Japanese Calligraphy Class in Ninenzaka (Kyoto)
- Located near Kiyomizu Temple and Gion area
- Enjoy a calming and inspiring experience as you explore the beauty of Japanese calligraphy
- Our beginner-friendly classes ensure a supportive and enjoyable learning environment
What to expect
Introduction to Calligraphy and Its History Learn about the history and cultural significance of Japanese calligraphy and its link to traditions. Proper Brush Handling Learn how to hold the brush and control pressure for different strokes. Calligraphy Preparation Experience the calming process of preparing your materials. Basic Brush Techniques Practice basic strokes such as lines, dots, and sweeps to build foundation skills. Writing Basic Kanji Characters Write simple kanji focusing on stroke order and balance. Creating Your Own Masterpiece Create a calligraphy piece with your name or a phrase; seasonal projects like New Year’s cards are included.

















Reviews
The highlight of our trip to Kyoto. Our instructors were kind and patient. You get to choose what you will be writing from a binder, many options. My husband and I really enjoyed this experience. Highly recommend. Easy location to find as well. Many shops and restaurants near by.
Niko and Mana were wonderful. They gave us an incredible lesson in the art of Japanese calligraphy, and it was one of the best experiences we had in Kyoto. Their activities are highly recommended, as they reflect a beautiful part of the spirit of Japan. Thank you for this lovely teaching.
Absolutely worth going to! A wonderful experience with patient and encouraging teachers. The session lasted one hour starting with an explanation of Kanji. You get to choose what word to paint on the sheet and practise the strokes. It's tough but fun! At the end, your practice is presented on a board or fan. I would absolutely recommend. Teachers were there every step of the way and encourage how to practise better. I would do this again.
At the last minute of an already pleasant day, my 11 and 13-year-old sons and I decided to book this class, and we are so glad we did. They welcomed us in traditional attire with big smiles and greetings. After explaining the tools needed for the class (brush, paper, etc.), we chose a concept to copy and started practicing. The help, explanations, and advice were always appreciated, and after practicing, you replicate the chosen concept on a nice sheet of paper. Everything you create, you can take home. This experience is highly recommended; I am Italian and don't speak English, but I had a fantastic time. Highly recommended experience.
Enjoy a small group calligraphy class with incredibly welcoming hosts, and you can even wear a Yukata if you like. We really enjoyed our time.
I really enjoyed this workshop, both of the hosts took their time to teach us the proper techniques and let us practice before making something we could take home and display. It’s one of my favorite souvenirs from our trip!
What a wonderful experience! We came with our two daughters, 11 and 7 year olds, and they enjoyed it so much! Both of their work looked wonderful at the end, thanks to the careful attention to detail of the teachers! Highly recommend!
Amazing experience considering it wasn't top of my wish list. Great tuition, small group so almost one to one help. Thought it wouldn't be too challenging but it was, and because of that most enjoyable. Would definitely do it again.
Me and my daughter loved this experience. We had an explanation of the 3 alphabets, then plenty of practice before we did our final piece. Great people. Plan out getting there as we ended up walking for an hour on a very hot day 🥵
A brilliant experience! Thanks! The cosy venue is in the beautiful Gion district and was perfect for a small-group experience - two families of 4 when we were there. Our kids are 12 and 16. The instructors spent lots of time with each of us taking us through some basic strokes before we were each taught strokes specific to the kanji that we wanted to draw. There was plenty of time to really get immersed in it. As with all the arts we experienced whilst in Japan, it felt very authentic and respectful. I’d highly recommend a visit. It was great fun.
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