En (Connection) Chopstick & Craft Workshop:: Kyoto Crafts

Making a useful object by hand is a fine way to spend an hour in Kyoto. At En (Connection), you can shape chopsticks from natural wood, learn to sharpen a knife on a Japanese whetstone, or repair pottery with gold using kintsugi. The result is more personal than another souvenir bought off a shelf.

I like the choice of three crafts, and the chance to take home something you made yourself. I also like that the chopstick session includes a mini ramen, a small but satisfying way to put your new pair to use. One consideration: the workshop is in Room 302 on the third floor, and the room can feel cramped, so allow time to find it and arrive a few minutes early.

At a glance

• Choose your craft: Make chopsticks, sharpen a Japanese knife, or try gold kintsugi.
• Start with cypress: Cypress chopsticks are included; other wood choices cost extra.
• Add a personal touch: Name engraving is available for an additional fee.
• Enjoy a mini ramen: Included with the chopstick-making package.
• Find the studio near Kawaramachi: It is a seven-minute walk from Hankyu Kawaramachi Station.

Three crafts, three very different souvenirs

The main decision is what you want to make. The least expensive option is chopstick making, from US$18.95 per person. Knife sharpening starts at US$88.29, while the gold kintsugi workshop starts at US$31.55. Prices and inclusions differ by package, so check the selected option carefully before booking.

Chopsticks are the approachable choice: you pick a wood type, shape and sand the pair, then oil the finished surface. Cypress is included. You can pay extra for other woods or engraving, which turns a simple everyday tool into a personal keepsake. One participant described the process as taking about an hour, though your session may vary.

The knife class is a more specialized choice. You learn to use a Japanese whetstone to sharpen a knife, and engraving can be added. The appeal is practical as well as cultural: you take home a sharpened knife and can learn how to care for it. Jessie, an instructor named by one participant, offered advice on maintenance alongside sharpening and some background on the knife. The package costs considerably more than chopstick making, so it makes most sense if the skill and useful tool are worth the extra expense to you.

Kintsugi takes a different path. Instead of disguising a break in pottery, this Japanese craft repairs it with gold and treats the flaw as part of the object’s story. It can be a thoughtful choice if you are curious about the idea behind the technique, not just looking for a souvenir. The workshop is described as hands-on and suitable for learning about the tradition, but the available details do not specify the pottery, process length, or exact finished result. Ask about those points if they matter to your plans.

Shaping chopsticks, one careful step at a time

The chopstick session begins with a choice of wood. Five types of natural wood are offered, but the included option is cypress. Better or different wood costs extra, so decide whether the grain or look matters enough to pay more. You do not need to upgrade to leave with a handmade pair.

The work follows a clear sequence: choose the wood, shape it, sand it, and oil it. That steady process makes this a good first craft workshop. You can see the object change under your hands, while an instructor helps you work through the steps. One participant had a couple of chopsticks break during the process before successfully making a pair, so treat mistakes as part of learning rather than a reason to panic. The instructor can help you adjust.

Engraving is optional and costs extra. If you want your name on the chopsticks, include that cost in your budget rather than assuming it comes with the base price. The personalized touch is appealing, especially if you are giving the pair as a gift, but the basic handmade version is already a useful memento.

A mini ramen is included with the chopstick package. It is a modest extra, not a full meal, but it gives the session a pleasing finish: you can use your new chopsticks right away. The included package also covers the instructor and cypress chopsticks.

A whetstone lesson for a more practical keepsake

Knife sharpening is the most expensive of the three choices, starting at US$88.29. In exchange, you are learning a skill with a clear use at home. The class introduces sharpening with a Japanese whetstone, and an engraving option can make the knife more personal.

This option suits you if you are interested in the tool itself and want more than a short craft activity. Jessie has been named as an instructor for this class, and her advice included both sharpening technique and knife care. That maintenance angle matters: a sharpened knife is more useful if you know how to look after it.

The package name includes an engraving option, but the details say engraving is an option rather than a guaranteed inclusion. Confirm the price and terms before you book. Also check what knife is provided and what the session includes if those details affect your decision, since they are not specified here.

Kintsugi, repair as part of the design

Kintsugi is the most reflective of the three crafts. You work with the Japanese practice of repairing broken pottery with gold, rather than trying to hide the repair. The idea gives the activity a cultural dimension beyond simply making an object: the repaired line becomes part of its character.

The starting price is US$31.55. English-speaking staff are available, and Taro is one instructor associated with the pottery workshop. This can be a good fit if you enjoy learning through a hands-on task and want a souvenir with a story behind it.

There is less practical detail available about this session than about chopstick making. The exact duration, pottery provided, and whether you take home a completed piece are not stated. If you have a tight schedule or a particular finished object in mind, confirm those details before reserving.

A small workshop with personal instruction

The studio’s scale appears to be part of the experience. Instructors help participants through the craft, and the chopstick session has been described as unhurried. That matters if you are new to working with wood or simply want time to get the details right.

The trade-off is space. The room can feel cramped, and finding it may take a little patience. It is in Room 302 on the third floor of Nippo Kyoto Building 2, at Izumishoji-cho in Shimogyo Ward. The address is a seven-minute walk from Hankyu Kawaramachi Station. The experience is also described as being in Gion, so use the full street address and room number when navigating rather than relying on the neighborhood label alone.

English-speaking staff are included, which makes the steps easier to follow if you do not speak Japanese. Instructors named for particular sessions include Scarlett for chopstick making, Jessie for knife sharpening, and Taro for kintsugi. Instructor assignments may vary, so do not book on the assumption that one particular person will lead your class.

Timing, arrival, and the real cost

You select a start time when booking. Available departures run hourly from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and the activity ends at the same address. The return-time options depend on your chosen departure and the duration of the session. For chopstick making, one participant found the craft portion took about an hour, but the exact length is not guaranteed for every package.

Arrive five minutes before your booked time. There is no guide to meet you elsewhere, so make your own way to the studio. Late arrivals and no-shows are not refundable, which makes finding the third-floor room before your slot especially important. The voucher is valid only for the date and time selected.

The base chopstick price is attractive, but remember the possible add-ons. Cypress is included, while other woods and engraving cost extra. The mini ramen and instructor are included in the chopstick package. Knife sharpening and kintsugi have their own prices and inclusions, so compare the specific package rather than assuming every option includes the same extras.

For the price, chopstick making is an easy-to-justify activity if you value an hour of instruction and a handmade item you can use. The knife class asks for a bigger investment, but it gives you a more specialized skill and a practical object. Kintsugi sits between the two in price, with its value resting more on the craft and its meaning than on any stated meal or add-on.

Who will enjoy this Kyoto craft stop

Families can make this work with children aged five and older. Children pay the same rate as adults, so account for that when comparing the cost with other family activities. The chopstick session is a particularly straightforward family choice: you each make a useful object, and the steps offer a shared task without requiring previous experience.

It also suits couples, solo visitors, and anyone who wants a break from temples and shops. The three options let you choose between a simple souvenir, a practical sharpening lesson, and a more symbolic pottery repair. If you are short on time, the central location and compact chopstick session may fit neatly between other Kyoto plans, though leave enough time to reach the studio and locate the room.

This is not the right pick if you want a large, polished production or a detailed account of every workshop step in advance. The room may be tight, and some specifics, especially for knife sharpening and kintsugi, are not provided. But if you like learning by doing and value a souvenir with your own fingerprints on it, the small scale is part of the appeal.

Should you book it?

Book the chopstick workshop if you want a reasonably priced, hands-on Kyoto activity with a useful take-home item and a mini ramen included. Choose knife sharpening if you are keen to learn a skill you can use at home and are comfortable with the higher price. Pick kintsugi if the Japanese approach to repair interests you, but confirm what you will make and take home.

Before you reserve, check the add-on costs, especially for wood upgrades and engraving, and note the exact room address. The chopstick session is the safest choice for a simple, family-friendly introduction. The other two are more distinctive, but best for people who already know what draws them to the craft.

FAQ

Where is En (Connection) Chopstick & Craft Workshop?

It is in Room 302, Nippo Kyoto Building 2, Izumishoji-cho, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto City. The workshop is a seven-minute walk from Hankyu Kawaramachi Station.

How do I get to the workshop?

You make your own way to the address. There is no guide meeting you elsewhere.

What crafts can I choose from?

You can make chopsticks, learn Japanese knife sharpening with a whetstone, or try repairing pottery with gold using kintsugi.

What is included with chopstick making?

The chopstick package includes an instructor, cypress wood, and a mini ramen.

Do I have to pay extra for a different wood or engraving?

Yes. Cypress is included, while other wood choices and engraving cost extra.

How much does each package cost?

Chopstick making starts at US$18.95, gold kintsugi at US$31.55, and knife sharpening at US$88.29 per person. Prices can vary, so check the package you select.

What age can participate?

Participants must be at least five years old. Children aged five and older pay the same rate as adults.

How long does the chopstick workshop take?

One participant described the process as taking about an hour. The exact duration is not specified for every session or package.

What time can I book?

Available start times run hourly from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The return time depends on your selected start time and the activity duration.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can receive a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the activity date, using destination local time.