This is the family of crafts that doesn’t fit anywhere else — and contains some of Japan’s most giftable objects. Handmade washi paper from 1,300-year-old villages, cut kiriko glass, folding fans, calligraphy tools, paper lanterns and folk toys: everything we have reviewed, by type.
All 62 pieces below link to our full individual guides — each covers the region’s history, what makes the piece distinctive, and exactly how to order it from Amazon Japan with international shipping. New to importing? Start with the step-by-step buying guide.
How to choose
- Washi differs by fiber: kōzo is strong and everyday, gampi is silk-like and archival — guides state the fiber and the village.
- Kiriko cut glass (Edo, Satsuma) is hand-cut lead crystal — patterns have names and meanings, not just decoration.
- Fans: folding sensu are formal and portable; flat uchiwa move more air and hang beautifully on a wall.
- Calligraphy tools (brush, ink stick, inkstone, paper) are a coherent starter set — each has a dedicated regional guide.
Glass (14)
Calligraphy Tools (7)
Fans (4)
Lanterns (3)
Folk Toys & Charms (11)
Washi & Paper (16)
More Crafts (6)
Other (1)
Browse by region
Aichi 1Akita 1Aomori 1Chiba 1Ehime 1Fukui 1Fukuoka 1Fukushima 3Gifu 3Gunma 1Hokkaido 2Hyogo 2Ishikawa 1Iwate 1Kagawa 1Kagoshima 1Kanagawa 1Kochi 1Kyoto 1Mie 2Miyagi 2Miyazaki 1Nagano 2Nagasaki 1Nara 2Niigata 1Oita 2Okayama 1Okinawa 1Osaka 1Saga 1Saitama 2Shiga 1Shimane 1Shizuoka 1Tochigi 1Tokushima 1Tokyo 5Toyama 3Wakayama 1Yamagata 1Yamaguchi 1Yamanashi 1
Frequently asked questions
Is washi just 'Japanese paper'?
No — it is paper made from specific bast fibers (kōzo, mitsumata, gampi) by hand in cold water, which is why it lasts centuries. Each guide names the village and the fiber.
Is kiriko glass dishwasher safe?
No — hand-wash only. The cut patterns are unprotected crystal edges and thermal shock is the main risk.
Are paper products fragile to ship?
They ship rolled or boxed from Amazon Japan and arrive fine; lanterns and fans come flat-packed in maker packaging.
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