The Kintsugi Journey
Each Journey has a two-person minimum, four-person maximum.
This is our first day tour offering, allowing you to see and experience Kyoto through the lens of its craft and artisan history.
On this tour, you will connect Zen principles with aesthetic principles like wabi-sabi, following kintsugi from its birthplace through its relevance in local craft ecosystems. You’ll conclude your tour with a kintsugi class so you can channel what you’ve learned into a piece of your own.
Our tour offers two variations, with Kintsugi Journey+ providing an interactive experience at a Zen temple and an opportunity to connect with a practicing monk, allowing you to pull back the curtain on the inseparable connection between Kyoto’s artistry and spirituality.
To ensure availability, we kindly ask that reservations be made at least 7-10 days in advance.
Kintsugi Journey
10 AM–4 PM
The Kintsugi Journey begins at the birthplace of the art form, in one of Kyoto’s most iconic temples. You’ll learn about the rich connection between Zen Buddhist principles and kintsugi.
We’ll then go to a temple complex that embodies core concepts of the wabi-sabi aesthetic, which comprise a key element of kintsugi’s philosophy.
After lunch, you’ll visit a lacquerware workshop that shows how kintsugi is just one part of a wider ecosystem of craftsmanship in Kyoto that orbits around limited quantities of urushi lacquer.
Your Journey will conclude with a hands-on class where you get to channel the history and principles of kintsugi and begin the repair process on a piece of your own.
Kintsugi Journey+ (with morning meditation)
9 AM–4 PM
Kintsugi Journey+ begins with an exclusive opportunity to experience a guided morning meditation, a tea ceremony in a traditional tea room, and a conversation with a practicing Zen monk at a traditional temple complex. You will dive deeper into kintsugi’s origins in tea culture, as well as gain a richer appreciation for the ties between Zen Buddhism and kintsugi that still exist today.
The Kintsugi Journey+ will follow the core Kintsugi Journey itinerary with the exception of a visit to the wabi-sabi temple.
Rika is an experienced and certified tour guide. Before joining POJ Studios, she guided visitors to Kyoto around this historic city, sharing her knowledge and appreciation for Kyoto's rich cultural heritage. Her thorough research and wide range of recommendations will encourage you to continue exploring Kyoto long after your Journey with us has concluded.
Additional Notes
The Journeys run six and seven hours, respectively, and include lunch. Come prepared for a full day. As we will be visiting active temples, please dress respectfully with covered legs, midriff, and shoulders. Dress comfortably for a full day of touring. We will conclude the tour at our flagship shop in the Kiyomizu area of Higashiyama Ward.
While urushi can cause skin irritation in its raw, wet state, once it has completely cured and hardened, it is absolutely food-safe. Urushi is one of the most durable natural materials and thus extremely well-suited for environmentally-responsible, long-lasting repair of ceramics, porcelain, and other wares.
I will be aware of my surroundings. If I accidentally come in contact with urushi, I will massage the affected area well with any plant-based oil straight away to remove urushi from my skin. I understand that POJ Studio is not liable for any adverse reactions caused by urushi.
Age requirement
The minimum age limit to participate in the Journey and Workshop is 13 years of age.
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