Shinjuku Calligraphy Workshop: Write Your Name in Kanji

You grind the ink yourself before you ever touch the brush.

A 90-minute calligraphy class in Shinjuku where you learn traditional brush techniques from a live instructor, transform your name into kanji characters, and complete a finished piece to take home. The workshop opens to complete beginners and those with prior experience alike. You can optionally have your kanji printed on a T-shirt as a keepsake.

The experience

The workshop starts with the ritual of preparation: you'll grind solid ink using an inkstick, a meditative step that settles your focus before the actual writing begins. A professional calligraphy instructor guides you through basic brush techniques using practice kanji, building the control you need for your main piece. The classroom is a historic local space rooted in Japanese tradition, not a tourist studio, so the setting itself carries the weight of the craft.

Once you've practiced, you'll work with your instructor to transform your own name into kanji characters that match its meaning or sound. You then complete your favorite kanji artwork on paper, which you take home as a souvenir. If a particular character speaks to you, you have the option to have it printed directly onto a T-shirt, turning your practice into a wearable original design you can keep or gift.

The whole experience runs 90 minutes. English and Japanese instruction are both available, so language is not a barrier. The space is wheelchair accessible, and public transportation options are nearby if you're staying elsewhere in Tokyo or arriving without a car.

What’s included

• Live instructor in English or Japanese.
• grinding solid ink with an inkstick.
• practice kanji and brush technique instruction.
• transformation of your name into kanji characters.
• completed artwork on paper to take home.
• optional T-shirt printing of your kanji design.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 10:00, 12:00, 14:00 and 16:00

Book up toStart time

GroupUp to 24

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 14 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Japan Guide Star

Is this one for you?Book this if you want hands-on instruction in a central Tokyo location you can reach by train from anywhere in the city.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Japanese.

Can I do this workshop if I've never written calligraphy before?

Yes. The workshop is open to complete beginners as well as anyone with prior calligraphy experience. The instructor teaches basic brush techniques from the ground up, so no prior knowledge is required.

What do I actually take home from the workshop?

You take home your finished kanji artwork on paper. You can also choose to have your kanji printed on a T-shirt as an optional keepsake, creating a one-of-a-kind design you designed yourself.

How long does the whole workshop take?

The workshop runs 90 minutes from start to finish, including the ink grinding, practice strokes, and your completed main piece.

Is the calligraphy classroom easy to reach without a car?

Yes. The Shinjuku location has public transportation options nearby, and the space itself is wheelchair accessible, so you can reach it by train or bus from anywhere in Tokyo.

What's involved in the ink grinding at the start?

You grind solid ink using an inkstick, a traditional preparation step that calms your mind and readies you for the brush work ahead. It's part of the full experience, not just a demo.