Hakone Crafthouse

Hakone Crafthouse is a place to experience traditional Japanese crafts making through creation workshops, at the end of which visitors get to go home with a beautiful hand-made souvenir.

Its buildings are located in the lower side of Gora Park, near its main entrance. Paying the park’s admission fee (but free for Hakone Free Pass holders) is therefore necessary to access this interesting workshop and boutique.

While a typical excursion day in Hakone often consists of hoping from one mean of transport to another, the Crafthouse offers a green natural environment suitable for taking a creative break of a couple hours. It is also the ideal place to visit on a rainy ☔️ day or for families traveling with kids.

Creative workshops in Hakone

Several activities are readily accessible to visitors, without advance booking:

• Glass blowing;
• Pottery;
• Sandblasting experience to create patterns on glass;
• Edo Kiriko traditional glass making;
• Laser engraving;
• Ceramic painting;
• Tonbo-dama (lampwork bead) making;
• Glass bead jewelry making.

The various traditional craftsmanship of Japan are introduced by welcoming and kind staff members. Even non-Japanese speakers will find the experience enjoyable and rewarding.

International tourists who are not staying in Hakone should try a workshop where they can create an object they can take away immediately afterwards. Some of the activities indeed involve making objects that need time for drying or firing, and that are usually shipped later to their owners.

Therefore, we recommend choosing a jewelry workshop, like glass bead making. This craft was imported during the Edo period (1603 - 1868) through trade with Spain and Portugal. The Japanese glass bead making uses a process where the glass is melted and shaped directly over the fire 🔥, creating beautiful and original patterns.

Traditional Japanese crafts souvenir shop

Those who can’t attend a workshop are still advised to visit Hakone Crafthouse for its souvenir shop called Komamonoya, located at the upper floor of the main building.

They’ll find a beautiful selection of high quality Japanese items, made by craftsmen of the Hakone area, such as ornaments or useful objects made of wood marquetry (Hakone-yosegi-zaiku), of glass and of ceramic. Note however that the 100% made in Japan artisanal authenticity has a cost and that shopping here might be more expensive than in a more conventional souvenir shops.