Just as ceramics made in China are called, “chinaware,” lacqureware pieces made in Japan are often called “japan.” This is a testament to the fact that lacquerware plays a significant role in arts and crafts in Japan. Dating back to more than 600 years ago, Japanese lacquerware is famed for its coating techniques combined with ornaments on the surface using gold dust and seashells, which strongly characterize each artist.

Wajima lacquerware, which Ishikawa Prefecture boasts about, is of the highest grade in Japan, renowned for more than 100 layers of urushi lacquerware coated on the surface and meticulous polishing repeated numerous times. Producing a lacquerware piece is a painstaking process; it takes between 6 months to a year.

A lacquerware piece going through about 100 steps of its production process is not only beautiful but also practical for daily use. Even if you pour hot soup into a Wajima lacquerware bowl, you can easily hold the bowl as the wood and the lacquer coated on the surface help moderate the heat, unlike plastic ones. The Real Japan can arrange for you to gain exclusive access to some workshops and galleries of distinguished craftsmen for you to observe live how they produce a masterpiece.

Tea was introduced into Japan in around 800 from China. Today tea plays a significant role in everyday life for pure relaxation. In a formal style of tea ceremony that has gradually developed since the introduction of tea, various etiquettes and rituals are taught in going through each stage of the ceremony. It has had a close connection with Zen Buddhism in its developing process, reflecting the spirit of Zen in various aspects.

You will experience each stage of a tea ceremony until you reach the final stage of savoring a delicious cup of Japanese green tea in either a Japanese room or a special tea ceremony room. When entering the room, you will be warmly greeted by your host and be invited to eat a delicious Japanese sweet. While you are savoring it, the host will carefully and skillfully prepare a cup of tea by grinding tea leaves using a primitive stone mill. Then she will dilute the powder by hot water to make it drinkable.

Tea ceremony clearly embodies hospitality of each host and is reflected in their room; a hanging scroll on the wall, flowers arranged beautifully in a vase, tools for tea-making. We recommend you spending the most relaxing time in a peaceful room filled with an ambiance of Japan and explore the spirit behind the ceremony.

The art of flower arranging, Ikebana is said to have originated from early Buddhist flower offerings. Also known as kado, or the “way of flowers,” Ikebana is intertwined with manners and etiquettes, and has over time established itself as a unique Japanese art. Nowadays Ikebana has been divided into many schools with each one differing in their ways of presenting flowers. What differentiates Ikebana from Western flower arrangement is that Ikebana considers how the arrangement looks from only one direction.

Although not much emphasis was placed on vases and low shallow containers in arranging flowers in its early stage, their role has grown very important over time, resulting in a close relationship with pottery. As presenting flowers strongly reflects Japanese cultural aesthetics, it would be interesting to compare it with Western aesthetics.