Area ▶︎ MINO
Visit the homeland of Mino Washi paper
Washi paper making in the craftworker’s place in Mino
This experience tour lets you make Japanese paper (washi) in an atelier that’s actually used by craftworkers. Create your own customized washi by taking advantage of the thin but sturdy quality of Minowashi paper, adding decorations in the spaces and see-through parts in the paper and so on. Washi works well as a book cover, among other things.
Minowashi paper is a traditional craftwork product with a 1300years history. With an abundance of pure waters, the Makidani region of Mino city once touted an array of 1,000 washi manufacturers as the “Homeland of washi”; but only around ten washi manufacturers remain who produce this paper for a living. You’ll get the chance to delve into this deep world of washi, in which it is said that the side of the river bank where one gets the water to make the paper, not to mention the mood of the craftworker both become evident in the paper that they make.
■ Duration
About 2.5H
■ Steps
1.Papermaking with a teacher（30 mins per person）
2.Final touch（30mins to 1H）
3.Breaktime（30mins）
4.Walk around the village（20mins）
■ Price
23,000JPY / per person
(Include 5 papers ＆ 1drink)
■ Location
Warabi Paper Company
（725-1 Warabi, Mino city, Gifu pre.）
■ Pre-order
7days prior to your scheduled arrival date
■ Capacity
4 travelers ( Minimum :2 ）
■ What to bring
None
3 POINTS
1. Ordinarily, craftworkers repeat a massive number of tasks
every day in order to turn the raw materials into paper; but you
can experience the water scooping part, which is the most
fun.
2. You’ll have fun creating your very own washi, by tearing off
bits of gold leaf and forest leaves and sprinkling them into the
paper mix.
3. Enjoy tea time with the craftworkers while basking in a
mountain village atmosphere while and taking in the healing
light that pours in through the washi in the home showroom.
■ NAVIGATOR
Takanori Senda
He met Washi in Mino after he got back from London. He is an independent Washi manufacturer living with 7 people from his family and workmates. He is good at water scooping part.
Explore MINO
Note
1. This is a tour where you can talk with actual craftworkers.
These craftworkers are taking time out of their own busy work
during the day to help, so we ask that you strictly respect their
time and schedule.
2. Experience tour times may vary per person. Please inform us of
the time you need to finish by, if you need to be on time to take
public transportation or have other plans on your agenda.
3. The tools and fittings used by the craftworkers are valuable
personal property. Do not touch any of these items inside of the
atelier without permission.
■ Cancellation
・ Experience tours may be cancelled in the event of bad weather
such as typhoons or heavy rain, in consideration of your
safety.
・ The tour may be cancelled in the event of unforeseen
circumstances on the part of the facilities accepting visitors or
the craftworkers.
・ Cancellations will be decided by 5p.m. prior to the tour day.
Be sure to provide an e-mail address where we can get a hold of
you on the day before the tour.
