Create Your Japanese Name In Kanji - Authentic Kyoto Experience

Very impressed with my Kanji name and my first seal that I can use anywhere in the world. Almost everything I have to do by myself so I really feel like this seal is very very my own thing!

This was my first time making a traditional Japanese hanko (personal seal), but thanks to Mr. Matsubara, who was incredibly friendly, welcoming, and patient in his explanations, I felt completely at ease and really enjoyed creating my own unique seal. One of the most memorable moments was seeing my name transformed into kanji characters with auspicious meanings. The feeling of stamping my own handmade seal for the very first time was truly special! The dorayaki (a traditional Japanese sweet filled with red bean paste) served after the experience was also the best I’ve ever had! Whether you’re visiting on your own or with friends or family, I highly recommend this experience. It’s a wonderful opportunity to create something truly personal and take home unforgettable memories!

This was one of the highlights of my trip to Japan. Mr. Tsuneo Matsubara took great care of me from start to finish and explained every step of the process in detail, so I always understood what I was doing and why. He chose the kanji for my name beautifully. You can tell he puts real thought into finding characters that fit both the sound and the meaning. Carving the stamp myself with the chisel was a lot of fun, and it made the final hanko feel truly personal. And a special mention for the dorayaki: honestly, the best I've ever had in my life! I came solo and felt completely welcome the whole time. If you want a meaningful, hands-on souvenir of Japan instead of something off the shelf, I can't recommend this enough. Thank you, Matsubara-san!

I'd recommend this if you're interested in Hanko or making your own stamp - also applies if you like calligraphy! Having a personalised item like this is a truly enjoyable experience! Artists might also like it as a way to sign their work!

I really enjoyed creating my own unique seal! Before my visit, the shop prepared three kanji options for my name, each with a different meaning. I could choose my favorite. I learned about the history of seals and had the opportunity to experience hand carving. The best moment was stamping my seal on paper for the first time. Seeing my beautiful seal appear was so exciting! It was a special experience in Japan. Highly recommended!

Amazing experience! Making my own Hanko here today was wonderful. The shop carefully chose beautiful Kanji characters with great meanings for my name. The staff was so helpful and attentive. Highly recommended! 5 stars!

Getting my first hanko in Japan felt a little intimidating, but this shop made the whole experience surprisingly easy and enjoyable. The staff took the time to answer my questions without making me feel rushed, and I really appreciated their kindness and attention to detail. The finished hanko looks elegant, feels solid, and has become something I’ll keep for years. It’s rare to find a place where both the craftsmanship and the customer care leave such a good impression. Thank you for making this such a memorable experience.

Great place lovely owner! A must to visit in Kyoto, very authentic,the history of stamps is very interesting. Moreover, you get to create your own stamp with your name in Japanese. It's a great souvenir to take back home. A real piece of japan !

I sincerely recommend this experience to anyone who is interested! Our guide was exceptionally kind, knowledgeable, and he was very patient while teaching us how to make hanko. -Mike

We had such a wonderful time making our own hanko in Kyoto. The instructor was incredibly patient and friendly, walking us through every step of the carving process, and we walked away with a beautiful, personal souvenir that we’ll treasure from our trip. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a hands-on memorable experience!

Tsuneo Matsubara is a magnificent craftsman with a passion for sharing his craft and giving you the best time possible. A really unique experience with a true artisan. I would recommend 100%.

It was an amazing experience. Something new and exciting. The staff was really nice and welcoming. I learned a lot! I really recommend it! 🙏🏼

I was looking for a stamp and stumbled upon this activity by chance. Instead of just buying a stamp, making one yourself and getting a brief insight into it was a good decision. I brought my own kanji, but usually you probably get a selection of options from which you choose one. Then the kanji are transferred with a pencil onto a sheet of paper until you are satisfied and trace the characters with a black marker. The result is then transferred onto a square (white lettering) or round stamp (white background). Meanwhile, you can try out how the whole thing would work by hand. When the stamp is finished, you can try out your stamp, and to finish, there was tea and dorayaki. Since I speak some Japanese myself, communication went quite well, but without knowledge of Japanese, communication takes place via a translation app.

It was very interesting to try designing the typeface myself after you taught me.

I participated with my friend. You can choose the type of seal from acrylic or ebony wood. I chose one with cute flowers drawn on acrylic. For us Japanese, the seal is a familiar thing, but I think it would be a very interesting experience for people from overseas too. I thought it was nice that I could write my own name in kanji and take the seal I made home. In calligraphy, it's just an experience, and you can't use it when you go home. Finally, I had tea and delicious dorayaki. It was a very interesting experience, and the host was very kind and taught me many things. I recommend it!

Absolutely recommended. It was a special experience for me to go through the process of creation, from selecting the kanjis to drawing them and finally the first print. Because it is your own drawing, it is truly an original. I feel very honored. 🙏 The experience of carving yourself and making mistakes while doing so, realizing how hard it is to draw a straight line or curves: Everything becomes visible and beautiful. The smell of the stamp ink is special. The guidance, the patience, and the dedication of the master and the staff were very friendly and benevolent. Thank you.

It was a very fun experience. It was enjoyable to think about the design while learning about the history of seals and understanding the meaning of kanji. When I first stamped it on blank paper, I was so moved by the seal I designed myself that I couldn't help but let out a gasp. They had prepared things so that even a beginner could get started right away, and if I was interested, I could also ask them many things about seals. I also had the experience of hand-carving, but it was difficult for me. The seal I designed myself became a wonderful memory. I plan to use it to stamp my own works and letters. Thank you very much.

At a long-established seal shop, I was taught the meaning of the kanji in my name and the seal script to engrave, and I made a rough draft while designing it. The feeling of excitement when the seal was finished and stamped with the red ink is an unforgettable memory! It is the only handmade personal seal in the world! You taught me politely and kindly. I heard it can also be used as an official seal 👍 The dorayaki I received last time was also the best taste! It was very fun. Thank you very much.

The staff were very kind and I was able to experience it with peace of mind. Even if you are not very good at Japanese, they explained it in an easy-to-understand manner, and the staff who are fluent in English supported me, so I enjoyed it without worrying about words. I also had the opportunity to make my own Kanji name and to make a one-of-a-kind seal was a very special and unforgettable memory. The shop is easily accessible and is easily accessible on the way to sightseeing in Kyoto. The Japanese sweets we received after the experience were also very delicious and we were able to enjoy a very Kyoto time until the end. This is an experience I highly recommend to visitors to Kyoto. I would like to participate if I get another chance. Thank you very much.

I'm glad you kindly told me and it was so easy to understand!

I'm very happy with it. It was an interesting experience. The tea and sweets are very good, too.