Meria, a Fujisawa-based wax artist behind the Shonan Wa-Rōsoku brand, guides guests through 120 minutes of dipping a wick into molten wax, again and again, as a single candle slowly takes shape. There's nothing flashy about it — just the quiet satisfaction of watching something form, one repeated motion at a time.
01｜Meria, the Wax Artist
Plant-based wax materials laid out on the worktable
After graduating from art school and working for a beverage maker, Meria found her way to a life as a wax artist. Based in Fujisawa, she crafts Shonan Wa-Rōsoku, a candle brand shaped by Shonan's natural beauty and local materials. She works exclusively with plant-based ingredients — sourced from local farmers and producers, including wax pressed from haze berries, used in its own natural color without synthetic dye. With no reliance on mass production, every step from coloring to finishing is done entirely by hand.
02｜Dipping the Wick, Layer by Layer
The wick lowered into molten wax, steam rising
At the heart of the experience is a simple, patient repetition: dipping the wick into molten wax and lifting it out again. Each layer is too thin to notice on its own, but they build gradually, giving the candle its shape and thickness. What Meria values most is creating a space where, somewhere in that repetition, guests lose track of time altogether.
03｜Taking Home a Candle of Your Own
The finished candle, tea served alongside
Once the final layers are set, guests are left with a candle shaped entirely by their own hands. Tea is served at the venue, offering a quiet moment to sit with the work before heading back out. Lighting that candle later, the 120 minutes spent in Shonan tend to come back to mind.
What the tour handles for you
Instruction, venue, materials, and tea are all included. The experience runs for a minimum of 2 and maximum of 4 guests, and bookings should be made up to one month in advance. Complimentary transfers are included within Kamakura and Fujisawa. It pairs well as a closing note to a day built around the Zen Journey or our guide service — please see our tours page for details and booking.