An experience in Gifu, Japan’s No. 1 city for paper lanterns

Gifu lantern painting experience

Experience painting your own paper lantern in Japan’s No. 1 city for chochin manufacturing, Gifu.

This experience gives you the opportunity to paint your own design on a white Japanese paper lantern, each created with care by a Gifu chochin craftworker.

The suburban area of Gifu City is one of the two major lantern production regions in Japan.

Once the largest river port city along the Nagara River, Gifu is home to industries such as Japanese paper lanterns, umbrellas and fan manufacturing from times of old. These industries use washi (Japanese paper), bamboo and other products that were brought from upstream.

Even today, Gifu lanterns (Gifu chochin) are widely popular, and many items such as the “bon-chochin” and “noryo-chochin” are produced here.

Select your lantern, and decorate it as you like—

draw your favorite picture, lettering, a family crest or even a polka-dot pattern. We also have cute samples on hand for those who are not good at drawing or for children.

Draw your child’s name on the lantern and display it for celebrations and festivals, or use the lantern as a seasonal decoration for your room.

These lanterns are lightweight and fold up small, making them easy to take home.

They make perfect souvenirs or gifts.

Why not bring the gentle light of the Japanese paper lantern that you make home with you?