Intermediate Course

Building a Japanese Timber Frame

A group of people inside a woodworking shop with wooden furniture, tools, and equipment, and large windows showing an outdoor landscape.
A man with dark, wavy hair, wearing a white long-sleeve shirt and jeans, is working in a woodworking shop. He is holding a hand tool and appears to be focused on his project. The background shows various tools and equipment stored on shelves and workbenches.
A black and white photo of a corner of a room with a small cabinet, open drawer, and a bathrobe hanging on the wall.
A man with tattoos working on a woodworking project, using a saw on a piece of wood clamped to a workbench in a workshop.
Wooden framework under construction in a woodworking shop, surrounded by tools and materials.
A close-up black and white photograph of a corner of a wooden furniture piece, showing a shelf or drawer with a small, raised wooden divider or support.

The intermediate course begins your journey of building a traditional Japanese timber frame. From designing, to cutting, to scribing, the class will culminate in a finished model structure.

This is a team project where you will work together with your classmates to build a down-scaled timberframe structure with posts scribed to stone. Each student will have the opportunity to cut all of the various joints most needed in an Ishibatate, from joists, to beams, to the roof structure.

To get the most from the class, completion of the Foundation course is highly recommended, especially considering this is a team project.

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Class details:

Course Outline:

  • Completion of foundation course is highly recommended

  • Lectures on building design, layout and traditional proportions

  • Learn how to choose the right joinery when designing a timber frame

  • Learn how to acquire, select and orient material

  • Laying out using traditional center-line methods with ink and sashigane

  • Scribing round and irregular material to achieve a tight fit

  • Hand tool practice through the cutting of complex joinery (using saws and chisels)

  • Complete a 1/3 scale model of a traditional frame, collaboratively

  • Experience a tea ceremony room built by Somakosha

Class Schedule:

  • Class size: 8 students

  • Lessons: Monday to Saturday, 9am to 5pm, Sundays off

  • Our workshop space can be used daily for self-practice from 9am till late

  • Teachers available until 5pm

  • Course will be conducted in English

Additional Info:

  • 2026: Accommodation, Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner is provided.

  • You will need to prepare the following tools to attend the class. We can help you purchase on your behalf if you do not have them:

    1. Ryoba Saw 240mm

    2. Bench Chisels 3mm, 6mm, 9mm, 15mm (Oire Nomi)

    3. 150 momme Hammer with separate handle (Genno) (you will make your own handle in class)

    4. Square 15cm x 30cm, 25cm x 50cm (metric) (Sashigane)

    5. Sharpening Stones

    6. Dozuki Crosscut Saw

    7. Ink Line Marking Gauge (Kebiki)

School Fees:

  • ¥680,000 (Includes accommodation, breakfast, lunch and dinner. Does not include required tools.)

  • Spots are only confirmed upon full payment and on a first come first serve basis.

  • Upon confirmation, we will send you an email with more information so that you can plan your trip.

  • Cancellation Policy:

    1. More than 90 days before start date:

      1. Cancel: 100% refund.

      2. Changing of course/course date allowed.

    2. Less than 90 days before start date:

      1. Cancel: 50% refund.

      2. No changing of course/course date.

    3. Less than 45 days before start date:

      1. No refund.

      2. No changing of course/course date.

    4. Any transfer fees for refunds will be deducted from the total refund amount.

    5. Refunds will be issued in Yen.

    6. Travel insurance is mandatory

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