Tottori city, Aoya Washi Studio

Hioki district in Aoya town is the most major area with a history of about 1300 years producing Inshu Japanese Paper. This facility passes down the history, and is open to an experience class of papermaking. Inshu Japanese Paper was designated as a Traditional National Handicraft of paper for the first time, which is made from the paper mulberry and mitsumata. It is well known as a smooth brush stroking using this paper and the largest production of paper for Japanese calligraphy.

In the facility, the permanent exhibitions are hold, for example, a manufacturing way of Japanese paper and its tools, “Washi no Aurora” with a theme of manufacturing Japanese paper and the lights, and long-ribbed umbrellas used for a traditional entertainment, “the umbrella dance in Inaba”, and temporal exhibitions are hold about 4 times a year.

In an experience studio annexed to the facility, the experience classes of making paper and a LED-lamp shade are regularly open, and paper processing workshops are open such as making a kaleidoscope, a Japanese fan, or a paper cutting art.

In the museum shop annexed to the facility, products made of Japanese paper such as a book cover, a letter writing set, and a craft kit are available to buy.