Experience letterpress printing at the cool and retro Bizen Toppan Workshop

Bizen Toppan Kosakusho is a store that sells paper products made using letterpress printing, created through a collaboration between Onishi Shoten, a Bizen City store founded in 1920 (Taisho 9), and COCHAE, a design unit based in Okayama.

• Table of Contents
• You can experience three different types of printing!
• Trying to make a memo pad using letterpress printing
• Automatic letterpress printing machine
• There is also a cafe space
• Cafe time with sweets and drinks
• A gallery featuring exhibits related to paper and printing
• A miscellaneous goods shop where you can enjoy looking and touching
• Feel free to ask us any questions about printing.
• Store Information

You can experience three different types of printing!

Bizen Toppan Workshop offers three types of printing experiences. All require a reservation, but if there are vacancies, you can also make a reservation on the day. You can check the reservation status on their official website and make a reservation online or by phone.

A: Letterpress printing experience (1,500 yen)

Choose your favorite design and text and experience printing using the manual letterpress printing machine "Tekin". You can make a memo pad with the printed card as the cover.

B: Silkscreen printing experience (from 2,500 yen)

Choose your favorite design or create an original layout and print it on T-shirts, tote bags, etc. You can also create original goods by using a picture you or your child drew as a printing plate (plate making fee + 2,000 yen).

*If you bring your own materials it's free, but if you purchase them in the store it will cost an additional 700-1,000 yen for T-shirts and 450-700 yen for tote bags.

C: Stamp making experience (2,000 yen)

This is an experience where you can create your own original stamp by engraving a picture you have drawn onto a rubber sheet using a laser cutter.

Reservation here

Trying to make a memo pad using letterpress printing

This time, I tried letterpress printing, something I had never experienced before. Letterpress printing is a traditional printing technique that has been used almost in the same way since its invention, in which blocks of letters and designs are combined, ink is applied, and the block is pressed to print. I will introduce the process.

① Frame selection

You can choose from two types of frames: a "photo frame" and a "frame surrounded by the number 1." I chose the frame with the "1" design.

②Select a design

Choose your favorite design from the available plates. Depending on the size, you can also combine multiple designs. This time, I chose a design by Bizen Toppan Works. It's a very cute design.

③Selecting characters

You can choose from hiragana, katakana, the alphabet, and numbers. The number of characters you can include varies depending on the size of the type, but it's usually around 20 characters. I decided on "Date" and "Okatabi!" right then and there.

④Final adjustment of gap and height

Once the text and image are decided, fill in the gaps, adjust the height, and choose the ink color. There are three types of ink: black, red, and blue. This time I chose red.

⑤Printed using a Tekin (manual letterpress printing machine)

The completed stencil is placed in the printing machine and pressed onto the paper with a tekin (manual letterpress printing machine). It requires some force, but the staff will help you so you don't have to worry.

⑥Cover selection

Print out several copies and choose the darkness and finish you like. You can also take home the ones you didn't choose.

⑦Decide the back color

The back comes in four colors: yellow, light blue, red, and blue. I chose my favorite color.

⑧Complete!

Attach the spine, let the ink dry, and it's complete. It takes about 40 to 50 minutes. Even though it's my first time, they teach me carefully, so it wasn't difficult. I'm very satisfied with making my own memo pad!

It is also recommended as a souvenir or to create memories of your trip to Okayama.

Automatic letterpress printing machine

After the experience, I was shown an automatic letterpress printing machine instead of a manual one. The machine was cool, and I was also shown a blank press without ink. The letters appeared, which was also very impressive.

There is also a cafe space

You can relax in the attached cafe space between shopping and activities. You can also use the cafe only.

Cafe time with sweets and drinks

This time, we enjoyed Japanese sweets, carrot cake, and drip coffee from Shotoen, a long-established Japanese sweets store in Tamashima , Kurashiki City. Drinks are available for takeout, so they are also recommended as souvenirs.

A gallery featuring exhibits related to paper and printing

In the gallery space, exhibitions related to paper and printing are regularly held. Currently, the exhibition "Aozora-tei's Neo Folk Crafts Exhibition - Inutsu-e and Pantsu-e" is being held. Unique works using letterpress printing are on display, and merchandise is also available for purchase.

[Exhibition "Aozora-tei's Neo-Mingei Exhibition - Inutsu-e and Pantsu-e - Inunko and Chunky Matsumoto"]

Event period: Monday, November 3, 2024 - Sunday, January 12, 2025

Learn more

A miscellaneous goods shop where you can enjoy looking and touching

The shop space is also attractive, with colorful paper goods and original items on display. There is also an online store, so if you're interested, please check it out.

Feel free to ask us any questions about printing.

In the future, they will be able to provide printing consultations, and will also be able to use the workshop space as a place for intermediate, advanced, and professional printers to create and work freely (still in preparation).

Store Information

This was my first time experiencing letterpress printing, and it was a lot of fun. The shop had a stylish atmosphere and was filled with printing-related items, and I was able to create a one-of-a-kind original piece.

Bizen Toppan Workshop is a place where everyone can have fun, with delicious sweets, a gallery, and paper goods for sale.

Please do go and check it out. The shelves of retro type in the store are really cool, so I hope you can see and feel the real thing.

[Bizen Toppan Works]

Address: 31 Bizen City, Okayama Prefecture

TEL: 0869-87-0012

Business hours: 9:30-17:30 (last orders 17:00)

Closed: Wednesdays and Thursdays

Parking: 3 spaces on weekdays, 10 spaces on weekends and holidays

*The parking lot is located about 100m away from the store.

Bizen Toppan Works Official Website