Akashiya Nara Brush Showroom: From Shop Visit to Brush Making
Try a writing brush in Akashiya's showroom, or reserve a guided visit and finish a brush with a maker.
Verified site photographs are being prepared.Discover Akashiya Nara Brush Showroom: From Shop Visit to Brush Making
Akashiya's headquarters showroom gives a practical look at Nara's brush tradition away from the temple crowds. The company dates its own founding to 1716, while the longer origin story of Nara brushes is a craft tradition rather than a date established for this particular building. During opening hours, visitors can enter the showroom and shop without a reservation. A guided introduction or hands-on brush finishing is different: both must be requested in advance and confirmed by the operator. This distinction matters for independent travellers, because a casual visit will not automatically include a demonstration by a traditional craftsperson.
Choose a brush by trying it
The showroom presents calligraphy brushes, brush pens and cosmetic brushes. Nara Prefecture's craft listing says visitors can try writing brushes and brush pens, and the operator explicitly welcomes unreserved shopping during its stated hours. Rather than treating every item as a generic Nara souvenir, notice the difference between a large calligraphy brush, a fine-point brush pen and a cosmetic brush in the hand. Ask staff which items are made in Nara and which are part of the company's wider range: the operator has manufacturing outside Japan too, so its brand name alone does not establish an individual item's origin.
Separate a free browse from a paid guided visit
Akashiya's current reservation page offers a guided visit with a Nara-brush video, a talk by a certified craftsperson or another maker, and time to shop. It lists about 30–60 minutes and ¥385 including tax with a brush-pen gift. A Nara Prefecture page updated in February 2026 still quotes ¥330, so use the operator's newer displayed rate and confirm it when booking. On weekdays the operator accepts requests from one person; on Saturdays and holidays it asks for at least fifteen. Staff availability can change, and the page warns that the speaker may be a maker who is not a certified traditional craftsperson.
What brush making actually includes
The bookable experience introduces Nara brushes by video and talk, then gives visitors about thirty minutes on a finishing stage: shaping and setting the bristles with paste. You are not making an entire brush from raw animal hair. Plan A is shown at ¥2,420 including tax for one larger beginner/intermediate brush, taken home the same day without engraving. Plan B is shown at ¥6,050 including tax for a large and a small brush, with name engraving and later delivery. Akashiya says Plan B delivery is within Japan only; international visitors must confirm a Japanese receiving address or choose a suitable alternative before paying. The total visit is approximately 60–90 minutes, subject to confirmation.
Reserve around group and age rules
The operator takes brush-making requests from one person on weekdays, but asks for at least fifteen on Saturdays or holidays; groups above thirty need discussion. Its form says a request is not a confirmed booking until staff contact the applicant. The prefectural guide describes the activity for elementary-school age and above, with a parent accompanying an elementary-school child; the operator form says groups of children under elementary-school age cannot be accepted. Ask about individual younger children, English-language guidance, available time and any schedule change instead of assuming the website form guarantees a slot.
Reach the headquarters without guessing a station exit
The company locates its headquarters and showroom at 78-1 Minamishinchō. Its access page describes a Nara Kotsu bus to Sanjō Ōji Nichōme from Kintetsu Nara or JR Nara, then roughly eight minutes south on foot; it gives an estimated bus ride of thirteen or eleven minutes respectively. It also lists Amagatsuji Station 1.6 km away. Those are published planning figures, not a step-free or live-bus itinerary. The current showroom page states 10:00–17:00 on weekdays, Saturdays and national holidays, with Sundays, summer break, New Year and occasional other days closed. Check the operator's calendar before travelling.
What to look for
Unreserved showroom shopping and brush trials during operating hours
Bookable maker talk and video; operator lists ¥385 including tax
Two brush-finishing plans with different take-home and domestic-delivery terms
Photo notes
No Akashiya showroom, brush, demonstrator or participant photo is licensed to MyNara. Seek operator permission before photographing or publishing any production or showroom image and do not reuse the prefecture's or operator's pictures.
Make a day of it
Explore guides close to this map point, then check the actual route before travelling. Distances below are straight lines, not walking distances or travel times; map points may not be entrances.
Sources & editorial status
Original MyNara draft based on the linked sources. Sources reviewed 19 October 2026. Opening arrangements, prices and offers may change; use the operator's current information before travelling.
- Akashiya — current showroom, guided tour, two workshop plans and booking conditions
- Akashiya — company founding, headquarters and bus approach
- Akashiya — craft history as an operator tradition
- Nara Prefecture — craft process, access, age rule and older guided price
- Nara Visitors Bureau — independent showroom and Plan A summary