Kyoto; Traditional Japanese Washi Papermaking

This workshop was amazing. I learnt a lot about washi paper from growing and preparing the wood to the finished product. The teachers were excellent and patient.

What a fascinating experience, to learn about and to create washi - paper made in the traditional way. The proprietor and his assistants were helpful, and each of us created a washi-based item and each was lovely. It was precious to engage in this traditional craft.

One of my favorite things I’ve done so far that I enjoyed way more than I expected. It was something my wife wanted to do that we both really enjoyed!

Small class. Very good explanation. Run by a cute family. Great experience and we left with a souvenir (that doesn’t take up much luggage space).

Informative, hands on experience. Wonderful family business that takes you through the paper making process.

Really fun time. Instructors were great, good historical overview and even my husband successfully made a wall hanging!

This was an amazing experience, I would recommend this to everyone! Making my own paper was both relaxing and fun, very interesting process :) Staff was super friendly and helpful, and the shop had a very good atmosphere :) I had a great time!

This was a meaningful, high-quality experience! Hiro and his assistant, Nami, were informative and provided a warm, welcoming space to learn with clear instructions and the opportunity for independent hands-on design with the art of Traditional Japanese Washi Papermaking. My partner and I thoroughly enjoyed hearing about the historical origin of this tradition and will treasure this experimental learning, your hospitality, and continue to explore what we have learned. My heartfelt gratitude to you both for sharing your knowledge with us. (I hope I have spelled your names correctly).

This was an educational and hands on activity that gave us a tiny bit of understanding of what it would feel like to make washi paper. There was an informative video at the end that we all enjoyed learning about this beautiful Japanese craft. It was a very calming activity and great for a hot day in Kyoto.

Great experience! Small, intimate group. We had a variety of options to chose from for what we made.

This was such a memorable experience of my trip to Japan. The two instructors were absolutely wonderful—warm, patient, and clearly passionate about preserving the beautiful tradition of Japanese washi papermaking. Even as a complete beginner, I felt welcomed and encouraged throughout the workshop. They took the time to explain each step, answer questions, and ensure everyone was successful, all while creating a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere. Creating my own piece of washi was both calming and surprisingly meditative. In today's fast-paced world, it was a rare opportunity to slow down, work with my hands, and become completely immersed in a centuries-old artistic tradition. The finished wall hanging has become one of my most treasured souvenirs from Japan. I hung it in my bedroom when I returned home, and every time I look at it, I am reminded of that peaceful morning in Kyoto. It brings me a genuine sense of peace and contentment, making it far more than just a souvenir—it is a lasting reminder of a beautiful experience and the kindness of the two instructors who guided me. If you are looking for an authentic cultural experience that allows you to create something meaningful with your own hands, I cannot recommend this workshop highly enough. It was beautifully organized, thoughtfully taught, and one of the most rewarding experiences of my visit to Kyoto. Thank you both for sharing your artistry, your patience, and this wonderful tradition. It is a memory—and a piece of Japan—that I will treasure for many years to come.

This was a relaxing and fun way to spend a couple of hours. Participants are able to choose from a selection of Wagashi products and there are beautiful items available in the shop. The instructors were very gracious and demonstrated their great love of traditional paper making art.

Great fun. Beautiful end product. Excellent instructions, informative. A gem. Would recommend to others.

Mum and I did this as a bit of fun and learned so much about washi paper making. It was hands on and really fun. Fabulous mementos to take home as a reminder of our Japan trip.

We had a lovely time learning about how the paper is traditionally made and then making our own and decorating it with pressed flowers. Our teacher was lovely the instructions very clear and calm. We came away with our postcards as a lovely memento of our time. The shop where we did the workshop was beautiful.

The third-generation head of a family-owned fine paper shop leads a small group of people through a hands-on, start-to-finish workshop in making traditional washi paper decorated with dried flowers, leaves, and gold particles. The experience is delightful, the results exquisite!

Really fun experience! We very much enjoyed learning how to make Washi paper. It was informative, Creative and relaxing. Highly recommend!

If you like paper and always dreamed about creating it yourself: this is a magic place. The process itself is very inspiring. But it is nothing without the two extraordinary people, father and son, guiding you through the process. It’s very rare to encounter this level of warmth and kindness. It’s simply a very very special place.

Thoroughly enjoyed the experience of making paper from water and fibre then decorating it - interesting process. Instructor was very knowledgeable and friendly.

I absolutely loved this. The gentleman (and his son) taking the workshop really knew his stuff and under his patient guidance we made a beautiful piece to make a light shade. It felt very relaxing and medatitive. Learned a lot about washi paper. Great to see the short film to see how the raw material is prepared. A great use of time whilst our pieces were drying. I felt like I had been dipped in the essence of Japan culture Totally recommend

The class was a nice and relaxing experience. Our teacher was very knowledge and patient. It was wonderful to learn some of the papermaking history of Japan. Having a few options for what to make made it more fun as well.

Thank you for this unique and great introduction into the Japanese washi paper culture! We had a great time

A wonderful experience with very knowledgeable hosts, in a beautiful studio with quality inclusion of lovely dried flowers and options to present your work.

This was a fantastic experience. Awesome memories that you can literally take home. A Lovely husband and wife business.

I had such a wonderful time during this washi paper making experience. I loved that they didn’t just show us the process, but also shared the full historical process of making washi paper , which made everything feel even more special. I got to make a washi paper wall scroll with beautiful pressed foliage, and it turned out so lovely. The whole experience was relaxing, creative, and really memorable, and I highly recommend if you’re coming to Kyoto!

Love, love, love this activity. Both Interesting and creative! Make your own paper and cards/lantern. Great souvenir too. Do it :)

Fabulous experience with a very kind instructor and assistant. Peaceful respite from Kyoto sightseeing crowds!

Very nice people who ran the experience. Helpful and informative and fun. And you get to take something you made home from Japan.

We had FANTASTIC time! They were so kind, gentle people, and we enjoyed every minute of it. Making Washi paper was so much fun. If you have a chance, you should try it too!

It was a lovely experience in a small setting. Great hands on with a lovely souvenir to take back home. They were accomodating and great with kids! Would highly recommend

The washi paper-making workshop was so good! Very hands-on, and the two people running it (one of whom was called Hiro) were so helpful and accommodating. We actually left something behind, didn’t realise until the following day, and when we went back they helped us straight away. Would definitely recommend for a friendly and unique experience.

We had the best time here making paper. Hosts are extremely nice and accommodating. My seven and eleven year old boys loved it too. Highly recommend this if you're in the area.

This was very informative experience and give a great insight to the process of making paper. it was professionally run

The paper making takes place in a small shop in Kyoto, luckily for us only a small bus ride from our hotel. We were warmly welcomed into the shop. We sat down and were offered sweets. There are four options for you to make. We chose a set of four postcards and a wall hanging. Other options were lampshade and lantern. There was a demonstration and then we went straight in. You make the Paper by dipping your frame into the vat. Then placing flowers on the paper, covering twice with paper. Finally vacuum the excess water off and drying. While drying, you watch a short film explaining the traditional process. All in all a lovely experience, and you get a wonderful souvenir of your time !

We had a fantastic time making washi paper! The couple running the workshop were lovely and so helpful! They also played some information videos during drying time about the paper making process which was a great idea. We were happy with our results! And spent some time in the shop afterwards enjoying the local creations!

It was so much fun for the family. They were so accommodating and so friendly. I was only able to book 4 but they allowed us to add one more person.

Hiro and Junko were lovely people and made the class both fun and educational. Such a lovely momento to bring home.

Really lovely couple and cute little shop. My friend and I enjoyed the workshop and left with some beautiful artwork.

It was really fun, we were a very small group so I feel like we were given a lot of attention and support. It was very informative and fun, especially decorating the chosen product. The options given were nice, I went for a lantern for a small supplement. Overall it lasted one hour.

I really enjoy learning to old art of this way to make paper. I had fun creating my lantern to take home . The video we watched gave so much information about the history and the full details of the process. It is amazing and I’m so glad to have learned so I look at it with a deeper respect!! Thank you so much.

Super fun experience. Learned a lot about the technique and cultural history of Japanese paper making. Very happy with what we created!

It was an amazing experience from beginning to end. Lovely couple. I would recommend 101% anyone doing this workshop. Plus you get to have such a special and meaningful souvenir to take back home. I appreciate Kamitowa shop .

What a fantastic experience! We learnt about the history of washi paper making and actually got to do it ourselves. Our teacher was wonderful and we were so pleased with what we made.

This was such a fun and interesting workshop. I had seen the process of making Washi on film but it was so much more meaningful to see it done in person and to be able to create some simple washi projects. The artisan is excellent - very easy to understand, helpful in showing what to do, and supportive of efforts of amateurs. The setting is comfortable and it's in an easy location in downtown Kyoto. I highly recommend it for anyone who wants a fun hands-on experience in one of Japan's traditional crafts. The cost is so reasonable (about $30 each) and the whole experience only took about an hour.

Lovely experience. Well explained and everything provided. We really enjoyed this. Such a relaxing morning.

Wonderful experience in a small studio (seems to hold 4 people max) - learned all about Washi paper making and had fun creating our own papers!

The class was more than what I expected. Not only did we get to make the paper, and lay out flower and leaves on the paper, but we also got a history of how the traditional paper making process is like. The couple who ran the class were super nice, and they explained everything well. I would recommend this class to anyone, especially since you get a nice souvenir you made yourself to take home!

Our Washi Papermaking experience in Kyoto was simply unforgettable! Tucked away in a quiet neighborhood, this little shop felt like a portal to Japan’s past. We had the unique opportunity to make our own sheet of paper, decorating it with delicate dried flowers and grass, which added a personal touch to this beautiful tradition. The staff were incredibly kind and patient, guiding us step-by-step through the entire process. The class itself was wonderfully informative, blending the history of Washi papermaking with a hands-on experience that made us appreciate the artistry and meticulous care involved. Seeing firsthand the thought and precision put into every step truly deepened our respect for this ancient craft. Beyond the class, the shop is filled with beautiful paper products and unique items to browse. We left with a newfound admiration for Washi and a one-of-a-kind souvenir we made ourselves. Highly recommend this experience to anyone visiting Kyoto!

Booked this on a whim and had such a great time! Hiro-San, who taught me, was super patient and thorough showing me the different steps of the paper-making process. It was cool to get to do every single step of the process, and learn what the materials that go into the paper actually looks and feels like and its Japanese names and such. I was really happy to walk away with a great little gift to give to folks back home when talking about my trip to Kyoto. Can't recommend enough!