(Photo by Luis Samayoa/Stripes Japan)
In search of something a little different when exploring Tokyo? There are many options to keep you entertained.
Seeking to put my athleticism and crafting to work, I recently tried a couple fun and affordable workshops that make for a nice day trip.
I found that some activities may be overpriced if you are using a third-party booking site. Save some yen by making reservations directly on the establishment’s site. You can use a desktop browser to help with translations and find discounts and deals.
During my search for something a little more active than a simple stroll at a park or a visit to a museum, an archery experience in Harajuku caught my eye.
I’ve been to Harajuku a few times for some shopping and people-watching, but I never expected to don a bow and arrow for some target practice nearby.
Kyudo Ninja Experience Café is at the heart of Harajuku’s Takeshita Street and a good spot for a break from the crowds. The shop is a little hidden but look for the yellow CAPCOM capsule lab next door.
Inside I was greeted and given a menu to choose a drink from. It was a very hot day, so I went with water.
The café is family-friendly and I saw a family practicing Katakana ninja techniques. So, if you have kids and want to safely practice some sword swings and not burn a hole in your pocket, this may be the place for you!
Once my session started, I was given a simple bow and arrows and taught how to manually load them. After some time shooting at my target and studying how to aim, my instructor started letting me step back more for distance shooting.
I would recommend coming here if you are interested in archery and want to give it a shot. I did notice afterwards that I paid a bit more for a booking service compared to simply walking in.
(Photo by Luis Samayoa/Stripes Japan)
Address: 539 Bldg., B1, 1−16−11 Jingumae, Shibuya, Tokyo 150-0001
Hours: Open daily, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Website (English)
Other info: Payment can be made with yen or card.
There is no parking available nearby.
Another family-friendly activity for those who enjoy DIY is a chopsticks workshop at Zen Chopsticks in Shinjuku.
The small workshop studio is about a 10-minute walk from Shinjuku Station and the chopsticks classes won’t break the bank.
When I booked, I paid 500 yen per person. Once we arrived at Zen Chopsticks, the staff showed us the available materials for wittling our wooden chopsticks. The Hiba wood included with our 500-yen reservation wasn’t good quality, so we paid 2,000-yen more to upgrade to zelkova.
(Photo by Luis Samayoa/Stripes Japan)
The 5-star Zelkova material was a challenge to shave down to chopsticks, but was totally worth the extra money.
When we were seated, the instructor gave us tips and techniques that were incredibly easy to follow. You first will need to shave down the sticks using a special mold that has 3 slots. The staff checks after each section and let you know which side is needed next. After we got the shape of both sticks down to the correct size, we had to sand and oil them up to finish.
This class requires a lot of repetitive movements, which my Army service trained me well. It was easy, albeit with a few hiccups along the way, but worth it. Once we finished our shaving and sanding, we were told to oil our chopsticks up and that was it.
(Photo by Luis Samayoa/Stripes Japan)
The shop offers wood engraving for an additional 2,000 yen, but we passed.
This is a great souvenir to remember your trip to Tokyo or even as a handmade gift for a loved one.
I would highly recommend this activity, since it’s fun, easy and family friendly. I did have some trouble with the reservation and accidentally charged a few hundred yen plus my upgrade in material, but it totally worth it.
Address: Shinjuku west square bldg., 10F, 7−4−5 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 160-0023
Hours: 9 a.m. - 7 p.m, 7 days a week.
Website (English)
Other info: Electronic payment only.
No parking is available.
