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TOYAMA Workshop

01:【Workshop】Carving of a 'Gojibutsu' ( personal Buddha statue ) - Etchu, Kamiichi-cho Town, Toyama prefecture

01:【Workshop】Carving of a 'Gojibutsu' ( personal Buddha statue ) - Etchu, Kamiichi-cho Town, Toyama prefecture

Travel Period
Room allocation
capacity: 6
¥298,000 JPY
¥298,000 JPY
Sale Sold out
Per person and Tax included.

Conditions

Travel Days
5 Days and 4 Nights
Meeting point
Kamiichi station (Toyama Chihō Railway)Google Map
Meeting time
13:00
Conductor
Tour guide accompany
Transportation
Private car
Min-participants
1 people
Capacity
2 people
Hotel
Dangoya-ryokan（Traditional Japanese inn）
Single room ex-charge
¥0
Meals
4 / 0 / 4(breakfast / lunch / dinner)
What the tour includes and excludes
  • Included: Instruction fee for workshop, material costs, 4 nights accommodation with 4 breakfasts, 4 dinners , and VAT.
  • Not included: Lunch is not included. *Nice local restaurants introduced by the guide.
Notes
  • other1
  • ohter2

Tour Point

  • Workshop to carve your own Guradian Buddha statue
  • Stay in a beautiful traditional local inn (Japanese-style ryokan).
  • An English-speaking guide will accompany you througout the trip.

Program Overview

The town of Kamiichi in Etchu (Toyama Prefecture) is known as a place with a historical connection to the pilgrimage route of Tateyama Shugendo to the back of the mountains.

 In this town, the "Sumiyoshi Taiun Carving Studio", a workshop belonging to a distinguished family lineage dating back to the cultual flowerish 'Genroku era             (1680〜1709,Tokugawa period).                                                           

 In this course, participants learn the art of carving from Mr.Taiun Sumiyoshi who is a master of Buddha sculptor, and carve your own Gojibutsu( a personal Buddha statue) by yourself. The participants will also learn to put their own souls into the finished the Buddha statue for your own fortune.

The Buddha statue is made of Kusunoki ( camphorwood). The size of the 'Gojibutsu' will be approximately between 15 cm and 20 cm. Participants will be expected to complete carving the statue for 3 days under the guidance  of Mr. Sumiyoshi.

Schedule

Date Schedule
Day 1

Oiwa, Kamiichi Town (Toyama prefecture)

◇Meet at Kamiichi Station of Toyama Chiho Railway at 13:00.
◇Joined by Mr Sawai of the Kamiichi Tourist Association, will take you to “Taiun Wood Carving Studio”.
◇Briefing on the contents of the workshop from the Day 2 to Day 4 by the master Taiun (Interpreted by English-speaking guides).
◇After the briefing, move to Dango-ya Ryokan (Japanese style inn) in Oiwa.

Accommodation: Dango-ya Ryokan (Japanese style inn) in Oiwa.
Day 2

Oiwa, Kamiichi Town (Toyama prefecture)

◇Meet at “Taiun Wood Carving Studio” at 9:00 a.m.
◇All day: Receiving a brief guidance from Mr. Taiun Sumiyoshi. Participants will learn how to carve a Buddha statue by themselves, and also to put their own soul into the finished statue.

Accommodation: Dango-ya Ryokan (Japanese style inn) in Oiwa.
Day 3

Oiwa, Kamiichi Town (Toyama prefecture)

2nd day at workshop.
Throughout the day, the workshop continues to carve the Buddha.

Accommodation: Dango-ya Ryokan (Japanese style inn) in Oiwa.
Day 4

Oiwa, Kamiichi Town (Toyama prefecture)

◇Last day at workshop. Participants will finish the whole process of carving.
In the afternoon, each participant will receive a critique of the Buddha statue they have carved by Mr. Sumiyoshi.

Accommodation: Dango-ya Ryokan (Japanese style inn) in Oiwa.
Day 5

Oiwa, Kamiichi Town (Toyama prefecture)
◇After breakfast, transfer to Kamiichi Station.
Participants will be disbanded around 13:00.

Instructor and Guide

Instructor Taiun Sumiyoshi

Born in Toyama Prefecture in 1976.
His family has been succeding generation by generation as master sculptors, including the famous "Hasegawa Kijuro X", known as Etchu's Jingoro who is the master craftsman at Tokugawa piriod(1603-1868). The current head, Mr Taiwun Sumiyoshi is the 13th generation heir to the title of "Hasegawa Kijuro", a master Buddhist sculptor.
After graduating from high school, he studied general art at the Kobatake studio, and then studied under the 16th generation of Banshoya, Tamura Yohachiro. He learned Inami carving and trained at the Toyama Prefectural Skill Training School. After five years of training, he now has a studio called "Wood Carving Studio Taiun" in front of Nissekiji Temple. In addition to creating Buddhist statues, he also creates works for public exhibitions and exhibits in group exhibitions.
Taiun Sumiyoshi image

GuidePLUMB BRADLEY JOHN

John Bradley (Interpreter, Guide)
Born in the United States.
Came to Japan in 2003 and lived in Japan until 2008.
After returning to the U.S., he worked as a Japanese-English translator for a Japanese company in New York before returning to Japan in 2017.
He currently lives in Toyama City.
files/ozu-busshi.jpg image

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Notice

Cancellation fees

If the tour does not reach the minimum number of participants, or if public transportation is canceled due to natural disasters such as typhoons, floods, or earthquakes, the tour will be canceled and the full tour fee will be refunded. In the event of cancellation due to other reasons, a cancellation fee will be charged as follows：

Classification

Cancellation Fee
In cases where the Contract is canceled on or after the 20th day (the 10th day in the case of a day trip) from the day immediately preceding the starting day of the Tour 20% of the Tour Price
In cases where the Contract is canceled on or after the 7th day from the day immediately preceding the starting day of the Tour. 30% of the Tour Price
In cases where the Contract is canceled on the day immediately before the starting day of the Tour.  40% of the Tour Price
In cases where the Contract is canceled on the starting day of the Tour 50% of the Tour Price
In cases where the Contract is canceled after the start of the Tour or the traveler does not participate in the Tour without notice (no show).  100% of the Tour Price


For more detailed terms and conditions, please see the full Tour Terms and Conditions.