Hands-on Lessons　

MARUMIZU-GUMI offers lessons for visitors from overseas.

Lessons for one to ten people are available. Beginner is also welcome.
Every Thu, Sat, Sun: Staring at 9:30 am, 2:00 pm, 6:30 pm, (Approx. 2-3 hours)

(1) Japanese book binding lesson (4-hole binding and variations)

Level ★☆☆☆☆/ Approx. 2 hours

This lesson covers the fundamentals of Japanese bookbinding. Students will make one 4-hole bound book as the standard project. Upon request, other traditional patterns such as Turtle shell or Hemp leaf can also be chosen.
Lesson fee: 6,330 JPY (including materials and tool rental cost).

(2) Flat-back case binding

Level ★★★☆☆/ Approx. 3 hours

This lesson covers basic modern bookbinding.

Students will make a book with techniques, which are cord sewing, protecting spine and making hard cover.
If you want to use a sewing flame, Please request us when you will reserve.Lesson fee: 6,330 JPY including materials and tool rental cost.

(3) Leather bound book lesson

Level ★★★★☆/ Approx. 3 hours

This lesson covers basic leather bound bookbinding.

Students will make a full leather book using a leather knife. Lesson fee: 10,330 JPY including materials and tool rental
cost. If you want to make a half leather binding (Standard or Alternative) below, The book needs two lessons.

(4) Coptic binding with wooden covers lesson – Marumizu-gumi original

Level ★★★☆☆/ Approx. 2 hours

This lesson introduces the traditional technique of Coptic sewing, using wooden covers designed exclusively by Marumizu-gumi.
Lesson fee: 10,330 JPY (includes materials and tool rental).
If you prefer plastic covers, the fee is 11,330 JPY.

(5) Box making lesson

Level ★★★☆☆~★★★★☆/ Approx. 2~4 hours

The lesson covers box making, including slip cases, clamshell boxes, and traditional Japanese-style boxes.
Lesson fee: 6,330 JPY for the slip case; 12,660 JPY for the clamshell and Japanese-style boxes (two lessons), including materials and tool rental.

Note: Please bring a book or other items such as pictures, drawing papers, or postcards on the day of the lesson.

(6) Custom-made lesson

This lesson is designed just for you. Choose what you want to learn, and we’ll create a lesson to match your goals, schedule, and preferred duration. Materials are provided, but you can also bring your own fabrics, papers, or other items. You can even make your own original book from scratch!

Please let us know your learning goals, schedule, and any materials in advance. We will then inform you of the lesson fee and number of sessions required.

Example plans (for reference):

• Beginner / Hobbyist: Single-section bookbinding variations, Japanese-style notebooks

• Photographers / Visual Artists: Portfolio albums, photo-safe albums, custom slipcases

• Writers / Journalists: Leather-bound journals, custom notebooks

• Book Conservators / Craftspeople: Book repair techniques, rebinding, advanced binding styles

• Creative Professionals / Designers: Fully original book projects tailored to your own concepts

(7) Book Conservation lesson

Level ★☆☆☆☆~★★★★☆/ Approx. 2hours~

This lesson covers how to repair old or damaged books by yourself. You can bring a broken book to work on, or alternatively, create a re-bound book, which involves repairing the book block and replacing it, or recycling the original cover.

Please inform us in advance what you would like to repair and attach some photos. We will then let you know the lesson fee and the number of lessons required.

Techniques covered may include (for reference):

• Cleaning and minor repairs of pages

• Reattaching loose pages

• Repairing damaged spines

• Rebinding and cover replacement

• Backing for papers and damaged fabrics

(8) Album binding lesson

Level ★★★☆☆/ Approx. 3 hours

This lesson covers album bookbinding. The album includes spacers to hold pictures, drawings, and other collectible items. You will create a wedge-shaped book block with spacers and make a cover using the flat-back case binding technique.

Lesson fee: 6,330 JPY (includes materials and tool rental).

(9) One-year course: Basic bookbinding
lessons

Level ★☆☆☆☆~★★★★★

Our bookbinding lessons cover basic techniques, including traditional Japanese bookbinding and book repair.
We offer a variety of methods to create different types of books, such as:

Flat Back Case Binding
Boxes
Albums
Dictionaries or Bible binding
Rounded Binding
Leather Binding
We can teach in English, but we provide written instructions only in Japanese.
Please note that a basic understanding of Japanese is required.
Check more detail(only Japanese) ▶︎

(10) Team Building (Activities) Lesson

Level ★☆☆☆☆–★★★★★

This lesson focuses on teamwork and collaboration through bookbinding activities. Participants, including children, will work together on projects, learning basic to advanced techniques while creating shared or individual works. It’s a fun way to develop communication, cooperation, and creativity in a hands-on environment suitable for all ages. The activity can take place at your preferred location, or at Marumizu-gumi studio.

What you’ll experience (for reference):

• Collaborative bookbinding exercises

• Creative problem-solving in a group setting

• Sharing ideas and techniques with other participants

• Optional individual projects within the team context

Lesson fee and duration will vary depending on the chosen activities.

Note: When inquiring, please provide the number of participants, their ages, purpose of participation, and preferred dates, to the extent known.