Top Okayama Prefecture Classes & Workshops

Step into a small craft shop in the picturesque Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter and experience the quiet beauty of sashiko stitching. Using high-quality denim from Kojima, Japan’s famous denim town, you will learn simple sashiko stitches and create your own piece with hand-dyed threads. Sashiko is a traditional Japanese stitching technique that has been practiced for centuries. As you stitch slowly, one stitch at a time, many people find the process calming and meditative. Enjoy a peaceful and creative moment while discovering Japanese craft culture. This workshop offers a mindful crafting experience in the heart of historic Kurashiki.

The unique aspect of this tour is the fascinating experience of interacting with a current swordsmith in an actual Japanese sword-making workshop. Japanese swords are three-dimensional works of art made of iron. It is difficult to fully appreciate their allure through the glass cases in museums. By experiencing Japanese swords through your five senses, we can understand aspects such as the delicate curves, countless particles of light that form the ripples, as well as the weight and balance that we could not have grasped before. Witnessing the dialogue between fire and steel that occurs only in that moment is truly a workshop-specific experience. The heat of the forge, the sound of the hammer striking the anvil, the sparks flying—this will be a precious time to feel Japan's traditional craftsmanship through your senses.

Why don't you make your one and only Temari in the world? She usually runs a glasses shop, but for everyone's benefit, Grandma Yasue will teach you how to make them for those who come to Kurashiki! Temari has long been a favorite folk craft of Kurashiki. Temari is made by wrapping thread around a core filled with rice husks and embroidery. In this experience, you will start by embroidering the core that has been made in advance.

-Enjoy a relaxing time creating sounds together, surrounded by the scent of the forest -A short 45-minute workshop perfect for young children and families -Choose between two fun handmade instruments: Wooden Kazoo or Bird Call -End the session with a small family jam session—an unforgettable travel memory

A qualified tea master will hold a full-fledged tea ceremony in a traditional tea room. You can listen to the etiquette of the tea ceremony and how to use the utensils while enjoying the matcha that is made in front of you and the beautiful Japanese sweets. It will be a wonderful experience.

In Imbe, the birthplace of Bizen pottery, this pottery is a typical pottery of Japan that has been used and cherished in daily life throughout the town. With a guide who is knowledgeable about Bizen pottery, this special guided tour is designed to convey the wonder of the town and the depth of Bizen pottery, not only by shopping, but also by actually meeting the potters and experiencing local life. This is a unique chance to visit the studios of Bizen potters with a tour guide and listen to their stories about the origins of Bizen pottery, how it is made, the differences among ceramics in Japan and other countries, trivia about the past, and other topics. After hearing directly from a Bizen potter about the culture and roots of Bizen pottery and the process of making it, the artist will give a demonstration on making plates, teacups, and other items. This is a unique chance to learn about the artist's techniques and the atmosphere in their studio.

As someone who has taught cooking abroad and has been running cooking classes in my home for nearly 20 years, I ensure a relaxed atmosphere where you can truly enjoy authentic Japanese home cooking. Set amidst beautiful natural surroundings, my home offers an opportunity to not only cook but also immerse yourself in Japan’s culture and hospitality.

Tamashima is a historic port town that prospered as a key point along the Seto Inland Sea trade routes. The brewery, founded in 1878, stands in what was once a bustling wholesale district shaped by the passage of Kitamaebune trading ships. The techniques and philosophy refined and handed down through generations continue to produce celebrated labels such as Sanzen and Kiseki no Sake. Its sake is consistently recognized with high honors at international competitions. With an English-guided tour led by brewery staff, guests can enjoy a tasting centered on the flagship label Sanzen. This special experience offers insight into the terroir of Okayama’s renowned sake rice—Yamada Nishiki and Omachi—alongside an explanation of the fermentation process inside a brewery filled with Mozart’s music. The program includes a sake souvenir, as well as the opportunity to join an exclusive tasting session.

This is a private walking tour. Discover the timeless charm of Kurashiki’s Bikan Historical Quarter on a half-day tour led by an experienced, nationally licensed English-speaking guide. Stroll along picturesque canal lined with white-walled storehouses that are used as shops and museums now, willow trees, and well-preserved homes from the Edo period 200-300 years ago. Along the way, we will visit Japanese traditional old house "Inoue House" or "Ohashi House" to see how successful merchants lived in Edo-Meiji Era, followed by Ivy Squar and Shinkeien house's garden. If you like, you can also visit Folk Craft Museum, Momotaro Museum, or Ohara Museum of Art (to be reopened on April 25, 2026) etc. (not included). This tour is ideal for travelers who want a deeper understanding of Kurashiki and seek an authentic cultural experience beyond sightseeing. Kurashiki is easily accessible from Okayama, Naoshima, Hiroshima, Osaka and Kyoto! *No cancellation for rain, only for severe weather

Experience a tea ceremony in a space curated with only the finest selections by the current owner of a 150-year-old kimono shop. This is more than just an experience—it’s an opportunity to immerse yourself in the tea culture deeply rooted in the everyday life of Kurashiki. Historically, tea was originally a practice reserved for men, and to this day, there are tea rooms where women are still not allowed. This rich tradition raises intriguing questions: Why tea in Kurashiki? What led to the spread of tea culture here? Step away from the hustle and bustle of tourist spots and walk through local streets, where you can feel the daily life of Kurashiki’s residents. In a space rich in history, enjoy Japanese hospitality in a beautifully renovated kura, built 190 years ago, as the current owner personally prepares your tea. This is your chance to connect with the traditions of the past in a way that feels both authentic and intimate.

This is an authentic, host-led cooking experience at a family-run rice farm with nearly 400 years of history. Your host, Chieko, is a local rice farmer who welcomes guests into her home to share everyday Japanese cooking. All rice used in the class is grown in Chieko’s own fields, along with seasonal local ingredients. You will learn simple, nourishing meals that reflect daily life in rural Japan. The experience takes place in a private farmhouse in the countryside of Kurashiki, not in a cooking studio. Guests choose one independent course per booking: Onigiri, Makizushi, Gyoza, or Mochi. Each course has a different menu. Vegetarian and vegan options are available for the Onigiri, Makizushi, and Mochi courses with advance notice. The Gyoza course is not suitable for vegetarian or vegan diets. The atmosphere is warm and personal. While English is not perfectly fluent, Chieko communicates sincerely using simple English and gestures.

Kirie is one of the painting techniques in which an underpainting dyed in black and white is fixed to a black paper, and unnecessary parts are cut out to create a picture. used in Japanese culture for a variety of purposes, such as for divine ceremonies, as stencils for dyers, and as an art form in yose theater. Naoto Umeda, a veteran kiri-e art instructor in business for eight years, who has won two international awards, will demonstrate Japanese paper cutting and then carefully teach the art.

This select tea shop in Kurashiki offers single-origin teas carefully selected from the farm as well as blended teas that create a deep flavor.We are trying to reinterpret the charm of Japanese tea in a modern way and deliver it to a wide range of people. In addition to the experience of grinding matcha tea with a stone mill and making your own, there is a pairing that allows you to choose your favorite tea sweet from mango confiture, warabi mochi, and wasanbon.With photogenic performances using 6 different matcha bowls and support in Japanese, English and traditional materials, this is a "five senses + social media" Japanese cultural experience ideal for international Travelers.

This is private tour. Discover a rural hidden gem, peaceful KIBIJI cycling road along widespread paddy fields in Soja city! Japanese nostalgic landscape will be before your eyes. A nationally licensed guide will accompany you. By bike, explore the history and architectural marvels of Bitchu Kokubunji Temple with a majestic Five-Story Pagoda and the mysteries of ancient Komorizuka burial mound. This tour will ignite your senses and leave you with cherished memories of Japanese countryside hospitality. During the tour, let's go to a local strawberry farm with a farmer's market to enjoy strawberry picking (mid-Jan – April, only) OR a delicious local restaurant: Ramen shop/other healthy food place! Soja is a peaceful Japanese countryside easily accessible from Kurashiki, Okayama, Naoshima, Hiroshima, Osaka and Kyoto! *When it rains, you will get a ride instead of bike. I this case, routes may partly change. *If you have any food allergies or restrictions, please feel free to ask.

The unique aspect of this tour is the fascinating experience of interacting with an active swordsmith at an actual Japanese sword-making site. Japanese swords are three-dimensional works of art in iron. It is difficult to fully appreciate their beauty when viewed enclosed in a museum or gallery case. The product, created through the same process as a Japanese sword, is brought to life with quenching. Experiencing the dialogue between flame and steel, which only occurs in that moment, is truly a workshop-exclusive experience. Quenching, performed at the precise moment, offers a valuable opportunity to feel Japanese traditional craftsmanship with all your senses. Basically, we will meet on-site. If that is difficult, please contact us and we will pick you up and guide you.

A housewife will help you make "bara sushi," a traditional Okayama home-cooked dish. You can learn about traditional food culture from her. The types of ingredients to add and the amount to serve are up to your preference.

Let's try to deepen your understanding of the Japanese people's love of nature and the culture ikebana experience!! Firstly, the interpreter will explain the history and spirit of ikebana at a flower store that has been loved by the locals for 70 years. After that, you will be able to choose one type of flower for yourself. Then, You will travel from the flower store to the classroom through the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter with an interpreter. A teacher from Ikenobo, Japan's oldest school of Ikebana, who has been arranging flowers for 65 years, will teach you everything from techniques to etiquette. This tour is not just a hands-on experience, but also a springboard to a deeper understanding of Ikebana and Japanese culture. The spirit of ikebana is rooted in the idea of giving life back to life by arranging flowers that had once been cut off by plucking. If flower arrangement is an aesthetic of addition, ikebana is an aesthetic of subtraction.