Tokyo Traditional Crafts Fair

By The Savvy Team |
January 14, 2015 |
Art & Culture

Starting next week, the Takashimaya Shinjuku store will be hosting the 58th Tokyo Traditional Crafts Fair, where visitors will be able to shop gorgeous, handmade items for their homes, watch demonstrations, and even try their own hand at some of the crafts.

Organized by a branch of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, the Tokyo Traditional Crafts fair aims to raise awareness and support of local traditional crafts, many of which are dying out or becoming rarer as Japan’s population ages and young people are attracted to corporate jobs in the city center. There are a total of 40 crafts designated as traditional crafts of Tokyo, ranging from woodwork and musical instruments to jewelry and lacquerware.

Held in the 11th floor event space at the Takashimaya Shinjuku department store, the fair is free of charge and open to the public. English-speaking staff will be available throughout the exhibition to answer questions or help interpret conversations between exhibitors and visitors.

In addition to exhibitions and sales of handcrafted items, there will be demonstrations of the time-honored techniques used to create these various traditional arts. Those interested in a more hands-on experience can even join one of the handicraft classes and try the techniques for themselves. But the exhibition only lasts for a few days, so whether you’re looking to add a special conversation piece to your home or simply to broaden your knowledge of Tokyo’s craft history, be sure to head over to Shinjuku to check out the fair before it ends.