The experience
Hyobodo is a lacquer studio in Kyoto, founded in 2014 by a husband and wife: Terunori Sugimoto, a lacquer artist, and Megumi Shimamoto, a makie artist who decorates lacquer with gold powder. The studio makes and restores lacquer work for temples, shrines and art objects.
You choose a piece of old pottery that the studio found at Kyoto's antique markets, join its broken pieces and coat the joins with real lacquer. Partway through there is matcha with Kyoto sweets, and a talk about kintsugi and the idea of mottainai.
The joins are finished with silver, tin or LG powder, an aluminium powder with gold plating. Gold or silver powder is available as an upgrade. You take the piece home the same day.
On the day
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Welcome
A greeting from the artisans and the story of kintsugi.
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Choosing a piece
Vintage pottery from Kyoto's antique markets, chosen by the studio.
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Mending
You glue the broken pieces, fill the gaps and brush lacquer over the joins.
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Tea
Matcha and Kyoto sweets, with a talk about kintsugi.
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Finishing
Lacquer on the mended line, then powder swept over it with a soft brush.
Guide price
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Per person, from | ¥33,000 |
- Includes the experience, facility charges, the interpreter and tax.
- There is a minimum of two guests. A booking for one pays the two-guest minimum.
- Gold or silver powder costs extra. Overseas shipping is not included, so carry the piece in your hand luggage.
Good to know
- Booking deadline
- At least 2 days before.
- Cancellation
- Full refund up to 11 days before, by 17:00 Japan time.
- Language
- An English-speaking interpreter is included.
- Lacquer and skin
- Real lacquer can cause a skin rash in some people, even with care. Alcohol and other chemicals are also used.
- What to wear
- Clothes that can get dirty. Gloves, arm covers and aprons are provided. Shoes come off, so wear socks.
- Afterwards
- Wait at least a week before using the piece. Bring a bag that fits a 20 cm box. Your own items cannot be mended in this session.
What STAYGO does
- We arrange the session through Wabunka, the booking site the studio uses, and keep in touch with them about your date.
- We place it on a Kyoto day that suits it and plan how you get there.
- We pass on anything the studio should know, such as a sensitivity to lacquer.
This session is paid in advance by credit card, in yen, through Wabunka, at the price they show. STAYGO adds nothing to it.
Arranged only as part of a STAYGO journey.
Details checked on the host's published page on 13 October 2026. Hosts set their own prices and terms and may change them. We confirm them again when we arrange your date, and nothing is confirmed until the host accepts it.
You pay hotels, ryokan, restaurants and guides directly, at their own rates. We add no markups and take no commissions. The Signature planning fee is USD 3,500 for your group, for a journey of 7–14 days. Longer or more complex journeys are planned as Bespoke.
