Lantern-making in Kyoto

Lantern-making

On her latest trip to Japan, Into Japan’s Karan decided to get creative in Kyoto with some traditional lantern-making. With such a rich culture and history of tradition and creativity, Kyoto is the perfect place to turn your hand to something artistic. Lanterns abound not only in Kyoto but in Japan as a whole, providing a wonderfully soft, glowing backdrop to myriad festivals and celebrations. Here Karan learns how they are made.

Kyoto’s Traditional Crafts

Kyoto is a city steeped in history and culture and the perfect place to experience Japanese craftsmanship. The seat of the Imperial Court for over 1,000 years, Kyoto shaped and influenced Japanese arts & crafts. It is still an important centre for traditional Japanese crafts today. It is famous for lacquerware, pottery, silk weaving and dyeing, folding fans, and a myriad of other crafts. This summer I experienced a snippet of Kyoto’s rich craft tradition with a visit to the Kobishiya Chube Atelier.

Access

Kobishiya Chube, where the experience takes place, is located about an 8-minute walk away from Tofukuji Station. It is only a short train ride away from Kyoto Station. However, in inclement weather it may be better to just take a taxi or private car to the workshop.

Lantern-making Workshop

Kobishiya Chube was founded about 220 years ago. Since then it has helped illuminate countless temples, shrines, shops, and restaurants with the soft glow of their lamps. Now the traditional technique of lantern making called jibari-shiki is carried on by two brothers, Shun and Ryo Kojima.

Shun and Ryo greeted me at the door and showed me into their cheerful lantern-making workshop. A giant lantern, which towered heads above me, greeted me as I entered. Shun briefly explained to me the history of their shop and what kind of lanterns they make before we began. The bamboo skeleton of my lantern to be was already waiting for me, stretched out on a wooden frame.

Illuminating Experience

Ryo helped me pick out some paper and told me how it should be layered to provide the nicest pattern. Shun then showed me how to glue the frame and then stretch the coloured washi paper over each strut of the lantern. Once I had completely covered the lantern, it was finished and Ryo dried it with a hairdryer.  Ryo and Shun both chatted to me about their work, and were very friendly and pleasant to talk to.

While I was making my mini-lantern, other craftsman continued working on the giant lantern. It was an arm span wide and high and the workers needed a ladder to thread the higher struts. They are currently quite busy making lanterns for upcoming festivals, so the workshop was a hive of activity.

The finished work

Once my lantern had finished drying, I was given a nice little box to take it home in safely. They also provided an LED tealight candle which cast a gentle glow when placed in my tiny lantern. Apparently, you shouldn’t let it come close to a flame, which was good to know!

Creating my own little lantern allowed me to see a side of Kyoto I had never seen before. I will treasure my chibi maru lantern, and the memories it contains.

In short: This is a great experience for those who want to have a hands-on experience of Kyoto’s arts and crafts culture.

Recommended for: Anyone with an artistic flair, or an interest in Kyoto’s traditional arts and crafts. It is quite an easy workshop so I think it would also be a great experience for older children.

For more inspiration, connect with us on Instagram @intojapan, or Facebook @IntoJapanST

Photos and text by Karan Yamada for Into Japan