Isshindo: Nara Brushes, Ink and Calligraphy Tools

Directions

A specialist shop for Nara-made brushes and ink, with calligraphy paper and supplies, a century-long family history and classes held at the back of the store.

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Discover Isshindo: Nara Brushes, Ink and Calligraphy Tools

Isshindo is a specialist calligraphy shop on Sanjo Street, a short walk from Kintetsu Nara Station. Its story begins with founder Kikutarō Kojima collecting soot used to make rapeseed-oil ink, then setting out as a travelling seller of ink and brushes in the late Meiji period. The family says it opened its present shop around 1921 and has continued making, selecting and selling calligraphy supplies from this address. Today the shelves cover brushes, ink, inkstones, writing and painting papers, and other tools. The shop is useful both to practising calligraphers looking for a particular brush and to curious visitors who want to see the tools behind Japanese calligraphy. It is a working specialist retailer, not a museum or a guaranteed drop-in workshop; ask before expecting a demonstration, class or English explanation.

See how a calligraphy set fits together

The operator lists brushes, ink, inkstones, half-size writing paper, larger calligraphy sheets and decorated papers. A complete set lets you see the different roles of the ink stick, inkstone, brush and paper; the right combination depends on whether you plan to write characters or paint with ink. This is a specialist inventory, with many varieties and price levels rather than a fixed souvenir display. Staff can advise on the tools, but the operator does not publish a guaranteed English service level. Bring a reference photo or the name of the item you need, and ask before assuming every item is in stock.

Understand the ink and brush craft

Isshindo says it still values traditional soot collection for oil-soot inks: vegetable oil is lit in a small vessel and the soot that gathers under its lid is collected. For brushes, it works with specialist makers in Nara and other brush-producing regions, testing and refining products before they reach the shop; the operator says this development can take six months to a year. The shop therefore combines local craft with a national network of makers. Not every brush or ink product on the shelves is necessarily made in Nara, so ask about the provenance of a particular piece if local origin matters to your purchase.

Read the store's history as the maker's account

The company's history page traces its founding to the late Meiji period, when Kojima became a travelling seller, and says it established the present Sanjo Street shop around Taisho 10 (about 1921). Isshindo says it incorporated in 1960 and received a gold medal in 1932 for a brush entered in a national calligraphy-brush exposition. Those dates are the business's own account. Nara City’s overview of the wider ink-making tradition gives context for the shop, rather than presenting one retailer as the whole craft history.

Ask about classes before planning around one

Isshindo holds calligraphy and ink-painting classes at the back of the shop. Its current schedule lists different instructors and sessions on selected Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays; some classes have capacity limits or monthly fees. These are ongoing lessons, not a published tourist drop-in session. Contact the shop in advance to ask whether a visitor may join, what language is used, what materials are needed, the actual class date and fee, and whether a place is available. The guide does not promise a one-off visitor experience.

Plan a short central-Nara stop

The address is 3-9 Kamisanjocho. Isshindo estimates about five minutes on foot from Kintetsu Nara Station and ten minutes from JR Nara Station. It is easy to combine with a walk along Sanjo Street and nearby central-Nara sites, but allow time to browse and ask staff about specialist items; this is a retail shop, so there is no fixed visitor duration or admission ticket. The operator currently lists weekdays 09:30–18:00, Sundays and public holidays 10:00–18:00, and Mondays closed. Check its latest notice before travelling, because it posts temporary closure announcements.

What to look for

A family business whose account traces its start to the late Meiji period

Traditional brush, ink, inkstone and paper supplies with provenance to ask about

Calligraphy and ink-painting classes operate on a timetable and require advance confirmation

Photo notes

Operator and Visit Nara pages include product and store images; none were copied. No MyNara-licensed photo is attached. Ask before photographing the shop interior, staff, customers, artwork or class participants.

Plan your visit

Location3-9 Kamisanjocho, Nara City, Nara 630-8228 · on Sanjo Street, about five minutes from Kintetsu Nara Station

Visitor detailsAddress: 3-9 Kamisanjocho, Nara City, Nara 630-8228Hours: Weekdays 09:30–18:00; Sundays and public holidays 10:00–18:00; closed Mondays, per operatorAccess: About 5 minutes on foot from Kintetsu Nara Station; about 10 minutes from JR Nara Station, per operatorProducts: Brushes, ink, inkstones, calligraphy and painting papers, and related writing supplies; stock changesClasses: Calligraphy and ink-painting classes are listed on selected weekdays; availability, visitor access, language, schedule and fees require advance confirmationContact: +81 742-23-2381 (shop); call for urgent stock or class questionsAdmission: Retail shop; no admission fee or walk-in workshop is advertisedVisitor information sources reviewed 19 October 2026. Confirm current hours and fees before visiting.Check source for visitor details The operator's current site was live on 2026-10-19 and includes a notice dated 2026-10-07 about a temporary closure on October 8, 2026; this is evidence of current site updates, not a claim about today's opening. Its store page gives address, phone, hours, Monday closure and station access. The history page gives the business's own account: founder began as a travelling ink/brush seller in the late Meiji period, current location opened around 1921, company formed in 1960 and a 1932 brush-exposition award. The product page distinguishes traditional soot collection for its oil-soot ink from the broader network of brush makers, including Nara, Kumano, Kawajiri and Toyohashi. The class page shows instructor-specific weekday schedules, monthly fees and some capacity limits; it does not promise short tourist participation. Visit Nara's English listing was last updated 2025-11-28 and lists some English spoken/payment cards; treat language and payment as unverified for a specific visit. Current stock, class access, class language and fees, product provenance, payment and photo permission should be confirmed directly. No visit, class, purchase, interview or image license has been completed.

Getting thereFrom Kintetsu Nara Station, walk about five minutes along Sanjo Street to 3-9 Kamisanjocho. From JR Nara Station, the operator estimates about ten minutes on foot. Use a live pedestrian route from your station exit. If you are going specifically for an item, class or language assistance, call first because product stock and class capacity can change.

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SEASONAL CALENDAR

Events connected with Isshindo: Nara Brushes, Ink and Calligraphy Tools

These records are shared with MyNara’s event calendar, so dates and notices have one source. Recurring patterns are not confirmed dated editions; check the organizer’s latest guidance.

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Open now · check current notice

October 24–November 9, 2026 · ongoing · 10:00–18:00 prize draw · Neighbourhood stamp rally

20th Arukunara Central Nara Stamp Rally (2026)

The 20th Arukunara campaign invites visitors to explore eight shopping streets between Kintetsu Nara and JR Nara. The official 2026 participant list names registered MyNara stops including Hotel New Wakasa, Kasuga Hotel, Hotel OBANA, Hotel Nikko Nara, Nara Washington Hotel Plaza, Asukaso, Sarusawa Pond Yoshidaya, Nara Guesthouse 3F, Kakinoha-zushi Tanaka, Cafe Fluke, Umasshu, Com Ngon, Sakura Burger, Kamaiki, Yamazakiya, Genkishin, Manshodo, Shubo Aya, Hiyori, Mafu Okai, Nakatanido, Mentoan, Nara Izumi Yusai, Manmando, Kaki no Senmon, Yatagarasu, Isshindo, Konjaku Kimono Akio, Salon Naramachi, Bambuno, Cherry's Spoon and LAMP BAR. A stamp is earned only when using a participating shop's service, buying something or dining there, while a stay earns two. Collect three stamps in the campaign booklet for one no-blank draw, up to three draws per booklet. The organizer lists more than 420 points and one booklet per person. The prize-draw goal is in front of Nakagawa Masashichi Shoten Sanjo on Sanjo-dori; it is not one of the Higashimuki shop venues. Confirm the official point list and each shop's opening before visiting. The 2026 edition ends November 9; no 2027 dates are confirmed.

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Make a day of it

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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.