Introducing cup. ceramic painting studio

Hello, travelers! This is Sashimi, a writer for [Sarukuma], dreaming of the day calories burn themselves off ( ・∇・)

Today I’m excited to introduce a brand-new spot that opened in October 2025 in Rendaiji, Nishi-ku, Kumamoto City:
【cup. ceramic painting studio】

Ta-da! What a stylish exterior!
The studio is just a 10-minute drive from Kumamoto Station, or about 6 minutes by car from the Aqua Dome — easy to add to any Kumamoto sightseeing day.
There are 7 parking spaces, but since the lot is shared with neighboring shops, the staff kindly ask visitors to carpool when possible.

The interior is just as chic!
At first glance it looks like an ordinary café — until you spot the paint pots in the middle of the room.

cup. is a ceramic painting studio café where you can decorate your own pottery while sipping a coffee or tea — a unique concept that’s still rare even by Japanese standards.
If you’d rather just relax, you’re also welcome to visit as a café-only customer.
The painting experience costs 2,500 yen per person (this covers all the tools and the kiln firing fee), plus the price of whichever ceramic piece you choose.
You can paint as many items as you like!

Café-only guests are asked to order at least one item from the menu (one-order rule).

Here’s the drink menu.

There are light bites too!
They look delicious, and the staff told me the menu will keep expanding in the future.

The first step of the painting experience is choosing your ceramic piece.
There are so many to pick from that it can be hard to decide! Please don’t touch the pieces directly — just hand the small label next to your chosen item to a staff member.
If you’re visiting with kids, keep an eye on them around the displays!Options include traditional Japanese tea cups (yunomi) for 1,000 yen and free-style cups for 2,000 yen,
as well as mugs from 2,000 to 2,500 yen, with prices depending on size.

Small plates are 1,000 yen, medium plates are 1,500 yen. Plates offer plenty of flat surface, making them especially easy to paint on.

Rice bowls (chawan) range from 800 to 1,200 yen.
These are especially popular with children ♪
Apparently many parents come in to make their child’s very first ceramic rice bowl — what a lovely keepsake.

The bird-shaped plate is 1,200 yen — adorable! ^ ^ A great pick if you’re not confident with freehand drawing.

They also have soy sauce dispensers and Japanese-style soup spoons (renge).

These little bird-shaped chopstick rests are 600 yen — so cute!

The paints are arranged on a station in the middle of the room.

These are the standard paints you squeeze onto a palette.
There are color samples, so it’s easy to see exactly how each shade will look once fired.
Such vibrant colors!
These are special paints for drawing fine lines — perfect for lettering and detail work. I’d never seen anything like them!
There are even crayon-style paints you can draw with directly!
You can also dab on color with sponges, or use stickers for clean shapes and patterns.

Here’s a sample piece made by the staff. So skillful — I’d love to take this one home, ha!

Why You’ll Love cup. ceramic painting studio

Now, let’s get started! I went with a mug.
The round disc beneath the piece is a turntable — it spins, which is fun in itself, ha!
If you choose a plate, the turntable can really help you paint smoothly. Since I had a mug, I just held it in my hand while drawing.
Fun fact: I once had a part-time job loading pottery into a kiln, so this brought back happy memories as I started painting…

First I tried out the pen-style paint. So much fun!

Oh wait — the proper first step is to sketch your design in pencil!
No worries, the pencil marks burn off completely when the piece is fired in the kiln.
My tip: think a little about your design before you arrive. I assumed writing some English letters would automatically look stylish… but…

Hmm… not quite what I pictured, ha!
A tempura-style shrimp /
Looking just a little / like
A neighborhood tough guy /
(a haiku from Sashimi’s heart)
Sashimi #2’s piece featured Chibi Maruko-chan, a beloved Japanese cartoon character. So cute!
Is this the kiln they’ll be fired in? Fingers crossed my mug somehow comes out 1.5 times cuter after baking…
Finished pieces are ready to collect after about one month. Such anticipation!
You can either come back to pick it up in person or have it shipped to your address.

It had been ages since I’d tried ceramic painting, and I was reminded how meaningful these handmade pieces are — perfect gifts for birthdays, Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, Respect for the Aged Day, or any special occasion. They also make wonderful, one-of-a-kind souvenirs from your trip to Kumamoto.
The staff are very friendly and walk you through everything, so first-timers (including international visitors) can feel right at home.

On weekends and during long holiday periods, the studio sometimes sets time limits to accommodate the crowds.
Reservations aren’t required, but those with reservations are given priority — so booking ahead is highly recommended, especially if you’re traveling on a tight schedule.

Be sure to add this charming little studio to your Kumamoto itinerary and enjoy painting your very own piece of pottery! (^ ^)

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