Amazing experience highly recommended - It was very informative and friendly and they spoke good English and told me all about the history of Hanko which was really intresting. They even suggested where to go while I waited. When I returned it looked amazing and I am so happy with it and I am excited to show to people back home. I highly recommend this to others

Great experience! - This is a great experience for anyone who is interested in Japanese culture and art. We learned about the different seals, ink colors, and uses of hanko. The owner was very helpful and friendly and the shop was less than 5 minutes from the station. We're so excited to use our stamps!

Decent way to get... - Decent way to get interesting souvenirs. The shop is ~5 mins walk to the south of Kamakura station. They will get the hankos to you in 2 hours or mail them to your hotel in 1-2 days (we chose the latter and had no issues getting them at our hotel). The hanko were very nice. It came with nice velvet pouches and a nice carrying case thar the indvidual cases were in. The default options were good enough for us though we did purchase slightly more expensive cases. Overall the uniqueness of the souvenirs (most of our friends who went to Japan came back with the usual fans, chopstick and kitkat bars) and the nice packaging was worth the cost. My wife and 8 year old daughter felt the same way.

A good Kamakura experience - Owner is patience, knowledged and speak good English. Introducing the history of Hanko. Create our design within hours to fit our schedule

Great experience! - Great experience! It was husband and I’s 7th anniversary and the modern gift is stationary. We decided that getting a Hanko name stamp while in Japan would fit the bill perfectly. We showed up at the quaint shop and were graciously greeted by the owner. He then gave us a brief overview of Hanko and his shop and we greatly enjoyed the history. We got to pick what type of material and size of the stamp we wanted, which were of a higher quality that what was included in the experience, but they graciously provided a discount. While they were making the stamp, we had a chance to explore Kamakura and enjoy the sites and ate a delicious lunch. Once we returned to the shop a few hours later, everything was ready! The best part was seeing your name translated into Katakana and then morphed onto the stamp. So cool. Overall this was a historically interesting, fun, and beautiful time. Would definitely recommend to anyone looking for a unique and lovely experience.

Awesome Experience! - We go to learn about the history and different styles of Hanko. The owner was incredibly kind and helpful. My friend and I really enjoyed the experience and the finished products are perfect! Definitely worth it.

Fun and Unique Experience - We really enjoyed this tour. The shop owner was very knowledgeable and though he said his English was not very good, we felt he did a great job. Our Hanko seals turned out beautifully!

Welcoming and Exciting - I was born in Japan but moved when I was young and I am half but I get a lot of upsetting comments or not so welcoming adventures when I try to learn more about my culture. I loved that it wasn't just making the hanko but also the history of it and the fact that I was included by asking questions and interacting with me rather then just speaking at me. I absolutely in love with my hanko, I got the formal one and I would definitely come back and get another.

Your Hanko is You! - You think you know who you are from your experiences and modes of identity but how do you demonstrate your authenticity and authority? How do you indicate the proof of your identity to open a bank account? In America, you use a signature as proof of your identity. The first evidence of writing in Japan is a Hanko dating from AD 57 and in 1870, Hanko came into general use throughout Japanese society when receiving parcel delivery, circulation notices and any daily life situation. There is a place to stamp a seal instead of writing your signature on application forms for all sorts of things. You indicate authority to have what you want by using your individual seal. As you enter the store, you are overwhelmed by the thousands of designs and boxes for your Hanko, which also comes in a variety of shapes and sizes. The Hanko Master will introduce you to how your name can be miniaturized and cut into the face of the stamp. He will schedule the cutting of your Hanko so you can start using it within hours. Our introduction to and design of our Hanko identity was unique for us and a special experience.

Hanko Making in Kamakura - I had never heard of hanko or their use till I took this workshop. We met in the small hanko store where the proprietor explained the use and design of hanko, The store was lined with hanko and their cases and photos of famous people signed with their hanko stamp and a picture of the owner's grandfather in his hanko shop. The proprietor explained the uses and the designs. The hanko is used to sign all important documents and is registered with the government. I had seen the small red circle on many things but never realized it was essentially a signature. He used the meaning of our names to find the appropriate kanjis and then let us pick out design elements like font and placement. The hanko stick is made of many different materials and designs. The diameter is only about 10mm. Women's are smaller than men's. He carved the design into the end and gave us each the hanko, a case with a red inkpad, a velvet bag and a card explaining the origin of the design.