Hand print a kanji you chose because it represents you.
LEARN THE WHY BEHIND YOUR KANJI, LIVE THE HOW OF PRINTING IT, WALK AWAY WITH THE WHAT — A PIECE OF YOU MADE VISIBLE.
Forget the same “zen,” “samurai,” “temple” kanji t-shirt prints. Ink a character whose roots most Japanese people never learned — something no shop sells, imperfect because it’s yours.
We know the feeling — an hour in a gift shop, and nothing on the rack means anything to you personally.
Why do this workshop?
Personalized ✅
20 kanji choices, each with a hidden story ✅
Practice first, print for real ✅
3 keepsakes: T-shirt, Furoshiki, stamp booklet ✅
No payment required — just a quick request.
Coming back home with a personalized reusable object like a Furoshiki, which is profoundly meaningful to Japanese culture, remains one of the most impactful souvenirs for us!
Catherine, Canada
Choosing a Japanese letter to represent me is cool, and I can decide to have it on the back too!
Rosalie, 10 years old, Canada
No payment required — just a quick request.
WHAT YOU’LL DO
0–30 min
Meet, settle in, and learn
Your guide meets you at the station, walks to the workshop room, and shares the story behind kanji and Furoshiki.
30–60 min
Practice, print & reveal!
Try the technique first on 気 (ki, energy) — no pressure. Then ink, print your own chosen character by hand, and lift for the reveal — the best part.
60–90 min
Find your name & let’s wrap!
Never written your name in Japanese? You will by the end of this. With katakana tables, you’ll discover and write your Japanese name on your booklet. Finally, you’ll practice wrapping long and flat objects with a Furoshiki.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
- 25 min. from Kyoto Station (10 min. ride + 15 min. walk)
- 25 min. from Sanjo-Keihan Station (22 min. ride + 3 min. walk)
- 2 min. walk from Biwako-Hamaotsu Station’s exit (meeting point, google pin below)
- 90 min. activity
- Open Mon, Wed, Sat (10 am. / 2:30 pm. / 6:30 pm*)
- Open Fri (2:30 pm. / 6:30 pm*)
*We’d especially recommend the evening session — it tends to have the most availability, and it’s a quietly fitting way to end the day.
WHAT YOU’LL GET
- 1 hand-printed white ink kanji on dark colored T-shirt
- 1 hand-printed white ink kanji on dark colored Furoshiki (standard size: 50 sq.cm.; 2.7 sq. ft.)
- 1 palm-size stamp booklet + waterproof zip-lock sleeve
- Ways to fold standard and large Furoshiki cloths
No payment required — just a quick request.
Quick FAQs
A traditional Japanese square wrapping cloth used to elegantly pack, carry, and transform everyday items and gifts. The ones we print on are about 50 sq. cm. – 2.7 sq. ft.
Anybody can do this. Do not worry. The wabi-sabi framing means imperfection is part of the philosophy, not a failure state — it’s built into how the pieces are meant to be appreciated with one-on-one guidance throughout.
Kids under 10 will likely find it difficult; teens are welcome.
With Google map it’s simple, here is the meeting point: Biwako-Hamaotsu Station. Alternatively, see the Full Directions page for all the details on how to get to the venue, or just type “Biwako-Hamaotsu Station” in Google maps. Plan a block of at least 3 hours total, with the 90 min. workshop itself sitting in the middle of that window (i.e., allow travel time to Otsu and back on either side).
1. Submit Your Request — Preferred date, time, group size, and any special requests.
2. Availability Check — We confirm your slot and reserve it for you.
3. Secure Payment (24-hour hold) — You’ll get a Stripe payment link by email. Complete it within 24 hours to lock in your spot — after that, it reopens for other travelers.
4. Confirmation — Once paid, you’re booked! We’ll send meetup details by email.Traveling with spotty Wi-Fi or time zone gaps? Just reply to your confirmation email if you need a bit more time.
Our card has a wide variety of concepts from everyday life to philosophy to nature, we believe you will find one to your liking. However, if you send us an email at jakstoursjapan@gmail.com, we will gladly send you our card. Then, if you let us know your kanji choice not on the card at least 10 days or more prior to the desired workshop date, we will do our best to have it ready in time for the workshop day. Take note that you will be charged an add-on fee for this.
A keychain says “I was here.” This experience says something about who you are.
No payment required — just a quick request.