Japanese Calligraphy Class in Yokohama with Tea and Sweets

The most memorable part of this Yokohama class is the chance to turn a single kanji character into a handmade uchiwa fan. Mami, an award-winning instructor with more than 30 years of experience, explains brush handling and stroke order in English, then helps you make a piece you can actually use or display.

I like the small group size, capped at six, and the calm pace. I also like that the lesson ends with Japanese tea and sweets rather than stopping when the ink dries. The main consideration is that this is a beginner class, so experienced calligraphers may find the techniques basic.

Key points at a glance

• Create a personal kanji fan: Choose a favorite character or a single kanji version of your name, then copy it onto a traditional paper fan.
• Learn from Mami: Her 30-plus years of calligraphy experience support patient, individual instruction in English.
• Enjoy two tea choices: Choose sencha or hojicha with Japanese sweets at the end of the lesson.
• Small and focused: The class allows no more than six people, giving Mami time to guide different skill levels.
• Meet in a historic Yokohama building: The lesson takes place at the Yokohama Port Opening Memorial Hall, also known as Jack’s Tower.
• Take home a useful souvenir: You leave with your fan and an English beginner’s guide for continued practice.

Why this Yokohama class feels personal

Many Japanese cultural activities ask you to watch, try something once, and move on. This one gives you a clear result to work toward. You begin with basic brush movements, choose a character, practice it, and then place your best effort on a fan that goes home with you.

That simple structure works well for first-time calligraphers. You do not need to arrive knowing kanji or Japanese. Mami helps you select what to write and explains the strokes in English, so the character has meaning instead of being a random design copied from a sample.

The class also leaves room for conversation. The small group means you can ask questions without competing with a crowd, and Mami can adjust her help to each person. A family or group of friends can choose different characters and still work through the same lesson together.

I would not book this expecting a formal art course or a long historical lecture. The experience is an introduction, not professional training. Its strength is the friendly, hands-on format and the chance to make something personal in a short morning or afternoon.

Meeting at Jack’s Tower in central Yokohama

The meeting point is the Yokohama Port Opening Memorial Hall, at Honchō 1-chōme 66 in Naka Ward, Yokohama, Kanagawa 231-0005. The building is also known as Jack’s Tower and is one of Yokohama’s traditional buildings.

That setting adds something important. You are not practicing calligraphy in a generic classroom with no connection to the city. The lesson takes place in a building tied to Yokohama’s older port district, so the activity fits naturally into a day spent exploring the historic center.

The location is near public transportation, which makes it practical to combine with other Yokohama sights. The activity begins and ends at the same meeting point, so you do not have to arrange a separate return transfer or figure out where the lesson finishes.

Allow yourself enough time to find the hall before the start. The booking information gives the meeting address, but it does not provide a detailed route from a particular station. A mobile ticket is accepted, and confirmation arrives when you book.

Starting with brush control and basic strokes

The first part of the class focuses on the essentials. You learn how to hold and move the brush, then practice the controlled strokes used to form kanji. This matters because Japanese calligraphy is not simply writing with a paintbrush. The direction, pressure, and order of the strokes shape the final character.

Mami’s long teaching experience is especially useful here. Beginners often want to rush toward the attractive finished character, but the early exercises help you understand why a stroke looks too heavy, too thin, too short, or out of balance.

The instruction is designed for mixed ability levels. You may be visiting with people who have never held a calligraphy brush, while someone else in the group may already have tried it. Mami can give each person individual guidance, which keeps the class from feeling like a one-size-fits-all demonstration.

You should expect to make mistakes. That is part of the point. Ink on paper is less forgiving than pencil, and the class gives you practice before you work on the final fan. The relaxed approach helps take away the pressure to produce perfect calligraphy on the first attempt.

Choosing a character with meaning

After the basic practice, you receive a model to use on the spot. You can write a favorite character or a single character representing your name in kanji. Mami helps you choose what to write, which is useful if you know little about Japanese characters or want something with a personal meaning.

This choice is one of the best parts of the experience. A fan with a character connected to your name, a quality you admire, or a favorite idea makes a more lasting souvenir than a preprinted item from a shop.

The supplied information does not promise a translation service for a full name or phrase, so keep your choice focused. The activity specifically describes a favorite character or one character of your name. If you have an idea before arriving, you can discuss it with Mami, but the final piece is intended to remain simple.

The lesson also gives you a small connection to Japanese language and design. You are not only copying a shape. You are learning that each mark has a place, and that a single character can carry a broad meaning.

Turning practice into an uchiwa fan

Once you have practiced and received guidance, you copy the chosen character onto a beautiful Japanese paper fan, called an uchiwa. This is the finished art project you take home.

The fan gives the class a satisfying endpoint. You can see your progress from the first brush exercises to a more deliberate final piece. It also makes a practical souvenir because it is light, easy to pack, and clearly connected to the activity you completed in Yokohama.

Do not expect every fan to look like a professional calligrapher’s work. The value is in the process and the personal mark. Mami’s instruction helps you produce something presentable, but your fan will still show that it was made by you.

I would take care with this stage. Work slowly, listen to the advice about brush pressure, and accept that a little unevenness is part of handmade art. The goal is not to erase every sign of being a beginner. It is to make a meaningful object using a traditional method.

Sencha, hojicha, and Japanese sweets

At the end of the lesson, you choose between sencha and hojicha. Sencha is a classic Japanese green tea with a fresh taste, while hojicha is roasted and generally has a warmer, toastier character. The choice gives you a small but useful introduction to two different tea styles.

Japanese sweets accompany the tea. This closing break changes the rhythm of the class. After concentrating on brush movements and ink, you have time to sit back, taste something traditional, and talk about the experience.

The tea service is not presented as a full tea ceremony, so you should not book this expecting elaborate ceremonial preparation. It is a simple refreshment at the end of the calligraphy lesson. That simplicity suits the class, since the focus remains on making art.

The tea and sweets also make the activity more social. If you attend with family or friends, this is a natural time to compare your characters and fans. Mami can also talk with you about your time in Japan and offer suggestions for places to visit afterward.

A useful follow-up guide in English

You take home a beginner’s guide to Japanese calligraphy in English. This is a small detail, but it improves the value of the class. Without some written reminder, it is easy to forget the names or order of the basic techniques once you leave.

The guide gives you a way to continue practicing. It will not turn a two-and-a-half-hour introduction into advanced instruction, but it can help you repeat the fundamentals while the class is still fresh in your mind.

I like this feature because the fan is the finished souvenir, while the guide supports the skill itself. One preserves the experience; the other gives you a chance to keep working on it.

How the two-and-a-half-hour schedule works

The activity lasts about two hours and 30 minutes. That is long enough for instruction, practice, the final fan, and tea without turning the class into an all-day commitment.

A typical flow is:

• Meet at the Port Opening Memorial Hall.
• Learn basic brush handling and calligraphy strokes.
• Choose a favorite character or one kanji character for your name.
• Practice with the provided model.
• Copy the final character onto your uchiwa fan.
• Enjoy sencha or hojicha with Japanese sweets.
• Receive the English beginner’s guide and finish back at the meeting point.

The precise timing of each stage is not specified, so you should expect some flexibility. A family group may need more time with the basics, while a smaller group of confident participants may move faster.

The length makes this easy to fit into a Yokohama sightseeing plan. Still, I would avoid scheduling another fixed activity immediately afterward. The class ends at the meeting point, but you may want time to finish your tea, collect your things, and move on without rushing.

Who will enjoy this activity most

This class suits first-time calligraphers, families, couples, and friends looking for a quieter cultural activity. It also works well if you want a souvenir that you made yourself rather than something purchased in a department store.

Families should find the format manageable because Mami explains the process patiently and gives personal help. Children’s participation is not specifically described, so check the booking details if age requirements matter for your group.

The experience also suits people with different levels of artistic confidence. You do not need to be good at drawing. Calligraphy depends on controlled strokes and attention, and the class begins with the basics.

It may be less satisfying for an advanced student seeking complex compositions, formal ranking, or long-term technical study. The activity is deliberately compact and introductory.

What the $19.51 price really buys you

At $19.51 per person, this is a low-cost cultural activity for Yokohama. The price includes more than a short demonstration: you receive guided instruction, practice time, a personal uchiwa fan, Japanese tea, sweets, and an English beginner’s guide.

The small group limit matters when judging the price. With no more than six participants, the lesson has a better chance of including direct feedback instead of leaving you to copy a teacher from the back of a crowded room.

The best value comes if you care about participation. If you only want to watch calligraphy, a free cultural display or shop demonstration might be enough. If you want to learn the basics and leave with an object made during the lesson, the fee is easier to justify.

The activity does not list transportation, meals beyond the tea and sweets, or additional sightseeing as included. You should plan to reach the hall on your own and treat the class as a focused cultural stop.

Practical points before you book

Confirmation is provided at the time of booking, and the activity uses a mobile ticket. The meeting and ending point is the Port Opening Memorial Hall, so keep the address available on your phone.

The class is near public transportation, and most people can participate. No special ability requirements are listed, but calligraphy involves holding and guiding a brush for part of the lesson. If someone in your party has concerns about this, contact the provider before booking.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time. Cancellations or changes made inside that 24-hour window are not accepted for a refund.

The class has a maximum of six people, which is helpful if you want direct instruction. It also means spaces may be limited, so do not wait until the last minute if your Yokohama schedule is fixed.

Should you book Mami’s calligraphy class?

I would book this if you want a calm, affordable activity with a clear personal result. The combination of Mami’s patient English instruction, the historic Yokohama meeting place, the handmade fan, and tea with sweets gives you more than a quick craft stop.

The strongest reason to choose it is the personal guidance. You decide what to write, learn how to form it, and take home the final piece. The main reason to skip it is simple: advanced calligraphers may want a deeper or more specialized lesson.

For most first-time participants, families, and culture-minded visitors, this is a worthwhile two-and-a-half-hour addition to a Yokohama day. Arrive ready to practice, accept a few imperfect strokes, and you will leave with both a souvenir and a better sense of how Japanese calligraphy works.

FAQ

Where does the Japanese calligraphy class take place?

The class takes place at the Yokohama Port Opening Memorial Hall, also called Jack’s Tower, at Honchō 1-chōme 66 in Naka Ward, Yokohama, Kanagawa 231-0005.

How long does the activity last?

The class lasts approximately two hours and 30 minutes.

Who teaches the class?

Mami teaches the class. She is an award-winning calligraphy instructor with more than 30 years of experience.

What will I make during the class?

You will practice calligraphy and copy a favorite character or one kanji character for your name onto a traditional Japanese paper fan called an uchiwa. You can take the fan home.

Is the class taught in English?

English instruction is provided, and you receive a beginner’s guide to calligraphy in English at the end.

What tea is included?

You can choose between sencha and hojicha. Japanese sweets are also served.

How many people can join the class?

The activity has a maximum of six participants.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund.