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Higashichichibu village, Washi no Sato, paper-making experience

I visited with my usual travel friends while staying in Nagatoro, looking for something to experience. We found out we could try paper-making here. Unfortunately, we didn't check the hours and it was only open until 3:00 p.m., so we had to give up on the first day. We came back the next morning and were able to do the experience.

The paper-making itself wasn't too hard—you just dip the frame into the already dissolved washi pulp. But placing the flowers and plants we picked onto the paper was pretty tricky. You have to lay them flat so they don't become three-dimensional, but they kept scattering and wouldn't stay in place. I really wished we had tweezers! We were told that white flowers would disappear, but I wasn't sure how much they'd actually fade. It might have been helpful if there were sample postcards, tapestries, or colored paper on display. Overall, I was happy with what I made and it became a great memory.