Mino Washi Craft Experience Shop Ishikawa Paper Goods in Mino City, Gifu, Japan

Shop E-Newsletter No. 273

Enjoy Mino City sightseeing with a hands-on Mino Washi craft workshop – warm up this winter at our Mino Washi Craft Experience Shop in Gifu, Japan!

Thank you for visiting the Mino Washi Craft Experience Shop Ishikawa Paper Goods!

As of December 5, 2025, our Google reviews are ★4.9 from 898 guests and still increasing!

At “Mino Washi Craft Experience Shop Ishikawa Paper Goods”,

our hands-on workshops by Ishikawa Paper Goods let you experience traditional Japanese culture with all five senses.

You will discover the beauty and tradition of Mino Washi paper while creating one-of-a-kind dolls and lifestyle items as unique Japanese souvenirs.

Feel the texture of washi paper, enjoy choosing colors and patterns, and have fun shaping your own design – a hands-on Japanese cultural experience that engages all five senses, ideal for inbound visitors and overseas group tours.

Right in the heart of Mino’s historic old town in Gifu Prefecture!

We are housed in a designated historical townhouse within Japan’s nationally recognized “Udatsu” traditional streetscape preservation district.

Come and enjoy a Mino Washi craft workshop together inside an Edo-period building, complete with original “udatsu” firebreak walls built in 1760.

From solo travelers to groups of up to 45 guests (about one full tour bus), everyone can enjoy the workshop at the same time – ideal for travel agencies and tour operators in Europe and North America arranging Japan group tours and school trips.

(For bookings of more than 45 guests, we recommend splitting into a Mino City sightseeing & shopping group and a workshop group to optimize your Japan group tour itinerary!)

Couples, friends, families, group tours, company trips, and inbound tour groups are all welcome♪

Whatever type of group you are, you can share a fun, memorable time together here during your Japan travel itinerary!

Our workshop menu includes:

Washi Korokoro paper dolls, washi fans, washi paper pierced earrings, washi clip-on earrings, washi plates, washi pen stands, washi bookmarks, and more♪

You can follow the sample design exactly,

create freely by following your own instincts,

or even design a piece inspired by your favorite character.

Let’s make an original, one-of-a-kind Japanese souvenir that exists only for you!

There are over 30 different kit options, so you are sure to find a favorite for guests of all ages and nationalities.

Please check our shop opening schedule and visit us during your Japan trip – we look forward to welcoming you!

▼ Shop Opening Days for November, December & January ▼

https://www.ishikawa-shigyo.com/news/detail_1855.html

[Please note] Feel free to contact us – we can also accept group bookings on days outside the above opening schedule, especially for travel agencies and tour operators!

▼ Official Website ▼

https://www.ishikawa-shigyo.com/shop.html

▼ Rakuten Online Store ▼

https://www.rakuten.co.jp/ishikawa-shigyo/

Every little moment in everyday life can become a moment of happiness♪

Today again, we hope to help create smiles at Ishikawa Paper Goods’ Mino Washi craft experience shop.

Now, let’s begin today’s newsletter from our Mino Washi Craft Experience Shop＾＾

◆ Today’s topics ◆

・Groups welcome! Creating Oda Nobunaga “Washi Korokoro” dolls with an inbound group tour from Taiwan

・Information for everyone: Ishikawa Paper Goods’ zodiac items – limited stock remaining due to high demand!

・Introducing our group workshops: flexible, highly satisfying programs – welcome to the Mino Washi Craft Experience Shop!

・Highly recommended for Mino City sightseeing: our Mino Washi Craft Experience Shop offers convenient access and is ideal for tour itineraries♪

・Our hometown Mino City: winter-only Hina Doll Stamp Rally and the traditional “kanzarashi” cold-water bleaching of Mino Washi

・Ishikawa Paper Goods’ “Conquer the World & Japan” project – please put a sticker on your place of origin^^

・For guests with disabilities: introducing services and options so you can enjoy the experience with peace of mind.

・About Ishikawa Paper Goods: introducing OEM versions of our popular Washi Korokoro products!

・Customer gallery: showcasing pieces actually made by our guests in the workshop♪

・Mayu “Mino” diary – A nostalgic gift for my daughter

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Groups welcome! Creating Oda Nobunaga “Washi Korokoro” dolls with guests from Taiwan
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We received a booking from a Taiwanese travel agency as part of their tour itinerary,
 choosing the “Mino Washi Craft Experience Shop” as one of the highlights.

After several meetings with the tour coordinator in advance, the long-awaited workshop day finally arrived.

Originally, we had planned to meet the group at the bus parking area, but when we received a call,
 the guide had already arrived in front of our shop.
 We heard that the guests were happily taking photos along the historic Udatsu-lined streets.

At our shop, even on days when the experience shop is normally closed,
 we can open “by reservation only” if there is a group booking.
 On this day as well, our staff prepared in time for the group’s arrival and welcomed them right on schedule.

The guests naturally gathered inside the shop,
 and once the guide said, “Not everyone is here yet, but please go ahead and start,”
 our Mino Washi craft workshop for the group began.

When we started with a greeting of “Good morning” in Japanese,
 almost all the guests replied with a cheerful “Good morning!” – which surprised our staff.
 When we said, “Your Japanese is very good,”
 they laughed and replied, “This is the only phrase we know,” and the workshop began in a very friendly atmosphere.

This time, the group challenged
 the “Washi Korokoro Warlord Series – Oda Nobunaga.”

However, Oda Nobunaga was not yet very familiar to many of our Taiwanese guests.
 So within what our staff knew, we briefly explained that he was a famous general in the Sengoku (Warring States) period and tried to introduce him in an easy-to-understand way.

The Washi Korokoro kit combines a “kimono” and “helmet” set.
 Rather than completely free creation, it is a “follow the sample” type of experience,
 making it easy even for first-time visitors and large tour groups.

During the workshop, one older gentleman in the group commented,
 “It’s difficult, but fun – and the finished piece is really cute,”
 which was wonderful feedback for us.

Guests who worked quickly listened to the explanation and then immediately began adding their own original decorations,
 creating their very own version of Nobunaga.
 More careful guests studied the sample closely and advanced step by step, taking their time with each stage.

Everyone enjoyed the activity at their own pace, and all the pieces were completed within the time limit.
 Row after row of Oda Nobunaga figures lined up on the tables,
 and the group photo session was a big success.

After the workshop, the guests purchased very “Japanese” souvenirs such as
 mini “god of good fortune” ornaments, komon-pattern tenugui towels, and kaishi paper,
 and the atmosphere in the shop remained lively until the very end.

This travel agency plans to continue using our shop throughout this winter season.
 As a Japanese cultural experience for group tours,
 we will keep working as a team to offer a time that makes guests feel, “I’m so glad we came here,”
 for group trips, incentive tours, and educational school trips to Japan.

▼ For product inquiries about Ishikawa Paper Goods, click here ♪

https://www.ishikawa-shigyo.com/contact/index.html

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Information for everyone: Ishikawa Paper Goods’ zodiac items – only a few left due to popularity!

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Right now, at the Mino Washi Craft Experience Shop, we have a full lineup of items for next year’s zodiac sign, the Horse (uma), and look forward to your visit.

This year’s lineup spans eight categories. Many items have captivated our guests, and some products have already sold out due to their popularity. If you are looking for zodiac ornaments, we recommend visiting as early as possible.

◆ Hand-applied washi paper ceramic figurines ◆ Featuring our first extra-large Maneki Neko (beckoning cat)!

◆ Chirimen fabric items ◆ Hanging decorations, chirimen dolls, charms, kagami-mochi, Seven Lucky Gods

◆ Washi paper dolls ◆ Mobiles, Washi Korokoro figures, Washi Korokoro set products, DIY kits

◆ Ceramic figurines ◆ Ceramic omikuji charms, ceramic figurines, kagami-mochi

◆ Papier-mâché ◆ Zodiac Horse (uma) figures, good-luck ornaments

◆ Kaishi paper ◆ Zodiac-themed kaishi paper

◆ Tenugui towels ◆ Zodiac-themed tenugui

◆ Japanese stationery ◆ Zodiac Horse otoshidama envelopes, gift envelopes, small money envelopes

And what’s more, we even have special sale items featuring the zodiac Horse!

For those who cannot visit the shop in person, we highly recommend purchasing through our Rakuten online shop!

Only a few items remain!

Please choose your favorite zodiac Horse item while stock lasts!

▼ Ishikawa Paper Goods Rakuten Shop

https://www.rakuten.ne.jp/gold/ishikawa-shigyo/

Even our in-shop experience kits now include zodiac-themed items!

Furthermore, in our Mino Washi craft workshops, a white horse design inspired by the zodiac Horse has joined the lineup!

As it is next year’s zodiac sign, it has quickly become our most popular workshop option＾＾

Why not create your own good-luck ornament to invite happiness?

We look forward to welcoming you＾＾

[Click here for the 2026 Zodiac Horse New Year Catalog]↓↓

www.ishikawa-shigyo.com/lsc/lsc-upfile/catalog/03/36/336_1_file.pdf

Displaying a zodiac Horse (uma) ornament is said to harness the energetic power of the horse and steadily move your luck forward.

The zodiac Horse that helps everything in your daily life go “uma-ku” (smoothly and successfully).

A zodiac Horse ornament supports progress and leaps forward, just like a powerful galloping horse,

and is a lucky charm for business prosperity, good health and long life, and family harmony.

It is perfect for anyone who wants to start the New Year with energy and positivity.

Come and meet the zodiac Horse that brings good fortune.

▼ Click here for the Ishikawa Paper Goods Experience Shop website ♪

https://www.ishikawa-shigyo.com/shop.html

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Introducing our group workshops – flexible programs with high satisfaction♪ Welcome to the Mino Washi Craft Experience Shop!

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Elementary, junior high and high schools, children’s groups, family trips, PTA parent–child trips, company trips, corporate training, sports clubs, senior clubs, NPOs and volunteer groups, cultural experience tours, overseas study tours, and more…

To all those in charge of finding activities – tour planners, coordinators, concierges, travel consultants, and inbound tour operators!

“We want to give children experiences they cannot have in everyday school life.”

“We want to create fun memories together.”

If so, please consider Ishikawa Paper Goods’ Mino Washi Craft Experience Shop as a cultural highlight in your Japan group tour, school trip, or incentive tour^^

With a one-of-a-kind creative experience, your group can take home both unique handmade items and wonderful memories.

We still have plenty of availability for group bookings!

We warmly welcome both group reservations and individual bookings made via online reservation sites.

Our hands-on workshops offer a high level of freedom: with a simple instruction sheet, anyone can enjoy making their own piece.

Many guests are surprised and ask, “Is it really okay to be this free?” – but don’t worry! Our staff will carefully support you at all the important points^^

Our “Washi Korokoro Series,” which you can enjoy all year round, includes the twelve zodiac animals plus a rich lineup tailored to monthly events and Japanese seasonal festivals – perfect for Japan group tours and cultural travel programs.

◆ Washi Korokoro designs you can enjoy when you visit our shop

[Animals & Good-Luck Motifs]

Goldfish, frog, beckoning cat (Maneki Neko), owl, kitten

[Zodiac 1]

Snake (Year of the Snake), Dragon (Year of the Dragon), Rat (Year of the Rat), Ox (Year of the Ox), Tiger (Year of the Tiger), Rabbit (Year of the Rabbit)

[Zodiac 2]

Boar (Year of the Boar), Dog (Year of the Dog), Horse (Year of the Horse), Sheep (Year of the Sheep), Monkey (Year of the Monkey), Rooster (Year of the Rooster)

[Folktales & Good-Luck Themes]

Daruma, lion dance, ninja, red ogre, white horse for the zodiac Year of the Horse,

[Samurai Warlord Series]

Akechi Mitsuhide, Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Tokugawa Ieyasu, Otani Yoshitsugu, “Young” Tokugawa Ieyasu, Kicho (Lady Nohime)

[Seasonal & Festival Themes]

Blue carp streamer, red carp streamer, samurai helmet, boy with carp streamer, two carp streamers, three carp streamers with children, Hina dolls for Girls’ Day

[Shop-Exclusive Designs]

Jack-o’-Lantern, swordsman, scale-pattern design, princess – and there may be even more limited designs waiting for you!

We always have more than 30 different DIY kits ready, so you are sure to find a piece that makes you think “I really want to make this!”

You might encounter a very special Washi Korokoro design that you can only create here in Mino City, Gifu, Japan.

You’re also very welcome to search for craft ideas on your smartphone and arrange the design in your own style. Why not spend time creating, sharing, and laughing together with your group?

We warmly invite you to visit Ishikawa Paper Goods’ Mino Washi Craft Experience Shop♪

▼ Click here for the Mino Washi Craft Experience Shop website ♪

https://www.ishikawa-shigyo.com/shop.html

▼ Washi Korokoro

www.ishikawa-shigyo.com/lsc/lsc-upfile/catalog/00/82/82_1_file.pdf

https://www.ishikawa-shigyo.com/lsc/lsc-upfile/catalog/02/87/287_1_file.png

▼ Washi pierced earrings & clip-on earrings DIY kit sales – tool rental guidelines

www.ishikawa-shigyo.com/lsc/lsc-upfile/catalog/02/84/284_1_file.pdf

▼ DIY workshop menu – “Washi plate,” “Washi pen stand,” “Washi bookmark,” “Washi pierced earrings,” “Washi clip-on earrings”

www.ishikawa-shigyo.com/lsc/lsc-upfile/catalog/01/23/123_1_file.pdf

▼ DIY workshop menu – three family sets

https://www.ishikawa-shigyo.com/lsc/lsc-upfile/catalog/02/09/209_1_file.jpg

▼ DIY workshop menu – Washi Korokoro Samurai Warlord Series

https://www.ishikawa-shigyo.com/lsc/lsc-upfile/catalog/02/69/269_1_file.jpg

For inquiries about the information in this newsletter, please contact us here ▼

https://www.ishikawa-shigyo.com/contact/shop.html

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Highly recommended for Mino City sightseeing! Our Mino Washi Craft Experience Shop offers convenient access and is ideal for tour itineraries♪

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To tour planners who organize package tours and group travel for travel agencies.

The Mino Washi Craft Experience Shop Ishikawa Paper Goods is located along the sightseeing route between Nagoya and popular destinations such as Takayama and Kamikochi, making it an ideal rest stop and cultural activity spot for Japan group tours.

“We use the Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway, but driving directly to the final destination makes the bus ride feel too long.”

If this sounds familiar, we have a solution for your travel company.

Located about one hour by expressway from Nagoya, our shop is an ideal hub to combine with Gujo Hachiman, Shirakawa-go, and Takayama

– and we sincerely hope you will include a Mino Washi craft experience as one of the plans in your Nagoya–Takayama–Shirakawa-go circular route.

Including travel time, if you are looking for an activity of about an hour and a half, we highly recommend the “Mino Washi Craft Experience Shop Ishikawa Paper Goods” located in Mino City, Gifu Prefecture!

Recommended points for travel agencies and tour planners

1. Up to 45 guests can join each session × 6 sessions per day (maximum 270 guests per day). Outside workshop times, guests can enjoy strolling the historic streets and visiting the Mino Washi Museum – our location is right in the center of the old town. Ideal for Japan school trips, senior tours, and cultural group tours.

2. Workshop duration: about 30 minutes if you follow the sample, or 45–60 minutes for creative designs. The next group can start 15 minutes after the previous workshop ends.

3. Guests can complete their作品 on the spot and take them home immediately – no waiting time for drying or firing.

4. Anyone can participate, from children to seniors. *Preschool children can join when accompanied by a guardian. Guests can freely use Mino Washi paper parts. Both “follow-the-sample” and “creative” styles are very popular – a hands-on experience of making a one-of-a-kind piece.

5. For group bookings, we offer an R10 rebate to travel agencies.

6. Direct sales by the manufacturer: we sell around 600 kinds of Japanese lifestyle goods and Mino Washi souvenirs. Shopping of 1,000 yen or more receives 10% OFF, which is very attractive for inbound tour groups.

7. Excellent location: only 5 minutes by car from the Mino IC on the Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway (about 5 minutes’ walk from the parking area).

8. Our experience shop is located in an authentic Edo-period townhouse right in the center of the sightseeing district.

9. A deeply immersive experience where guests can fully enjoy Japan’s traditional industry “Mino Washi” by touching, cutting, pasting, and creating with washi paper.

10. As of December 5, 2025, our Google rating is ★4.9

from 898 reviews and still increasing!

11. Free Wi-Fi available.

[Access Information]

From Nagoya: Nagoya Loop Line IC (Nagoya Expressway) → Ichinomiya JCT → Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway → Mino IC – approx. 67 km, about 1 hour

From Takayama: Takayama Nishi IC (Chubu Jukan Expressway) → Hida Kiyomi IC → Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway → Mino IC – approx. 100 km, about 1 hour 15 minutes

From Shirakawa-go: Shirakawa-go IC (Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway) → Mino IC – approx. 110 km, about 1 hour 15 minutes

From Gujo Hachiman: Gujo Hachiman IC (Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway) → Mino IC – approx. 28 km, about 17 minutes

From Chubu Centrair International Airport: Centrair Higashi IC (Chita Odan Road) → Nagoya Expressway & Nagoya Daini-Kanjo Expressway → Ichinomiya JCT → Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway → Mino IC – approx. 95 km, about 1 hour 20 minutes

From Toki Premium Outlets: Toki IC (Chuo Expressway) → Toki JCT → Tokai-Kanjo Expressway → Mino-Seki JCT → Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway → Mino IC – approx. 39 km, about 30 minutes.

*Our shop does not have its own parking lot. Please use the municipal parking lot (shuttle service available).

Ishikawa Paper Goods’ workshops are popular with both domestic and international guests as enjoyable events for “discovering Japanese culture through fun experiences.”

We would be honored if you add a Mino Washi craft experience to your company’s Japan tour programs!

▼ Experience shop website

https://www.ishikawa-shigyo.com/shop.html

▼ Mino City parking map

Front: https://minokanko.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/30ddbcbb17e8592a50b2d0c9fcab3229.pdf

Back: https://minokanko.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/90c3049d7dadf0b1aa05f315a3aacf68.pdf

▼ Mino City access information

https://minokanko.com/access/

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Our hometown, Mino City – winter-only delights

The Hina Doll Stamp Rally and Mino Washi “Kanzarashi” cold-water bleaching

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Winter in Mino City is a season of crisp, cold air and beautifully clear skies.

The Udatsu-lined historic streets show a quieter, more subdued charm compared to summer or autumn.

What makes this winter townscape suddenly come alive is the event hosted by the Mino City Tourism Association,

“Hina Dolls in Udatsu Townhouses” and the Hina Doll Stamp Rally.

Centering on the Udatsu streets, vintage Hina dolls and Mino Washi Hina dolls are displayed in old townhouses, shops, and under the eaves, filling the town with a festive atmosphere.

The stamp rally begins by getting a stamp sheet at the tourist information center “Banya” (free of charge).

As you collect stamps while shopping or dining at participating stores, once you have five stamps, you can return to Banya and join a prize draw. Turning the capsule machine gives you a chance to win some exciting little prizes♪

Of course, “Mino Washi Craft Experience Shop Ishikawa Paper Goods” is one of the participating stores. Please drop by and get a stamp when you are in the area.

Another star of winter is the scene of “kanzarashi,”

where the raw material for Mino Washi, kozo fiber, is exposed to the icy midwinter river.

The white bark of kozo is soaked in the crystal-clear, cold water of the Itadori River, and over many days, impurities are removed while the fibers are naturally bleached by the sunlight. This is an essential process for producing high-quality washi paper.

In the past, this work could be seen in many places along the Itadori River, but today it is preserved as a once-a-year winter event in which artisans gather together to carry on the tradition.

On days when the temperature is close to freezing, the sight of artisans stepping into the river and carefully handling kozo (paper mulberry) fibers is truly the “origin of winter-time Mino Washi” traditional papermaking in Gifu, Japan.

The paper created from fibers polished by midwinter water and sunlight is characterized by a refreshing whiteness and gentle texture; it is what we call “winter-born Mino Washi = kanzarashi,” a special type of traditional Japanese washi paper from Mino City.

After touring Hina dolls displayed in the historic Udatsu townhouses and enjoying a leisurely walk around town with the stamp rally,

if the timing is right, you can also visit the Itadori River to watch the kanzarashi cold-water bleaching of Mino Washi fibers.

After that, please stop by the “Mino Washi Craft Experience Shop Ishikawa Paper Goods” for a hands-on Japanese cultural experience during your Japan trip.

Inside the shop, you will find Mino Washi Hina doll goods, washi accessories that look great as winter interior décor,

and hands-on workshops where you can make Washi Korokoro Hina dolls and other Mino Washi crafts.

If, when you visit, you tell us, “I came because I read your newsletter!”,

I may end up talking a little too enthusiastically about how wonderful winter in Mino City is (lol).

The quiet stillness of winter, and the festive elegance of the Hina dolls.

And the story of the “winter river” that gives birth to Mino Washi paper.

We would be delighted if you could take your time and savor this winter-only side of Mino City, Gifu, as part of your Japan travel itinerary.

▲ Kanzarashi cold-water bleaching

▼ Click here for the Mino City Tourism Association’s “Hina Dolls in Udatsu Townhouses” Stamp Rally ♪

https://minokanko.com/news/event/p9001/

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Ishikawa Paper Goods “Conquer the World & Japan” Project! Please add a sticker from your home country or hometown^^

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Mino Washi, a cultural treasure that Mino City is proud of, is also registered as a UNESCO cultural heritage.

Founded 123 years ago, Ishikawa Paper Goods wants people all over the world to discover and enjoy the tradition and charm of Mino Washi.

From that wish, we launched a very special project for visitors from Japan and overseas!

Its name is…

[Did YOU Come for Washi? Visit Ishikawa Paper Goods] Campaign!

Ishikawa Paper Goods is located right in the heart of the Udatsu historic district of Mino City!

Our shop is a designated building within a nationally important traditional building preservation district,

renovated inside an Edo-period house that has been in use since 1760, and it is ready to welcome you.

Inside the shop, we have set up a world map and a map of Japan, and we invite visitors to place a sticker on their place of origin.

As the number of stickers grows, you can see at a glance how far the Mino Washi experiences at Ishikawa Paper Goods have spread across the globe.

Watching the maps fill with colorful stickers is exciting for both staff and guests.

◆ World-Conquest Project ◆

So far, guests (both individuals and groups) from 44 countries have visited us!

However, there are 193 United Nations member states, so our journey to share Mino Washi with the world is still ongoing.

For guests visiting from a country for the very first time…

· We present you with a Mino Washi souvenir!

· Please place a sticker on your place of origin^^

Which country will be the next to color our map? Please be sure to tell our staff what country you are visiting from.

◆ Japan-Conquest Project ◆

Among guests who enjoy the Mino Washi Craft Experience Shop,

which of Japan’s 47 prefectures do most visitors come from?

From nearby? Or from far away?

Add a sticker to your home prefecture and help color the map of Japan!

*At the moment, the stickers guests have placed are piling up into little hills on the map^^

The more stickers on the maps, the more connections grow between Ishikawa Paper Goods and our guests.

It is a participatory project that everyone can enjoy together.

If you have never visited us before, we warmly invite you to stop by.

When you come to Mino City as part of your Japan travel, please enjoy a Mino Washi craft experience and make special memories^^

Your single sticker will become the very first step in a new story.

All of our staff are sincerely looking forward to your visit!

Below is a list of the countries whose guests have visited our shop so far.

North & South America

United States, Brazil, Canada, Venezuela

Asia

Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macao, Vietnam, Indonesia, Myanmar, China, Timor-Leste, Nepal, India, Israel, Cambodia, Laos, Uzbekistan, Mongolia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Pakistan, Malaysia

Europe

United Kingdom, France, Germany, Poland, Scotland, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Sweden, Austria, Italy, Russia, Netherlands

Oceania

Australia, New Zealand

Africa

South Africa

Total: 44 countries

▼ Click here for the Ishikawa Paper Goods Experience Shop website ♪

https://www.ishikawa-shigyo.com/shop.html

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Information for guests with disabilities: introducing services that let you enjoy our workshops with peace of mind.

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At our shop, we have started the following support services for groups from special needs schools

and for groups from facilities for people with disabilities.

These services are designed so everyone can enjoy a Japanese cultural experience comfortably and safely.

For groups from special needs schools and groups of guests with disability certificates – group-only offer

For group visits that include students from special needs schools or guests who hold a disability certificate,

we offer one free try on our 300-yen capsule toy machine per person.

For shopping practice, product purchases are 40% off (handmade workshop fees are not included in this discount).

Our craft menu has no difficult steps, so anyone can easily create a beautiful piece.

(With Washi Korokoro, fans, bookmarks, washi plates, and pen stands,

you simply paste pre-cut paper pieces that follow the shapes of the templates…

and before you know it, you have created your very own original item^ ^

You can pour your creativity into a highly detailed design, or simply finish it by following the sample—either is fine!

Choose your paper, apply glue, and paste!

By repeating these simple steps, why not create a wonderful piece of Japanese craft art?

To teachers and staff from special needs schools,

after-school day service providers,

and those in charge of planning trips for residential facilities,

we warmly invite you to make use of our accessible Mino Washi craft experiences!

▼ Click here for inquiries about the Ishikawa Paper Goods Experience Shop ♪

https://www.ishikawa-shigyo.com/contact/shop.html

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Introducing Ishikawa Paper Goods: OEM versions of our popular Washi Korokoro products!

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Ishikawa Paper Goods is engaged in a wide range of activities: selling washi lifestyle goods and related items, running hands-on experience programs, and developing original products.

Drawing on the solid skills and experience passed down over 123 years since our founding, we wholeheartedly help turn your company’s ideas into original products, OEM items, and private label collections for museums, cultural venues, and travel souvenir shops.

Here are some examples of past original products we have created.

◆ A character every Gifu local knows! The FC Gifu mascot character has become a Washi Korokoro doll!

FC Gifu is a professional football club based in Gifu Prefecture, Japan.

Its official mascot character “Giffy” has been transformed into a traditional Mino Washi craft item, the “Washi Korokoro” doll.

This collaboration brings together a club that loves its local community and the craftsmanship that carries on Mino’s traditions, resulting in the birth of a charmingly wobbling Giffy Washi Korokoro doll!

https://www.ishikawa-shigyo.com/news/detail_1876.html

◆ Another local icon everyone in Gifu knows: Gifu Bus has become a Washi Korokoro doll!

You can enjoy it either as a finished product or as a DIY kit.

What’s more, the instruction sheet is available in both standard Japanese and in the local Gifu dialect, making it a fun Japanese cultural souvenir.

We created this item on request from Gifu Bus Co., Ltd., which operates local and charter buses mainly in Gifu City.

https://www.ishikawa-shigyo.com/news/detail_1874.html *DIY handmade kit

https://www.ishikawa-shigyo.com/news/detail_1875.html *finished item

◆ Cute Washi Korokoro “Komari-chan” character doll!

An original artist character has been transformed into a Washi Korokoro doll＾＾

This project was commissioned as concert merchandise for fans. Its unique atmosphere is a perfect match for the Washi Korokoro style of traditional Japanese paper crafts＾＾

https://www.ishikawa-shigyo.com/news/detail_1773.html

▼ We create original OEM products just for you! Using experience since 1902 to make one-of-a-kind designs for your company

No.1 in Japan for the number of registered Mino Washi brands!

Leave your original product development to us—dolls, papier-mâché (hariko), Japanese lifestyle goods, stationery, DIY kits, and items with your logo or name. We can propose products using many materials such as washi paper, chirimen crepe, wood, ceramics, and more, ideal for museums, shrines and temples, tourist attractions, airport shops, and Japan tour souvenirs.

▼ Click here to contact Ishikawa Paper Goods Headquarters ♪

https://www.ishikawa-shigyo.com/contact/index.html

Not only our commercial Washi Korokoro products, but in fact, original one-off pieces are quietly being born every day in our Mino Washi Craft Experience Shop as well^^

We are constantly amazed by the unique creations that spring from children’s free imagination during our hands-on Japanese craft experiences.

Instead of simply copying the samples, many children turn their favorite characters and personal motifs into three-dimensional form—that freedom of expression is exactly what makes Washi Korokoro so appealing.

From now on, we’ll also be introducing these fun and creative works on our blog with photos, so that overseas travel planners and fans of Japanese culture can see what guests actually make♪

With the maker’s ideas, the expressive possibilities of Ishikawa Paper Goods’ popular “Washi Korokoro” series are endless.

The workshops are not only for children; adults also find themselves completely absorbed, rediscovering their inner child through Japanese craft-making.

Why not create your very own original Washi Korokoro piece together with us at the Mino Washi Craft Experience Shop during your next Japan cultural tour?

[See all the photos!] We introduce this newsletter on the blog below with images. Updated every Monday.

Newsletter articles on the blog [with photos]

https://www.ishikawa-shigyo.com/news/index__23.html

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Customer Gallery: introducing作品 actually made by our guests♪

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Here is today’s featured作品♪

With adorable eyes, beckoning good fortune like a lucky cat♪

We hope you will also enjoy adding your own personal touches and arrangements♪

[See all the photos!] We introduce this newsletter on the blog below with images. Updated every Monday.

Newsletter articles on the blog [with photos]

https://www.ishikawa-shigyo.com/news/index__23.html

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Mayu “Mino” Diary – A nostalgic gift for my daughter

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The other day, while I was tidying up the house, I came across something “nostalgic” that made my hands stop moving＾＾

They were tiny hand-knitted clothes

that I had carefully made, stitch by stitch,

when I was pregnant and thinking, “I want to make something for the baby girl who will be born.”

When I was in elementary school, my mother taught me how to knit.

With crochet, once you learned single crochet and double crochet, you could adapt them to make all kinds of handmade pieces,

and I remember being so absorbed that I made lots of scarves “of a sort” one after another.

At the peak of my obsession,

I made not only stuffed animals but also crocheted “amigurumi” characters and knitted hats,

and I even earned a bit of pocket money by selling them at flea markets and through private sales＾＾

Then, when I found out I was going to be a mother,

I thought, “This time, I want to knit something for my own child,”

so I knitted a poncho, a coat, and a vest.

However, my daughter was born in March,

just as the weather was about to get warmer and warmer.

Because I had knitted everything in newborn size, she outgrew them in the blink of an eye and there was almost no chance to actually wear them (lol).

So the hand-knitted clothes ended up sleeping in the back of the closet for a very long time.

During this recent clean-up, I was reunited with those tiny hand-knitted pieces for the first time in years.

The feel of the yarn and the late-night hours I had spent knitting while thinking of the baby in my belly all came flooding back at once.

There was no way I could throw them away.

But it also felt like such a waste to just leave them hidden away forever.

That’s when I came up with an idea:

“Why not let my daughter’s current favorite friend wear them?”＾＾

When I tried the clothes on Cinnamon, the Sanrio character plushie that my daughter hugs tightly every day,

they fit perfectly!

When my daughter came home from school and spotted Cinnamon in her new outfit,

she exclaimed, “Huh? Cinnamon looks even cuter now＾＾”

and hugged her with a big smile.

Seeing that,

I felt so happy, thinking, “She may not have worn them as a baby, but now those little clothes are wrapping something very precious to her.”

When decluttering, we gradually let go of things we no longer need, things that no longer fit, or things that are broken—but the time, feelings, and love for our family woven into those items are not so easy to discard＾＾

The knitting my mother taught me has been passed from her hands to mine,

and now it feels as though it is being passed on, in a slightly different form, to my daughter’s favorite stuffed friend.

I hope that many more “memory-filled items” like this will continue to grow alongside my daughter in the years to come＾＾