to everyone. Kanako is an amazing artist and host, making sure we all felt welcome and walked away from a couple hours of fun with some very cool cups. Kanako's studio is in a quiet part of town, accessible by public transportation but feels tucked into the mountains. If you're looking to experience some authentically-Japanese and super fun crafting, this is for you!
Thank you so much for your kind words! Each of you created such unique and beautiful cups. You are all professionals in your own fields, and it was truly inspiring for me as well. You also share a wonderful bond through your common interests. Please continue to enjoy your journey together! I had a really great time too — thank you so much! Kanako
This was so much fun. Hands on fun; great host; removed from the business of downtown Kyoto. Would definitely recommend
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! Both of you created such unique and beautiful cups. I was thrilled to see your interest in Japanese culture and the Japanese language. Please come visit Japan again sometime. Thank you very much once again! Kanako
What a fantastic experience! Kanako made our cup-making class an absolute joy. She was an incredibly patient and helpful instructor, guiding us through the entire process. The moment we finished, she even shared some sake with us—the perfect way to 'test drive' our creations! Our finished cups are beautiful, durable, and truly one-of-a-kind. They're the ideal souvenir from Japan, and we've loved using them since we got back.
Thank you so much for your thoughtful review! I was truly touched by your calm and lovely presence, and by the care you put into crafting each piece. Knowing that you continue to cherish them even after returning home brings me great joy. I sincerely hope you will visit Japan again someday. Thank you once again for your kind words! Kanako
