Welcome to Hokuto, Yamanashi, Japan!

Hokuto is located about 2 hours (drive/train) west of Tokyo, between Yatsugatake Quasi-National Park, Minami Alps National Park, and Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park, and it’s about 1 hr drive to Mt.Fuji. Our city is about half the land size of the city of LA but with a population of only 45,000 people, mostly forests and farmlands. The natural beauty of Hokuto attracts creative types of people. Although Yamanashi is not known as a ceramic producing prefecture, there are quite a lot of ceramists, as well as other craftsmen, and artists living and working here. We are delighted to introduce you to the Japanese countryside life

Konnichiwa! 

We are Kozy and Dan, your workshop guides! Let us introduce you to key members of Kandori kiln!

Kozy Kitchens (@kozyceramics)

Its me!  I am a ceramist/illustrator based in Yamanashi, Japan. I was born and raised here in Yamanashi and moved to California to attend university when I was 18. There I met my husband, Dan, and we formed the art duo kozyndan. We moved back to Yamanashi, Japan in 2020 to start a homestead/ artist retreat at our 140 year old farm house in the countryside. I began firing in wood fired kilns in 2018. Most of my ceramic creatures, Bunny Primitives, are fired using this traditional process. I am influenced by the ancient Jomon pottery that is found in this area of Japan.

Dan Kitchens (@dan.kitchens/@kozyndan) Dan is my husband and half of kozyndan. An artist, illustrator, and photographer, he is here for good times, stiff drinks and hard labor! 

He manually chopped firewood for this workshop! 

Kandori Kiln 

Kandori Kiln was built by Izumi-san and 2 other ceramicists about 30 years ago. Mitomi-san joined later on. The original members are very kind to accommodate me and artists from Gasbon, and teach us how to maintain and fire these kilns. Izumi-san and Mitomi-san are very humble masters, they are always down to learn from others and have fun. They built everything from reclaimed wood and materials, Kandori kiln looks very ramshackle but charming. I am always surprised by the unexpected results of my sculptures coming out of wood-fired kilns. The process is a collaboration with earth, water, air, and fire and it’s so magical. We have large anagama that we usually fire in spring, small anagama that we fire twice in the fall, ittekoi, and raku kilns.

Ittekoi and Raku

The tiny brick kilns (photos below) is called an ittekoi (12+ hours). You have the opportunity to fire in this little cutie. Please bring cone 10 Bisque. The kiln is about 40 x 40 x 40 cm (15 x 15 x 15 in), the kiln shelves are 30 x 40 cm (11 x 15 in) There is also a small raku kiln next to the ittekoi (video below), so we can simultaneously fire both kilns on day 3. You may bring cone 10 clay tea cups that would fit on both of your palms for raku.

Accomodations

Kozy and Dan’s 140 year old farm house. We can host up to 3 people at our house. It’s about 20 minute walk to the super market, Lawson’s, drug stores, and the express bus stop. They will have 2 Japanese style rooms and their own toilet (modern toto washlet). We share the bath and kitchen. Our house is 15 minutes walking distance to Gasbon and Mangosteen. They will have access to Kozy most of the time, She can translate, and share Japanese culture. Dan or Kozy can drive them to the supermarket, etc. Recommended for participants who want to immerse themselves in the Japanese countryside village lifestyle (it’s like homestay). We have 2 very friendly cats! We do not have western style beds (mattresses in bed frames), so they will be sleeping in traditional Japanese style, on double futons mats on the floor. The beams and doorways are lower because it’s a very old house, so please be careful not to hit your head if you are tall!

Kandori Guest House, Our dear friend and neighbor Miki runs a guest house 3 doors down from us. It is a proper working homestead - she has 3 cute traditional Japanese style rooms where you will sleep on futon and have a shared kitchens and bath. She herself lives there with her two cats and speaks some English so you can interact with her (she is such a fun character!), as well as see her going about her tasks of farming, preserving food, basket weaving, making clothes, and more!

Your fees

$1100 total

Included in workshop fees

• Accommodation: 9-13 nights at Kozy and Dan’s house and Kandori Guest House. If you are booking your own lodging, the total workshop fee would decrease.

• Most of ground transportation during the workshop dates

• 4 group meals (mostly lunch)

• Entrance for all included group activities (Ex. Jomon Museum, Onsen, Gasbon Studio rental etc) 

•Translation services (Japanese-English)

• English guidance during loading of the kiln, wood-firing, and unloading

Not included in tour fees

• Airfares to and from Japan

• Airport transfers to and from start and end meeting points

• Travel insurance

• Meals other than those specified above

• Lodging incidentals including alcohol, laundry, additional meals, etc. 

• Any additional cab and driver needs requested 

• Any additional workshop requested by the group. Here are optional workshops.

Cancellation policy

1. Workshop cancellation and refunds: In the event that the workshop is canceled due to low enrollment or other reasons beyond our control (natural disasters, terrorist attacks, etc), all workshop payments made previously by you will be refunded back to you with a 10% refund.

2. Personal cancellation and refunds: All workshop payments made previously by you will be refunded back to you with a 10% refund if you cancel by 8 days before your arrival. If you cancel because of personal reasons, we cannot refund $1100 before one week of your arrival as our work starts one week before you come. Please plan your schedule accordingly. However, if you really have to cancel, you are welcome to transfer your spot to a friend or to a future workshop.

There is no refund for arriving late or leaving the trip early.

All rates in US dollars

Itinerary

Day 1

Arrive in Hokuto, Yamanashi, check into Kozy and Dan’s house, or Kandori Guest House. Hokuto is about 2-3 hours away from Haneda, 3-4 hours from Narita airport. So If they are coming straight from the airport, they would arrive at night time around 8pm. If you are coming from other destinations in Japan, please try to arrive by 3pm. We will help to figure out the transportation for each member.  We can go to the supermarket, cook dinner together or go out. We will have an orientation meeting during dinner.

Day 2

We will bring bisque work to the kiln, glaze, and start loading the kiln. Finish loading by 3pm. We can have additional workshops like bamboo basket weaving (please book workshops at least 2 weeks in advance)

Day 3

Kiln firing day, 12-14 hour firing. We will start firing at 5am and finish around 7-9pm. If we have slow start, we will end later.

Day 4

Kiln cooking day. Free day. They can go hiking, onsen, winery, additional workshops, or explore the area,

Day 5

Kiln unloading. Packing. Departure.