About this tour
Learn the art of hanko-making in Kamakura, where a skilled craftsman will guide you through designing and engraving your own Japanese name seal. Completed in 45 minutes, you'll walk away with a functional stamp carved from Japanese boxwood—a keepsake that captures your visit and doubles as an authentic seal used across Japan for contracts and official paperwork. The process reveals how names transform into Japanese characters and why hanko remain deeply personal to Japanese identity.
Highlights
- Design and engrave your name in Japanese katakana
- Carve a working seal from traditional boxwood
- Learn why hanko function as legal signatures in Japan
- Finished seal ready to take home same afternoon
- Includes custom pouch for your completed hanko
- Fully accessible workshop in central Kamakura
What to expect
A craftsman will walk you through converting your name into Japanese characters, then guide you as you engrave it onto a piece of boxwood using traditional tools. It's hands-on work—you'll feel the resistance of the material and see your design take shape stroke by stroke. The whole process takes about 45 minutes. By day's end, you'll have a functional seal in a cloth pouch, ready to use or display. It's meditative rather than rushed, and the craftsman explains the cultural weight hanko carry in everyday Japanese life.
Good to know
The seal comes in Japanese boxwood with katakana engraving included. Red ink for stamping is not provided—bring your own or purchase locally. Material or typeface upgrades cost extra. Pick-up is same-day; shipping can be arranged for additional fees. The workshop is wheelchair accessible with nearby public transport.
Tour sold and operated by Viator via Viator. Descriptions on this page are original Global Hobo summaries written by our team — not copied from the operator. Prices and availability are confirmed at checkout.