Chopstick Making in Shibuya: Choose Your Wood and Plane It by Hand in About an Hour, with a Name-Engraving Option

Make Chopsticks in Shibuya That You'll Keep Using Back Home

At Chopsticks Studio Shibuya, you'll spend about an hour handcrafting chopsticks from natural wood. You choose your wood, shape it with a kanna (a Japanese hand plane), and smooth the surface to finish your own pair.

Staff guide you through each step in English and Japanese, and share insights into Japan's chopstick culture as you work.

The studio is about a 7-minute walk from Shibuya Station. Your finished chopsticks are wrapped for you to take home, so you can make a souvenir you'll actually use, right in the middle of your sightseeing.

First, Choose the Standard or Premium Plan

There are two plans to choose from, depending on the wood you want and whether you'd like name engraving. Both let you experience the full process of planing wood into chopsticks.

■ Standard | Make chopsticks with standard wood Choose from the standard woods included in the base price and make one pair. Premium wood upgrades and name engraving are available for an extra fee. Ideal if you mainly want to try chopstick making, or prefer to see the samples on the day before deciding on any add-ons.

■ Premium | Premium wood and name engraving included This plan includes eligible premium woods and name engraving in the price. Ideal if you care about the wood's color and grain, or want to make a personalized gift.

For available woods and engraving details, please check the latest information for the plan you book.

When You Arrive, Choose the Wood for Your Chopsticks

Your first task is picking your wood. Compare colors and grain patterns while looking at the description cards and finished sample chopsticks.

Pale, dark brown, reddish: each wood gives the finished chopsticks a different look. If they're for you, pick a color that suits the tableware you use every day. If they're a gift, think about what the recipient would like.

Once you've found a wood you like, check that it's included in your plan before you start working.

Next, Plane the Wood Little by Little

Set the wood in a special holder and shape it into chopsticks with the kanna. Staff show you how to handle the tool and how to move it as you go.

With each stroke of the plane, thin wood shavings curl up and away. Bit by bit the wood gets slimmer, and the shape of a chopstick starts to appear.

If you're with others, compare your progress. Even when you all follow the same steps, each pair shows its own character in the color and grain of the wood you chose.

Once the Shape Is Done, Smooth and Finish the Surface

After planing, you smooth the surface. Follow the staff's guidance to finish your chopsticks, then check how they feel in your hand.

Take a look at the parts you shaped yourself, like the grip and the tips. A piece of wood and a finished pair of chopsticks feel surprisingly different in your hand.

Finally, Add a Name if You Like and Take Them Home

You can have a name engraved on your finished chopsticks. Engraving costs extra with the Standard plan and is included with the Premium plan.

Add your own name, or the name of the person you're giving them to. Ask the staff for advice on the characters and spelling to engrave.

Your finished chopsticks are wrapped for you to take home. Every time you use them at your table, you'll remember choosing and planing the wood in Shibuya.

FAQ

■ Can I join if I've never done woodworking before? Yes. Staff explain how to use the tools and guide you through each step, from choosing the wood to the final finish.

■ What's the difference between Standard and Premium? The main difference is the wood and engraving included in the price. Standard uses standard wood, with premium wood and name engraving available for an extra fee. Premium includes eligible premium woods and name engraving.

■ How long does it take, and what languages are available? It takes about one hour and is offered in English and Japanese.

■ Do I need to bring any tools? Can I take my chopsticks home? All tools and materials are provided. Your finished chopsticks are wrapped for you to take home.

■ Where is the venue? Chopsticks Studio Shibuya, Kawahara Building 4F, 1-20-7 Jinnan, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo. You'll meet at the venue, so please check your meeting time in the information sent after booking.

What to Check Before Booking

• Whether to choose Standard or Premium
• Which woods and engraving options are included in the price
• The start time and how to get to the 4th floor of the Kawahara Building
• Requirements for children and the cancellation policy

Prices, times and plan details are subject to change. Please check the latest information before booking.

Summary

Choose your wood's color, plane it by hand, and feel how it sits in your hand. In about an hour, you'll make chopsticks you can keep using back home.

Enjoy crafting with standard wood, or go for premium wood with name engraving. Whether for yourself or as a gift, you can pick the plan that suits the pair you want to make.

Set aside a little time for handcrafting between shopping and dining in Shibuya. It's a souvenir that keeps bringing joy every day you use it. Why not add Tokyo, Shibuya: Traditional Chopstick Making Workshop to your Shibuya plans?