【New Tokyo Sightseeing】5 Pottery and Glass Work Experiences (Beginners OK)

I have some free time to explore Tokyo, but where should I go? For those who have such a problem, I would like to recommend “making things” experience. Among them, ceramics and glass works are especially attractive because of the fun of “making things together” and the special feeling of being able to leave behind a tangible object. Even beginners can enjoy this experience with a lecture, which will naturally shorten the distance between the two of you.

In this article, we introduce five carefully selected spots in Tokyo where you can casually enjoy experiencing ceramics and glasswork. This is a new date activity that is rapidly gaining popularity as an indoor activity that can be enjoyed even on rainy days!

■ 1. ROUTE POTTERY (Ueno)｜Ceramic art experience surrounded by plants and books

Located about a 5-minute walk from Ueno Station, ROUTE POTTERY is a pottery workshop on the second floor of the ROUTE BOOKS book cafe. The store is a relaxing space surrounded by plants and books, where you can try your hand at pottery making while relaxing. The popular “electric potter's wheel hands-on course” is especially popular, and even beginners can participate without worry, as instructors provide detailed support.

The experience costs 3,800 yen (tax included) and takes about one hour. The cost varies depending on the size of the piece, but is approximately 1,000 yen for an oinoguchi (small sake cup) or a small dish, and 2,000 yen for a teacup or a teacup. After the experience, you can relax in the café on the first floor, which is recommended as an activity for a date or a group of friends.

ROUTE pottery

住所	Route Books, 4-14-3 Higashi-Ueno, Taito-ku, Tokyo
電話番号	03-5830-2666
営業時間	10:30~19:00
定休日	indeterminate rest period (e.g. from work)
公式サイト	https://route-books.com/ceramics-art/

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Click here to make reservations

■ 2. Uzumako Ceramic Art School（Shinagawa）｜Near station & beginner-friendly pair experience

Just a 10-minute walk from Shinagawa Station, Uzumako Ceramic Art School is an especially popular spot for beginner couples to experience pottery making. With a small class size and careful support from the instructor, even first-timers can try their hand at pottery making with a potter's wheel or hand-binnerette.

The “making a pair of mugs” is especially popular.

The finished product will be mailed to your home at a later date, so you can enjoy it as a memento for a long time. It is also a great way to spend some quality time together in a relaxed atmosphere. Evening courses are also available, so it is recommended to visit in your spare time.

Uzumako Ceramic Art School

住所	Shimizu House 1F, 3-29-11 Shiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo
電話番号	03-6809-6363
営業時間	10:00-19:00 (until 21:00 for reservations only)
定休日	the New Year's holiday
公式サイト	https://www.uzumakotougei.com/

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■ 3. Props Art School（Shinjuku）｜A school offering a variety of art experiences

Located in Shinjuku 2-chome, Shinjuku-ku, Props Art School is an art school that offers three courses simultaneously: ceramics, glass art, and flower arrangement. In particular, the school offers two courses in glass art: “fusing” and “sandblasting,” and offers hands-on lessons that even beginners can easily participate in.

In the fusing course, students can create original accessories and small plates by combining various colors of glass, while in the sandblasting course, they can experience the technique of engraving patterns by blowing sand on the surface of glass.

Each hands-on lesson lasts from 90 minutes to two hours, and the finished pieces can be gift-wrapped for free. The shop is easily accessible, just a three-minute walk from Shinjuku Sanchome and Shinjuku Gyoenmae stations, and classes are held until the evening on weekdays, making it easy to drop by anytime.

Props Art School

住所	Shinjuku Sanko Building 8F, 2-5-15 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
電話番号	03-6380-5902
営業時間	Tuesday-Friday: 11:00-22:00, Monday-Saturday: 11:00-18:00, Sunday: 11:00-17:00
定休日	None (subject to availability)
公式サイト	https://props-as.jp/

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■ 4. YU-KOBO Tokyo Ginza School｜A wide variety of courses that you can enjoy as many times as you like!

Located in the Ginza area, Yu-Kobo offers a wide range of craft classes, including ceramics, glass, and silver. One of the most popular is the “Pair Pottery Experience. In addition to using an electric potter's wheel to make authentic pottery, visitors can also enjoy the “hand-bineri” course, which allows them to create their own works of art with more freedom and imagination.

The instructor will teach you how to make a pottery piece in detail, so even beginners can create a highly finished work of art. This is the perfect place to create special memories.

YU-KOBO Tokyo Ginza School

住所	2F Morikuma Building, 8-4-25 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
電話番号	03-3572-3373
営業時間	Tuesday, Saturday, Sunday: 10:00 - 17:30 Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: 12:30 - 21:00
定休日	Monday
公式サイト	https://yukobo.co.jp/ginza.html

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■ 5. GLASS-LAB（Koto-ku）｜Experience Edo faceting, a fusion of tradition and innovation.

GLASS-LAB is a rare workshop where you can experience Edo faceting, where the craftsman's skills shine through. The delicate cuts made on the glass surface produce beautiful reflections of light, making it a popular experience for Japanese visitors. The work is done using a special machine, but even beginners have no problem as the staff provides good instruction.

A particularly popular menu item is making a “soy sauce jug that prevents dripping. It is designed so that there is just the right amount of space between the lid and the bottle, and the liquid that comes out halfway will return. This is a practical product that would make a great gift.

Another great point is that you can take the finished product home with you on the same day. This is a great way to experience the beauty of Japanese culture, and is recommended for those who want to experience something a little more grown-up.

GLASS-LAB

住所	1-13-11 Hirano, Koto-ku, Tokyo
電話番号	03-6318-9407
営業時間	Weekdays: 17:00 - 19:00 Tohinichi: 10:00 - 18:00
公式サイト	https://glass-labo.com/

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Summary

Ceramic art and glass work experience is a special event where you can make a memento of your trip. Memories that remain in the form of a tangible object are more real than photographs, and you will become more attached to them. Since even beginners can easily participate, why don't you plan a trip with the theme of “making things” for the next weekend? A trip with a difference from the usual will be a special day to remember.