Deeper Japan Significantly Expands Experience Offerings in the Tokyo Area, Adding 16 New Programs

Deeper Travel Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Setagaya-ku, Tokyo; Representative: Hikaru Ishikawa), which operates "Deeper Japan"—a platform developing and providing cultural activities for inbound tourists in collaboration with artisans, artists, and nature guides across Japan—has added 16 new experience programs to its existing Tokyo lineup. This addition further enriches the Tokyo area collection, which now boasts over 100 programs, the highest among the approximately 450 total experiences offered nationwide.

The Tokyo area is defined as a wide-ranging region including Tokyo city and nearby day-trip destinations such as Kamakura. In addition to popular existing experiences like ukiyo-e, bonsai, Noh theater, and Edomae sushi, the new additions cover diverse genres including crafts, food, martial arts, and spiritual culture, offering a wider range of choices for travelers staying in Tokyo.

Deeper Japan Tokyo Area: https://deeperjapan.com/tokyo

■ The Culture Closest to You, Yet Least Visible
For many inbound tourists, Tokyo is the first place they arrive. Yet, even with diverse artisan cultures thriving in the city, opportunities for travelers to encounter them are limited. Blacksmith workshops tucked away in residential neighborhoods, Kiriko (cut glass) studios in commercial buildings, and Zen temples nestled between skyscrapers—all are located in places one would pass by without knowledge. Deeper Japan continues to expand its Tokyo offerings because it believes that the culture most accessible to travelers is often the one that remains hidden.

■ Introduction to New Programs
・The Flowing Beauty of Kana Calligraphy
Born in the Heian period over 1,000 years ago, Kana calligraphy is a unique Japanese writing style that gracefully weaves waka and haiku on paper. Unlike the powerful brushstrokes of Kanji, Kana expresses the world of poetry through supple curves. Under the guidance of an award-winning calligrapher, participants learn the basics, practice chosen poems, and finish a final work. The completed piece is mounted as a kakejiku (hanging scroll) and delivered to the participant's home.

・The Sound of the Biwa Born from a Single Piece of Wood
The biwa is a traditional stringed instrument essential to Japanese classical arts and storytelling. In a workshop run by a fifth-generation biwa maker, participants observe the meticulous process of carving the body from a single piece of wood and assembling the parts. After learning about the history and types of biwa, they listen to a performance by the master.

・Edo Design Carved into Glass
This Edo Kiriko workshop has a history spanning over 100 years, established in 1923. In this studio where multiple artisans, from masters with over 50 years of experience to young apprentices, work, participants choose their preferred colored glass. After getting a feel for the engraving on clear glass, they carve patterns into their chosen colored glass to take home a one-of-a-kind Kiriko glass.

・Artistry Dwellings in Bamboo: Edo Wao (Japanese Fishing Rods)
Edo Wao are traditional fishing rods handcrafted from bamboo. Participants visit a workshop run by a fourth-generation rod maker to observe the production process from bamboo selection to finishing. In the showroom, they can appreciate legendary rods and handmade tools, experiencing the techniques and culture passed down since the Edo period.

・Gold Kintsugi Adorned with Maki-e Techniques
Kintsugi is a unique Japanese technique for repairing broken ceramics with lacquer and gold powder, originating from the Jomon period and flourishing with the tea ceremony in the Muromachi period. In a workshop run by a third-generation maki-e artist in Tokyo, participants learn an approach that fuses Kintsugi with maki-e (lacquer decoration) and raden (mother-of-pearl inlay) to finish their own unique ceramic pieces.

・The Site of Fire and Iron: A Knife-Making Workshop
In a residential area of Tokyo lies a smithy that handles the entire process from fire-forging to quenching and blade sharpening in-house. Using quenching with pine charcoal—the same as for Japanese swords—the skilled master crafts knives, gardening tools, and delicate blades. Participants observe the site where craftsmanship pursues sharpness and durability that mass production cannot achieve.

・Learning Sake Pairing at an Izakaya
This program takes place at an izakaya in Tokyo to experience the art of pairing sake with cuisine. Participants learn the types and characteristics of sake from a professional and taste several labels, including those rarely found in Tokyo, alongside seasonal dishes.

・The Origin of "Japan Blue": Indigo Dyeing
Indigo dyeing is a technique rooted in Japanese life since ancient times. Its deep, beautiful blue was once called "Japan Blue" by foreigners. Participants visit an indigo workshop in the suburbs of Tokyo, learn about the history and mechanics of dyeing, and design their own patterns before immersing their fabric in the indigo vat.