Make Your Own Custom Chopsticks in 100yo Kyoto Building(No Extra Fee

In a Kyoto building more than 100 years old, you can turn a block of wood into a useful souvenir with your own hands. At HASHI LAB, the work is simple to follow but satisfying: choose your wood, shave it with a traditional plane, sand it smooth, and finish it with oil.

I like two things especially: you get to handle a kanna, a traditional Japanese woodworking plane, and you leave with chopsticks you shaped yourself. The staff, including team members named Mikki and Konoka, help you through the steps, and the roughly 12 wood choices give the activity a personal feel.

One thing to plan for: the listed price starts at US$44.25, but optional upgrades may cost extra. The package includes a choice of the listed woods and personalized engraving, while some guests have found that certain material or stamping add-ons raise the bill. Ask what is included before choosing extras.

The details worth knowing

• The setting is part of the appeal: HASHI LAB is in a wooden building more than a century old, a fitting place to learn a hands-on craft.
• You work with a kanna: This traditional plane is the heart of the activity. It may take a few minutes to get the feel for shaving wood, but staff guide you.
• There are about 12 woods to choose from: Each has its own color and hardness. A dark, very hard Shimakokutan option and a purple-toned wood have caught the eye of past participants.
• You make a practical keepsake: Shape, smooth, oil, and wrap your own pair of chopsticks, then take them home.
• The session is short and central: Plan on 45 minutes, with the workshop about a five-minute walk from Kyoto Station.
• Families can join in: Children and adults are welcome, and children and infants must be counted in the booking headcount.

A Kyoto craft, not just another souvenir stop

Kyoto is full of things to look at. This workshop gives you something different to do: make an everyday object, using a traditional tool, in a wooden building with a long life behind it. Chopsticks are ordinary in the best way. You use them at meals, so your finished pair can keep bringing back memories of the city long after a bought trinket has been put away.

The appeal is in the process as much as the result. You choose a wood by its look and feel, then take a rough piece and work it into something you can hold and use. The smell and warmth of the wood are part of the experience, too. It is a calm change of pace from temples, shops, and crowded streets.

This is a guided activity, but not a long lecture or a formal woodworking course. Staff explain the options and show you how to proceed, then help as you work. That makes the workshop approachable if you have never used a plane before. You are not expected to arrive with craft skills; you just need to be willing to try a few careful strokes.

Choosing wood, then learning the plane

The first choice is the wood. HASHI LAB offers about 12 types, with differences in color, hardness, and character. That choice matters because it sets the look and feel of your finished chopsticks. If you already know you want a dark or unusual color, ask staff to explain the options before settling on one.

One participant chose Shimakokutan, a dark wood described as the hardest option. Another liked a purple-toned wood and shaped the chopsticks to a preferred form. These examples show why it is worth looking closely at the wood display rather than choosing in a hurry. The material affects both the appearance and the feel of the work.

Next comes the kanna, a traditional Japanese plane. The first few strokes can feel unfamiliar, especially if you have not worked with wood before. Give yourself a moment to find the rhythm. The staff are there to guide you, and the process becomes easier once you have the tool moving steadily.

This is where the workshop has more substance than a quick souvenir activity. You are not simply decorating a finished item. You shape the chopsticks yourself, so the final pair carries small signs of your own decisions and effort. The aim is not to become a master craftsperson in 45 minutes; it is to make a useful object and get a feel for the work behind it.

Sanding, oil, and the finished pair

After shaping, you smooth the chopsticks with sandpaper. This step brings the surface closer to the finished feel you want and lets you refine the shape. Then you apply oil, which brings out the wood’s appearance and completes the main making process.

You finish by wrapping your chopsticks. Packaging is included, so you can take the pair home as a ready-made keepsake. Personalized engraving is also included in the stated package details, though it is sensible to confirm exactly what kind of engraving is covered before you choose any added personalization or other extras.

The full session is listed as 45 minutes. One participant found the process took closer to 45 to 60 minutes, so avoid scheduling a tight connection or a timed attraction immediately afterward. Your pace, the explanation, and the choices you make may affect how long you spend at the workbench.

You can take videos during the activity. That is a nice option if you want to remember the process, but it is also worth keeping your attention on the tool while you work. The finished pair is the lasting souvenir; the experience of making it is the story you can tell with it.

Helpful staff make the hands-on work easier

Good instruction matters when a workshop involves a sharp tool. The staff are described as warm and helpful, and English-speaking assistance is included. Mikki and Konoka are among the staff names associated with the experience, though you should not assume they will lead every session.

The guidance is practical rather than intimidating. Staff explain the wood choices and help you through the steps, so you can ask for help if a stroke feels awkward or you are unsure how to shape the pair. One participant with two boys, ages 11 and 13, found the activity enjoyable for the whole family, and children aged 8 and 11 also made it a family highlight.

That does not mean every child will find the tool easy. The activity is suitable for children and adults, but it involves working with a plane and needs care. Keep children close and follow the staff’s instructions. The information provided does not give a minimum age, so check with HASHI LAB if you are booking for a very young child.

The workshop can also work well for couples and friends. You each make a personal object, but share the same compact activity. It is an easy way to add a creative break to a Kyoto day without giving up half a day or needing specialist knowledge.

What US$44.25 buys, and where extras can creep in

At a starting price of US$44.25, this is not the cheapest souvenir you could buy in Kyoto. The value is that the price covers an activity and a finished object: English-speaking staff, the chopstick-making session, a choice from the listed woods, wrapping, and personalized engraving according to the package details. You are paying for time at the workbench and the chance to make something you can use, not just for a pair of chopsticks.

The no-extra-fee wording needs a little care. The package says you can choose any of the 12 available wood types and includes engraving. However, some participants have found that upgrades, such as certain materials or stamping, can add cost. Before you commit to an add-on, ask the staff to confirm its price and whether it is part of your booked package. That quick question helps keep the final cost clear.

If you value hands-on activities and personal souvenirs, the price can make sense. If you mainly want inexpensive chopsticks, buying a finished pair elsewhere will cost less and take less time. The workshop earns its keep through the making, the instruction, and the connection between the object and your time in Kyoto.

Finding HASHI LAB and choosing a time

The address is 509-2 Minami-cho, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto City, and the workshop is described as a five-minute walk from Kyoto Station. That sounds simple, but station areas can be confusing, especially if you are arriving by a route you have not used before. One participant advised allowing extra time for train transfers and finding the location. Use the address before setting out, and do not plan to arrive at the last minute.

Sessions are offered at hourly start times from 10:00 in the morning through 20:00. Your selected time is the time you need to attend, and you are asked to arrive five minutes early. Late arrivals and no-shows are not refundable, so leave a cushion for getting through the station area.

Reservations are available, and walk-ins are welcome. Still, booking ahead is the safer choice if you have a particular time in mind or are traveling with family or friends. The stated duration is 45 minutes, and the activity ends at HASHI LAB, so you do not need to arrange transport back to a separate meeting point.

Who will get the most from this workshop

I would choose this if you want a manageable, hands-on activity near the station and a souvenir with a story behind it. Couples can make their own versions side by side. Friends can compare wood choices and shapes. Families can share a project, provided children are included in the passenger count and are supervised carefully.

It is also a good option if the weather makes a long outdoor stroll less appealing, or if you want a break between bigger sightseeing stops. The compact 45-minute format leaves room for other plans. Just allow extra travel time and avoid stacking the session too closely against another booking.

This is less suited to someone who wants a deep woodworking lesson, a long cultural talk, or the lowest-cost way to get chopsticks. You get a guided introduction and a finished pair, not an extended craft course. And if you are tempted by unusual woods or stamping, check the extra prices before ordering.

Should you book HASHI LAB?

Book it if you like making things, want a useful souvenir, and can spare about 45 minutes near Kyoto Station. The traditional plane, choice of woods, and friendly English-speaking help give the activity more personality than a simple shopping stop. It is especially appealing for couples, families with older children, and friends who want to do something together.

Skip it if you are pressed for time, uninterested in a hands-on craft, or focused on keeping souvenir costs to a minimum. If you do book, arrive early and confirm which wood choices and personalization are covered by your package. That leaves you free to enjoy the best part: turning a piece of Kyoto wood into something you will use at home.

FAQ

How long does the chopstick-making experience take?

The stated duration is 45 minutes. One participant found it took about 45 to 60 minutes, so leave a little extra time if your schedule is tight.

Where is HASHI LAB?

The address is 509-2 Minami-cho, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture. It is described as a five-minute walk from Kyoto Station.

What time can I book?

Available start times run hourly from 10:00 to 20:00. The options shown may depend on the time you select.

Do I need to reserve in advance?

Reservations are available, and walk-ins are welcome. Booking ahead is recommended if you want a particular time.

What is included in the package?

The package includes the chopstick-making experience, English-speaking staff, finished chopsticks, wrapping or packaging, a choice of the available woods, and personalized engraving.

Can children take part?

Yes. The experience is suitable for children and adults. Infants and children must be included in the passenger headcount.

Can I take videos during the workshop?

Yes. You can take videos during the experience.