Kyo Karakami Experience Karamaru

“Kyo Karakami” is traditional Japanese paper printed by handpalm using blended paints including called kira (mica), gofun (Chinese white), funori (glue made of alga), moss, and some pigments on a woodblock sculptured historical pattern. Those papers were used for writing poetry and are recently used for making Fusuma or walls in a house, shrine, temple, tea ceremony room.

Maruni Co., Ltd., a company handing down the technique, opens an experience factory to spread an attractiveness of Kyoto’s traditional crafts. Among the experience courses, “Karakami printing experience course and factory tour” is recommended where you can experience making Karakami and watch professional craftperson’s technique. A craftsperson directly lectures and you can print three Karakami-sized papers (about 47 cm in width and 28 cm in height) using a genuine woodblock made over 120 years ago. You can choose a ｗoodblock by month make your original Karakami by your favorite combination among over 20 colors of torinoko (Japanese vellum paper), and bring them your home, if you want to get a mini-sized folding screen or interior panel using your original papers, ask staff. Karakami-sized postcard printing experience course using a mini-sized ｗoodblock, a course of making a red stamp book or panel with Karakami, and more, are open.

In a gift shop on the premises, a wooden stamp as a motif of a woodblock, stationeries made of Karakami, and more are lined up. Take Kyoto's traditional beauty as your travel souvenir.