Historic stores · Nara city centre

Kobaien 古梅園

Ink-stick maker in Nara for some 440 years, in a registered historic building; in winter you can mould your own sumi.

Hours9:00–17:00

ClosedSaturdays, Sundays, holidays

Getting thereKintetsu Nara Station, 7 min

Time needed20 min

Address7 Tsubai-cho, Nara

About

Nara has been Japan's centre for solid ink, sumi, since temples there needed ink to copy sutras. Kobaien has made ink sticks for around 440 years, from soot of burned rapeseed oil or pine, bound with animal glue and pressed into carved wooden moulds, then slowly dried for months. Its sticks range from everyday ink for school calligraphy to blends with safflower red or gold leaf for kana writing. The shop building is a registered tangible cultural property. During the ink-making season, from mid-October to late April, you can book a session to knead and mould your own stick.

Highlights

Sumi ink sticks in carved designs
Registered historic shop building
Nigiri-zumi ink-moulding experience in winter

Tips

9:00–17:00; closed Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.
The ink-making experience runs mid-October to late April and needs a reservation.

Open in Google Maps · Info checked 2026-10-19

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Kobaien 古梅園

About

Highlights

Tips

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