The Hall of Awa Japanese Handmade Paper 阿波和紙伝統産業会館

This hands-on facility lets you see how the traditional hand-crafted paper of Tokushima is made and provides workshops to make your own.

The facility is about a 15-minute walk from Awayamakawa Station on the JR Tokushima Line.

The tradition of Japanese handmade paper, or washi, in Awa (present-day Tokushima) began around 700 A.D. and reached its peak in the Meiji era (1868-1912). You can learn more about Awa washi at this museum, which was established in 1989 to preserve the techniques and skills of Awa washi for future generations.

The facility includes a hands-on area where you can learn how traditional Japanese paper is made by making your own. For a nominal fee, the papermaking workshop allows you to try your hand at making your own postcards or even half letter-sized sheets of paper in just about an hour.

There is also a gallery space upstairs where you can find displays of handmade paper from around the world and examine special exhibitions that change every one to two months. Please note that the contents of the exhibition change each time.

The latest information may differ, so please check the official website.