2 Hour Onsen Calligraphy Experience
Overview
Available languages
2 hours
Mobile ticket
Experience Japanese calligraphy using real onsen water in a peaceful ryokan setting.
Write on traditional paper or a Japanese hand fan, and take home your one-of-a-kind creation.
Relax and connect with the spirit of Hakone through this soothing cultural experience.
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Enjoy a memorable Onsen Calligraphy Experience at a historic hot spring ryokan in Hakone. In this rare and culturally rich workshop, you’ll mix your ink with actual onsen (hot spring) water and explore the calming art of Japanese calligraphy. The session begins with a brief introduction to the history and cultural significance of Hakone’s hot springs, setting the stage for a deeper connection with your artwork. Whether it’s your first time or you’ve tried calligraphy before, the friendly instructor will guide you through the basics with care and encouragement. You’ll create your piece on traditional Japanese paper or on a uchiwa (a classic round Japanese hand fan), which you can take home as a lasting memento of your experience.
What‘s Included
Venue fee for the indoor space at the onsen ryokan
Complimentary Japanese tea served during the experience
All calligraphy materials
A take-home bag for your finished pieces
Instruction by an experienced calligraphy teacher
One uchiwa (Japanese round paper fan) for artwork
Onsen water for ink preparation
Cultural explanation of Hakone’s hot spring traditions
Transportation to and from the meeting point
Gratuities for the guide/instructor (optional, at your discretion)
Options
2 Hour Onsen Calligraphy Experience
Reviews
11 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
A wonderful calligraphy experience that feels Japanese
麻子 佐,,Nov 19, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I was sightseeing nearby with a friend, and I saw information that you could experience calligraphy, so I dropped by. It was a very meaningful experience that was hard to do ☺️☺️
Calligraphy experience at an onsen inn
Fearless01756535584,,Nov 18, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The time spent brushing in the calm air of the inn made me forget my usual busyness. The teacher will teach you how to hold the brush slowly, so you can concentrate effortlessly even for the first time. What’s more, it had a special feeling of using hot spring water to make ink, and it had a unique taste of Hakone. Every time I look back at the finished work, I am reminded of that quiet space and the scent of steam.
The first writing character with a brush
Trip23355960512,,Nov 17, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00My friend in Japan invited and I decided to join. I've drawn pictures with a brush before, but writing characters was a first for me. It was really fun to experience Japanese culture. I also got to enjoy the nearby hot springs, which was wonderful. I genuinely enjoyed my trip to Hakone. Thank you to the translator as well.
【A time filled with “Japanese” charm that can be enjoyed for the first time】
Connector66742607422,,Nov 15, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I was a complete beginner in calligraphy, but thanks to the kind guidance of my teacher, I was surprised by the result. What’s more, the special feeling that it is hot spring water to make sumi made me feel very excited. The time spent running the brush in the nature of Hakone and the calm air of the inn is as if your mind is being prepared. It was a healing experience that could only be experienced here.
First calligraphy experience
森山蒼,,Nov 10, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I went there with a friend and I was able to experience it in a calm atmosphere with the sound of water and the scent of ink coming from outside. It was a very valuable opportunity. It was fun.
The air in the inn was so good that I could relax
壮太郎,,Nov 8, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Just holding a brush in the quiet air of an old inn made me feel calm. It was also good to enjoy it without feeling nervous because I experienced it with friends. I was relieved that the teacher would see each one of them, and I was satisfied enough that I wanted to hang the finished work in my room.
A relaxing time with hot springs and calligraphy
勇斗佐,,Nov 7, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I went there with my friends from the club, and the atmosphere was so good that even the members who were usually goofing around quietly concentrated. The ink made with hot spring water had a slight scent, which was completely different from a regular class. After writing it, we all showed each other our work and had a great time taking lots of photos.
Calligraphy in hot spring water
小池優,,Nov 6, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Two hours felt like it very quickly. It was the first time in a long time that I had used a brush to write letters, which was fun and also tense and fresh, but the teacher was very polite. The writing was very comfortable and it was a good experience, probably because I used the hot spring water from the inn.
Experience Japanese in a quiet atmosphere
山中恵,,Nov 5, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I experienced calligraphy in my room at the inn and it was a very quiet and calm time. The sound of hot water coming from the outside was also pleasant and allowed me to concentrate naturally. I felt like I could write more beautifully than usual.
Old-fashioned experience
城谷春,,Nov 3, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00While traveling in Hakone, I had an old-fashioned experience. It was an experience of writing characters from the past, and I was very happy because it was something I had always wanted to do! It was the first time for me to actually write the spelling I was interested in in in the classics class (writing like cursive), and it was a great time for me to write the typefaces I had only seen in a collection of materials with my own hands!
Related Experiences
Operated by Onsen Experience Lab – Yuno-iro