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Plane and Sand Your Own Chopsticks in Arashiyama in Kyoto

Top rated
4.9
Activity provider: Japan Guide Stars
Plane and Sand Your Own Chopsticks in Arashiyama
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An hour above a shopfront near Tenryu-ji, shaping a pair of chopsticks with a hand plane from wood you choose — the cheapest hands-on thing to do in Arashiyama.

Plane and Sand Your Own Chopsticks in Arashiyama: Key Facts

PriceFrom $17 per person
Duration1 hour
Group sizeUp to 30 people
LanguagesEnglish
Tour typeMini Tour
BookingDirect with the local operator — no OTA markup

Choose from 2 available options

Standard Chopstick Making

The one-hour workshop with a choice from the three included woods, all tools and materials, and English-speaking staff.
1 hour
English
$17
Free cancellation

All-Inclusive Premium Plan

The same workshop with the full range of high-grade woods unlocked and the extras included, rather than paid for on the ...
1 hour
English
$17
Free cancellation

Full description

Arashiyama fills up. The bamboo grove, the bridge and Tenryu-ji absorb most of a morning and most of the crowd, and by early afternoon a lot of visitors are looking for something to do that is not queueing. This workshop is a good answer, and at this price it is close to the cheapest hands-on hour in Kyoto.

You begin by choosing wood. Three types are included and more than ten are available, each with a different grain, colour and smell — the lighter woods are softer under the plane, the darker premium ones hold an edge better and cost extra. Your blank goes onto a stand and you shape it with a hand plane, which is the part that surprises people: the tool does the work if your angle is right, and getting it wrong produces an immediate, obvious result. Sandpaper follows, then a coat of natural oil that brings the grain up and seals it.

Engraving is available if you want your name in kanji or the wood type marked on the finished pair. The whole thing takes an hour, everything is provided, and staff work in English throughout. There is no skill assumed and nothing sharp enough to worry about with older children.

The workshop is on the second floor of a building in Sagatenryuji Susukinobabacho, up the stairs on the left of the entrance, a couple of minutes from the temple and the grove. Staff also hand out genuinely useful pointers for the rest of Arashiyama — which paths thin out, where the monkey park entrance actually is — which is worth having before you head back out.

If you would rather make chopsticks in Nara, we list a separate workshop there; this one is the Kyoto option and the two are unrelated.

Tour Itinerary

Itineraries are customisable as per your request

The schedule below is a suggested plan and can be adjusted to suit your preferences.

Choose your wood from the available types

Shape the blanks with a hand plane

Sand the surface and edges smooth

Apply the natural oil finish

Optional engraving

Take your finished chopsticks with you

Includes

  • Chopstick-making workshop with all tools and materials
  • Choice of wood, with three types included
  • Hand plane, sanding and natural oil finish
  • English-speaking staff
  • Local tips for exploring Arashiyama

Excludes

  • Premium wood selections beyond the three included types
  • Personalised engraving
  • Food and drinks
  • Transport to the workshop

Important information

Meeting point

2F, 3-25 Sagatenryuji Susukinobabacho, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto 616-8385 — up the stairs on the left of the building.

Know before you go

  • Free cancellation available up to 24 hours before the activity starts

About this activity

Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Secure payment
Complete your booking safely with Razorpay. Full refund if you cancel 24h prior. Read more
Duration 1 hour
Check availability to see starting times
Live tour guide
English
Wheelchair accessible

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Main Tour Price
Starting from $17
$17
Need a custom booking or have a larger group?Contact Support via WhatsApp
Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Secure payment
Complete your booking safely with Razorpay. Full refund if you cancel 24h prior. Read more

Traveler Reviews

4.9/5
based on 205 reviews
Guide
4.9/5
Value for money
4.9/5
Verified reviews from travelers on this operator’s experience
5
N
Niamh– United Kingdom
September 7, 2026

Sammu was a brilliant guide helping me through the chopstick making process!

Review photo 1
5
I
Ioana– Romania
July 4, 2026

Amazing! Lucia was the best and had so much patience! The people and the place is amazing. Great choice for us and our 8 year old

Review photo 1
5
S
Saoirse
August 31, 2026

Got caught by the rain in Arashiyama, so we ducked into this chopstick-making workshop — and it turned out to be the highlight of our day! Warm, calm, and totally hands-on. Our friendly host Utako walked us through every step, and even the kids got right into shaping and smoothing their own chopsticks. They wrapped them up beautifully too, so we've got a little souvenir that actually reminds us of the fun (not just the downpour!). Perfect way to turn a rainy day around. Highly recommend!!!!

5
N
Nikos
August 30, 2026

Great experience overall. The instructors did a great job. They were very friendly and helpful. We left with a beautiful pair of chopsticks. The only downside I found was that the all the extras (different wood selection, engraving) were really overpriced.

5
E
Emily
August 27, 2026

Really engaging! Fantastic guide and brilliant chopsticks!! So glad we did this!!

5
M
Mariko
August 21, 2026

It was also great to be able to enjoy a one-hour workshop while sightseeing in Arashiyama. Making something myself that I can keep as a souvenir and a special memory of my trip made the experience even more meaningful. I would definitely recommend it!

5
A
Arisa
August 21, 2026

I had a wonderful time making my own personalized chopsticks. The guide was very kind and explained everything clearly, which made the experience even more enjoyable. I highly recommend this experience! Thank you very much.

5
c
cecilia
August 5, 2026

Very enjoyable. Perfectly suited for all ages. and a great break from the scorching warm of the period.

5
S
Salma
July 25, 2026

We really liked the activity. Me and my brother thought the staff were really kind! We would highly recommend this activity :)

5
J
Jonas Rotband Berenstein
July 17, 2026

Mitchel and Win did an amazing job with us. A very enriching and fun experience. I highly recommend them!

Frequently Asked Questions

2F, 3-25 Sagatenryuji Susukinobabacho, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto 616-8385 — up the stairs on the left of the building.
The price does not cover premium wood selections beyond the three included types, personalised engraving, food and drinks and transport to the workshop. Everything it does cover is listed in full on this page, so if something is not on that list, budget for it separately.
Unless the option says private, this runs as a small group. The operator caps it rather than filling a coach, and if you want it to yourselves the private option is priced separately on this page.
Japan Guide Stars. We book with them directly rather than through a reseller, which is why we can confirm your place with the operator before taking it as final.
We confirm your booking with the operator before we treat it as final, and we need at least one day's notice outside India. Once it is confirmed you get the meeting point, the time and a contact number for the day. If the operator cannot take your date we tell you and refund you rather than leave you waiting.
Chopstick-making workshop with all tools and materials, Choice of wood, with three types included, Hand plane, sanding and natural oil finish, English-speaking staff, Local tips for exploring Arashiyama
The duration of the Plane and Sand Your Own Chopsticks in Arashiyama is typically 1 hour. We recommend arriving 15 minutes before the scheduled start time for a smooth check-in. Your guide will meet you at the designated meeting point and ensure the experience runs on schedule while remaining flexible to your pace.
For most experiences, we highly recommend an early morning start. This allows you to avoid the midday heat, bypass the largest crowds, and capture the best lighting for photography. Your guide can advise on the optimal timing based on the season and specific attractions included.
Yes, once your booking is completed via our secure payment gateway, you will receive an instant confirmation email with your tour details, meeting point address, guide's name, and direct contact information. You can also view and manage your booking through your AsiaByLocals account dashboard.
Yes! All our private tours are fully customizable. Whether you want to add extra stops, skip certain locations, change the pace, or adjust the start time — simply let your guide know in advance or on the day. We aim to create a personalized experience tailored to your interests and energy level.
We offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before the scheduled start time for a full refund. Cancellations within 24 hours may be subject to a partial charge depending on the tour type. Weather-related cancellations for outdoor and boat tours are handled on a case-by-case basis, with full refunds or free rebooking offered when safety is a concern.
Most of our experiences are family-friendly and suitable for children of all ages. However, some tours involving extensive walking, water activities, or early morning starts may be better suited for children aged 5 and above. Please check the specific tour description for age recommendations, or contact us for personalized family itinerary advice.
After booking, you will receive detailed meeting point instructions via email. Most tours include complimentary hotel pickup within the central area. For tours without pickup, your confirmation email will include the exact address, Google Maps pin, and your guide's phone number for easy coordination. Guides typically arrive 10 minutes early and will message you on WhatsApp.
We accept all major credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express), PayPal, Apple Pay, and Razorpay for Indian cards. All payments are processed through a PCI-compliant secure gateway with 256-bit encryption. You can also pay in multiple currencies — the price is automatically converted to your local currency at checkout.
Yes, all AsiaByLocals guides are licensed professionals who have been rigorously vetted through background checks, skill assessments, and customer reviews. Many hold government-issued tourism licenses, university degrees in history or cultural studies, and have years of experience leading tours for international travelers. Every guide maintains a minimum 4.5-star rating to remain active on our platform.
Late March to early April for cherry blossom, or mid-to-late November for peak autumn foliage. Kyoto sits in a basin and runs hotter in summer and colder in winter than Tokyo, even at a similar latitude. Full month-by-month figures are in our best time to visit Kyoto guide.
Kyoto never built an extensive subway — just two lines (Karasuma and Tozai) — so the city bus network does most of the work, especially for Higashiyama, Kinkaku-ji and Ginkakuji. Fushimi Inari and Arashiyama are best reached by JR rail instead. See getting around Kyoto.
Three days covers the essentials well: a day for Higashiyama and Gion, a day for Arashiyama and Kinkaku-ji, and a day for Fushimi Inari plus a Nara or Uji day trip. Our 3-day Kyoto itinerary has the full route with timing.
Arrive by 6:30-7am — the shrine is open 24/7 and free, and most visitors only walk the first 20-30 minutes anyway. Past that point the crowds thin out fast. Full hike details in our Fushimi Inari guide.
Yes — it's a public path with no entrance fee and no set hours. The trade-off is that it gets shoulder-to-shoulder by mid-morning; arrive before 8am for a nearly empty walk. See the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest guide.
Kyoto restricts photography on certain private alleys in Gion after complaints about tourists chasing and blocking geiko and maiko, with fines for violators. Public streets like Hanamikoji-dori remain open, but never chase, touch or block a real geiko/maiko anywhere. Full etiquette in our Gion geisha district guide.
Yudofu (simmered tofu, best near Nanzen-ji or Arashiyama), kaiseki and shojin ryori temple cuisine, and Nishiki Market's stalls of tako tamago and fresh yuba. Uji, just south of the city, is one of Japan's top matcha-growing regions. See the Kyoto food guide.
Starting from$17