Create your own Edinburgh souvenir with Japanese brush art, enjoy a live calligraphy performance, and finish the experience with a Hong Kong meal.

Looking for an Edinburgh souvenir that's a little more personal than something from a gift shop?

Join Japanese calligrapher Mare Ito of Wayfarer Shodo Edinburgh for a two-hour creative experience bringing together Scotland, Japan and Hong Kong during the Edinburgh Fringe.

Start by watching Mare create a large-scale artwork in a live Japanese calligraphy and ink-painting performance.

Then it's your turn.

Using traditional Japanese brushes and ink, you'll create your own Edinburgh-inspired postcard based on one of our original designs. Choose from 3 featured designs at every session, rotating from our collection of 6: Highland Cow, Nessie, Edinburgh Castle, Unicorn, Bagpipes and Daruma, each design brings together something of Scotland and Japan.

You can follow the original Scottish-inspired design, add Japanese elements, or personalise it in your own way.

Finish your postcard with your name, the date, “Edinburgh Fringe 2026”, or your own message, and take home a souvenir that you actually made yourself.

No previous drawing or calligraphy experience is needed. Simple step-by-step guides and individual guidance will be provided throughout.

After the creative session, sit down together and enjoy a Hong Kong-style meal at Made in Hong Kong, with a main course and drink included in your ticket.

Six Designs, Three Featured at Every Workshop

We've created a collection of six original postcard designs inspired by Scotland and Japan:

Highland Cow · Nessie · Edinburgh Castle · Unicorn · Bagpipes · Daruma

To keep each workshop relaxed and allow Mare to guide everyone properly, three designs from the collection will be featured at each session.

The selection rotates throughout the Fringe, so different workshop dates may feature different designs.

We'll announce upcoming featured designs on our Instagram before each session.

Whichever design you choose, you're encouraged to make it your own. Add Japanese-inspired details, experiment with the brush and ink, change small elements or add your own lettering and message.

Your finished postcard doesn't have to look exactly like Mare's example — that's part of the fun.

Scotland Meets Japan

What happens when a Japanese calligrapher living in Edinburgh starts painting Scotland?

That's where this collection began.

Our designs take familiar Scottish and Edinburgh icons and reinterpret them through Japanese calligraphy, sumi-e-inspired brushwork and playful Japanese details.

You might paint a Highland cow with a Japanese twist, surround Nessie with Japanese-inspired waves, or create your own interpretation of another Scottish icon.

The Daruma turns the idea around — taking one of Japan's most recognisable symbols and giving it a Scottish character.

The result is a souvenir that brings two cultures together, created by you here in Edinburgh.

Your Two-Hour Experience

1. Live Japanese Calligraphy Performance — approximately 20 minutes

Watch Mare work with large paper, traditional brushes and ink to create a large-scale artwork in front of you.

Rather than simply seeing the finished piece, you'll experience the movement, brushstrokes and process behind Japanese calligraphy and ink painting.

2. Make Your Own Edinburgh Postcard — approximately 60 minutes

Choose from the three featured designs of the day and create your own postcard using Japanese brushes and ink.

Step-by-step examples will be available, and Mare will guide you through the process.

Complete beginners are very welcome.

3. Hong Kong Meal — approximately 40 minutes

Once everyone's artwork is complete, sit down together and enjoy a meal at Made in Hong Kong.

It's a chance to relax, chat with the other participants and admire everyone's very different finished postcards.

Your Hong Kong Meal

Your ticket includes one main course and one drink from our workshop menu.

Choose One Main

• Crispy Chilli Pork Chop with Rice
• Tomato Beef with Rice
• Sweet & Sour Crispy Pork with Rice
• Beef with Black Bean Sauce with Rice or Noodles
• Crispy Chicken with Honey Sauce with Rice or Noodles
• Soy Sauce Noodles with Beef or Chicken

Choose One Drink

• Iced Red Bean
• Hong Kong Lemon Tea
• Hong Kong Milk Tea

Menu options are subject to availability on the day.

What's Included

• 20-minute live Japanese calligraphy and ink-art performance
• 60-minute creative postcard workshop
• Choice of three featured designs from our six-design collection
• Traditional Japanese brushes and ink
• Step-by-step drawing guides
• All art materials
• Guidance from Japanese calligrapher Mare Ito
• Your finished Edinburgh postcard to take home
• One Hong Kong-style main course
• One drink

Everything you need for the workshop is provided.

Who Is This For?

This experience is designed for adults, families, couples, friends, locals and visitors.

It's especially suitable for anyone looking for:

• A creative activity during the Edinburgh Fringe
• A unique souvenir of Edinburgh
• A family activity
• Something different to do as a couple or with friends
• An introduction to Japanese calligraphy and ink painting
• A cultural experience combining Scotland, Japan and Hong Kong
• A relaxing creative activity even if you've never painted before

Complete beginners are welcome.

The designs have been created to be approachable and enjoyable to draw, and you don't need to be “good at art” to take part.

A Fringe Souvenir Made by You

Edinburgh is full of souvenirs.

This one is different because you make it yourself.

Write your name, add the date of your visit, include a personal message or write something on the back before taking it home.

Children and adults can interpret the same design completely differently, so no two postcards need to look alike.

We hope that when you see yours again after the Fringe, you'll remember not only Edinburgh, but the experience of sitting down, picking up a Japanese brush and creating it.

About the Artist

Mare Ito is a Japanese calligrapher and qualified calligraphy instructor from Gunma Prefecture, Japan, now based in Edinburgh.

He began learning Japanese calligraphy in primary school and continued for six years before later earning his calligraphy instructor's qualification.

Through Wayfarer Shodo Edinburgh, Mare combines traditional Japanese calligraphy and sumi-e-inspired painting with travel, place and cultural exchange.

During the Edinburgh Fringe, you may also spot him around the city creating large-scale Japanese brush artworks inspired by Scotland.

Event Details

Location:
Made in Hong Kong
62 Ratcliffe Terrace
Edinburgh EH9 1ST

Duration: Approximately 2 hours

Group size: Small group

Experience level: Beginners welcome

Materials: Everything provided

Food: One main course + one drink included

Workshop dates and times:
Please select your preferred available session when booking.

Family Tickets

Coming together as a family? Family ticket options are available.

Each participating family member can create their own postcard, meaning children and adults can choose their favourite featured design and leave with their own Edinburgh souvenir.

Individual: £39
2 people: £75
3 people: £109

Family of 3 — £105

Family of 4 — £139

Places are limited for each session so that everyone has enough space and can receive guidance from Mare.

What Previous Participants Have Said

“Excellent — the workshop was a highly worthwhile experience. I'm definitely going to come to more.”

“Thank you for such an enjoyable and inspiring workshop. I left feeling motivated to continue developing my calligraphy skills.”

“As a first timer, I felt extremely welcomed and left feeling happy with myself.”

Before You Book

• Complete beginners are welcome.
• All materials are provided.
• The workshop will be conducted in English, with visual demonstrations throughout.
• Children should attend with a responsible adult.
• Three designs from our six-design collection are featured at each session. Designs rotate between workshop dates.
• Follow Wayfarer Shodo Edinburgh on Instagram to see upcoming featured designs and workshop updates.
• If you particularly want to make one specific design, please check our latest announcements before booking.

Create something you won't find in a souvenir shop.

Scotland × Japan × Hong Kong

A live Japanese art performance, a postcard made by you, and a Hong Kong meal — all in one Edinburgh Fringe experience.