Go beyond a typical craft workshop and experience the everyday culture of Fuji City. This private tour combines Japanese craftsmanship with an e-bike ride, a local railway journey, and time in a historic shopping district.
The Gakunan Railway is more than transport. By riding the same train used by local residents, you can experience daily life and discover a side of Japan many visitors never see. Together with a walk through nostalgic Yoshiwara Shopping Street, the journey itself becomes part of the experience.
Meet your English-speaking guide at Shin-Fuji Station and begin with a short e-bike ride to Gakunan Railway Yoshiwara Station. Rather than travelling directly by car, this route lets you experience local streets and areas between the Shinkansen station and historic Yoshiwara. In case of rain, the e-bike ride will be replaced with a private vehicle transfer.
At Yoshiwara Station, enjoy the nostalgic station building and platform, whose retro atmosphere reflects the history of this local railway. Then board the Gakunan Railway and travel alongside local residents to Yoshiwarahoncho Station. The journey offers a glimpse into everyday life in Fuji City.
After arriving, walk with your guide through Yoshiwara Shopping Street. Independent shops, restaurants, and long-established family businesses line this historic district, which remains closely connected to the community.
Your destination is Han no Ozawa, a seal shop established in 1882 and operated by the fifth generation of the founding family. Learn about Japanese hanko culture from a certified first-class seal engraver and master craftsman. Your English-speaking guide will interpret throughout the workshop.
Carve your own hanko by hand from beginning to end. The craftsman will demonstrate each step, provide guidance, and assist whenever needed, so no previous experience is required.
First, learn about traditional Japanese seals and prepare the characters or design for your stamp. Then use specialist carving tools to shape each line yourself. The process requires patience and concentration, making the finished hanko a truly personal creation.
Pause the workshop for a lunch break and enjoy free time in Yoshiwara Shopping Street. Your guide can recommend local restaurants before returning to Han no Ozawa to complete your handmade hanko. Lunch, drinks, and personal purchases are not included in the tour price.
Complete your handmade hanko in the afternoon and take it home the same day — a one-of-a-kind keepsake created under the guidance of a Japanese master craftsman.
Finally, return to Shin-Fuji Station by private vehicle. This experience offers far more than a handmade souvenir — it is an opportunity to discover a quieter, more local side of Japan through craftsmanship, local transport, and everyday life in Fuji City.
