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1. Customize your own Fountain Pen and Ink
Founded by a former executive of a Japanese fountain pen company, this boutique near Ebisu Station lets you design a fountain pen and create a custom ink blend to go with it! It comes beautifully packaged for you to bring home, making it perfect as a souvenir or gift. Whether you’re new to fountain pens, or a long-time user, it’s a great addition to any stationery collection.
2. Make your own notebooks at a local Japanese bookbinding factory
Go behind the scenes of Ito Bindery in Asakusa, Tokyo and learn how to make your own notebooks from start to finish. Choose your favourite covers and paper, bind everything together using traditional bookbinding tools, then personalize the covers with your own engraving or drawings. You can make up to four notebooks to bring home!
3. Make your own washi (traditional Japanese paper) from scratch
Learn the techniques behind Tosa washi, a Japanese craft with over 1,000 years of history, at this hands-on workshop in Asakusa. With guidance from a local instructor, you’ll experience the traditional papermaking process and create a postcard-sized pieces to bring home. It’s a fun way to get a closer look at the craftsmanship behind a material you’ll see all over Japan.
4. Carve your own stone hanko (personalized seal) at a craftsman’s studio
Learn about the centuries-old tradition of Japanese hanko, choose how to represent your name in kanji or katakana, and carve your own seal by hand. You’ll learn directly from the artisan step-by-step, and a multilingual interpreter will be there assist with communication. Suitable for all levels, and you’ll receive your finished hanko in a beautiful protective case.