If you’re visiting Mino City in Gifu Prefecture, come here! Mino Washi Craft Experience Shop Ishikawa Shigyo

Newsletter No. 228

In the “Udatsu no Agaru Machinami,” a famous production area of Mino Washi,

we offer hands-on Mino Washi craft workshops—perfect for souvenirs—

plus the latest news from the Mino Washi Craft Experience Shop Ishikawa Shigyo.

Mino City Tourism Association Website

Recommended for solo travelers, couples, families, and group tours for a fun trip.

Groups of up to 45 people can do hands-on crafting at once.

Our workshop menu includes:

Washi KoroKoro Washi Dolls

Washi KoroKoro Twelve Zodiac & Washi KoroKoro Warlord Series

Currently offered at a special price [Washi KoroKoro Monchhichi] Hands-on workshop ¥1210

Washi plates, Washi pen stands, Washi bookmarks, Washi earrings, and clip-on earrings

We have over 30 different options! We’ll share info like our operating schedule.

Clicking the links lets you view the images.

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Check out our latest shop updates, workshop details, and access info.

What is the Mino Washi Craft Experience Shop like?

Hands-on workshops! Mino Washi craft souvenirs!

▼Website▼ 

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

▼Rakuten Online Store▼

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

Recommended for sightseeing in Mino City.

Latest Shop Info

NEW! December, January, and February shop schedule

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

We accept group reservations even on days we’re closed!

▼“Degawa Tetsuro no Juuden Sasete Moraemasenka?” broadcast

Mino City, Gifu Prefecture Washi Doll Workshop at Mino Washi Craft Experience Shop Ishikawa Shigyo — video featuring Kumada Yoko

https://youtu.be/S8nqVqxGoiI

▼NHK “Marutto! Gifu” broadcast, Mino Washi Uchiwa Workshop

Mino Washi Craft Experience Shop Ishikawa Shigyo in Mino City, Gifu Tourism, Udatsu no Agaru Machinami — video

https://youtu.be/Pn995x3oX9Q

Gifu Channel “Meccha Gifu Wakaru Terebi”▼

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

▼About Mino Washi in Mino City, Gifu Prefecture — Mino City Tourism Association Website

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

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

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Local elementary school social studies visit & hands-on workshop

Q&A from the children

~Continued~

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This is the continuation of a Q&A from when a local elementary school came for a field trip.

≪About Washi≫

Q: How is Washi printed so beautifully? (What technique is used?)

A: There are many types of Washi. In our case, for Yuzen-dyed Mino Washi, we send Mino Washi to Kyoto for color-by-color hand-printing. Since we manufacture handmade Washi crafts, Yuzen-dyed Mino Washi is essential.

For multi-layered Mino Washi Yuzen-dyed paper, the softness and strength of Mino Washi is required.

The beauty of Yuzen Washi lies in the variety of colorful patterns on each sheet, but you need a separate template for each color. A seven-color Yuzen Washi uses seven templates.

Each color is blended and hand-dyed. Template creation, dye blending, and hand-dyeing are carried out by specialized artisans. None of this is possible without the excellence of Mino Washi and highly skilled craftsmanship.

Q: How many types of Washi patterns are there?

A: Washi patterns are free and endless in variety.

Anything you draw can be made into a Washi pattern!

Not just Yuzen Washi — you can also create patterns using snowflake dyeing or board dyeing.

≪About the People Who Work Here≫

Q: How many artisans produce these items, and how do they do it?

How many people are involved in making a single product?

A: Setting aside papermaking, box production, base material creation, and dye artisans, about 40 staff members do the hand production at our company.

Including papermakers, box makers, fabric makers, and dyers, more than 100 people across many companies work on these products.

Just as Washi dolls differ from Washi memo pads in production methods, having various ways to make things is one of Ishikawa Shigyo’s strengths.

≪About Our Work & Shop≫

Q: When is the shop busiest or most difficult?

How many customers do you get?

A: This shop, Mino Washi Craft Experience Shop Ishikawa Shigyo, is mainly for travelers. We’re crowded in spring and autumn, the best seasons for travel.

Recently, we opened both the shop and a booth at the local industry festival, so that was busy too.

Not only from within Japan, we’ve welcomed hands-on visitors from 38 countries. Seeing each person’s unique creation is truly fun. We list these countries below.

Q: How do you create original items or collaborations?

Why do you make original products?

How many partners do you collaborate with?

What are you planning next?

A:

Because our goal is “to bring daily happiness, fun, and joy to end-users who use our products,” we picture the user, clarify their needs as specifically as possible, and create original designs.

Customers often contact us about collaboration products. They share the designs they need, we make Mino Washi prototypes, and after gathering feedback, we refine them into the final product.

We also aim for “our own happiness,” so we’re excited by original items, collaborations, and new ideas that we ourselves enjoy.

Examples so far:

Anime characters, local mascots, corporate mascots, pro baseball mascots, vehicles, JAXA’s lunar probe, historical figures (warlords), animals (ferrets, Jersey cows, wolves, Yatagarasu, etc.)

Q: What prompted you to start this line of work?

What do you keep in mind when creating products?

A:

It began with taking over a company founded in 1902 (Meiji 35), which marks 122 years. Today, we strive to create daily happiness, fun, and joy for our families, staff, retail customers, and end-users who use the products.

That’s all.

The children asked many questions: how Mino Washi becomes products, who appreciates them, etc.

We’re glad they showed so much curiosity in our work.

Study the local industries and culture of Gifu Prefecture

Mino Washi, nurtured along the Nagara River basin,

has been recognized as a “Japan Heritage.”

Come learn about Mino Washi, a Japanese Heritage, right in Mino!

It’s recommended for educational tourism!

We’d love to see you visit Mino on a school trip or social studies excursion!

Mino City has a 1,600-year history of Mino Washi.

Perfect for educational travel programs!

Here in Mino City, Gifu, learn about the history of Mino Washi,

experience its texture and beauty, and enjoy a hands-on workshop!

In the “Udatsu no Agaru Machinami,” where the Edo-era scenery remains,

you can experience making Mino Washi crafts at our shop!

We also offer hand papermaking and Washi craft workshops.

To study Mino Washi’s history or try hand papermaking, visit

Mino Washi no Sato Kaikan!

Mino Washi no Sato Kaikan

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

And this is the town that traded Mino Washi,

the Udatsu no Agaru Machinami,

where you can also see old townhouse architecture or modern “Akari Art.”

Former Imai Family 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 take your time and fully enjoy Mino City.

Our shop is listed in Gifu Prefecture’s Sustainable Tourism resource booklet, recommended for educational travel planning.

What is Sustainable Tourism…

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

it’s “tourism that fully considers current and future environmental, socio-cultural, and economic impacts,

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

That’s the meaning.

You can download a map of the town from the Mino City Tourism Association website▼

https://minokanko.com/pamphlet/

Volunteer guides are available to show you around the townscape,

so please inquire below if you’d like a guide.

*Available for groups of 10 or more.

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

*For groups of 20 or fewer on days we’re closed, there’s an additional facility fee.

For details, please contact us.

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Chinese New Year 2025

January 28–February 4

Inbound visitors from Asia

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We have already received tour bookings from different parts of Asia to Mino in January for Chinese New Year.

Gifu sees many inbound tourists in January due to the Shirakawa-go light-up as well.

As part of this Gifu trip, our 2025 Zodiac Snake craft

is included in their tour plan.

We look forward to the many original Snake creations. 

Customers often upload photos of their finished items

to our Google Maps reviews.

They’re full of fun projects—please take a look!

Mino Washi craft experiences

are a great way to explore Japanese culture

Please consider adding them to your travel package tours!

Many visitors from a variety of countries come to create their own roly-poly crafts or shop with us.

We’ve welcomed people from 38 countries (individuals and groups).

North and South America (North America, South America)

USA, Brazil, Canada

Asia

Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macao, Vietnam, Indonesia, Myanmar, China, East Timor, Nepal, India, Israel, Cambodia, Laos, Uzbekistan, Mongolia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Pakistan, Malaysia

Europe

UK, France, Germany, Poland, Scotland, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Sweden, Austria, Italy

Oceania

Australia, New Zealand

▼Also great for cultural exchange with international students or social study visits by overseas workers▼

https://www.ishikawa-shigyo.com/news/detail_672_0_0.html

Group inquiries please see below▼

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

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We will revise workshop pricing

beginning in January 2025

Thank you for your understanding.

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Starting January 2025, we will apply the following new prices

to our workshop menu.

Washi KoroKoro hands-on workshop

¥1100 → ¥1210

Washi KoroKoro Koinobori carp streamer workshop

¥1210 → ¥1320

Washi KoroKoro Warlord Series

¥1210 → ¥1320

Washi plate workshop

¥990 → ¥1100

Washi pen stand workshop

¥990 → ¥1100

Family Set A

¥1990 → ¥2210

Family Set B

¥1990 → ¥2210

Family Set C

¥1770 → ¥1880

Washi bookmark workshop

¥770 unchanged

Washi earrings/clip-on earrings workshop

¥1320 unchanged

Reservations made by the end of this year will remain at the old rates.

We look forward to your bookings!

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○●○ Media Info ○●○

Seiryu no Kuni Gifu News Letter, November 2024

Experience autumn arts with traditional 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 Use Division)

Our Washi kabuto decoration was featured as “A New Form of Mino Washi.”

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

It also includes other sightseeing spots and fall foliage highlights in Mino and Gifu,

full of Gifu’s attractions.

Have a look ^^

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Our hometown, land of Mino Washi

Mino City, Gifu Prefecture News

For all things Mino Washi

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January sees new sake releases!

National Important Cultural Property

Osaka Family Residence

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Osaka Family Residence

https://minokanko.com/seeing/category/townscape-architecture/p5977/

This sake brewery dates back to the early An’ei era (1772–81).

The entire roof has a raised “mukuri” shape, an unusual and precious design from the upper region style.

Also, the Osaka Family’s udatsu has no oni-gawara ornament; it’s composed of toribusuma, two gable roof tiles on each side, and a simple pendent motif.

In 1979 (Showa 54), it was designated a National Important Cultural Property.

Access

A 10-minute walk from Nagaragawa Railway Mino-shi Station. One minute on foot from the Gifu Bus Gifu-Mino Line “Udatsu no Machinami-dori” stop. About 5 minutes via Route 156 from the Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway Mino IC.

Parking available (Kanko Fureai Hiroba)

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Event Tours

Mino Washi Workshop

Hina Doll Stroll & Hina Doll Crafting Tour

Washi KoroKoro Hina Doll Workshop

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Our “Washi KoroKoro Hina Doll”

hands-on workshop has begun!

Once the new year starts, leading up to the March Hina Matsuri,

Hina Doll events appear everywhere.

In Mino City’s Udatsu no Agaru Machinami,

Hina Dolls are displayed in various places,

making the area festive.

How about making Hina Dolls

at an event venue for Hina?

We recommend a Hina Doll workshop

plus a Hina Doll strolling tour!

We recommend a DIY kit with instructions.

All you need are glue and scissors.

We can provide those for you, too!

Ishikawa Shigyo also lends tools like glue and scissors.

〈Tool Rental〉

For 10 people, 1 set: ¥5000 + tax

Contents: 10 tweezers, 5 glue containers (one for every 2), 5 scissors (one for every 2), one file for finished works

We have dozens of kit designs besides the zodiac.

If you want lucky motifs, we also have maneki neko (beckoning cats), daruma, shishimai, and more.

For an easy workshop▼

Craft kit difficulty chart

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

Feel free to contact us directly.

Items to make your workshop more fun

Decorate your creation

〈Recommended materials set for workshops〉

Pre-cut paper and cut-out shapes, 10g for ¥1000

This set includes enough cut or die-cut paper for about 10 participants.

We’ve included a little extra, so it’s a good deal!

Beautiful cutouts are lovely for shaping patterns!

We recommend a hands-on experience as a “local souvenir,” a great example of “experience-based consumption.”

You can take your finished piece home as a souvenir!

Our Washi KoroKoro series can be proposed all year round!

—We can suggest it every month—

〈Workshop results & examples〉

January: zodiac & Setsubun, new “Aka Oni”

February: Hina dolls, KoroKoro messages for Valentine’s Day!

March: Easter bunny

April: Festival season, shishimai

May: Boys’ Day dolls, warlord series, carp streamers

June: Rainy season, frogs and goldfish

July: Tanabata

August: Goldfish

September: cute animals like rabbits or owls

October: Halloween

November: next zodiac, Daruma, Maneki Neko

December: Christmas, zodiac, etc.

We also recommend our popular year-round good-luck charms, historical (warlords or princesses) series, and more!

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Gifu Washi Goods & Cultural Experience

In “Udatsu no Agaru Machinami,”

craft your own zodiac figure

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See our Washi KoroKoro Twelve Zodiac lineup here

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

Make your own zodiac in Udatsu no Agaru Machinami

and boost your luck!

Travel agents,

please recommend us for the following inquiries!

Inbound group tours featuring Mino Washi crafting

Company trips: bond over Washi crafts

Traditional craft tours

World Heritage or Japan Heritage study tours

School trips for cherished memories

The Twelve Zodiac animals are part of Japanese culture.

Visitors from overseas would surely find them fascinating!

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December, January, and February Instagram Contest

Keyword:

#石川紙業コンテストwinter2025

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We’re holding our Instagram contest in December, January, and February, too.

The keyword is

#石川紙業コンテストwinter2025!

We look forward to your continued posts!

*We’ve made a small update to the keyword. 

Please be careful.

Customer creations

Not just items made in our in-store workshop—

if you purchased a kit and made it at home,

feel free to post as well.

Where to buy kits…

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

Full of the latest news and great deals

Purchase perks available!!

We recommend original labels!

Popular product: Komon-patterned Tenugui

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Komon-patterned Tenugui is popular all year round!

By changing its label, you can easily create a unique product!! ^^

Example of an original label

/＼/＼/＼/＼/＼/＼/＼/＼/＼/＼/＼/＼/＼/＼/＼

For a limited time, on a first-come basis, we’re waiving the extra design fee for labels!

＼/＼/＼/＼/＼/＼/＼/＼/＼/＼/＼/＼/＼/＼/＼

By changing the label, you can emphasize an exclusive feel that’s only sold here,

and you can include local tips, special perks, event info, LINE or Instagram signups as marketing.

Shops that have introduced custom-labeled products see high repeat rates and great feedback.

Choose from over 40 patterns!

It’s an easy way to make your own original product—contact us now!

Tenugui that can have an original label is here

https://search.rakuten.co.jp/search/mall/%E6%89%8B%E3%81%AC%E3%81%90%E3%81%84/?sid=391090

Tenugui Original Label: order of 100+; separate design fee (consultation required)

◆Now accepting orders for 2025 new Hina Dolls!

Check out the 2025 Hina Doll catalog▼

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

◆Also accepting orders for 2025 Boys’ Festival dolls!

Check out our 2025 Boys’ Festival catalog here▼

https://www.ishikawa-shigyo.com/news/detail_1503.html

New service: creating name plates with your chosen name!

[For partner retailers only]

If an end-user buys any of our relevant products in your store, we’ll send a customized name plate directly from us later.

It’s only ¥330 total (including shipping and tax) for a name plate!

You can request this via our Rakuten shop or using an Excel form.

See more details here

https://www.ishikawa-shigyo.com/lsc/lsc-upfile/magazine/01/66/166_1_file.pdf (IkiIki Tsushin November issue)

We can send more details upon request.

It’s a highly cost-effective new service—please consider it!

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Minowa’s Note [Influenza]

When I contacted some clients this week,

I was told multiple times, “The person in charge is off sick.”

Asking about the schedule, they said, “They’ll be off for a few days.”

It seems influenza is going around in many places.

Here in Mino, some classes or even entire grades have closed.

Children bring viruses from school and spread them at home—common enough, right?

My grandkids recently had a stomach bug, so it was quiet for a few days,

but now they’re totally fine,

and life is lively again, like a storm (*^_^*).

Well then…

For inquiries about anything from this newsletter, see▼

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

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In an Edo-inspired townscape,

experience hands-on Mino Washi crafts

Ishikawa Mino Washi Paper Goods Workshop

Postal Code 501-3728

1909-3 Honjusha-cho, Mino City, Gifu Prefecture

Shop Manager: Minowa

Phone 0575-29-3680

Fax 0575-35-1363

Minowa’s mobile 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 Profile]

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

you can enjoy the “handiwork of a Washi craftsman” from Ishikawa Shigyo’s main office

at the Mino Washi Craft Experience Shop Ishikawa Shigyo.

Located in “Udatsu no Agaru Machinami,” a must-see tourist spot in Mino City, Gifu Prefecture,

inside a 270-year-old historical building in a Traditional Buildings Preservation District, offering Washi craft experiences.

Families visiting for Mino Washi workshops,

group tours exploring Mino City’s attractions—both appreciate this famous Gifu travel activity.

It’s perfect for family trips or group travel plans to create Washi handicrafts.

For educational trips discovering Mino Washi’s history, or Washi workshop experiences for couples.

Our Washi workshop includes making roly-poly Mino Washi “KoroKoro” dolls,

Washi earrings/clip-ons, pen stands, plates, bookmarks, Mino Washi fans in summer—

30 different crafts. Our Washi doll workshops feature animals, historical figures from Sekigahara,

Gifu Bus, Nagara River Railway experiences, and more.

These Mino Washi workshops draw inbound tourists—

guests from 37 countries have visited on inbound tours.

No reservation needed for individuals; it takes 30–60 minutes.

Because we have staff and ready-made materials, even if you aren’t confident in crafting, it’s easy to try.

You can take your finished piece home right away.

Groups of 10 or more should book in advance.

We can seat up to 45 at once in our workshop.

For larger groups, we rotate. Group tours can also book outside normal hours.

We provide hands-on Mino Washi craft experiences, and we also sell 600 types of handmade Mino Washi souvenirs from Ishikawa Shigyo’s main office.

Our Google Maps rating is 4.9 (466 reviews) as of 2024/07/09.

[Mino Washi Craft Experience Shop Ishikawa Shigyo — TV Broadcast Videos]

“Degawa Tetsuro no Juuden Sasete Moraemasenka?” in Mino City, Gifu: Washi Doll Workshop

https://youtu.be/S8nqVqxGoiI

NHK “Marutto! Gifu” Mino Washi Uchiwa Workshop

https://youtu.be/Pn995x3oX9Q

Matsuken Sanpo Washi Plate Workshop

https://youtu.be/0Xj95TBhXoU

“Hanasaka Times” Hands-on Workshop, Washi KoroKoro Dolls with Haruka Minowa & Yuriyan Retriever

https://youtu.be/u9tJ1DURNic

NHK News: Mino Washi Doll Workshop!

https://youtu.be/OULbvsHaA8w

NHK Gifu: Mino Washi Doll Workshop at Ishikawa Shigyo, “Hotto Evening Gifu”

https://youtu.be/u1g85fl89KI

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

https://youtu.be/k9Kd993PUq8

CBC “Ippou” Gifu Prefecture Mino City Tourism, Washi Craft Experience Shop Ishikawa Shigyo

https://youtu.be/qZ7_hOmaQ-8

Gifu Channel “Meccha Gifu Hunter” Hands-on Workshop: Washi KoroKoro Beckoning Cat, Kimono Dressing

https://youtu.be/xGpfUOAcmtM

CCN “Area Topic” Washi KoroKoro & Gifu Bus, Gifu Bus × Ishikawa Shigyo Workshop

https://youtu.be/aowdKHSnze8

Mino Washi Craft, fun for parents & children

Gifu traditional crafts, hands-on workshops

Mino City Washi souvenir creation method

Gifu sightseeing local experience tours

Handmade Washi dolls for family trip experiences

Mino Washi goods craft workshop

Washi craft making for kids’ classes in Gifu

Group Mino Washi goods workshop tour

Gifu handmade Washi craft workshop

Senior-friendly Mino City sightseeing tour

Gifu Washi goods cultural experience booking

Washi crafts in Mino City sightseeing plans

Mino Washi crafting workshop for Japanese cultural tours

Gifu parent-child activities and tourist spots

Mino Washi travel package tours

Groups welcome! Perfect for school trips or social studies visits with up to 45 people!

Overseas worker social study plan, Washi cultural exchange experience for groups up to 45

Local elementary schools do hands-on workshops, share local appeal, learn history

Welcoming international travelers! Mino City traditional crafts, Japanese cultural experience, Mino Washi dolls

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