Top Winter Activity in Mino City, Gifu, Japan : Warm Up with a Mino Washi Craft Workshop | Ishikawa Mino Washi Paper Goods Workshop 2025.12.19
2025.12.24Mino Washi Craft Experience Shop Ishikawa Shigyo
Shop Newsletter Vol. 275
Recommended for Winter Sightseeing in Mino City, Gifu, Japan! Warm Up with a Hands-On Mino Washi Craft Workshop Experience♪ (Perfect for Japan group tours & cultural travel itineraries)
Thank you for visiting the Mino Washi Craft Experience Shop Ishikawa Shigyo!
As of December 19, 2025: Google Reviews ★4.9 (928 reviews) — updated regularly!
“Mino Washi Craft Experience Shop Ishikawa Shigyo” is…
Ishikawa Shigyo’s hands-on workshops let you enjoy traditional Japanese culture with all five senses.
While learning about the charm and heritage of Mino Washi, you can create one-of-a-kind dolls and Japanese souvenirs (perfect for Japan travel planning and cultural experiences).
From the feel of washi paper, to the joy of choosing colors and patterns, to the fun of shaping your own design—this is an immersive Japanese craft experience you can truly enjoy through all five senses♪
Right in the heart of Mino town!
We are located in the Udatsu-lined historic streets, within a nationally designated Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings.
Why not enjoy a Mino Washi craft workshop together inside an Edo-period building featuring an “udatsu” (built in 1760)♪
From solo travelers to groups of up to 50 guests (about one sightseeing bus), you can enjoy the craft experience at the same time^^
(For groups over 50, we recommend splitting into a Mino city walking & shopping team and a workshop team for smooth scheduling!)
Couples, friends, families, group tours, corporate trips, incentive travel, school trips—everyone is welcome♪
Any group can share a fun time together!
Experience menus include:
Washi Korokoro washi dolls, washi fans (uchiwa), washi earrings/piercings, washi plates, washi pen stands, washi bookmarks, and more♪
▼ Washi Korokoro DIY Workshop Menu ▼
https://www.ishikawa-shigyo.com/lsc/lsc-upfile/catalog/00/82/82_1_file.pdf
You can follow the sample exactly—great!
You can also create freely using your own intuition—great!
Or you can design it to resemble your favorite character—also great!
Now—let’s make your one-and-only original souvenir to take home from Japan!
We offer 30+ kit designs—you're sure to find a favorite.
Please check our business schedule before you visit. We look forward to welcoming you♪
▼ Shop Opening Days (Nov / Dec / Jan) ▼
https://www.ishikawa-shigyo.com/news/detail_1855.html
[Note] Please contact us! We can accept group bookings even on dates outside the schedule above!!
▼ Website ▼
https://www.ishikawa-shigyo.com/shop.html
▼ Group Booking Information (ideal for travel agencies / tour operators planning Japan group tours) ▼
https://www.ishikawa-shigyo.com/lsc/lsc-upfile/catalog/03/43/343_1_file.pdf
Each little moment in everyday life can become a “manpuku” (heart-full) moment♪
Today as well, we’re here to help you see more smiles at Ishikawa Shigyo’s Mino Washi craft experience shop♪
Now then, let’s begin today’s Experience Shop Newsletter＾＾
◆ Today’s Topics ◆
• Individuals welcome! Guests we met on opening days
• Announcement for everyone: A Disney series is coming to Washi Korokoro!
• Group experiences: Highly flexible and deeply satisfying♪ Welcome to the Mino Washi Craft Experience Shop!
• Recommended for Mino City sightseeing: Easy access—perfect for tour itineraries and Japan travel planning♪
• Our hometown, Mino City! Winter-only fun♪ The Hina Doll Stamp Rally and Mino Washi “Kansarashi” (cold-water bleaching/drying)
• Ishikawa Shigyo’s “Conquer the World & Japan” project—please place your hometown sticker^^
• For guests with disabilities: Introducing services designed to help you enjoy with peace of mind!
• About Ishikawa Shigyo: Introducing popular OEM Washi Korokoro items!
• Customer Gallery: Works actually created by our guests during the workshop♪
• Mayu“Mino” Diary: Rediscovering the town of Mino through a workshop!
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Individuals Welcome! Guests We Met on Opening Days
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The other day, I was in charge of the shop on a Sunday for the first time in a while＾＾
In autumn, Mino town is lively with many visitors from all over,
but as the cold deepens in December, the streets gradually become quieter and less crowded.
All the workshop reservations that day were individual guests.
While preparing, I felt excited—wondering, “What kind of encounters will today bring?”
And now, it’s time to open.
Today, too, we had many wonderful encounters＾＾
First, a guest who stopped to talk to us after falling in love with the expression of the papier-mâché piece called “Shiki-Orior i (Four Seasons).”
They spoke to me about it.
They asked, “What is this placed in front of this item?”
I replied, “It’s a ‘seasonal decoration’ to display on top of a sanbo offering stand.”
In addition to a decoration where a small carrot sits atop a kagami mochi,
it features motifs matched to spring, summer, autumn, and winter,
so you can enjoy displaying a different papier-mâché ornament on the sanbo for each season.
As I explained the item,
and listened to the guest’s thoughts—“I’d like to display this during this season,”
I found myself growing even more attached to this “Shiki-Orior i (Four Seasons)” piece＾＾
We also had a family—a father and daughter—who came to enjoy the workshop together.
A smiling dad and a slightly shy daughter.
They told me they are both born in the Year of the Sheep, so they made a sheep papier-mâché together.
The daughter’s sheep turned out soft and adorable.
The father’s sheep looked dependable—very “dad-like.”
A charming pair of parent-and-child sheep, each showing their own personality, was completed＾＾
After the workshop, they also enjoyed the capsule toy machine outside together.
The daughter won a “Rabbit Hina” beanbag, and the father won a “Cow” beanbag—both were thrilled.
“Let’s try one for Mom, too＾＾” said the daughter.
They made sure to prepare a souvenir for Mom, who was working hard that day.
A mother and daughter who visited the shop
also hoped to bring back “Japan souvenirs” for friends overseas,
and they purchased, as a specifically requested item, the “Chirimen Hanging Decoration: Rabbit Hina,”
which they had liked during a previous preview visit.
There are three types of hanging decorations: the 12 zodiac animals, rabbits, and carp streamers.
All are very popular items with inbound visitors from overseas.
I was truly happy that they felt Ishikawa Shigyo’s Mino Washi goods—full of Japanese charm—
are perfect as “Japanese souvenirs” for international travelers.
Another family came to enjoy the workshop together.
Their high-school daughter said, “I want to dress the ‘Cow Washi Korokoro’ in a kimono!”
She chose her favorite washi paper, but…
when she tried fitting it, it was a bit too short.
Everyone looked through the shop’s cut paper,
but they couldn’t find the same patterned washi.
Then the daughter smiled and said,
“It’s okay—I’ll make it with this.”
She carefully trimmed the washi into tiny thumb-sized pieces,
and pasted them onto the Washi Korokoro one by one, in order—
and beautifully, a cow in kimono was completed!
Within limited materials,
her creativity and perseverance—“making the best of what we have and finishing it well”—
was so impressive it made us want to applaud.
Our experience shop is not only for shopping,
but also a place where you can “touch” and “make” Mino Washi—and enjoy conversations with people (a memorable cultural activity for Japan travel and group tour programs).
Individual guests are always welcome!
When you visit,
I hope even the casual chats with our staff
become a special part of your travel memories＾＾
▼ Click here for the Ishikawa Shigyo Experience Shop website♪
https://www.ishikawa-shigyo.com/shop.html
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Announcement for Everyone! A Disney Series Has Arrived in Washi Korokoro!
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A Disney series has joined our Washi Korokoro collection＾＾
They’re scheduled to appear at Ishikawa Shigyo’s shop around February…
Everyone—meet Mickey and friends, now transformed into cute, rounded Washi Korokoro figures.
We look forward to welcoming you to our shop＾＾
～～～Product Introduction～～～
A charming, round Mickey Mouse.
Made with Mino Washi—traditional Japanese paper with over 1,300 years of history.
The way it tumbles and pops back up again and again evokes Mickey’s lively, “never-give-up” spirit.
Mickey Mouse has delivered smiles across generations, and the warmth of handmade washi paper perfectly complements his cheerful brightness.
Crafted using techniques passed down at Ishikawa Shigyo since our founding in 1902, this is a truly celebratory item—ideal as a Japan travel souvenir and a cultural keepsake.
▼ Visit the Ishikawa Shigyo Experience Shop website here♪
https://www.ishikawa-shigyo.com/shop.html
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Group Workshop Information! Highly Flexible & Deeply Satisfying♪ Welcome to the Mino Washi Craft Experience Shop!
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Elementary schools, junior high schools, high schools, kids’ clubs, family trips, PTA parent-child trips, company outings, corporate training programs, sports clubs, senior clubs, NPO/volunteer groups, cultural experience tours, and more….
To the organizers, planners, coordinators, concierges, and group leaders searching for the perfect hands-on activity in Japan!
“We want children to experience something they can’t do in everyday school life.”
“We want to create fun memories together as a group.”
Yes—if that sounds like you, please consider Ishikawa Shigyo’s Mino Washi Craft Experience Shop^^
With a one-of-a-kind “make your own” craft workshop, you can take home wonderful memories from your Japan trip.
We still have availability for reservations!
Group bookings and individual bookings via reservation sites are both very welcome.
Our workshops are very flexible—anyone can enjoy making something by following a simple instruction sheet.
Some guests ask, “Is it really okay to be this free?”—Yes, absolutely! Our staff will carefully support all the key points^^
The year-round “Washi Korokoro Series” includes zodiac animals, plus many options for monthly events and seasonal celebrations—perfect for cultural tourism and Japan group tour itineraries.
◆ Washi Korokoro you can enjoy when you visit the shop
[Animals & Lucky Charms]
Goldfish, Frog, Maneki-neko (Lucky Cat), Owl, Kitten
[Zodiac 1]
Snake (Zodiac: Mi), Dragon (Zodiac: Tatsu), Mouse/Rat (Zodiac: Ne), Ox (Zodiac: Ushi), Tiger (Zodiac: Tora), Rabbit (Zodiac: U)
[Zodiac 2]
Boar (Zodiac: I), Dog (Zodiac: Inu), Horse (Zodiac: Uma), Sheep (Zodiac: Hitsuji), Monkey (Zodiac: Saru), Rooster (Zodiac: Tori)
[Folktales & Good-Luck Themes]
Daruma, Shishimai (Lion Dance), Ninja, Red Oni, White Horse (Uma Hakuba)
[Warlord Series]
Akechi Mitsuhide, Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Tokugawa Ieyasu, Otani Yoshitsugu, Tokugawa Ieyasu (Young), Kicho (Nohime)
[Seasonal & Event Themes]
Blue Carp Streamer, Red Carp Streamer, Kabuto Helmet, Child Carp Streamer, Two Carp Streamers Set, Child Carp Streamer 3, Hina Dolls
[Shop-Exclusive Items]
Jack-o’-lantern, Swordsman, Scales, Princess, and maybe even more items!?
We always have 30+ craft kits available, so you’re sure to find something that makes you think, “I want to make that!”
You might even discover a special Washi Korokoro that can only be made here!?
You’re also welcome to look up craft ideas on your smartphone and customize your own style—why not make, share, and laugh together for a memorable time in Japan?
Please come visit Ishikawa Shigyo’s 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 Piercing & Earring DIY Kit Sales + Tool Rental Guidelines
www.ishikawa-shigyo.com/lsc/lsc-upfile/catalog/02/84/284_1_file.pdf
▼ Craft Experience Menu: “Washi Plate,” “Washi Pen Stand,” “Washi Bookmark,” “Washi Piercings,” “Washi Earrings”
www.ishikawa-shigyo.com/lsc/lsc-upfile/catalog/01/23/123_1_file.pdf
▼ Craft Experience Menu: 3 Family Set Options
https://www.ishikawa-shigyo.com/lsc/lsc-upfile/catalog/02/09/209_1_file.jpg
▼ Craft Experience Menu: Washi Korokoro Warlord Series Workshop
https://www.ishikawa-shigyo.com/lsc/lsc-upfile/catalog/02/69/269_1_file.jpg
For inquiries about this newsletter, please contact us here▼
https://www.ishikawa-shigyo.com/contact/shop.html
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Recommended for Mino City Sightseeing! Easy Access—Perfect for Tour Itineraries♪ The Mino Washi Craft Experience Shop Is Ideal for Group Tours
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To travel planners at travel agencies creating package tours.
Mino Washi Craft Experience Shop Ishikawa Shigyo is located along a popular loop route from Nagoya toward Takayama and Kamikochi—making it an ideal stop for a break or a hands-on cultural activity in Japan.
“We use the Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway, but if we go straight to the destination, the bus ride feels too long.”
To travel companies facing that concern:
About one hour by expressway from Nagoya, our location sits at a hub for routes combining Gujo Hachiman, Shirakawa-go, and Takayama.
We sincerely hope you will consider adding a Mino Washi craft experience as a strong option in your Japan tour itinerary.
If you’re looking for an experience of about 1.5 hours including travel and movement time, we highly recommend “Mino Washi Craft Experience Shop Ishikawa Shigyo” in Mino City, Gifu!
Recommended points for travel agencies
1. [Up to 50 guests per session] × 6 sessions = [up to 300 guests per day]. Outside workshop time, enjoy the historic streets visit the Mino Washi Village Hall, located in the town center
2. Time options: [Follow the sample 30 min] or [Creative 45/60 min]. Next session can start 15 minutes after the previous one ends
3. Finish your piece on the spot and take it home immediately (no waiting time)
4. Suitable for everyone. *Preschool children can join with a guardian Unlimited Mino Washi parts! Both “follow the sample” and “creative” styles are very popular Create a one-of-a-kind piece
5. For group bookings, travel agencies receive an R10 rebate/return
6. Factory-direct sales 600 types of Japanese goods available. Shopping discount: 10% OFF for purchases over 1,000 yen
7. Great location: 5 minutes from Mino IC on the Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway (5 minutes’ walk from parking)
8. The experience shop is inside an [Edo-period house], located in the heart of the sightseeing area
9. A full cultural experience: touch, cut, paste, and create using Japan’s traditional industry “Mino Washi” —a truly immersive craft workshop
10. As of December 18, 2025: Google Reviews ★4.9 (928 reviews) — updated regularly!
11. Free Wi-Fi available.
[Access Information]
From Nagoya: Nagoya Ring Route 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 min
From Shirakawa-go: Shirakawa-go IC (Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway) → Mino IC Approx. 110 km / about 1 hour 15 min
From Gujo Hachiman: Gujo Hachiman IC (Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway) → Mino IC Approx. 28 km / about 17 min
From Chubu Centrair International Airport: Centrair Higashi IC (Chita Odan Road) → Nagoya Expressway / Meini-Kan → Ichinomiya JCT → Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway → Mino IC Approx. 95 km / about 1 hour 20 min
From Toki Premium Outlets: Toki IC (Chuo Expressway) → Toki JCT → Tokai-Kanjo Expressway → Mino-Seki JCT → Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway → Mino IC Approx. 39 km / around 30 min
*We do not have our own parking lot. Please use the municipal parking lot (shuttle pickup available).
Ishikawa Shigyo’s experience programs are well received by guests from Japan and abroad as a fun way to learn about Japanese culture.
Please add a Mino Washi craft experience as a strong candidate for your company’s Japan tour plans!
▼ 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 Highlights (Gifu, Japan)
The Hina Doll Stamp Rally & Mino Washi “Kansarashi” (winter river bleaching)
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Winter in Mino City is a refreshing season—crisp air and a clear blue sky that feels wonderful for sightseeing in Japan.
The Udatsu-lined historic streets also reveal a calmer, more serene beauty than in summer or autumn—perfect for a relaxed cultural walk.
What instantly brightens the town in winter is the Mino City Tourism Association’s event:
“Udatsu no Machiya no Ohinasama” & the Hina Doll Stamp Rally.
Centered around the Udatsu historic district, you’ll find vintage hina dolls and beautiful Mino Washi hina displays lined up inside traditional townhouses, shops, and storefront eaves—an ideal seasonal experience for Japan travel itineraries.
The stamp rally starts by picking up a stamp card at the Tourist Information Center “Banya” (free).
Collect stamps while shopping or dining at participating stores. Once you have five stamps, return to Banya to join the prize drawing. Spin the capsule and you may win a fun little prize—an extra sprinkle of excitement♪
Of course, “Mino Washi Craft Experience Shop Ishikawa Shigyo” is also a participating store. Please stop by to get your stamp!
And the other winter star is the “Kansarashi” scene—when the raw material of Mino Washi, kozo (paper mulberry), is washed and laid in a midwinter river.
This is the landscape of “Kansarashi.”
In the crystal-clear, icy water of the Itadori River, artisans soak the white kozo bark and, over many days, remove impurities while naturally bleaching it under the sun. It’s an essential process for producing high-quality Japanese washi paper—an authentic highlight for cultural tourism and craft-focused group tours.
Although this work used to be seen all along the Itadori River, today it has been preserved as an annual winter tradition where craftspeople gather once a year.
In near-freezing temperatures, watching artisans carefully handle kozo in the river is truly “the winter origin of Mino Washi.”
Paper born from fibers refined by midwinter water and light has a clean whiteness and a gentle texture—so to speak, “winter-born Mino Washi = Kansarashi.”
Stroll through the udatsu townhouses to enjoy hina displays, have fun exploring the town with the stamp rally,
and if timing works out, visit the Kansarashi viewing by the Itadori River.
After that, please also stop by “Mino Washi Craft Experience Shop Ishikawa Shigyo.”
In our shop, we offer Mino Washi hina-themed goods, washi accessories that match winter interiors,
and hands-on workshops such as making your own Washi Korokoro Hina dolls—perfect for Japan cultural experiences and group travel programs.
If you visit and say, “I read the newsletter before coming!”
I might end up talking a little too much about why Mino’s winter is so special (lol).
The quiet of winter, the elegance of hina dolls,
and the story of the “cold river season” that gives birth to Mino Washi.
We would be delighted if you come and savor this winter-only Mino City—slowly and deeply—on your next Japan trip.
▲ Kansarashi (winter river bleaching)
▼ Mino City Tourism Association: “Udatsu no Machiya no Ohinasama” Stamp Rally details are here♪
https://minokanko.com/news/event/p9001/
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Ishikawa Shigyo’s “Conquer the World & Conquer Japan” Project! Please place your hometown sticker^^
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Mino Washi is a proud cultural treasure of Mino City and a UNESCO-recognized heritage of Japanese washi.
With 123 years of history, Ishikawa Shigyo wants people around the world to discover and enjoy the traditions and charm of Mino Washi—
and with that in mind, we’ve launched a special, one-of-a-kind project!
The name is…
[Are “You” coming to Ishikawa Shigyo for Washi?] Campaign!
Ishikawa Shigyo is located right in the center of the Udatsu historic streets of Mino City!
A special property within a nationally designated Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings,
our shop welcomes you in an interior renovated from an Edo-period house that has been used since the 1700s.
Inside the shop, we’ve set up a world map and a Japan map—please place a sticker on your hometown when you visit.
As the stickers grow, you can see at a glance how far Ishikawa Shigyo’s Mino Washi experience has spread around the world.
Watching the maps fill with colorful stickers is exciting for both staff and guests!
◆ Conquer the World Project ◆
So far, guests from 44 countries (individuals and groups) have visited!
But there are 193 UN member states—our journey is still far from over.
For visitors from a country coming to our shop for the first time…
• We’ll gift you a Mino Washi item!
• Please place a sticker on your hometown^^
Which country will color the map next? Please tell our staff your home country.
◆ Conquer Japan Project ◆
Among guests who enjoy our Mino Washi craft workshops,
which of Japan’s 47 prefectures sends the most visitors?
From nearby—or from far away?
Place a sticker on your hometown and add color to our Japan map!
*Right now, the stickers guests have placed are piling up like a little mountain^^
The more stickers we collect, the more connections we build between Ishikawa Shigyo and our visitors.
It’s a truly “participatory project.”
Even if you’ve never visited before, please come and see us.
As part of your memories in Mino City, we hope you’ll enjoy a Mino Washi craft experience^^
One sticker from you can become the first step of a brand-new story.
All of us on staff look forward to welcoming you!
*Here is the current list of countries whose visitors have come to our shop.
North & South America
United States, Brazil, Canada, Venezuela
Asia
Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, 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
▼ Visit the Ishikawa Shigyo Experience Shop website here♪
https://www.ishikawa-shigyo.com/shop.html
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Information for Guests with Disabilities: Services Designed for Peace of Mind & Enjoyment
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For special needs schools,
and group visitors such as disability support facilities,
we have launched support services like those below.
For groups only: “Special needs school groups” / “Groups with disability certificates”
For groups that include special needs students or people with disability certificates:
One free 300-yen capsule toy (gacha) service
Shopping practice: 40% OFF product purchases (workshops are excluded)
Our crafting menus have no difficult steps, so anyone can easily create a wonderful piece.
(Washi Korokoro, uchiwa fans, bookmarks, washi plates, pen stands) are made by
pasting pre-cut paper pieces along the template shapes…
and you can create your own original item just for you^ ^
You can craft in detail to match your sensibility, or finish exactly like the sample—either way is great!
Choose the paper, apply glue, and paste!
Would you like to repeat these simple steps and create something beautiful—an accessible, inclusive cultural activity for Japan travel?
Special needs schools,
after-school day service programs,
and organizers planning facility trips—
please feel free to use our services!
▼ Contact the Ishikawa Shigyo Experience Shop here♪
https://www.ishikawa-shigyo.com/contact/shop.html
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About Ishikawa Shigyo: Introducing Popular OEM Washi Korokoro Products!
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Ishikawa Shigyo offers a wide range of services—from selling washi goods and related products, to hands-on experiences, and even developing original items.
With 123 years of craftsmanship and experience, we wholeheartedly support product creation that brings your vision to life—ideal for corporate buyers, museums, tourism partners, and travel companies looking for unique Japan souvenirs or cultural programs.
Here are some past examples of our original OEM projects!
◆ The guiding deity “Yatagarasu” has become a charming, round Washi Korokoro roly-poly doll.
OEM produced by us upon request from Kumano-gu Shrine in Kodaira City, Tokyo (not sold to the general public by our company).
A lucky “Nanakorobi-Yaoki” design—no matter how many times it falls, it always bounces back.
Made in two versions (male and female), with a special built-in feature that lets you place an omikuji fortune slip—an item crafted with real attention to detail.
https://www.ishikawa-shigyo.com/news/detail_1753.html
◆ Cute Washi Korokoro “Komari-chan”!
An artist’s original character has been turned into a Washi Korokoro＾＾
Created as concert merchandise by request. The unique vibe is a perfect match for Washi Korokoro＾＾
https://www.ishikawa-shigyo.com/news/detail_1773.html
◆ Osaka icon “Kuidaore Taro” appears as a Washi Korokoro^^
Round glasses, red-and-white stripes, a pointy hat, and a blue ribbon.
The first time you see it, you can almost hear someone say, “Whoa—Taro himself!”
Because it’s a roly-poly doll made with Mino Washi from Mino City, Gifu,
it rolls around… and pops right back up.
A quirky, adorable fusion of Osaka energy and Mino handcraft—this is Washi Korokoro at its best.
https://www.ishikawa-shigyo.com/news/detail_534.html
▼ We create original OEM products! ▼ Using our experience since 1902, we craft special, one-of-a-kind custom items for your brand.
Japan’s No.1 in registered Mino Washi brands!
From doll-making and papier-mâché to Japanese souvenirs, stationery, DIY craft kits, and name/logo customization—leave your original production to us. We can propose designs using many materials such as washi paper, chirimen fabric, wood, and ceramics.
▼ Contact Ishikawa Shigyo Headquarters here♪
https://www.ishikawa-shigyo.com/contact/index.html
Beyond the commercialized “Washi Korokoro” lineup, original creations are also quietly being born right here in our Mino Washi Craft Experience Shop＾＾
We’re always amazed by the unique works that come from children’s free imagination.
Instead of following the sample, they freely bring their favorite characters or personal motifs to life—that creative freedom is the charm.
Going forward, we’ll also introduce these fun creations on our blog with photos♪
Ishikawa Shigyo’s popular “Washi Korokoro” offers limitless expression—depending on the maker’s ideas.
Not only kids—adults also get totally absorbed, returning to a childlike sense of wonder.
Why not create your own original piece together at the Mino Washi Craft Experience Shop?
[You can see the images!] We also feature this newsletter on the blog below with photos! [Updated monthly]
Newsletter Articles Blog [with images]
https://www.ishikawa-shigyo.com/news/index__23.html
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Customer Gallery Announcement! Introducing creations our guests actually made in the workshop♪
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Here is this issue’s featured piece♪
“Mie!”
Everyone, please enjoy your own creative arrangement too♪
[You can see the images!] We also feature this newsletter on the blog below with photos! [Updated monthly]
Newsletter Articles Blog [with images]
https://www.ishikawa-shigyo.com/news/index__23.html
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Mayu “Mino” Diary: Rediscovering Mino Town Through a Workshop!
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The other day, I joined an NPO “Mino no Sumaizukuri” workshop with the kids,
called “Town Walk Photography” and “Making a Wooden Photo Frame”＾＾
During the town-walk photo session,
“Stop and shoot at the places that catch your attention,”
“Don’t overthink the framing—put what interests you in the center and you’ll be good◎”
was the advice we received, and it felt fresh to see the town from a different perspective＾＾
Click—capturing scenes that looked fun and interesting.
…But as a mom, I still wanted to include my daughter somewhere in the photo (even just her “presence”)…!
So I turned back and snapped a photo—trying not to be noticed—of my daughter walking behind me with her friend!
Then my daughter said one thing:
“No偷拍 (no sneaky photos)!”
She scolded me, but when I kept trying anyway,
they started hiding their faces the moment they noticed me turning around!
It became a total “Daruma-san ga Koronda” freeze game—impossible to shoot! (LOL)
So I asked someone nearby for help.
“I’ll turn around as a decoy—could you capture the moment they relax and show their faces??”
The plan worked perfectly!…and then I got scolded by my daughter again (´；ω；`)ｳｯ…
Even with all that, we kept collecting photos of the town’s little “Wow!” moments＾＾