Celebrating all things handmade, this year's Monozukuri/Takumi no Waza Expo is your one-stop destination for Japanese manufacturing technology and traditional crafts. It's a great opportunity to meet artisans from all around Japan as they showcase their best craftsmanship through demonstrations and experiences under a variety of categories including clothing, food and living.
From live performances to hands-on activities, there's plenty to pique your interest during this three-day expo. To give you an idea of what's on, showcases include live painting, Japanese music and ice sculptures being carved right in front of you. You'll need to check the schedule for showtimes on the main stage, but there's a lot of stuff to keep you occupied while you wait for the shows to begin.
Other than the main stage events, there are a number of booths littered around the hall where you can try your hand at various crafts and activities. For those interested in fashion and dressmaking, take the chance to learn how to properly wrap and wear a kimono, make a bag out of a traditional Japanese scarf or sew your own leather pass holder.
For all you foodies, there are a few select booths offering up cooking classes where you can learn how to roll a tamagoyaki omelette like a pro or even carve fruits and vegetables into stunning works of art.
Some of the larger exhibits include demonstrations of traditional Japanese architecture where you can watch craftsmen construct an entire structure along with plastering a wall. There's also a beautiful tea room constructed in the exhibition room where various activities from tea ceremonies to a kado (Japanese flower arrangement) performance will take place.
Last but least, let's not forget about the little ones! The expo offers a range of fun, child-friendly activities like daruma doll painting, creating mosaics from colourful tiles and traditional whistle-making. With so many activities and demonstrations, make sure to give yourself enough time to make it through the entire exhibition. We guarantee it won't disappoint.
See full details for the Monozukuri/Takumi no Waza Expo 2017 here. It's on until 4pm on Friday, so best hurry up!