Mug-Making Workshop Using Tanzu Wood: KYO-KUKSA

This is a hands-on crafting experience where you can create your own wooden mug, “KYO-KUKSA,” using “Tanzu timber” grown in Fukuchiyama.

“Tanshu timber” is the affectionate name for cedar and cypress trees grown in the Yura River basin in the Nakatan region of northern Kyoto Prefecture; this wood has long been regarded as a high-quality material.

KYO-KUKSA is a version of the traditional wooden mug known as “kukusa,” passed down by the Sámi indigenous people of Finland, crafted from Tanshu timber. There is a legend that says “the person who receives a kukusa will find happiness.”

In this workshop, participants will use a semi-finished KYO-KUKSA—pre-cut to about 80 percent of its final shape—and shape it themselves by sanding it down. By sanding it down little by little with their own hands, participants can feel the texture, scent, and warmth of the wood as they craft their very own mug.

This experience goes beyond simply making a wooden product; it allows you to learn about Tanshu wood and the forest, interact with the wood, and gain a firsthand appreciation for nature’s bounty and the importance of cherishing the things around us.

You can take your completed KYO-KUKSA home with you on the same day, making it a wonderful memento of your trip or a unique souvenir.