Nagasaki | Sasebo Spinning Top Workshop
Nagasaki | Sasebo Spinning Top Workshop
[Private Experience]
$280 USD per person
Minimum 2 participants; solo guests may book at the price of 2 participants.
Please make a booking at least 2 weeks in advance.
Topsy Turvy: The Traditional Toy Craft Championed by Emperors
Details
Private experience
Location: Sasebo, Nagasaki
2 hours
10 people max. Minimum of 2 participants required.
Offered in Japanese, with friendly Deeper Japan guide interpreting in English
(French/German/Spanish interpretation may be available upon request)
You Spin Me Right Round
Favored by the most discerning of collectors, tourists, and children alike, the Sasebo City spinning top is one of the region’s most iconic traditions. With roots all the way back to the 8th century, the spinning top was a mainstay of the Japanese imperial courts, being employed in entertaining battles to see which toy would remain standing. By the Edo Period, these craft toys had grown so popular and had created such a strong market for gambling that the Shogunate issued several bans. The Sasebo top was developed amidst this controversy, winning back the hearts of the people with its magnificent colors and unique leek-like shape, referred to as “Rakkyo-gata.” Hidden deep within its brilliant colors lies inspiration from the Chinese philosophy of Five Agents: fire, water, wood, metal, and earth. Corresponding to blue, red, yellow, white, and black, the colors of the Sasebo top blend into a beautiful display signifying natural harmony, as you spin them around and around and around. A must-see in the prefecture, the Sasebo Koma Factory visit is a unique opportunity to learn the techniques needed to spin life into these special crafts.
What you’ll do
Guided by the master craftspeople, try your hand at painting a unique top. After, learn the special skills needed to spin them. You will receive your finished top in the mail.
Who can attend
Children must be 7+
Availability
Available everyday except Sunday
Session 1 (13:00 - 15:00)
Session 2 (15:00 - 17:00)
Access
5 minutes by car or 10 minutes walk from Sasebo Station
Cancellation Policy
Please make your booking at least 3 days in advance. See cancellation policy here.
* A detailed itinerary will be emailed to you once your booking has been confirmed.
