If you’re visiting Gifu Prefecture’s Mino City, this is the place! Mino Washi Craft Experience Shop Ishikawa Shigyo

E-Newsletter Issue No.227

In the historical “Udatsu no Agaru Townscape,” renowned for its Mino Washi papermaking heritage,

enjoy hands-on Mino Washi craft-making experiences and find perfect souvenirs,

as we bring you the latest updates from the Mino Washi Craft Experience Shop Ishikawa Shigyo.

Mino City Tourism Association Website

Recommended for solo travelers, couples, families, and group tours seeking a memorable journey.

We can accommodate hands-on experiences for groups of up to 45 people at once.

Our experience menu includes:

“Washi Korokoro” Mino Washi figurines

Washi Korokoro Zodiac Animals & Warlord Series

Currently available at a special price: [Washi Korokoro Monchhichi] Hands-on experience ¥1210

Washi Plates, Washi Pen Stands, Washi Bookmarks, Washi Earrings & Pierced Earrings

Over 30 different varieties! We share our operating schedule and more updates.

Click the links to see images.

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Check out the shop’s latest info, details on experience menus, and access details.

What is the Mino Washi Craft Experience Shop?

Hands-on workshops with Mino Washi crafts and souvenir shopping!

▼Official Website▼

https://www.ishikawa-shigyo.com/shop.html

▼Rakuten EC Site▼

https://www.rakuten.co.jp/ishikawa-shigyo/

Highly recommended for your Mino City sightseeing trip!

Shop News

NEW! December, January, and February shop opening days announced

https://www.ishikawa-shigyo.com/news/detail_1465.html

Group reservations accepted even outside regular operating days!

▼As featured on “Tetsuro Degawa’s Let Me Charge Here?”

Gifu Prefecture Mino City Washi Doll-Making Experience at Mino Washi Craft Experience Shop Ishikawa Shigyo, Video with Kumada Yoko

https://youtu.be/S8nqVqxGoiI

▼As featured on NHK “Marutto! Gifu” Mino Washi Uchiwa Making Experience

Mino Washi Craft Experience Shop Ishikawa Shigyo, Gifu Prefecture Mino City, Tourism in Udatsu no Agaru Townscape, Video

https://youtu.be/Pn995x3oX9Q

Gifu Channel “Meccha Gifu Wakaru TV”▼

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKiDL8-xf_w

▼Mino Washi’s hometown, Gifu Prefecture’s Mino City. Mino City Tourism Association HP

Our shop is introduced under “Experiences” → “Mino Washi” on the Tourism Association’s website!

https://www.minokanko.com/index.php

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Local elementary school visits for a social studies field trip

Hands-on crafting experience

Welcoming travelers from Taiwan!

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Recently, a local elementary school visited our shop for their social studies field trip,

enjoying our hands-on craft experience.

Surprisingly, it was their first time visiting us for such an excursion!

While many local students experience papermaking at the Washi-no-Sato Hall,

this time they came to learn how Mino Washi transforms into various products,

so they decided to visit our store for a more in-depth cultural craft workshop.

They also wanted to see how products sold in real life are made,

so they tried making their own Washi Korokoro creations.

Before their visit, the children prepared questions they wanted to ask.

We’d like to share some of these questions and our answers with you.

Q: How many different products do you have?

A: Ishikawa Shigyo handles about 1,000 different types of products each year.

On Rakuten, we have about 1,320 types listed!

Q: How many products do you make in a day?

A: There are so many varieties and different production processes,

and the popular items vary by season.

It’s hard to calculate a daily average.

But annually we ship over 300,000 items, which averages out to about 820 items per day if you divide by 365 days.

Q: Which products are popular with foreigners and which are popular with Japanese customers?

A: Our Washi Korokoro series, made by the kids, is loved by both Japanese and international visitors, including inbound tourists looking for unique Japanese souvenirs and authentic cultural experiences.

Actually, preferences vary depending on the location, season, demographic, and whether they are international travelers or locals. That’s why Ishikawa Shigyo offers over 1,000 product types to meet a wide range of demands.

Q: How long does it take to make one product?

A: Excluding the time for papermaking, wooden part production, and box preparation, for each order made by hand, it can take about two weeks to two months.

We’ll share more in the next update...

Right after the children’s visit, a Taiwanese tour group arrived, and the children spontaneously welcomed them, cheerfully greeting the visitors with “Ni Hao.”

The travelers from Taiwan smiled back, creating a heartwarming cultural exchange moment.

It’s rare for local kids to directly see overseas visitors enjoying their hometown, and this global interaction likely became a valuable learning experience and a memorable educational tourism moment.

Learning about local industry and culture in Gifu Prefecture

Mino Washi, nurtured along the Nagara River basin,

is recognized as part of Japan’s cultural heritage (“Japan Heritage”).

Come to Mino to learn about this Japan Heritage Mino Washi, perfect for educational tours, heritage tours, and sustainable tourism experiences!

We recommend it for educational travel, study tours, and school excursions!

Make Mino your choice for a school trip or social studies field experience!

Mino City is a region with over 1,600 years of Mino Washi tradition.

It’s ideal for educational travel programs that let students learn about traditional Japanese crafts, history, and intangible cultural heritage.

In Gifu’s Mino City, delve into the history of Mino Washi,

and enjoy the touch, beauty, and artistry of Washi through hands-on experiences.

In the Edo-era townscape of “Udatsu no Agaru Machinami,”

our shop offers Mino Washi craft-making workshops for all ages and group sizes!

You can also enjoy papermaking and washi craft-making at the Mino Washi no Sato Hall.

Learn about Mino Washi’s history and try your hand at papermaking

at the Mino Washi no Sato Hall!

Mino Washi no Sato Hall

https://www.city.mino.gifu.jp/minogami/

In Udatsu no Agaru Machinami, once a thriving washi merchant district,

you can tour old washi wholesaler townhouses and view modern washi art like “Akari Art,”

further enhancing your understanding of traditional craftsmanship in Japan.

Former Imai Residence / Mino History Museum

https://minokanko.com/seeing/category/history-culture/p5974/

Akari Art Hall

https://minokanko.com/seeing/category/townscape-architecture/p5976/

Recommended for educational institutions

https://www.ishikawa-shigyo.com/news/detail_1124.html

You can fully enjoy Mino City at a relaxed pace.

Our shop is featured in a Gifu Sustainable Tourism resource guide recommended for educational travel planning.

What is Sustainable Tourism?

According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO),

it is tourism that considers current and future economic, social, and environmental impacts,

while meeting the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment, and host communities.

You can download a map of the townscape from Mino City Tourism Association’s website▼

https://minokanko.com/pamphlet/

Volunteer guides are available for town tours.

Please inquire below if you need a guide.

*Guide service is available for groups of 10 or more.

https://minokanko.com/news/news/p6710/

*For groups of 20 or fewer wanting reservations outside normal business days, an additional facility fee may apply.

Please contact us for details.

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From January 2025

We will revise the prices of our craft experience menus.

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From January 2025, the following price changes will apply to our experience menus:

Washi Korokoro crafting experience

¥1100 → ¥1210

Washi Korokoro Koinobori crafting experience

¥1210 → ¥1320

Washi Korokoro Warlord Series

¥1210 → ¥1320

Washi Plate crafting experience

¥990 → ¥1100

Washi Pen Stand crafting experience

¥990 → ¥1100

Family Set A

¥1990 → ¥2210

Family Set B

¥1990 → ¥2210

Family Set C

¥1770 → ¥1880

Washi Bookmark crafting experience

¥770 (no change)

Washi Pierced Earrings/Earrings crafting experience

¥1320 (no change)

For reservations made within this year, we will apply the old prices.

We look forward to your bookings!

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〇●〇 Media Coverage Information 〇●〇

Seiryu no Kuni Gifu News Letter November 2024 edition

Experience the artful autumn through traditional craft “Mino Washi”

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Our products were introduced in the “Seiryu no Kuni Gifu News Letter”♪

(Press release from Gifu Prefecture Tourism Resource Development Section)

Our Washi Kabuto ornaments are featured as “A New Shape of Mino Washi.”

https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000017.000143336.html　

The article also highlights other sightseeing spots and autumn foliage in Mino and Gifu,

showcasing the many attractions Gifu has to offer.

Do have a look^^

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Our beloved town, Mino, known as the home of Mino Washi

Gifu Prefecture Mino City News

For all things Mino Washi, look no further

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Over 1,300 years of history and tradition

Discover Mino Washi

Mino Washi no Sato Hall

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Mino Washi no Sato Hall

https://minokanko.com/seeing/category/history-culture/p5975/

This facility allows you to see, touch, and experience Mino Washi,

learning about its 1,300-year history, raw materials, and complete production process.

They also hold papermaking workshops, as well as unique special exhibitions on paper-related themes.

Explore the history, techniques, and the future possibilities of Mino Washi and modern paper art.

Access:

From Gifu Bus “Mino-shi Station,” take the Gifu Bus Makidani Line to Horado Kurihara for about 20 minutes.

Get off at “Washi no Sato Koenmae.”

About 20 minutes from Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway Mino IC via National Route 156 and Prefectural Route 81.

Parking available.

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Make your own Hina dolls in a hands-on workshop!

Try the Washi Korokoro Hina Doll Experience at events!

Enjoy a seasonal cultural craft activity for March’s Hinamatsuri.

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Starting this month, at our experience shop,

we have begun offering the “Washi Korokoro Hina Doll” crafting experience!

When the New Year arrives, we approach March’s Hinamatsuri (Girls’ Festival),

and various “Hina doll” events bloom nationwide.

In Mino City’s Udatsu no Agaru Townscape,

Hina dolls are displayed throughout the streets,

creating a festive and elegant atmosphere.

Why not host a Hina Doll Craft Workshop at your event venue?

It’s a great cultural tourism activity for inbound travelers, families, and students alike!

We recommend our craft kits with instructions.

All you need are glue and scissors,

and we can even lend these tools to you!

We can provide tool rental:

10-person set: ¥5000 + tax

Contents: 10 tweezers, 5 glue containers (1 per 2 people), 5 scissors (1 per 2 people), 1 workshop file.

Besides the Zodiac animals, we have dozens of variations to choose from.

For lucky charms, we also have Maneki Neko, Daruma, Shishimai, and more.

For easy workshop options ▼

Difficulty-level menu chart:

www.ishikawa-shigyo.com/lsc/lsc-upfile/catalog/00/82/82_1_file.pdf

Please contact us directly for inquiries.

Enhance your workshops with decorative materials!

Recommended add-ons for a more enjoyable experience:

Pre-cut paper sets 10g ¥1000

About 10-person worth of cutouts. It’s a great deal!

Colorful cutouts can be trimmed into patterns for an even more charming finish.

“Local Souvenirs” and “Experiences” (Koto-Shohi) are highly appealing!

You can take your crafted masterpiece home immediately, serving as a perfect souvenir!

Our Washi Korokoro series is available all year round,

so you can continuously propose seasonal themes!

▼Examples of monthly experience proposals:

January: Zodiac animals, Setsubun “Red Oni” newly released

February: Hina dolls, Valentine’s Day message Korokoro!

March: Easter rabbits

April: Festival season, Shishimai

May: Boy’s Festival dolls, Warlord series, Koinobori

June: Rainy season motifs - frogs, goldfish

July: Tanabata

August: Goldfish

September: Cute animals, rabbits, owls

October: Halloween

November: Zodiac animals, Daruma, Maneki Neko

December: Christmas, Zodiac animals, etc.

We also recommend year-round bestsellers like our luck-bringing series and historical figures (warlords, princesses) to draw interest from cultural tourists and educational groups.

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From JAXA Institute of Space and Astronautical Science

Washi Korokoro’s achievements

Now heading overseas

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For the past two months, we have been delivering “Washi Korokoro SLIM” (a small lunar landing demonstrator) crafted by Ishikawa Shigyo to JAXA.

Official name: Washi Korokoro Small Lunar Lander SLIM

“Washi Korokoro SLIM” was presented to international VIPs,

and they shared this moment on “X” (formerly Twitter).

Staff members at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory also posted, happily receiving the gift.

Check it out here:

https://x.com/masahiro_ono/status/1859804446701781178

From images posted on X

Additionally, JAXA’s President and Director General of the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science presented it to the Director-General of the European Space Agency (ESA)!

https://x.com/ISAS_JAXA/status/1859507037488496743

From JAXA’s post on X

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Gifu Washi Craft Cultural Experience

In the “Udatsu no Agaru Townscape,”

create your own zodiac animal figure

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See our Washi Korokoro Zodiac Animals here:

https://www.ishikawa-shigyo.com/lsc/lsc-upfile/catalog/02/69/269_1_file.jpg

Craft your own zodiac sign in the historic Udatsu district

and boost your good fortune!

For travel agencies,

please recommend us to inbound tour planners, corporate travel, educational tours, and cultural tourism programs.

Overseas group tours featuring Mino Washi experiences

Company trips for team building with Washi crafts

Traditional craft experience tours

Learn about World Heritage and Japan Heritage sites

Memorable school excursions with hands-on learning

The twelve zodiac signs are part of Japanese culture,

sure to captivate international visitors, including overseas travelers seeking authentic, traditional Japanese cultural tourism experiences.

Mino Washi craft experiences

are perfect for Japanese cultural tours and inbound travel packages.

Add it to your travel itineraries!

For group inquiries▼

https://www.ishikawa-shigyo.com/contact/shop.html

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December, January, and February Instagram Contest

The keyword:

#IshikawaShigyoContestWinter2025

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We’re holding an Instagram contest during December, January, and February!

Use the keyword:

#IshikawaShigyoContestWinter2025

We look forward to your posts!

*Note: The keyword has changed slightly; please be careful.

Customer creations

Not only works made at our experience shop, but also kits purchased and crafted at home are eligible for posting.

Kits are available at Rakuten:

Rakuten Kit Sales Site

https://search.rakuten.co.jp/search/mall/%E6%89%8B%E4%BD%9C%E3%82%8A%E3%82%AD%E3%83%83%E3%83%88/?sid=391090

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Ishikawa Shigyo Headquarters Info

Latest information and great deals

With purchase benefits!

Casual and modern-chic Washi Umbrellas

Now available!

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Umbrella catalog here

https://www.ishikawa-shigyo.com/lsc/lsc-upfile/catalog/02/94/294_1_file.pdf　

*Special rates apply

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【Purchase Bonus】Sample Umbrella available upon request!

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Traditional Japanese “Janome” umbrellas reimagined in a modern casual style,

with simple colors suitable for anyone, and can also be used as a sunshade.

Advantages of sourcing from Ishikawa Shigyo:

- As a comprehensive wholesaler of Japanese crafts, we can bundle various washi items together.

- Orders accepted from just one umbrella, with color choices available (packaged in umbrella boxes).

- Same-day shipping possible.

Check out the introductory blog here ↓↓↓

https://www.ishikawa-shigyo.com/news/detail_1415.html

◆Reservations now open for 2025 new Hina dolls!

2025 Hina Doll Catalog here▼

https://www.ishikawa-shigyo.com/news/detail_1404.html

◆Reservations now open for 2025 new May Festival dolls!

2025 May Doll Catalog here▼

https://www.ishikawa-shigyo.com/news/detail_1414.html

Special client benefit: custom name plates available!

Please contact our sales staff for details.

◆New release: Three new “clip-on magnets”

Heart, Hexagram, Flower designs

We will attach the clip-on magnet catalog.

◆Ishikawa Shigyo’s special offers here▼

https://www.ishikawa-shigyo.com/news/detail_1377.html

Ishikawa Shigyo 2024 First Half (Jan~Jul) New Products & Special Offers

https://www.ishikawa-shigyo.com/news/detail_1377.html

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Minowa’s Musings [Character Bento]

Today is my third-grade grandchild’s social studies field trip.

Since they’re in third grade,

they said, “Character bento boxes are embarrassing now,”

but this morning,

I usually wake up first,

but I noticed the kitchen light was already on!

Their mom woke up early to make lunch.

Just finished, it turned out to be a wonderful character (Kyara) bento!

At the grandchild’s request, a “Pokémon” bento was ready.

When I said, “Wow, amazing!”

Mom replied, “I worked hard.”

Thank you for the early morning effort.

In my time, character bentos weren’t so common.

I’m glad I didn’t have to face that trend,

as I’m not very crafty myself (*_*;

Anyway...

For inquiries about this newsletter’s information▼

https://www.ishikawa-shigyo.com/contact/shop.html

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In a townscape rich in Edo-era ambiance,

experience making Mino Washi crafts at

Ishikawa Mino Washi Paper Goods Workshop

〒501-3728

1909-3 Honjyu-machi, Mino City, Gifu Prefecture

Shop Manager: Minowa

Phone: 0575-29-3680

FAX: 0575-35-1363

Minowa’s cell: 090-5851-4673

Email: shigyo@jt7.so-net.ne.jp

HP: http://www.ishikawa-shigyo.com/

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【Mino Washi Craft Experience Shop Ishikawa Shigyo Company Overview】

Founded in 1902 (Meiji 35), as a Mino Washi craft manufacturer,

we offer “Washi Ya no Teshigoto” (the handcrafted work of a washi shop) experiences at

Mino Washi Craft Experience Shop Ishikawa Shigyo.

Located in the “Udatsu no Agaru Townscape,” a famous tourist attraction in Mino City, Gifu Prefecture,

it’s housed in a 270-year-old historical building in a Traditional Buildings Preservation District,

where you can enjoy authentic washi crafts workshops with Japanese cultural and historical appeal.

Perfect for family trips,

for group tours seeking unique Gifu tourism experiences, and as a highlight of experiential inbound travel.

Ideal as an educational tourism program, for families, groups, couples, and inbound travelers interested in traditional Japanese craft tours,

you can learn about Mino Washi’s history while enjoying craft-making.

As a washi studio experience, make “Washi Korokoro” dolls,

Washi Earrings, Pen Stands, Plates, Bookmarks, and even Mino Washi Uchiwa in summer,

with 30 types of hands-on craft activities. There are also historical figure crafts (like Sekigahara warlords, princesses),

as well as Gifu Bus and Nagaragawa Railway-themed crafts.

Popular with inbound visitors from 37 countries,

we welcome walk-ins with no reservation needed (30-60 minutes per activity).

Our staff support ensures even those not confident in crafting can create something beautiful.

Take your finished piece home immediately—perfect as a souvenir.

For groups of 10 or more, please reserve. We can host up to 45 people at once.

For larger groups, we can rotate sessions, and also accept bookings outside normal hours.

With 600 types of Mino Washi souvenirs and crafts available from Ishikawa Shigyo Headquarters, it’s very popular.

Google Maps reviews: 4.9 (466 reviews as of July 9, 2024)

【TV broadcasts of Mino Washi Craft Experience Shop Ishikawa Shigyo】

Degawa Tetsuro’s “Can I Charge My Battery?” Mino City Washi Doll Crafting Experience

https://youtu.be/S8nqVqxGoiI

NHK “Marutto! Gifu” Mino Washi Uchiwa Crafting Experience

https://youtu.be/Pn995x3oX9Q

Matsuken Sanpo Washi Plate Crafting Experience

https://youtu.be/0Xj95TBhXoU

Hanasaka Times: Washi Korokoro Doll Crafting with Haruka Minowa & Yuriyan Retriever

https://youtu.be/u9tJ1DURNic

NHK News: Make Dolls with Mino Washi!

https://youtu.be/OULbvsHaA8w

NHK Gifu Hot Evening: Mino Washi Doll Crafting Ishikawa Shigyo

https://youtu.be/u1g85fl89KI

Chukyo TV “Catch!” Enjoyable Craft Experience at Mino Washi Craft Experience Shop Ishikawa Shigyo

https://youtu.be/k9Kd993PUq8

CBC “Ippou” Gifu Mino City Tourism & Crafting Experience at Mino Washi Craft Shop

https://youtu.be/qZ7_hOmaQ-8

Gifu Channel “Meccha Gifu Hunter” Washi Korokoro Maneki Neko Crafting

https://youtu.be/xGpfUOAcmtM

CCN Area Topic: Washi Korokoro Gifu Bus collaboration, Gifu Bus & Ishikawa Shigyo Craft Experience

https://youtu.be/aowdKHSnze8

Mino Washi Craft parent-child experiences

Gifu Traditional Craft Workshops

Mino City Washi Souvenirs How-to

Gifu Tourism & Local Experiences Tours

Handmade Washi Doll Family Travel Experiences

Mino Washi Craft Creation Experience

Washi Craft Classes for Children in Gifu

Group Tours: Mino Washi Craft Experience

Gifu Washi Craft Workshop for Tour Groups

Senior-Friendly Mino City Sightseeing Tours

Gifu Washi Cultural Experience Reservations

Washi Craft in Mino City Tourism Plans

Mino Washi Crafts, Japanese Cultural Tours

Gifu Family-Friendly Tourist Destinations

Mino Washi Travel Packages

Group-friendly: Up to 45 people for school trips & social studies tours!

Overseas workers’ cultural visit: Washi craft exchange programs for groups up to 45

Local elementary school experiences handmade crafts and passes on cultural heritage learning

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