Print the art that’s under everyone’s feet.
LEARN THE WHY OF THE DESIGN, TRY THE HOW OF PRINTING IT, WALK AWAY WITH THE WHAT — SOMETHING JAPAN WALKS RIGHT PAST.
We know the Kyoto visit feeling — crowded, hot or cold depending on the month, everything closed by 5, and the souvenirs all start looking the same.
Why do this workshop?
Personalized ✅
4 manhole cover choices ✅
Discover the cover design’s hidden story ✅
Practice first, print for real ✅
3 keepsakes: T-shirt, Furoshiki, stamp booklet ✅
No payment required — just a quick request.
A unique experience that will appeal to young and old alike! This sort of local activity is usually only available in Japanese; we were delighted to come across it!
Clément, France
I didn’t really know what to expect from the manhole cover workshop, but I came out of it happy, enriched, and with a great sense of achievement!
Jiji, France
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 Japanese manhole covers and Furoshiki.
30–60 min
Practice, print & reveal!
Try the technique of your chosen design first — no pressure. Then ink, roll, and lift the cloth for real — the reveal is 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 black ink Japanese manhole cover on light colored T-shirt
- 1 hand-printed black ink Japanese manhole cover on light 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.
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.
Kids under 10 will likely find it difficult; teens are welcome.
You can go home with the same souvenir as everyone else or with something nobody else has.
No payment required — just a quick request.