Shop Newsletter No. 244

Mino‑Washi Craft Experience Shop Ishikawa Shigyo

Shop Newsletter No. 244

Spring is here – it’s festival season! Discover Mino City’s traditional “Mino Matsuri” and our hands‑on Mino‑washi craft studio.

Come create your own Japanese paper souvenirs inside our 1760 Edo‑period townhouse with a historic udatsu firewall.

Get the latest updates from the Mino‑Washi Craft Experience Shop.

Whether you’re a solo traveller, couple, family, or group tour operator, this is a perfect stop for unforgettable memories in Japan.

Groups of up to 45 guests can craft simultaneously.

Choose from rolling‑doll figures, washi fans, paper‑earring sets, plates, pen‑stands, bookmarks and more.

Follow our samples or unleash your own creativity – either way you’ll take home a unique, one‑of‑a‑kind souvenir.

We stock 30‑plus DIY kits ready to go.

Check the shop calendar and drop by – we can’t wait to welcome you!

▼ Shop opening days – March, April & May ▼

https://www.ishikawa-shigyo.com/news/detail_1584.html

Heads‑up – we also accept group bookings outside normal business days!

▼ Official website ▼

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

▼ Rakuten online store ▼

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

How’s your new routine now that mid‑April has passed?

Golden Week is just around the corner!

Recharge with an authentic washi‑craft workshop here at Ishikawa Shigyo – a must‑do on any Japan incentive tour or educational itinerary.

Here are the freshest updates from our craft studio.

Today’s highlights

・Workshop report – see how recent corporate incentive groups and educational tours enjoyed our hands‑on experience ^^

・ Customer Gallery – creative pieces crafted by visitors from Europe & North America on their Japan group travel itineraries

・ Menu spotlight – discover the activities your clients can book at the Mino‑Washi Craft Experience Shop

・ Mino City field report – final season of the women‑only portable shrine! This year the “Me‑gumi” team topped 70 carriers

・ School trip planners & DMCs: up to 45 participants can craft simultaneously – perfect for Japan study tours

・ Accessible travel update – new support program for special‑needs schools and disability groups

・ Yes, that many! Visitors from 38 countries have taken our workshop – inbound travel demand keeps rising

・ DIY kit focus – ideal for at‑home crafting, retail workshops, or themed hotel events

・ March‑to‑May Instagram contest #IshikawaShigyoContestSpring2025

・ Mino Tourism Association stamp rally now running – our shop is a prize sponsor

・ Mayumi’s “Mino Diary” bonus edition – two mikoshi in one day, eight‑hour endurance!

Helping guests capture smiles through Japanese craft experiences is my mission – join me on this journey!

Enjoy the read and feel free to share with fellow Japan tour operators ^^

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Workshop report – insider look at a recent group experience ^^

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Today we spotlight a school group that visited us earlier this year ♪

Believe it or not, the elementary school my daughter attends chose our rolling‑doll washi workshop for their cultural study trip!

Right at the end of a parent–teacher open day,

the homeroom teacher announced to parents:

“We have surplus budget. Since the children are studying Mino‑washi, we’d like to take them to a place where they can craft with real Japanese paper.”

Plans changed on the fly and the school scheduled the visit during class hours – no extra fee, unanimous approval.

I instantly wondered… could that venue be…?

Yes! It was my very own Mino‑Washi Craft Experience Shop (cue happy laugh).

Our staff met with the teacher, collected student questions in advance, and prepared a Q&A session for the day.

Thanks to my colleagues, my first day on shop duty coincided with my daughter’s visit – a memory I’ll treasure forever.

Watching my daughter and her friends concentrate so hard was priceless.

When one child had a problem, they asked for help and immediately shared the tip with classmates.

Finished pieces were proudly shown off and photographed on their school‑issued iPads.

Afterwards they peppered our CEO with questions – hands shot up everywhere!

“Can we come back? It was so fun! I’ll ask my parents!” they said as we waved them goodbye ^^

Later, at another open day, the kids presented their research on Mino‑washi artisans, including Ishikawa Shigyo. We’re grateful to teachers who pass local heritage to the next generation.

Someday when my daughter meets friends overseas, I hope she’ll brag, “My hometown Mino has this amazing paper culture.”

▼ Shop homepage (English auto‑translate) ▼

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

▼ Business‑day calendar ▼

https://www.ishikawa-shigyo.com/news/detail_1584.html

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=Customer Gallery= Original creations crafted by overseas incentive‑travel groups ♪

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Here’s a favourite from our archives ^^ – a Year‑of‑the‑Snake makeover.

Two friendly serpents strike a pose…

a proud prince chest‑out, beside a shy princess looking demure ^^

Minimal decoration, maximum personality – a great idea for creative corporate team‑building in Japan!

Try your own artistic twist when you visit our workshop on your next “Japan cultural immersion tour.”

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Mino City field report – final chapter of the women‑only mikoshi parade!

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Every second weekend in April our historic festival unfolds.

The Mino Matsuri features “Flower Mikoshi”, floats, and street comedy, all dedicated to Hachiman Shrine.

▼ Festival details (English auto‑translate) ▼

https://minokanko.com/event/category/spring/p6009/

Parade day dawned sunny and the “Me‑gumi” women’s team kicked off with 70 carriers – perfect content for group‑travel storytelling!

Our craft shop sits right on the pilgrimage route, giving tour groups VIP photo points.

Clients can combine the festival with our hands‑on workshop for a seamless “Japan culture & craft” itinerary.

▼ Plan your visit: shop homepage (English auto‑translate)

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

▼ Business‑day calendar (English auto‑translate)

https://www.ishikawa-shigyo.com/news/detail_1584.html

▼ Download our workshop kit catalogue (English auto‑translate)

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

Teachers & travel planners — design your Japan field‑trip or corporate incentive around our 45‑seat craft studio!

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From elementary school excursions to MBA study tours, up to 45 participants can enjoy a simultaneous hands‑on experience in English.

We combine “Mino Washi” papermaking heritage with fun DIY kits — perfect for Japan educational travel, STEAM classes, culture immersion, corporate team‑building, senior‑club holidays and NGO study programmes.

Groups larger than 45 can rotate: half create crafts while the other half explores our Edo‑era streetscape, then swap. A ready‑made solution for multi‑coach Europe or USA outbound tours.

Need sightseeing ideas for the walking group? Download the official English map:

▼ Discover Mino City (feature page)

https://minokanko.com/feature/

▼ Tourist map PDF

https://minokanko.com/pamphlet/

Why is Mino a world‑class classroom? Three UNESCO/GIAHS listings:

• UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage — Hand‑made Hon‑Mino paper (2014)
• GIAHS (Global Important Agricultural Heritage) — Clear‑stream Nagara‑gawa Ayu fishery (2015)
• World Irrigation Heritage — Historic Sodai Waterway (2020)

These assets make our town ideal for cultural geography, sustainable‑tourism and craftsmanship modules.

▼ Group‑booking & quotation (English auto‑translate)

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

▼ Workshop overview (English auto‑translate)

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

Accessible crafting — special‑needs schools & disability organisations welcome!

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For groups from special‑education schools or disability‑support centres we offer:

• One free spin of our ¥300 “lucky capsule” per participant
• 40 % discount on retail shopping practice (workshop fee excluded)
• Simple, step‑by‑step projects that focus on cut–glue–decorate; ideal for varied dexterity levels

Choose paper, spread paste, press and smile — anyone can create a unique souvenir!

38 countries have already booked our “craft + heritage” experience — join the trend!

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Recent arrivals include incentive groups from Taiwan; past guests hail from the USA, UK, France, Italy, Australia and beyond. Our bilingual facilitators make the workshop zero‑stress for non‑Japanese speakers.

Add our activity to your multi‑day inbound itinerary, Grand‑Tour of Central Japan, Nagoya‑area shore‑excursion, or luxury FIT trip.

▼ Case‑study: cultural exchange with overseas students (English auto‑translate)

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

DIY kit wholesale — create your own pop‑up workshop or souvenir corner!

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Tour operators, hotels, cruise ships, museums — order our ready‑to‑use kits and host a Japanese craft night anywhere. All you need is tables, chairs, glue and scissors.

Best‑selling line‑up by season (ideal for travel‑calendar marketing)

• Jan  Zodiac animals & Setsubun ogre masks
• Feb  Hina‑doll couple kits
• Mar  Easter bunny craft – great for inbound spring tours
• Apr  Boys’‑Day helmet & carp‑streamer figurines
• May  Samurai & princess series for history‑buff clients
• Jun  Frogs & goldfish for rainy‑season fun
• Jul–Aug  Hand‑fan decorating workshops (ideal for hot‑weather incentives)
• Sep  Halloween pumpkins & ghosts
• Oct–Nov  Kawaii pets – shiba‑inu, cats, sheep etc.
• Dec  Full zodiac set, daruma wishes & lucky maneki‑neko

Custom OEM designs are available for destination‑branding or cruise‑line exclusives. Ask us!

▼ Wholesale / OEM enquiry (English auto‑translate)

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

▼ Online kit catalogue on Rakuten (for reference)

https://search.rakuten.co.jp/search/mall/手作りキット/?sid=391090

Mar–May Instagram contest — hashtag #IshikawaShigyoContestSpring2025

Post your finished kit, win cool Mino‑Washi prizes, and gain social‑media engagement for your tour brand!

Join the Mino Tourism Stamp Rally (until 5 May 2025) — our shop is a prize stamp location.

Collect stamps while shopping, spin the lucky draw and delight your clients with extra souvenirs.

▼ Event details (English auto‑translate)

https://minokanko.com/news/event/p9001/

Travel‑blog mini diary — “Two Mikoshi in one day: an 8‑hour endurance race!”

Use the story below in your newsletter or blog to inspire off‑the‑beaten‑track Japan tour ideas. (Full article available on request.)

… [diary text continues] …

Questions? Custom itinerary support? Contact our bilingual inbound team ▼

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

We look forward to crafting memorable, high‑value Japan experiences for your clients!

Our workshop on TV, YouTube & travel press!

See why international tour operators add us to their Japan cultural‑experience packages.

▼ “Can I Recharge My Batteries?” – national TV show with comedian Tetsurō Degawa

Filmed in Mino City — watch Kumada Yoko crafting a washi doll at our studio

https://youtu.be/S8nqVqxGoiI

▼ NHK “Marutto Gifu” – make your own Mino‑washi fan

https://youtu.be/Pn995x3oX9Q

▼ Gifu‑TV feature “Meccha Gifu Wakaru Telebi”

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

▼ Mino Washi village — official tourism site lists us under “Experiences > Mino Washi”

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

▼ Gifu Prefecture “Clear‑Water Kingdom” News Letter

Our premium washi kabuto helmet featured as “A New Shape of Mino Paper”

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

▼ Workshop homepage (EN auto‑translate)

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

▼ Rakuten e‑commerce store (souvenir supply for tour merch)

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

▼ Latest opening schedule (Mar–Apr–May) auto‑translate

https://www.ishikawa-shigyo.com/news/detail_1584.html

Ishikawa Mino Washi Paper Goods Workshop — Ishikawa Shigyo Co., Ltd.

1909‑3 Honjū‑machi, Mino City, Gifu 501‑3728  (Japan Golden Route, 1 hr from Nagoya)

Inbound desk (Ms Mayumi Sato)

Tel +81‑575‑29‑3680    Fax +81‑575‑35‑1363    Mobile +81‑90‑5851‑4673

E‑mail shigyo@jt7.so‑net.ne.jp

Corporate site: http://www.ishikawa-shigyo.com/

Feel free to reach out for group‑rate quotes, tailor‑made cultural itineraries, cruise excursions and incentive‑travel collaborations.

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Thank you for exploring authentic Mino Washi culture — a memorable highlight for European & North‑American group travel to Japan.