Bamboo LED Lantern Making Experience in Kyoto Arashiyama

Recommended by 98% of travelers

Kyoto, Japan

3 hours (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Kyoto’s beautiful area of Arashiyama is known for its bamboo groves, but instead of being stuck in crowds—this small-group activity offers a completely different experience. Enjoy a hands-on lesson in a bamboo craftsman’s house and learn how to make your own bamboo souvenir—such as an LED lantern, sake bottle, teacup, or even a smartphone holder.

Gain a deeper knowledge of bamboo with a bamboo craft session in Arashiyama
No overcrowding: This is an intimate small-group class, capped at 8 people
Remember your time in Kyoto with your own special handmade souvenir
Flexible choices—pick what you make, such as an LED lantern or a sake cup

What's Included

materials and the use of tools and machines are provided

Lunch

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Saga-Arashiyama Station
11-1 Sagatenryūji Kurumamichichō, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto, 616-8373, Japan
The guide will meet you on the 2nd level of JR Saga Arashiyama station in front of the ticket gate at 14:00. After meeting at the meeting point, the guide will take you for 30 min walking tour through the bamboo forest to the workshop.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Start time
.2:00 pm

What To Expect

The Bamboo Forest Trail

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible
Service animals allowed

Near public transportation
Most travelers can participate
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 6 travelers

Supplied by

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Reviews

4.9

based on 40 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

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Bring home something special

Glen_R, Jun 2026

This was one of our favorite activities in Japan. Our hotel in Tokyo had a garden lit up with "bamboo" lanterns so it was exciting to get to make our own. It was easy, didn't take long, and we brought something special home from Kyoto. We have shared our keepsake with others once we got home, and they think they are awesome! There are lots of patterns to choose from in a book with varying levels of difficulty. The owner of the shop assists in changing out the drill bits for the different patterns.

Wonderful Experience

Pamela_W, Feb 2026

We loved every second of this experience. We’re a family of four with kids aged 9 and 11, and it ended up being a favourite day of the trip. Nori met us at the train station and walked with us to the workshop through the bamboo forest in Arashiyama. Some parts were busy, but others were incredibly peaceful and quiet, we got some beautiful photos along the way. We also passed through lovely neighbourhoods, and during the walk she shared so much about Japan, its history, the bamboo, local plants, and anything else we asked about. She is incredibly knowledgeable and easy to talk to. The workshop itself was so much fun. Nori was patient and encouraging, especially with the kids. One chose a very detailed design and the other created his own, and she guided both of them with clear explanations and genuine care. She made the whole process feel relaxed and enjoyable. We left with beautiful lanterns that make the best souvenirs. Nori is kind, thoughtful, and deeply knowledgeable. We are all so glad we chose this experience — truly 10/10 from our whole family.

This was a great...

Rebecca_V, Jan 2026

This was a great activity, and considering you get to take the bamboo lamps home, it's a wonderful souvenir to put some little lights inside for mood lighting. We took our 13 year-old daughter, who was able to work the machines herself after just a bit of instruction. They provide paper patterns, but you can be as creative as you want with your design.

Bamboo Time

LEONARD_F, May 2025

We met at the train station and the proceeded to walk through the Bamboo Forest. Noriko was very knowledgeable and took the time to tell us all about it. Once we got to her work shop she explained everything to us. We all had a great time. I would definitely recommend this to all my friends.

An amazing souvenir

Melanie_N, Apr 2025

An unusual activity but so fun, and an amazing souvenir to take back home. Thank you for the workshop.

Fantastic Experience

nigel_t, Mar 2025

Love the experience whereby I got to craft a real bamboo art piece. Host was extremely welcoming and would engage in a conversation with you so the experience would not be a boring one. Best part about this workshop is that, it is located near the bamboo forest. Meet up will be at Arashiyama Station, after which the host would give you 2 options, one is to walk directly to her home or two, it would be to walk through the bamboo forest n then to her home, so if you would like to catch a glimpse of the bamboo forest, the 2nd option would be perfect, its a win win situation for me. Host was also nice to serve me tea with snacks and to constantly checked that you are drilling in the right direction, to ensure that your drilling is going smoothly.

Amazing Experience

Logan_B, Jul 2024

After a long day of walking this was a very relaxing and enjoyable experience creating our own keepsake lanterns. We love how they turned out thanks to our wonderful teacher!

Awesome time making the bamboo lantern

Mary_H, Jun 2024

Nori is a friendly, courteous instructor. From our meeting point, we walked through the famous bamboo forest (part way) and ducked out to a lovely neighborhood until we reached her studio. The space was clean, bright, and wonderfully set up. Her English is flawless so everyone was comfortable conversing with her. The lantern project was delightfully fun. (My recommendation is to select a design that has several larger holes because it’s not only easier to drill but more light comes through once completed.) You’ll enjoy this experience!

Great family activity

Angela_K, Jun 2024

Noriko is very very kind. She was also very patient with my twin 11 year old boys. Also very knowledgeable as my one boy had sooooo many questions and she answered everything for him in perfect English. She walked us through the bamboo forest where she took some spectacular pictures of us. We went through the forest the day before with another tour but just got ordinary pictures. The 15-20 minute walk was worth it for us because of those pictures. We brought home our lanterns in our carry on luggage with no issues. The lanterns are sitting beside our beds looking as a one of a kind piece of art work. Not the usual tourist souvenir. Highly recommend this activity.

Above and Beyond

Carolyn_B, Jun 2024

The host took us on a tour of Arashiyama before leading us to the workshop for the craft. She shared fascinating information about local history and bamboo. She was an excellent teacher for the workshop and our lanterns came out beautifully! We had a blast and would wholeheartedly recommend this experience to anybody!

Great Class, Disappointing Outcome

Leah_D, Apr 2024

Pros: - Teacher and husband were great - Really easy to use the drill - Nice quiet class Cons: - They wrap our bamboo lamp in bubble wrap, which is great, but as the bamboo is still moist (green), it caused major mould issues that we uncovered when we got home - it has now stained with the mould. - You walk yourself back to the station, which is 15-20 minutes. Not an issue for some, but could be. Overall, it was fun but the class isn’t equipped to handle thing post class. They need a solution for how to handle this issue with the mould.

Response from Host, May 2024

Thank you so much for your comments and feedbacks. We are very sorry to hear about the mold on bamboo. As we use fresh green bamboo in the workshop we will definitely improve the way of wrapping from now on. And we will also introduce a new material of heated dry bamboo which is made of the same bamboo but are more stable and long lasting. Thank you again for your honest opinion. We really appreciate it. Noriko

A highlight of our time in Kyoto!

Abigail_S, Jan 2024

Making these lanterns was such cool experience and a highlight of our trip. Noriko met us right at the train station at the agreed time and we had a lovely walk through the Arishiyama neighborhood including by a Shrine before arriving at her workshop. She was patient and kind with our 7 and 9 year old kids and the project was so engaging that they stayed engaged throughout our 3-4 hours there. She even knew precisely when we all needed a break from the drill press and provided some tasty Japanese treats. We enjoyed getting to know Noriko a bit too. She has traveled quite a bit and is extremely knowledgeable (especially about Japan, of course). Lighting the lanterns once they were complete was so satisfying and they are sitting on our shelves at home now. It was raining and dark by the time we finished and Noriko kindly took us back to the train station.

5/5

Skyler_D, Dec 2023

Noriko-san and her husband were super accommodating. Great experience. We toured through the bamboo forest before entering the workshop, and our guide had a lot of good information.

Really great experience!

Valerie_M, Dec 2023

Really fun experience walking through bamboo forest. Great instruction. Our lanterns turned out great!

Awesome Experience

Matthew_B, Nov 2023

This was a really fun experience! Our guide, Noriko, was extremely knowledgeable and super friendly. It was wonderful to stroll with her throughout the town and then do the craft with the help of her and her husband. I highly recommend doing this activity! We had a great time

Wonderful experience

Tracey_C, Nov 2023

We met at the train station then walked through the bamboo forest learning about bamboo and the region. Nori has a wonderful workshop where I selected my bamboo and design and got to work. She was easy to talk with and patient, since we had some time, we walked her neighbourhood and past a stunning temple as she escorted me back to the train station. It was a wonderful afternoon experience.

What a great experience!!!!

Paule_L, Nov 2023

We enjoyed our afternoon very much. Our guide picked us up at the train station. We walked with her to the bamboo forest and she explained à lot about bamboo, the Shrine and the culture. We head to the workshop and chose bamboo to make our beautiful lantern. She was so king, helping us all the way throu. A beautiful experience!!!!! I recommend 100%.

One of a kind experience

Heather_J, Nov 2023

Excellent teacher. Kind, patient and knowledgeable especially about her craft as well as about the history of the area. Well worth it.

Book it!

Lindsay_F, Oct 2023

A wonderful experience. We loved a steady walk through the forest and lots of conversation about the Japanese culture. Then made some lovely lanterns too. Lovely to get away from Japan crowds

Hands-on experience with bamboo

Koleta_K, Sep 2023

The people were very kind, the explanations easy to follow and all questions I had were answered in detail. I got to chose a piece of bamboo and get to work. I had a great time! If you enjoy making stuff yourself you will too^^

A+++

Alexandra_M, Sep 2023

Very unique experience! She has a great workshop set up, we choose our own bamboo lantern designs, and she even made us little bamboo shot glasses as a gift since we spoke about it earlier in the day. She also took us through the bamboo forest and taught us a ton. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable and so nice! My husband and I both really enjoyed this activity from beginning to end. Highly recommended!

Inviting setting and a keepsake from Japan

Debbie_S, Jul 2023

Had a very good time. It was nice to feel the heritage of family with crafting. They did the extras to make the experience pleasant especially on such a hot day. A wonderful experience to do so with a lovely family. Make up a design before hand if you want something unique to you but there are many lovely designs there.

Amazing Experience for our Family!

Dianne_Y, Jul 2023

Our family had such a wonderful afternoon touring the Arashiyama bamboo forest and then making beautiful bamboo lanterns with Nori and her husband! She knew so much about the bamboo, the temples, and the landscape so we really enjoyed the walk to the family workshop. We had the opportunity to pick our bamboo piece and then select (or modify) from a number of beautiful lantern patterns. She and her husband were very safety conscious with the drill presses and even gave us some practice before we started work on our bamboo piece. She also had tea and snacks for us to take a short break in our lantern making process! Each of the lanterns turned out to be so beautiful and will be a unique memory of our wonderful trip to Japan. Thank you so much, Nori, we will remember this experience forever!

Amazing workshop experience with local history in Kyoto

Kurt_M, Jul 2023

This was an absolutely amazing workshop. Hosted by Noriko-san, she first collected us at the train station, and before we started the workshop, she led us through the bamboo forrest explaining the history of the surrounding area along the way. She was very knowledgeable and answered all of our questions along the way. The workshop was a very clean and comfortable place. It made it very easy to create the lanterns of our choosing. The lanterns themselves turned out great and I would highly recommend anyone do this workshop. Noriko-san was an absolutely amazing host and her English was fantastic!

Response from Host, Jul 2023

Thank you so much for your comment! Hope you enjoyed making bamboo lantern with us! Noriko

Excellent guide and memory!

Shauna_C, Jun 2023

Absolutely breathtaking views and guided tour. Opening their home to help us create a memory keepsake was above and beyond! Great family experience and memory!

Response from Host, Jul 2023

Thank you so much for your comment! Hope your family had a great time making bamboo crafts with us!

Loved making a lantern

Sandy_J, Mar 2023

Learning about bamboo and picking out and designing the lamp. We also enjoyed the walk through the bamboo forest.

Response from Host, Mar 2023

Thank you for visiting our workshop! We really appreciate your comment! Hope you had a great experience with us!

Very nice workshop to make your own unique souvernir.

Kevin_N, Mar 2023

For everyone who likes to craft this is a really fun workshop. First you get a short walk trough the bamboo forest, which is immense. The workshop will be given at the guides house and the whole familie is helping. Sun and husband, they are speaking very good english and are very helpful. You can ask them everything, also about the japanese culture. Its very nice to have an unique and selfmade souvernir. i would really recommend this workshop to everyone.

Response from Host, Mar 2023

Thank you very much for the comment. We really appreciate it! Hope you had a great time with us!

Outstanding activity - fun for all the family or on your own

Nicky_F, Jan 2023

I booked this as an activity that I could do with my 7 year old nephew, Kai on our visit to Arashiyama, Kyoto. Unfortunately as I had hurt my leg we didn't do the visit to the Bamboo forest, but I have been there before so did not feel that I had missed anything. Noriko very kindly came to collect me and Kai in her car and brought us back to her workshop where we met her husband. Noriko spoke excellent English and explained the whole process to us. We firstly chose our preferred pattern - we could have designed our own but be both chose ones that were already prepared. Then we chose the piece of bamboo we wanted and her husband cut them for us - he later gave Kai the chance to do some sawing himself. We stuck the pattern to our bamboo and then received the instruction on how to drill the holes. Noriko's husband, stayed with Kai the whole time to ensure he was safe and help him when needed. On the previous days I had taken Kai to Nara, USJ, Legoland and an aquarium, which he thoroughly enjoyed but he said that making this bamboo lantern was the best part of our holiday together. This is a great activity either if you are on your own or with family / friends. Noriko and her husband were very welcoming and explained everything very clearly. We were both very pleased with the lamps we made and would definitely want to try this again if we can visit this are again some time. This was a great experience from beginning to end. Thank you Noriko and your husband - apologies, as I could not remember his name.

Response from Host, Mar 2023

Thank you for coming to the workshop! We really appreciate your comment! Hope you enjoyed making crafts with us!

Un excellent moment

Franois_P, Nov 2023

Nous ne nous attendions pas à passer un aussi bon moment dans un cadre familial. Nos enfants ont pu créer leur propre modèle de lanterne et nous avons tous bénéficié d'un super accompagnement. L'atelier complète parfaitement la visite de la forêt de bambous et nous rentrons de voyage avec de très beaux souvenirs. Merci à Noriko et son mari. --- We didn't expect to spend a so delightful moment in a family setting. Our children were able to make their own lantern designs et we all benefited from great support. The workshop perfectly complements the visit of the bamboo forest, and we're going back from our journey with very fond memories. Thanks to Noriko and her husband.