Opening
When people think of Hayama, the sea and its beautiful natural surroundings probably come to mind first.
But did you know that Hayama is also home to a workshop where you can learn authentic woodworking from a furniture craftsman with more than 40 years of experience?
This time, I’m introducing the woodworking school at Hayama Woodworks Studio.
In our previous article, we followed a complete beginner as she took on the challenge of building custom furniture for car camping with her dog.
This time, I interviewed her about why she decided to begin woodworking and what the experience was really like.
Because she started with no DIY experience at all, her honest words offer plenty of encouragement for other beginners.
“I’m interested in DIY, but it looks too difficult for me.” If you have ever felt that way, this is a story I hope you will read.
Charm 1: If You Can’t Find What You Need, You Can Make It Yourself
The student I interviewed decided to begin woodworking because she wanted to go car camping with her beloved dog, Luke.
She had been searching for a suitable dog crate, but soon realized that installing a ready-made one in her vehicle would leave too little space for her to sleep.
“Then I’ll just make one myself.”
She made that decision despite having absolutely no previous woodworking experience.
She had never used a circular saw or an impact driver. YouTube tutorials still left her confused, and even after visiting a home improvement store, she had no idea where to begin.
That was when she discovered the woodworking school at Hayama Woodworks Studio.
With furniture craftsman Yasumasa Obara teaching her step by step—from drawing plans and understanding wood to safely operating machinery—she began creating her own custom furniture for car camping.
“Instead of endlessly searching for the right product, make it yourself.” Doesn’t that idea feel exciting?
Charm 2: In Woodworking, the Joy Is Not Just the Finished Piece, but the Time Spent Making It
Once she began woodworking, what surprised her most was discovering just how many different steps are involved.
It is not simply a matter of cutting boards. You need to make the thickness consistent, measure each dimension carefully, and gradually shape the material while paying attention to the condition of the wood.
She told me that the process itself—carefully completing each step and watching the project slowly take shape—was incredibly enjoyable.
She also developed a special attachment to every component she made with her own hands, something she would never feel toward a mass-produced product.
“It’s so cute.”
Her comment about feeling that way each time the piece moved closer to completion stayed with me.
The car-camping crate is now complete, and once the weather becomes cooler, she plans to set off on a car-camping adventure with Luke.
She has already begun imagining her next project: a piece of furniture that will serve as both storage and a bed.
“I’ve only just finished this one, but I’m already thinking about what I want to make next.”
Those words perfectly conveyed how much she had come to enjoy woodworking.
Charm 3: Finishing One Project Is Not the End—It Inspires the Next Idea
Before beginning woodworking, the student had one clear goal: to build a crate for car camping.
But once she started making it, she discovered that the joy of woodworking went far beyond completing the finished piece.
As each part of the project began to take shape, new ideas such as “I’d like to make this next” naturally came to mind.
After completing the car-camping crate, she plans to make a piece of furniture that combines storage with a bed.
I realized that woodworking is not simply a hobby where you make one item and stop. It is a world where your imagination keeps growing as you wonder what to create next.
Her crate is now safely finished, and once the weather cools down, she plans to set off on a car-camping adventure with her beloved dog, Luke.
Traveling with the dog she loves, with furniture she made by hand inside the car.
Just imagining that experience sounds wonderful, doesn’t it?
“The goal is not simply to make furniture—the experience can even transform the life that comes afterward.” It is rare to find a hobby with that kind of impact.
Charm 4: More Than a Teacher—Someone Who Enjoys the Process with You
There was one comment from the interview that particularly stayed with me.
It was this:
“Mr. Obara feels less like a teacher and more like someone who is enjoying the experience alongside me.”
Those words left a strong impression.
Woodworking involves plenty of mistakes.
You might measure something incorrectly, struggle to shape the wood as intended, or feel nervous using a machine for the first time.
Even then, rather than simply giving her the answer, Mr. Obara works through each challenge together with her.
That may be why the feeling of “I did it!” remains as a genuine sense of personal achievement.
Despite having more than 40 years of experience working with wood as a furniture craftsman, he supports every student from a beginner’s perspective.
I felt that this sense of reassurance is one of the special qualities that makes the Hayama Woodworks woodworking school so inviting.
Charm 5: Being a Beginner Helps You Discover the Joy of Woodworking
The Hayama Woodworks woodworking school welcomes a wide range of students, from complete beginners to those aspiring to become professionals.
Even if you have never held a tool before, you can learn everything step by step, from drawing plans to operating woodworking machinery.
Another major advantage is that tools are available to borrow at the workshop, so you can begin without bringing any equipment.
“I’d like to try DIY, but I don’t know what tools I need to buy.”
Even if that sounds like you, this is a place where you can begin with confidence.
From an age of buying furniture to an age of making it yourself.
This woodworking school may be the perfect place to take that first step.
Charm 6: Woodworking Can Make Everyday Life More Fulfilling
After hearing her story, I realized that woodworking is much more than simple DIY.
Cutting, shaping, and assembling wood.
As you concentrate on each individual step, you forget the busyness of everyday life and find time to focus entirely on what is right in front of you.
The finished piece also carries a sense of attachment that a store-bought product could never provide.
In this case, the furniture will even become part of a journey with her beloved dog.
I realized that the beauty of woodworking lies in having both the joy of making something and the joy of using it waiting ahead.
Baby & Family Note
The woodworking school is not specifically designed as a children’s woodworking class or a parent-and-child lesson.
For this reason, if you would like to attend with a young child, we recommend contacting the studio in advance.
However, group lessons are also available for children interested in woodworking and families considering participating together. Please ask about the schedule and lesson details when making an inquiry.
Dog-Friendly Information
Because this is an active woodworking workshop, we have not confirmed whether dogs are allowed inside.
The student featured in this interview created furniture specifically for enjoying car-camping trips with her beloved dog, Luke.
The opportunity to make furniture perfectly suited to your own lifestyle is another special feature of this woodworking school, where you can learn with the freedom of a custom-made project.
Access Information
Hayama Woodworks Studio (Shop)
Address: 2974-3 Kamiyamaguchi, Hayama, Miura District, Kanagawa 240-0111
(Opposite the FamilyMart Hayama-machi store)
Phone: 090-3533-0772
Open: Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
Opening Hours: 12:00 PM–6:00 PM
Parking: Not confirmed
Instagram: @hayama_woodworks
Website
https://wood.hayama-studio.com/
*The woodworking school is held at the workshop inside Nagatsu Lumber Store (2549 Kamiyamaguchi, Hayama, Miura District, Kanagawa 240-0115). Parking is available at the workshop.
Summary | Enjoying the Creative Process Can Make Life More Fulfilling
You may be interested in DIY but still find yourself thinking,
“It looks too difficult for me.”
Many people probably feel the same way.
The student featured in this interview also began with absolutely no woodworking experience.
Even so, her dream of enjoying car-camping trips with her beloved dog inspired her to take the first step. Working alongside furniture craftsman Mr. Obara, she completed her own custom-made car-camping furniture.
The finished furniture was certainly wonderful, but what stayed with me even more was the smile on her face as she talked about what she wanted to make next.
Woodworking is about more than learning how to make furniture.
I realized that the time spent thinking, working with your hands, and watching an idea gradually take shape can itself become a hobby that enriches everyday life.
Hayama offers more than its beautiful sea—it also has places where you can enjoy meaningful experiences like this.
“Someday, I’d like to try woodworking.”
If you have ever had that thought, consider visiting Hayama Woodworks Studio.
You may discover something special that only you want to create.
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Sources
・Hayama Woodworks Studio Official Website
・Hayama Woodworks Studio Woodworking School Page
・Hayama Woodworks Studio Woodworking School Interview Video (Hayama Navi Interview)
・Student’s Instagram (@dori_vanlife)
Hello, this is Peli from Hayama Navi!
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