Plane, sand and oil your own pair of wooden chopsticks in a Shinjuku, Ginza or Asakusa studio, then carry the finished set home. Compare every workshop for chopstick making in Tokyo and book with free cancellation.
traveller favourite The Traveller Favourite: Make Your Own Pair in Asakusa
Experience the art of chopstick making in a calm studio in Asakusa, one of Tokyo's most traditional neighbourhoods. Craft your own pair using time-honoured techniques, guided from raw wood to a smooth, finished set you take home the same day.
Real-time availability and instant booking for the Asakusa make-your-own-pair class, straight from the operator.
Six studios across Shinjuku, Ginza, Asakusa, Taito and Shibuya. Each one hands you the tools, the wood and a craftsman's guidance to finish a pair in about an hour. Compare rating, neighbourhood and price, then book the one that fits your day.
from $9Most Reviewed — 3,855 Reviews, 5.0★
from $3Top Rated — 4.9★ (1,111 Reviews) 
from $4Central Ginza Studio 
from $4Artisan-Led — Groups of 10 
from $11Step-Free — Wheelchair Accessible 
from $6Personalised — Name Engraving | Workshop | Area | From | Book | Rating | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shinjuku (ZEN) | Shinjuku | $9 | Check | 5.0★ (3,855) | ~1 hr |
| Make Your Own Pair | Asakusa | $3 | Check | 4.9★ (1,111) | ~1 hr |
| Chopsticks Studio | Ginza | $4 | Check | 5.0★ (680) | ~1 hr |
| With an Artisan | Taito | $4 | Check | 5.0★ (520) | ~1 hr |
| Handmade Shibuya | Shibuya | $11 | Check | 5.0★ (420) | ~1 hr |
| Name Engraving | Tokyo | $6 | Check | 4.8★ (736) | ~1 hr |
Every workshop teaches the same core craft, so the easiest way to choose is by where you already plan to be. The Asakusa and Taito studios sit in the old-town, a few minutes from Senso-ji Temple, and pair naturally with a morning of temple-going and street food. The Ginza studio is a short walk from the department stores and the Kabuki-za theatre. The Shinjuku class runs on the tenth floor of the West Building, five minutes from Shinjuku-Nishiguchi Station, handy if you are catching a train later. The Shibuya studio is seven minutes from the Scramble Crossing and the only one that is fully step-free.
Group sizes vary more than the price does. The Taito artisan session caps at ten people, so it feels the most personal, while the Shinjuku class takes up to thirty-two and moves at a brisker pace.
You start with two square blanks of wood and a hand plane called a kanna. Under the instructor's eye you shave the wood down from square to a gentle taper, round off the edges, then sand the surface smooth. Most studios finish the pair with a wipe of oil so the grain comes through. The whole sequence takes about an hour and needs no woodworking experience.
The result is a genuine, usable pair of chopsticks rather than a painted souvenir. Reviewers across every studio say the same thing: the set comes home and actually gets used.
The advertised 'from' price covers the class and a set of standard woods, usually three to choose between. Reviewers' one recurring gripe is the upsell: premium woods and name engraving cost extra and are easy to add in the moment. Engraving typically runs around 1,000 yen. None of it is a catch, but it is worth deciding your budget before you sit down.
Here is roughly what the tiers look like across the Tokyo studios.
| Option | Typical cost | Worth it if |
|---|---|---|
| Standard wood + class | From $3–11 | You want the core experience |
| Premium wood upgrade | A few dollars more | You want a darker or figured grain |
| Name engraving | ~1,000 yen | It is a gift or a keepsake |
| Second pair | Roughly the base price again | You are making a matching set |
Every workshop follows the same short sequence. No experience needed, and the instructor is with you at each stage.
Total time at the bench is about an hour, and you take the finished pair with you.
The six workshops cluster in four areas of central Tokyo. Tap a pin for the neighbourhood and what sits nearby.
Studios lay out ten or more woods and include three in the base price. Colour, weight and grain all change how the finished pair feels.
Included woods vary by studio; premium grades cost a few dollars more.
The instructor was patient and funny, and walked us through every step. We came out with a pair we genuinely use at home now.
A lovely, calm hour away from the Tokyo crowds. My kids managed it easily and were so proud of their chopsticks.
Great value and a real skill to learn. I paid a little extra for engraving and it made a perfect gift for my parents.
You leave with a usable pair of chopsticks, not a fridge magnet. They come out of the drawer at dinner and remember the trip for you.
You use a real kanna hand plane and finish the wood by hand, the same tools Japanese makers have used for generations.
Classes start from a few dollars, which makes this one of the best-value cultural experiences in the city.
No woodworking experience is needed. Instructors guide each step in English and the pace suits children and first-timers.
Everything happens indoors, so a chopstick class is the perfect fallback when Tokyo turns grey.
At about an hour, a workshop fits neatly between temple visits, shopping or a meal in the same neighbourhood.
Half the fun of making your own pair is using them well. A few table manners carry real meaning in Japan.
None of this is tested at the workshop, but your instructor will happily explain the customs behind the craft.
Base prices run from about $3 to $11 per person depending on the studio, and cover the class plus a set of standard woods. Premium woods and name engraving are optional extras, with engraving usually around 1,000 yen.
Most classes take roughly one hour from raw wood to a finished, oiled pair. It is short enough to slot between other plans in the same neighbourhood.
None at all. Instructors guide you through planing, rounding and sanding step by step, and the classes are popular with complete beginners, families and children.
Yes. The studios featured here have English-speaking staff, so instructions and safety guidance are given in English throughout.
Most studios welcome children with a parent alongside. The tools are simple and the instructor keeps a close eye, so younger visitors can finish their own pair.
Choose by where you already plan to be. Asakusa and Taito suit an old-town day near Senso-ji, Ginza pairs with shopping, Shinjuku is handy for train connections, and Shibuya is the only fully step-free studio.
Yes. You take your finished pair home the same day. Reviewers consistently say the chopsticks get real use back home.
Weekend, holiday and cherry-blossom-season slots fill first, so booking a few days ahead is wise. All the featured classes offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before.