Sekishu-banshi, the traditional handmade washi paper of the Iwami region of western Shimane, has been made for over 1,300 years and is inscribed on UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage, alongside two other Japanese papermaking traditions. Made from the long, strong inner-bark fibres of the paper mulberry, it is prized for being unusually tough and durable. At the local washi museum and workshops, visitors can watch skilled papermakers form sheets in the traditional way — dipping and rocking a bamboo screen through a vat of fibre suspension — and can try making a postcard or sheet of their own to take home.
🗓️ At a Glance
| Location | Oda, Shimane |
| Hours | Museum ~9:00–17:00, check closures |
| Admission | Museum small fee; workshops extra |
| Time needed | 1–1.5 hours |
| Best time | Year-round; good for a rainy day |
What to Do
- Sekishu-banshi handmade paper, a UNESCO heritage craft.
- Skilled papermakers forming sheets on bamboo screens.
- The strong paper-mulberry fibres behind its durability.
- A hands-on workshop making a postcard or sheet of your own.
Combine Your Visit
- Combine with Iwami Ginzan in the same region.
- Pair with the Nima Sand Museum along the coast.
- Read our Shimane overview .
Getting There
- By train: JR San’in Line to the Oda area, then a local bus or taxi.
- By car: the easiest way, given the rural location.
Tips
Do the hands-on workshop rather than just viewing — forming a sheet of paper yourself, however wobbly, is far more memorable and gives you a real feel for the skill involved. It makes a good rainy-day activity, combines naturally with Iwami Ginzan and the Nima Sand Museum in the same area, and your handmade paper is a genuinely local souvenir.
