Private Pewter Sake Cup Experience With A Kyoto Artisan

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, 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

Such a fun, unique experience. And you get a truly unique memory of your time in Kyoto. Highly recommend : )

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!

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.

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.

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!

This was so much fun. Hands on fun; great host; removed from the business of downtown Kyoto. Would definitely recommend

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.

This is a unique, peaceful, and memorable experience that's worth the short commute to the edge of Kyoto. Had a great time learning to work with pewter alongside my fiancee. I went a little bit off-script with the design, but Kanako ensured we both went away with beautiful and functional keepsakes.

If you ever get the chance to take the pewter sake cup making workshop here, you absolutely should! My husband, mom, and sister all found it to be one of the most memorable and unique experiences we’ve ever participated in while traveling. The owner and teacher, Kanako-san, was such a pleasure to work with. Through kindness, knowledge, and a great sense of humor, she helped us to create beautiful and one-of-a-kind sake cups, and she even provided us with sake at the end so that we could try out our brand new cups. The whole experience was top-notch and a true highlight of our trip!

This was absolutely a highlight of our recent trip to Japan! The owner of Saluk, Kanako, taught the workshop and her kind personality, sense of humor, patience, and clear knowledge about working with pewter made this experience one that we’ll never forget. She helped us create beautiful, one-of-a-kind pewter sake cups, and at the end, she even offered us a bottle of sake and a snack so that we could try out our new sake cups! I would highly recommend signing up for this workshop if you ever get the chance!

I had so much fun making a cup with Kai-san! I'm not the best with my hands, but she was so sweet and patient with me. After she does the final touches, you actually get to drink sake (or whatever other drink) out of it right away. It's so satisfying to actually feel the texture of the cup as you're drinking from it. I've been in Kyoto for a while now, and I'm pretty sure this is literally the only place you could make something like this. Also, it's a solo traveler-friendly activity, but it would also be a lot of fun with friends or family too!

This was an incredibly fun and insightful experience. It was so great to create with my own hands and see the final result. Kanako is an incredible teacher and a generous host and her studio is located in a peaceful, calm area outside the city--well worth the trek!

This was absolutely the best activity we have ever done while traveling. Kanako was so delightful, helpful and patient. The cups were easy to make and can be used for any cold drinks, not just sake. The workshop was easy to get to and the town it is in is gorgeous. There were four of us who took the class… me, my husband and our two sons (17 & 20 years). This is a truly memorable and unique experience that was so much fun! Kanako is a master of her craft and we were so fortunate to stumble on this activity. I highly recommend it, if you want a truly unique souvenir from a beautiful place.

What an absolutely amazing experience - we’ll never forget our time spent with Kanako-san crafting our own pewter sake cups (which can also be used for other cold drinks if sake isn’t your thing). Kanako-san is an excellent teacher, eager to share her knowledge as a pewtersmith, patiently explaining each step in the process. After reviewing the process and selecting a patterned hammer, you’ll begin to craft the look of your cup. Add some personalization by engraving your initials and/or the date on the bottom, then Kanako-san will help you level the cup and show you how to sand and file the rim for proper shaping. Afterwards, accompany Kanako-san to her workshop where she will finish the cup’s final polish. This was the only part where she takes over for safety reasons due to the machinery needed. You are then presented with you finished cup! My family tries to always find some sort of crafting class when we travel together - making something with a local is so much more satisfying than buying a manufactured souvenir. This was by far one of the most enjoyable classes we have taken. If you will be visiting Kyoto, I highly recommend this workshop!

The Cup turned out so pretty and the whole experience was 10/10. I really enjoyed the whole process. The Workspace is amazing as well!

We had a fantastic time on this experience. Kanoka was an excellent teacher and host. We started with tea and snacks and a chance to look around her gallery, then proceeded to decorate our pewter cups with patterned hammers. Kanoka finished them off with a polish in her workshop, followed by a sake tasting. The location of her workshop is an easy trip by train from Kyoto and takes you into a beautiful mountainous area which is well worth an explore afterwards. Overall a wonderful experience

This was such an amazing experience on the outskirts of Kyoto. Easy to get to and Kanoko-san was so friendly. We were welcomed with tea and the process was explained to us. Her studio was beautiful (as was her work displayed and available for sale). We ha such a great time through the whole process, were guided and instructed all the way through and the end result is a treasure I will keep forever. Such an amazing hands-on experience with a lovely and highly knowledgeable host who is very skilled at her craft. Absolutely recommend to anyone (and the sake tasting in out freshly made cups with a snack was the perfect finish to an amazing morning

This was such a special workshop and one of the most memorable activities I have ever done while traveling. Kanoko-san welcomed me with tea and snacks and then provided a brief overview of the pewter decorating process. I was able to do most of the pewter work on my own with observation from her and enjoyed the experience of making something by myself. Kanoko-san finished the pewter cup with a polishing process in her workshop and it was really wonderful to see her at work. Her gallery and workshop are about 50 minutes from Gion-Shijo but it is well worth the trip to experience a quieter part of Kyoto and to take part in a workshop that is truly one of a kind and a special and unique experience. This is a must-do for anyone looking for something different than the beaten tourist tracks. I would absolutely do this again and highly recommend it!

I came to Japan this time to study crafts and art with masters. Hammered pewter work is one of Japan's artisanal specialties. I decorated a blank pewter cup by using differently shaped hammers to tap patterns on the metal. This work is done by placing the cup on an anvil affixed to a large tree stump. After hammering my pattern,. I learned how to level the cup, and file the edge at a 40° angle so it will be smoother to human lips. Because of the machinery involved, Kamako did the finishing sanding, polishing and buffing. Most people use these cups for sake; I plan to use mine for small ikebana. Kamako is a delightful teacher and artisan. She worked at an established pewter firm before opening her own atelier called SALUK. Kamako's work with pewter is aesthetically refined and functional. I especially like her embossing work. It was such a fun experience that I'm thinking of doing it again to make another cup as a gift. The first photo is my cup; the second and third photos are of Kamako and a couple of her pieces. I highly recommend studying with Kamako if you want a special experience.

It’s one of the most satisfying experiences we’ve had. The patience you learn and the amazing result we got was wonderful, we each got something we created with our hands and we couldn’t believe how beautiful it turned out.

We did had a very good time with Kanako-san. If more time was allowed (it's quite late as our start time was 19:00), we probably would stay longer and try our cups immediately after the workshop. This workshop is highly recommended for who are interested in Japanese Crafts: - easy for a beginner - well prepared teaching instructions - warm and welcoming experience - worthwhile to make yourself or friend an unique gift

One of the most enjoyable and memorable experiences here in Kyoto. I attended our session with my daughter and we both had a great time. Kai-san is an excellent sensei and wonderful host. Our sake cups came out perfect, at least I think so. Highly recommend this workshop. We both had a lot of fun.

This was a very cool experience. We crafted our own sake cups made of pewter, hammering them with our own designs. Then got to enjoy sake tasting out of them. Very cool and unique souvenir from our trip to Kyoto.

My partner and I absolutely loved this experience with Kanako-san. We had the best time learning all the intricate details and efforts that go in to pewter cup making and have returned home with our one of a kind cups that we use almost every day. We were fortunate enough to receive some tea recommendations from Kanako-san as well and have been having delicious Japanese sake and tea throughout our week in the cups. As soon as we stepped out with our pieces both my partner and I agreed immediately to return and do the experience again next time we find ourselves in Japan. We would 100% recommend anyone and everyone try this! Thank you Kanako-san! See you again soon

Kanako was a patient and skilled instructor and we thoroughly enjoyed our pewter experience. She made sure our sake cups turned out perfect, even after a couple of mistakes by us students! While the workshop is a little way out of Kyoto (1hr by scenic train from Kyoto Station), the beautiful surroundings (complete with babbling stream!) and the workshop experience are worth it. Kanako and her husband even dropped us off at a more convenient train station to get home, cutting our return journey to 20 mins. Highly recommend!

Stepping outside the bustling city of Kyoto led us to a magical experience at a traditional Japanese craft workshop. The atmosphere was romantic (for us…), educational and filled with fun as we delved into the art of creating pewter sake cups. Our host was not only patient but also charming, making the entire process a joy. We were also captivated by a beautiful item designed by the host and it is now something we love to show our friends when they come over. The workshop was like stepping into a hidden world of Japanese artisanship, where we had the chance to create something truly special with our own hands. The finished cups, elegantly packaged in wood boxes are a reminder of the happiness and fulfillment we found in creating something special. This workshop in Kyoto is a must for anyone interested in the beauty and tradition of handmade pewter-ware….and also in just having a great time!

It was a really nice experience, the place is very nice and I was what I was looking for. I liked it very much and would highly recommend it.

I had an extraordinary experience immersed in Japanese hospitality with the talented craftswoman, Ms. Saluk. She guided me through the meticulous process of creating a pewter sake cup, and the entire encounter felt like reconnecting with an old friend.

I really enjoyed this experience. Making my own cup and getting to understand better the arts of a local craft woman. I was well received and all the instructions in English were really clear. I left with a beautiful cup. It is in a beautiful mountainous North of Kyoto, easy to reach with a famous picturesque train ride

This was the most amazing experience!!! Kanako Kai was an amazing instructor who treated us with the highest level of hospitality. From start to finish the process was so engaging an our sake cups turned out great! The shop was beautiful and an amazing way to spend our last evening in Kyoto. Kanako Kai packed our cups up so beautifully and since we do not drink, she provided Green Tea for us to drink out of our new handmade cups. This is a must tour, please do not miss out of this. We now have a one of a kind souvenir that we will cherish forever.