Hakone Craft House

Overview

The Hakone Craft House, located within Gora Park, offers hands-on workshops where visitors can create their own traditional and modern crafts. It is one of Hakone's most interactive cultural experiences.

Highlights

• Yosegi-zaiku: Try the intricate Hakone marquetry technique, arranging thin strips of different-colored natural woods into geometric patterns — a craft unique to this region.
• Blown Glass: Create your own glass cup or ornament with guidance from professional glass artists.
• Ceramics: Hand-paint or shape pottery on a wheel, with finished pieces fired and shipped to your address.

History

The craft house was established within Gora Park to give visitors a deeper connection with Hakone's artisan heritage. Yosegi-zaiku marquetry, in particular, has been produced in the Hakone region since the late Edo period, taking advantage of the diverse wood species in the surrounding forests.

Visitor Tips

• Reservation: Some workshops (especially glass-blowing) require advance booking, particularly on weekends.
• Time: Allow 60–90 minutes for a single workshop; the glass and ceramics experiences take the most time.
• Duration: 1–1.5 hours.