Express Your Soul Through Calligraphy near Himeji Castle <wadoshoin>
Overview
Experience the art of Japanese calligraphy! Learn to write and express your heart through kanji with an expert. Create a beautiful, meaningful keepsake, in a Japanese-style tatami room just 2 minutes’ walk from Himeji Castle. For a fleeting moment of wabi-sabi, choose the exclusive option to write on a huge wall-sized sheet of paper!
Highlights
- Reserve with a Rakuten account to earn or use Rakuten Points for each booking
- Learn to write meaningful kanji with expert guidance — suitable for all levels
- Explain your idea to the teacher who will suggest the best way to express it
- Take home your unique calligraphy piece or a digital video if it's too big to carry!
- Practice in a serene setting near Himeji Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage site
Key Information
Important Information
- Participants must be aged 10+
- Children under 10yesrs old must be accompanied by a parent or guardian
- Please arrive 5 minutes before your reservation time
- Brushes, inkstones, ink, and calligraphy paper are all included in the fee
- Colored paper, strips of paper, postcards, etc. are also available: please purchase what you like on the day
- Please take off your shoes as the flooring is delicate tatami (rice-straw mats)
- The total experience usually lasts about just under 1 hour, but we can extend the session up to 1 hour and 30 minutes on request
Description
At our tranquil venue just a few minutes from the beautiful Himeji Castle, take the opportunity to express your spirit through the art of “shodo” — Japanese calligraphy.
Whether writing your name, a meaningful word, favorite motto, or even an anime character's name, you can learn to write it in kanji. Write your message on special square “shikishi” calligraphy paper, a postcard, or a folding fan (add-on option).
Or, book the option for a huge 2 x 3.6 meter sheet that covers a whole wall! The very act of writing with a large brush on such a scale gives a moment of pure wabi-sabi, like the annual writing of Japan's "kanji of the year."
Please join us in our tatami-room studio and experience the soulful tradition of shodo. In about 1 hour, we will help you put your ideas into (Japanese) words, give you an example to follow, and tutor you as you practice the art before creating your final work on special paper.
What to expect:
1: Introduction and consultation (5 minutes): enjoy a relaxing cup of Japanese tea as we discuss and select your calligraphy plan.
2: Sample by the instructor (5 minutes): your instructor will create samples of your chosen expression for reference, as you decide the final creation to aim for.
3: Practice on calligraphy paper (20 minutes): learn kanji and techniques as you practice freely and learn to express yourself with the brush.
4: Final preparation and instruction (10 minutes): more instruction from the teacher, and explanation of the finer points, preparing you to create your finished work. Practice on special paper, and choose the medium for your final work (you can write on a folding Japanese fan for an extra fee). If you choose the large-scale calligraphy option, have a test run on the full-size paper before the actual performance.
5: Completion and commemorative photo: Finish your masterpiece under our guidance, completing the work by stamping it with a special seal. We take commemorative photos to memorialize the experience.
6: Take home your art: if you write on calligraphy paper or a folding fan, you can take it with you as a memento of your visit to Himeji. If you chose the large-scale calligraphy it will be hard to take home — a video of your performance is your portable memento of the fleeting experience instead.
Even if it's your first time, don't worry. In a tranquil Japanese-style room, you'll start with basic practice on calligraphy paper. With our instructor's advice and examples, you'll improve quickly and feel like a true calligrapher.
We hope to create an unforgettable experience that will spark your creativity and deepen your appreciation of calligraphic art and Japanese culture.
