Visit Nara

Nara brushes are famous in calligraphy circles, with a history of around 1,200 years. They use a combination of hairs from animals such as horses, sheep, rabbit, squirrel and deer, to achieve the correct blend of hardness and softness for the brush tip. The meticulous method for making Nara brushes involves soaking each single hair in water, then hand assembling the brush, strand by strand. Issin is one of Nara’s best known calligraphy shops, selling brushes, ink stones and papers from its Edo-era shop front. You can also find small accessories such as water droppers, brush stands and paper sets, which make nice souvenirs.