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

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 Experience1. 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 MealYour 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 Included20-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, frie

Description supplied by the event organiser.