The old office, now the finishing room
The Kobaien Finishing Workshop (古梅園仕上げ作業所, Kōbaien Shiage Sagyōba) in Tsubaicho, Nara City, Nara Prefecture, is the long east-west workshop where finished ink is packed at Kobaien, the sumi ink maker founded in 1577; it was built early in the Taishō era (1912 to 1925) and registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on 1998/01/16 (number 29-0023). The Kobaien Finishing Workshop is a long, narrow building running east to west behind the south end of the office, its ridge at right angles to the office ridge. It once served as Kobaien's office and is now used for finishing the products.
The Agency for Cultural Affairs dates it to the early Taishō era: timber, single storey, tiled, with a building area of 88 square metres.
A passage, packing rooms and the southern edge
A passage one bay wide runs along the north side, with rooms for packing and office work along the south. Kobaien explains that polished sticks are left to dry a little longer and then decorated with gold and silver powder and pigments that bring out their characters and patterns; packing the finished products is done in this building.
The Kobaien Finishing Workshop is also known as the building that marks the southern edge of the property. It stayed in use after the office moved to the street front, its work changing over the years.
Seeing it
The Kobaien Finishing Workshop lies inside the Kobaien property and is not open to the public; it can scarcely be seen from the street or the lanes.
Kobaien takes factory visits by reservation, with a hand-gripped ink experience in the ink-making season; ask when booking which buildings the visit includes. Shop hours, how to book a factory visit and directions from the station are on the Kobaien page.
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- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Kobaien Finishing Workshop
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Q&A
- What is done in the Kobaien Finishing Workshop?
- Finishing and packing the ink products.
- What was the Kobaien Finishing Workshop originally?
- Kobaien's office.
- How large is the Kobaien Finishing Workshop?
- A single-storey timber building of 88 square metres, running east to west along the southern edge of the property.
- Can visitors see the Kobaien Finishing Workshop?
- It is not open to the public. Factory visits are by reservation; ask Kobaien what the visit covers.
- When was the Kobaien Finishing Workshop registered as a cultural property?
- On 1998/01/16, as Registered Tangible Cultural Property number 29-0023.
Basic Information
| Name | Kobaien Finishing Workshop (古梅園仕上げ作業所) |
|---|---|
| Location | 6 Tsubakiicho, Nara City, Nara Prefecture, and other locations |
| Designation | National Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure); registration number 29-0023 |
| Year Designated | Registered 1998/01/16 (Heisei 10) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Timber, single storey, tiled roof; building area 88 square metres |
| Owner | Kobaien Co., Ltd. |
| Public Access | Not open to the public (factory visits by reservation) |
References
- Database of National Cultural Properties (Agency for Cultural Affairs) — Kobaien Finishing Workshop
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00000471
- Cultural Heritage Online — Kobaien Finishing Workshop
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/137741
- Kobaien Co., Ltd. — Company profile and opening hours
- https://kobaien.jp/profile.html
- Kobaien Co., Ltd. — How sumi is made
- https://kobaien.jp/sumitanjyo.html
Last verified: 2026.10.02
