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View all Tokyo toursTurn a Japanese Coin into a Ring: An Hour with Asakusa Metalworkers in Tokyo
Hammer a real Japanese coin into a wearable ring or charm in a five-person Asakusa workshop, with the artisans doing the tricky parts.
Turn a Japanese Coin into a Ring: An Hour with Asakusa Metalworkers: Key Facts
| Price | From $63 per person |
|---|---|
| Duration | 1 hour |
| Group size | Up to 5 people |
| Languages | English |
| Tour type | Mini Tour |
| Booking | Direct with the local operator — no OTA markup |
Choose from 1 available option
Coin Ring or Charm Workshop
Full description
A Japanese five-yen coin has a hole through the middle, which is why it turns up in temple offerings — the word for it, go-en, is a homophone for good fortune and connection. It also happens to be exactly the right shape to become a ring, and that is what this hour is about.
The process is genuinely hands-on. You start with a real coin, and by working the metal outward from the centre hole and hammering it down over a mandrel, the flat disc gradually becomes a band. It sounds implausible until you watch it happen. The artisans handle the parts that need real skill and a proper anvil, and hand it back to you between stages, so what you take home is something you visibly made rather than watched being made.
The group caps at five, which is the smallest of any workshop we list in Tokyo, and it makes the hour feel more like a lesson with a craftsman than a class. Instruction is in English. Tools and materials are all provided, and no experience is expected — most people arrive having never held a jeweller's hammer.
You can make a ring or a charm depending on what you want to end up with. Either way you leave wearing it, which is the appeal: it is a souvenir with a story that fits in a pocket and cost you an hour rather than a shopping trip.
The workshop is in Nishi-Asakusa, a few streets back from Senso-ji and the Nakamise shopping lane, so it slots naturally into an Asakusa morning. Sizing is done on the day, so nothing needs to be decided in advance.
Tour Itinerary
The schedule below is a suggested plan and can be adjusted to suit your preferences.
Meet the artisans at the Nishi-Asakusa workshop
Choose a ring or a charm and pick your coin
Work the metal outward from the centre of the coin
Shape the band over a mandrel with the artisan's help
Finish and size your piece
Wear it out
Includes
- Guidance from skilled artisans throughout
- A real Japanese coin to work with
- All tools and materials
- Your finished ring or charm to take home
Excludes
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Food and drinks
- Additional pieces beyond the one included
Important information
Meeting point
Asakusa SP Building, 2-20-6 Nishi-Asakusa, Taito City, Tokyo 111-0035.
Know before you go
- Free cancellation available up to 24 hours before the activity starts
About this activity
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Traveler Reviews
3 of us carried out the ring making activity. What an amazing experience. The staff were super friendly and very helpful. Shugo supported us throughout the ring making process. They were excellent. You make the ring from start to finish under their guidance. A really lovely and memorable experience, with an added bonus of having beautiful keepsake ring and pendant to take home.
The activity was so much fun! The staff was so very nice and warm. They helped us turn an old coin into beautiful jewelry. It’s the perfect souvenir for our last day in Tokyo! 🤗☺️ love from Paris🇫🇷
The activity was amazing!!! The people who helped were patient and friendly, as well as helpful and informative. The rings we made are beautiful. Such a memorable experience, I would 100% recommend this.
We really enjoyed this experience. We chose this ring workshop because we needed quite large ring sizes, and this was the only one we could find with no ring size limit — a huge relief. The little pendant from the coin centre was an added bonus. Our guides, Kazu and Mao, were funny, welcoming, and incredibly helpful throughout. They made the whole experience feel relaxed and memorable for us. A wonderful activity, especially if you need flexibility with ring sizing and want guides who bring great energy.
It was a really great experience. The two guides were very friendly and explained a lot. I was the only customer at that time so I had a private lesson. You can chose from different coins and size. And you get to do all the steps from the coin to your ring and necklace. I can highly recommend this activity.
My son and I both really enjoyed doing this together! It took us to another different part of Tokyo and gave us a great experience and we came away with two beautiful rings that we love!
Super fun workshop! Definitely worth it and it’s close to all the shopping markets in Asakusa.
Amazing! Kazu was an awesome guy with a great personality and patient and thorough with us. We made beautiful keepsakes from our trip and my kids had a blast seeing the process and being hands on. Highly recommend for those who want the unique experience they’ll remember for a lifetime.
We loved our experience making our rings! It was such a fun and unique activity, and we're so happy with how our rings turned out! Our guide was super friendly, patient, and really helpful throughout the whole process. They explained each step clearly, made sure we were comfortable, and taught us so much along the way. It was so rewarding getting to make the rings ourselves and seeing them come together from start to finish. We'd definitely recommend this experience to anyone looking for something a little different and memorable! 😊