Uncovering Woodland Kyoto: Traditional Cultural Activities for Adventurous Travelers

One of the most captivating ways to experience the scenic beauty of Kyoto is by taking a boat ride down the Hozu-gawa River. This 16-kilometer stretch of river was historically significant as a transportation route bringing lumber to Kyoto when it was the capital of Japan. Today, it offers visitors a thrilling two-hour boat ride through breathtaking natural landscapes. Skilled boatsmen expertly navigate the river, taking riders on an exciting ride through pools and rapids, where you’ll be surrounded by the rock formations and gorgeous seasonal scenery of the Hozukyo Gorge. This ride leaves visitors in the very popular Arashiyama area.

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Arashiyama may be home to Kyoto’s most well-known bamboo groves, but did you know that there’s another bamboo grove that isn’t widely known to tourists in Nagaokakyo, just west of Kyoto City center? Bamboo is important to this area of Kyoto, which you can see in its beautiful bamboo park. To learn more about this heritage, and learn from the company that maintains this park, head to Kameoka City, northwest of Kyoto City: The Nagaoka Meichiku Kameoka Workshop, which hosts this event, has been producing traditional bamboo fences for 60 years. While you won’t learn how to make an entire fence, in this workshop participants can create their own delicately woven bamboo basket, and learn a bit about the versatility and beauty of bamboo.

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At Kyo Sudare Kawasaki’s workshop in Kameoka City, you can craft your own hand-woven bamboo lunch mat under the guidance of a skilled sudare craftsman. Sudare (bamboo screens) have been used in Japan since ancient times, and while the number of workshops still making these screens is dwindling, this workshop just outside of Kyoto City carries on the tradition with care. In this two and a half hour experience, you’ll choose from various types of bamboo and colorful threads to make two unique lunch mats. You can make a large-sized mat (40cm x 30cm)* and create a personalized piece to take home as a functional souvenir of your trip to Kyoto.
*Activity price varies based upon the size of the mat you make.

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For those seeking a more tranquil experience, the zen meditation offered at Shinpuku-ji Temple is a must. Located at the end of a road winding through idyllic rice fields, this small zen temple offers a private and serene environment for meditation. Participants can converse with a Buddhist monk, stretch to prepare their bodies, and then engage in seated zen meditation. Whether this is your first time with meditation or not, this is a good chance to authentically connect with some of Japan’s ancient spiritual practices.

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Kintsugi, the art of repairing pottery with lacquer and powdered gold or silver, is an ancient Japanese technique that transforms broken items into beautiful works of art. At urujyu’s Miyama Atelier, participants can learn this delicate craft using kiurushi, a minimally-processed type of lacquer sap. The one-day experience or short-term programs offer a peaceful and creative way to spend your time in a traditional Japanese house.

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Raku-ware is the name for the type of Japanese pottery traditionally used in tea ceremony, including tea bowls (chawan), like the one pictured above. At Shoraku Kiln in Kameoka, Kyoto, you can get hands-on and create a raku-ware tea bowl yourself. Participants shape the clay by hand, dry it, and then cut it to the desired shape and weight under expert guidance, resulting in a unique, handmade piece of pottery that connects to a centuries-old tradition. This intimate experience is limited to one group per day.

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Step into the world of the samurai with the Masahiro Sword Smithing Experience. This activity offers a rare opportunity to learn about Japanese swords (katana) from a skilled swordsmith. Participants can use tamahagane, the same steel used to craft authentic katana, to forge a small, hilt-less blade known as a tousugata kogatana. This is an extraordinarily unique opportunity to learn from a master, stretching the steel and shaping a blade with your own hands. It’s an incredible way to learn more about the art and culture of Japanese sword making.

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To see even more activities and destinations in Kyotos’ woodland region, see Idyllic Scenery and Traditional Crafts: 10 Destinations in Kyoto’s Mountainside for a town-by-town breakdown of the region unique places, traditional crafts, and how you can learn about them, hands on.