Shuzenji Washi (Shuzenji-gami) is washi that has been made in the Kamiya district of Shuzenji, Izu City, Shizuoka Prefecture. Its origins are unclear, but it is said to have been made from around the Heian period, and it is thought to have a history spanning a thousand years. Its name appears in The Tale of the Heike, and it is said to have been used for the documents Minamoto no Yoritomo sent to warriors in the Kanto region when raising an army. In the Edo period, Tokugawa Ieyasu recognized its quality and encouraged its production, and it is said to have been used as official paper for the shogunate. In the past it was a thin paper with a pale pink tint, characterized by a pattern of bamboo screen lines (sudareme). From the Meiji to the Taisho era, production died out due to factors such as the spread of Western paper. In 1985 a workshop was built in Kamiya with the cooperation of local residents, and efforts to restore the paper began. Today papermaking continues at 修善寺紙谷和紙工房, which also offers hands-on papermaking experiences.
Origin
The origins of Shuzenji Washi are unclear, but papermaking is said to have begun around the Heian period. Its name is said to appear in The Tale of the Heike, and it is said that Shuzenji Washi was used for the documents Minamoto no Yoritomo sent to warriors in the Kanto region when raising an army to overthrow the Taira clan. The paper has been made in the Kamiya district of Shuzenji. Because it was once pale pink, it is also said to have been called Iroyoshi paper (iroyoshi-gami).
History
In the Edo period, Tokugawa Ieyasu is said to have recognized its quality and encouraged its production by granting a black-seal letter (kokuinjo) concerning papermaking rights. Shuzenji Washi is said to have been used as official paper for the shogunate. However, from the Meiji to the Taisho era, as Western papermaking technology spread, production died out. In 1985, a workshop was built in Kamiya with the cooperation of local residents who wished to pass on this culture, and the Society for Reproducing Shuzenji Paper (修善寺紙を再現する会) was launched. In 2021, 舛田拓人 joined the workshop as a Community Revitalization Cooperator, and in 2025 修善寺和紙合同会社 was established.
Features
Shuzenji Washi is washi made mainly from mitsumata. Old Shuzenji Washi is said to be characterized by its thinness, its pale pink tint and the appearance of a bamboo screen line pattern. Mitsumata produces a supple paper with a distinctive sheen. Today the paper is made mainly from kozo (paper mulberry) and mitsumata, using traditional methods with spring water. Much of the raw material is brought in from Shikoku and other regions, but kozo and mitsumata are being grown on fallow land with the aim of making paper from locally grown materials.
Materials Used
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Artisans & Workshops
修善寺和紙合同会社
A company established in 2025 to make and sell Shuzenji Washi. Its representative, 舛田拓人, moved to Izu City in 2021 as a Community Revitalization Cooperator and has worked on reproducing and passing on Shuzenji Washi at 紙谷和紙工房. The company operates 修善寺紙谷和紙工房 and SHUZENJI WASHI LABORATORY.
Official site →How to Buy
- SHUZENJI WASHI LABORATORY
- A facility in Shuzenji, Izu City, that combines exhibits for learning about washi with a shop. Visitors can touch washi raw materials and tools, and it carries washi products available only here. Opening days and hours may change, so contacting the facility in advance is recommended. There is no dedicated parking.Where to buy →PR
Hands-on Experiences
修善寺紙谷和紙工房
静岡県伊豆市修善寺1302-4
You can try papermaking by choosing one of the following: 25 business cards, 5 postcards or one Mino-ban size sheet. The fee is about 10,000 yen per person, and it takes about 90 minutes. Open to elementary school students and older; a reservation for two or more people is required by the previous day. About 5 minutes by car from the Shuzenji Onsen hot spring area.
View details →FAQ
Q. Was the document Tokugawa Ieyasu granted a vermilion-seal letter?
A. Shuzenji tourist information and other sources state that Ieyasu encouraged Shuzenji Washi by granting a black-seal letter (kokuinjo) concerning papermaking rights. A black-seal letter is a document stamped with a black ink seal; like the vermilion-seal letter (shuinjo), which bears a vermilion seal, it is a type of official document issued by the samurai authorities.
Q. What kind of paper can I make in the papermaking experience?
A. In the experience at 紙谷和紙工房, you choose one of the following: 25 business cards, 5 postcards or one Mino-ban size sheet. If you choose postcards, you can also create a design with flowers and leaves made into the paper. The artisans provide support, so children from elementary school age can take part.