Travelers visiting the city of Iwakuni can have the unique experience of engraving their own unique seal using traditional tools and techniques. You can create your own original stamp by selecting any Chinese characters of your choosing and carving it upon a square stone. This wonderful cultural experience is offered by the “Tenkoku Engraving” team in Iwakuni and allows visitors to not only take part in a special activity, but also create a one of a kind souvenir they can take home with them. Below, you can find more information about seals and this engraving workshop.
What Are Seals?
In Japan, personal stamps, also referred to as seals, are still used for a variety of legal and financial transactions. They serve as a signature and as such most Japanese people will have one by the time they are in high school or university. In Japanese, seals are referred to as either “hanko” or “inkan” and though there are some very subtle differences between the meaning of both words, they are mostly used interchangeably.
Due to their importance, seal shops are available everywhere in Japan. Here, customers choose things such as the material of the hanko, its case, and the characters which will be engraved on it. Of course, there are generic pre-made hanko available at extremely cheap prices, but these are not used for official purposes.
Engraving Courses & Making a Reservation
The seal engraving experience is available at different price points, starting from JPY2,500 all the way to JPY5,000. While the simplest course allows for only 1 character and engraving on a 1.2 cm stone, the more expensive ones include 2-3 characters and bigger stones.
In general, it is required to make a reservation at least a couple of days in advance of the experience at which point you must notify them of which specific characters you wish to engrave. To make a reservation, you can contact the experience provider via email, Facebook, or Instagram. You can find a link to their website which includes their contact details and more specific course information at the bottom of this page.
Tours Including Seal Engraving
We currently offer a tour which involves a day trip from Hiroshima to the city of Iwakuni. On it, you will be able to observe and cross the magnificent Kintaikyo Bridge, one of Japan’s top three bridges. You will also enjoy a ropeway ride to Iwakuni Castle and participate in the seal engraving experience. This tour is a fantastic way to immerse yourself further in the culture of Japan while visiting Iwakuni’s top sightseeing attractions.
