UNIQUE EXPERIENCE in KYOTO: Making a Notebook from Scratch! | Traditional Japanese Bookbinding

Hello from Kyoto, Japan! As we were planning our trip to Japan, we were looking at unique experiences and came across one that's perfect for book lovers: a workshop to learn how to make a notebook in the traditional Japanese way. That means glue made of rice, washi paper and everything handmade! Tsutomu-san has been a master bookbinder for decades and we couldn't have found someone more experienced than him. He taught us how to press, stitch, cut, glue and bind a notebook. And the best part? The cover is made of kimono fabric!

Join us as we make a journal from scratch from a cosy crafts studio in Kyoto, Japan. If you've always wanted to try your hand at DIY, you could even try to make your own notebook at home following this very special handmade process!

Hope you enjoy this video and do let us know what you'd like us to do in Japan next time we visit!

See you soon :)

🌟 BOOK THIS EXPERIENCE WITH YOKO: 🌟

➡️Traditional Kyoto-style Bookmaking

🌟 ALSO AVAILABLE:

➡️ For Book Lovers! Kyoto Craft Workshop

➡️Kyoto SDGs Sketchbook Making w/Kimono Craftsmen

YOKO'S AIRBNBS:

🏠 Feel Real Japan. brand-new, modern 3

🏠 Feel Real Japan. brand-new, modern

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Here you can find some unseen footage and short videos!

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🔖 CHAPTERS

0:00 - Intro
0:21 - Tsutomu
0:49 - Choosing Materials
1:41 - How It All Started
2:30 - Cutting & Stitching
3:28 - Glueing Endpapers
3:54 - Tsutomu & His Friend
5:00 - Reinforcing the Spine & Adding Ribbons
5:47 - Preparing The Cover
7:46 - Drying & Binding
9:13 - Tea Time & Finishing Touches
10:08 - Final Thoughts

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

✨ WATCH MORE ✨

📺 Watch our full JAPAN series in chronological order:

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We are Andreia & Daniel, two Portuguese travellers based in London capturing our adventures through film and sharing them with you! We love nature, animals, food, and quirky stays and hate crowds, bus tours, overrated restaurants and not being able to afford travelling in business class.

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In this video:

These Feelings - Fabien Tell
Festivities - Fabien Tell

All footage recorded and edited by us.

#kyoto #bookbinding #japan #japanexperience #japantravel

[travelmurmur]

How talented is Tsutomu-san? 🤩 What an amazing experience. Hope you enjoyed watching the whole process of making a notebook the Japanese way! What other unique experiences would you like us to do in Japan? 🇯🇵

[jen]

Something to be said when an artist shares their craft with you! Bravo to this craftsman.

[LoveNotWar]

Great video and I love your choice of kimono for your notebook! My daughter and I took two different classes (temple stamp book making and the same notebook book making as shown in your video) with Tsutomo and Yoko in late December 2022 and thoroughly enjoyed both sessions. We are planning to go back to learn more from them in May 2023 ❤❤

[horteen]

This was so cute. Very special experience. And... Isn't this notebook like the best souvenir EVER?

[PrimaDewi]

Obsessed ❤️ If I have experience this, the notebook will remain on my bookshelf bcs it's precious experience things that happens to me. Because it's not just notebook i made from scratch but all the material has its value. Anyway, thanks for the video ❤❤ it's beautiful

[robinlathim]

What a beautiful experience with such lovely and talented people...just awesome! ❤

[shellyp]

Thank you for sharing this! What a special day you had learning from a master book binder! 🥰

[koalafan]

Those are definitely much nicer then the case binding books I’ve made.

[samcollage]

What a wonderful experience. Thank you.

[phyllisjeanfulton]

I’m an American learning BookMaking. I’ve enjoyed your demonstration. I wish I could be in the man’s class. !!! ❤

[LaurenJason]

This was such a cool video! We loved how detailed they are with how they make their notebooks. This seems like a really fantastic experience 😀

[memejs]

This is amazing! I hope they’re still offering this experience in 2024, when I’m planning to go to Japan.

[aff]

What a special experience and such stunning books!! 😊

[KeiPalace]

something I would love to do when visiting Kyoto

[andreatthatsme]

😢😢😢thank you.

I miss Japan so much. I miss the humble people that share their hearts. 😢😢
I lived in Kyushu for 4 years. I did pass through Kyoto at some point.
I often wish I never left Japan. I miss the food too...😢

I have a lot of questions but for now I want to know:
- Do many people speak English?
- Did you stay in hotel, air b&b, or hostel? And how much?
- If I go, how much money should I bring for 10 day stay?
- Was it easy to get around - bus, train, taxi, rental car?
- Did you pay for a class from sensai Tsutomu-san? If so, how much.

I would love to go to Kyoto.

I will send email later if I have more questions.

Thank you so very much. I'm glad I found this video.😊

[boris]

Your books look beautiful. I am so excited as I have actually got this activity booked next month. Excited!

[mr.nobody]

it's nice to see someone have passion in their life like this.
i made my own thread binding notebook also and sell it. problem is, it's so hard to get a nice creamy paper color here, so i just use HVS instead with different thickness from 70 to 100 gsm.
still using box cutter to trim the edge, not as neat as machine cut but i think that's the plus point. it's more like a handmade, a piece of art with that bit rough edge.

[joaodias]

What an amazing experience. They were so nice and cute!!!! 🥰
I was so glad watching it, they look so happy! 📙
Another great video ☺️☺️

[cameronbourke]

We did this in 2020. It’s an amazing experience

[daniellehaggard]

That was an awesome summary. Thank you for sharing!