Calligraphy Workshop Hiroshima: Write on a Fan at Takumi

Write your own calligraphy, guided through each stroke, and walk out with a hand-painted fan

A calligraphy workshop in Hiroshima at Takumi, a traditional folk craft shop, where you learn to write Japanese characters using handmade brushes and ink, then create a finished piece on a fan or calligraphy board to take home. The instructor guides you through basic strokes and character practice before you compose your own artwork. The shop sits a 3-minute walk from Hiroden Hondori Station and 5 minutes from the Atomic Bomb Dome, with all materials provided and an optional free photo service.

The experience

What does it actually feel like to hold a brush the way a calligrapher does? You'll find out in the first few minutes, when the instructor shows you how to grip the brush, how much ink to load, and how the angle of your wrist changes everything. The session starts with the basic strokes (dots, lines, sweeps) the building blocks of every character. You practice on paper until the motion feels less foreign, then move to hiragana and kanji, learning how each one is constructed and where the weight of the brush matters most.

The workshop happens inside Takumi, a shop that has occupied the same space for fifty years. One wall holds ukiyo-e prints, and the space itself becomes part of the experience: quiet, focused, built for the kind of work you're doing. You have all the tools: brushes handmade in Kumano, the town that supplies Japan's best brush-makers; ink; paper; everything you need. The instructor, an award-winning calligrapher, works at your pace and doesn't expect you to arrive knowing anything.

When you're ready, you move to your final piece. You choose a word or phrase that matters to you, and you write it on either a traditional hand fan or a shikishi board. Both are real objects you'll use or display, not practice scraps. That finished artwork is yours to take home. If you want photos of the moment, the shop will take them during the session and send them to you free afterward.

What’s included

• Original calligraphy fan or board souvenir.
• all calligraphy tools including handmade Kumano brushes, ink and paper.
• venue usage at the 50-year-old Takumi shop.
• optional free digital photos taken during the session.

Before you book

Days and timesTuesday to Sunday8 departure times: the first at 11:00, the last at 18:00

Book up to6h before

AgesAdult (17 to 64 years) · Senior (65 and older) · Youth (6 to 16 years) · Child (3 to 5 years) · Under 3: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 6 · max 4 per booking

Live guideEnglish and Japanese

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by 平和都市広島で書道体験

Is this one for you?The shop sits a 3-minute walk from Hiroden Hondori Station, so you reach it easily by train or tram without needing a car or a taxi from elsewhere in the city. A real advantage if you're staying downtown or moving between neighborhoods.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Japanese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (6 to 16 years); Child (3 to 5 years). Under 3: they can't be included in the booking.

How long does the whole workshop take?

The session runs for one hour from start to finish, including the introduction to tools, practice strokes, and your final piece.

What do I actually get to take home?

Your completed calligraphy artwork on either a traditional Japanese hand fan or a calligraphy board, plus any photos the instructor takes during the workshop.

Is Takumi easy to reach without a car?

Yes, the shop is a 3-minute walk from Hiroden Hondori Station and a 5-minute walk from the Atomic Bomb Dome, both accessible by public transport.

Do I need any experience with calligraphy or Japanese?

No. The instructor guides beginners through every step, from holding the brush to composing your final character. No preparation is needed.