We run four hands-on workshops in Izu-Kogen. Two take walk-ins and two need a booking for two or more; most start from age 3 to 6, and the pottery wheel from about age 10. The main plans are below, as our own pages list them on 29 October 2026 (we left out some plans; the full list is linked at the end). Soba can cost more in busy seasons, so check the booking page for your date.
Pottery at Yawatano Kiln
- Electric wheel: about 60 minutes, ¥2,500 plus a firing fee. You get 40 minutes with as much clay as you like and choose which pieces to have fired. Firing is ¥400 per 100 g, so a teacup of about 400 g is around ¥1,600. Fifth grade of elementary school (about age 10) and up. You cannot do the wheel with long nails.
- Hand-building: about 90 minutes, ¥2,800 to ¥3,300. One kilo of clay makes as many pieces as you like (about two teacups). The basic course is a plate; adding a teacup or bowl costs ¥500 more. Age 3 and up.
- Dog plate or dog clock: about 60 minutes, ¥3,000 for the plate and ¥3,600 for the clock, firing included. You can add a name, paw prints or colour. Age 6 (elementary school) and up.
- Painting a ready-made piece: 30 to 60 minutes, ¥2,200 to ¥3,300, firing included. Age 3 and up.
Pottery is fired and posted (the plans below). For the wheel, dog plate, clock and painted pottery, postage is extra (we found no postage or posting details for hand-building when we checked in October 2026, so ask us). Posting times: the wheel takes about 2 to 3 months, the dog plate and painted pottery about 3 months before posting, and the clock about a month and a half. Our wheel page says we cannot post abroad; ask us about the other plans before you book. Online booking is open until 9:00 on the day, and the pottery page says busy seasons fill up. There is also a painting plan (age 1 and up) that we have not listed here; ask us about it.
Sakurazaka: candles, music boxes, bracelets
- Clear candle: 40 to 60 minutes. ¥1,900, ¥2,200 or ¥2,600 by glass size, plus toppings. About 20 minutes making and 20 minutes cooling.
- Decorated music box: about 40 minutes, ¥2,800 plus toppings. You choose from over 200 tunes.
- Birthstone bracelet or dog necklace: about 40 minutes, ¥900 plus stones and parts; the stones we list run ¥40 to ¥400 each.
All of these go home with you the same day. Candles and music boxes are for age 3 and up, and an adult must come with children under 7; we found no age listed for the bracelet and necklace when we checked in October 2026, so ask us for those. Handmade pieces cannot be returned, refunded or exchanged afterwards. Walk-ins are fine, with online booking open until 9:00 on the day. We also offer glass art, herbarium and botanical candle plans; see the full list.
Soba at Kannon-tei
About 90 minutes: stone-milling the flour, a briefing, making the noodles, then eating them. The meal moves to our restaurant, Shokujidokoro Akazawa, on the same grounds.
- Soba with tempura: ¥3,300
- Soba set meal (tempura, turban-shell rice, side dish): ¥3,690
- Soba gozen (adds sashimi): ¥4,100
It is booking only, for two or more people, and one bowl is shared by the group (about five at most) taking turns. A busy-season price can apply. Be there 10 minutes early; you cannot join late. Children must be in elementary school or older and come with an adult, and the knife work is for junior high school and up. Buckwheat or wheat allergy rules the class out; if someone in your group has an allergy, tell us when you book and we will confirm what is possible. Details and booking are on our soba page.
Nigiri sushi at Akazawa
About 60 minutes: grate fresh Amagi wasabi, then make 10 pieces (¥3,500) or 15 (¥4,000) with staff guiding you, and eat them with crab miso soup and a side dish. Booking for two or more, age 6 (elementary school) and up, and not possible with a fish allergy. Be there 10 minutes early; you cannot join late.
Which workshop suits kids, or taking something home today?
We suggest hand-building, the painted pottery, the candle or the music box for small children, all from age 3 (with an adult for under 7). For something you carry home today, choose a Sakurazaka candle, music box or bracelet. To eat what you made, choose soba or sushi. The full list with booking links is on our site.
Questions we get
Do I need to book?
Pottery and the Sakurazaka crafts can be done without a booking, but a booking gets priority. The pottery page says busy seasons (summer holidays, Golden Week and similar) fill up, so book ahead then. Online booking is open until 9:00 on the day. Soba and nigiri sushi need a booking, for two or more people.
Can I make pottery with my children?
Yes. Hand-building and the ready-made-piece painting plan start from age 3 (an adult must come with children under 7). The dog plate and clock are for age 6 (elementary school) and up, and the wheel for fifth grade of elementary school (about age 10) and up.
Can I have my pottery shipped abroad?
Not for the electric-wheel plan: our page says we cannot post abroad, and firing and posting take about 2 to 3 months, with postage extra. For the other pottery plans, ask us before you book.
I am allergic to buckwheat. Can I still join?
Not the soba class: our page says people with a buckwheat or wheat allergy cannot enter or take part. For a group with a buckwheat-allergic member, the page mentions the nigiri sushi class (booked in advance, 2 or more) or watching and then eating non-soba dishes at our restaurant. Tell us about the allergy when you book so we can confirm what is possible. A fish allergy rules out the sushi class.
Can I take what I make home the same day?
The candles, music boxes and bracelets at Sakurazaka go home with you. Pottery is fired first and posted to you; see the pottery section for the posting times we list per plan.