Top Kawasaki Classes & Workshops

Train in traditional Kobudo at a historic dojo founded by Yoshio Sugino, the swordsmanship master of Seven Samurai. This rare martial arts experience has been carefully preserved by his family. The dojo is located in Kawasaki, a local city just about 30 minutes from central Tokyo. Despite its easy access, this sacred dojo remains a quiet place where tradition is still alive. You will meet your guide at the station and walk together to the dojo. After changing clothes, please bring comfortable innerwear and shorts to wear under the dojo uniform. The experience then begins with a short talk about the history of the Sugino Dojo, how its teachings were passed down, and why they continue today. Next, you will practice basic kata, learning calm and focused sword movements. At the end, you will try a special kata used in Seven Samurai. Learn directly from skilled instructors in a sacred dojo where real tradition lives — a truly unique experience found only here.

Many children are practicing karate-do. You can experience karate together. You will have a chance to meet Japanese children and make new discoveries. You can also learn safe and secure self-defense karate, touch and wield a mock sword, and try on obi belts, do-gi, and hakama. You can also learn the etiquette of Iaido!

Would you like to brew your own delicious tea? In most tea ceremony workshops, you are not allowed to handle tea utensils. However, in the hands-on classes we host, you can actually touch the utensils and learn the process of brewing tea from scratch. The instructor is a master of the Higashi Abe school. They have taught many students, so they will gently and carefully teach you how to make tea. You are also welcome to take as many pictures as you like to make your experience memorable. We hope you will make your trip to Japan a memorable and enjoyable one.

Sencha-do is a tea ceremony that does not use powdered green tea. In sencha-do, tea is carefully brewed by infusing green tea leaves. In this workshop, you will first observe the tea ceremony to understand the atmosphere and its culture. Japanese sweets will also be served, so please enjoy the moment. After observing the ceremony, you can actually use a tea utensil to brew tea. Hope you will be surprised and discover something new about the taste of tea brewed yourself. You can also compare the taste with your friends and family.

About 40 minutes from Tokyo, enjoy a relaxing indigo dyeing experience in a quiet, green setting. Meet your guide and travel together to Ikuta Ryokuchi. At the Traditional Indigo Dyeing Workshop inside the park(Dento Kogeikan), join a hands-on indigo dyeing workshop using natural Japanese indigo. You will dye the item selected at booking and create your own unique pattern. Please note that dyeing personal items such as T-shirts or bags is not permitted. A local instructor explains each step, with English interpretation provided by your guide, making it easy for beginners. The workshop lasts about 1.5 hours. Take your finished piece home as a special souvenir from Japan. Afterward, you may return to the station with your guide or explore the nearby Japan Open Air House Museum, featuring 25 designated historic houses. Notes: Indigo dye has a natural scent. Some steps require squatting, and clothes may get slightly dirty, so please wear comfortable attire.

At the beginning of the session, the host, a professional calligrapher, will give a brief introduction to the world of Japanese calligraphy. Calligraphy is one of Japan's traditional cultural arts, and enjoying this centuries-old practice will lead to a deeper understanding of the expressive nature of the Japanese language. Before engaging in authentic calligraphy, the host will briefly explain the steps of calligraphy and the tools used. Guests will have ample time in a calm setting to ask questions and chat with the host. The experience concludes with each guest using a brush and ink to write Japanese words and mastering the basics of calligraphy. The host communicates with guests in English and is a calligrapher selected for prestigious exhibitions in Japan. At Kawasaki Shodo School, where the event takes place, we value trust and inclusivity, striving to provide guests with cherished memories.