Roppongi Calligraphy Workshop: Write Kanji & Take Art Home

Brush strokes become your own kanji, then a souvenir you made

A Japanese calligraphy workshop in Roppongi where you practice brush technique, write a kanji character of your choice, and create a paper fan or hanging scroll to take home. The 80-minute session includes an instruction video on the history and mindset of shodo (Japanese calligraphy), a custom hiragana name stamp, a kanji keychain or coaster, a tote bag, and one free drink. A live English-speaking guide leads the class, and children from age 3 are welcome.

The Experience

You start with the basics: how to hold the brush, the pressure and angle that shape each stroke. The instructor walks through the fundamentals on video—the history of shodo, the tools, the meditative mindset behind it—then you pick a kanji character that means something to you and write it on a paper fan or hanging scroll. The brush and ink are provided, and the space is set up so you can focus on the motion without arranging anything else.

By the end of the session you leave with what you made: the fan or scroll with your kanji, a hiragana name stamp carved with your name, a kanji keychain, a coaster, and a tote bag printed with kanji characters (you choose from 愛, 龍, 幸, 風, or 夢). One free drink—matcha latte, green tea, beer, or another option—is included, and the whole workshop runs 80 minutes.

If you want to add more, the workshop offers options at checkout: fold a paper origami crane (20 extra minutes), design a custom t-shirt with your kanji, or combine both the t-shirt and name-in-kanji option for the full experience. The location is in Roppongi, accessible by public transport, and the class welcomes all fitness levels and ages from 3 up.

What’s included

• Japanese calligraphy instruction with a live English-speaking guide.
• practice of basic brush strokes.
• writing your choice of kanji character on a paper fan or hanging scroll.
• instruction video on shodo history, tools and mindset.
• one free drink (matcha latte, green tea, coffee, Coca-Cola or beer).
• custom hiragana name stamp.
• kanji keychain.
• kanji coaster.
• kanji tote bag (choose from five printed characters).
• kanji pouch.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessiblePublic transport nearby

Operated by Japanese Calligraphy Experience at Shodo Cafe 7557 of Roppongi

Is this one for you?The fixed 80-minute format and all-inclusive materials mean you walk in and start learning without hunting for supplies or worrying about pacing—the instructor and the space handle the setup, so you focus on the brush and the character. If you want to combine calligraphy with origami or a custom t-shirt, you can add either option at checkout to extend the session.

Traveler reviews

4.96★★★★★★★★★★

90 verified traveler reviews

5 ★88

4 ★0

3 ★2

2 ★0

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What exactly do I write during the calligraphy workshop?

You write your favorite kanji character on a paper fan or hanging scroll that you take home. The instructor teaches you the brush technique first, then you choose which single kanji to create—common choices are characters meaning love, dragon, luck, wind or dream, though you can pick another if you prefer.

What do I get to keep after the workshop?

You keep the fan or scroll you wrote on, a custom hiragana name stamp, a kanji keychain, a kanji coaster, and a kanji tote bag with your choice of five printed characters. All of these are included in the 80-minute session.

Is there instruction for beginners, or do I need calligraphy experience?

The workshop is built for beginners. You start by practicing basic brush strokes, watch an instruction video covering the history and mindset of shodo, then move to writing your chosen character. No prior experience is needed.

Can I add origami or a custom t-shirt to the calligraphy class?

Yes. At checkout you can choose to add paper origami crane folding (20 extra minutes), design a custom t-shirt with your kanji, or combine both options. The base calligraphy workshop is 80 minutes; adding options extends the total time to 90 or 100 minutes.

What drink is included, and can I choose?

One free drink comes with the workshop. You can choose matcha latte, green tea, coffee, Coca-Cola, or beer depending on what the cafe has available that day.

Is the workshop suitable for children?

Yes, children are welcome from age 3. The class is taught by a live English-speaking guide and is designed for all physical fitness levels, so families can participate together.