5 easy origami classes to try in Tokyo

You're in good hands with Manami: she's an expert with a Ph.D. in Cultural Heritage Studies who's been practising origami since the age of three. For her 1.5-hour class, you'll meet at a café in Shinjuku chosen by Manami prior to the class (one free non-alcoholic beverage included).

You'll pick three to five shapes to fold that range in complexity from a simple samurai helmet to a blooming rose, depending on your comfort level. Manami will fold together with you, troubleshooting and correcting your form along the way. After the class, she'll send you an email that includes video tutorials so that you can review what you learned.

Manami's class is best suited for ages seven and up and usually accommodates a maximum of four people, but larger numbers are possible with advance notice. Book your spot for $63 (about ¥9,000) here.

Located on the B1 floor of the Coredo Muromachi shopping centre, the Nihonbashi Information Center offers 30-minute and one-hour origami sessions daily. The centre's friendly international staff will guide you through folding at least two creations for the 30-minute session and up to four for the one-hour session. Choose from fun and easy shapes like cranes, ribbons or kimonos, all of which come with print-outs of step-by-step instructions you can take with you.

If you want to get more practice at home, you can purchase washi (traditional Japanese paper) right there at the centre, along with knick-knacks, souvenirs and even snacks.  Reserve your spot for ¥1,500 (30-minute session) or ¥2,500 (one-hour session) here. As an added bonus, participants receive a book of coupons to use in Coredo at the end of the session.

Opened in Asakusa in 2022, Taro's Origami Studio has all your origami needs: washi, guidebooks and of course its 45-minute origami workshop, best suited for beginner to intermediate learners.

The studio caters to multiple learning styles – you can use a tablet that plays animations of each step as you fold, follow diagrams provided in the studio's origami booklets or simply follow the guidance of your instructor. This workshop is incredibly kid friendly and caters to guests as young as five, so the staff know a thing or two about being patient with new learners.

Reserve your spot here for ¥4,200. If you want additional private lessons beyond the one-time workshop, contact the studio at asakusa@tarosorigami.com for pricing and availability.

Ochanomizu Origami Kaikan is a multi-functional space that's part store, part gallery space, part washi-dyeing facility. Its origami workshop runs around 20 to 30 minutes and is perfect for those wanting a quick taste of what origami's all about. Together with your instructor, you'll choose one simple shape from among half a dozen or so to fold  – think origami classics like cranes and jumping frogs.

The venue holds its origami workshop 2-3 times a month for ¥1,100 – check here for dates and details. While you're there, pick up some washi, guidebooks and other origami-related paraphernalia, or check out the many origami displays located throughout the building.

Teru is a certified origami instructor who's been teaching the paper-folding art for the past 14 years. His class takes place at the Tokyo Origami Museum and lasts about an hour, during which you'll pick a few shapes to fold. It's easy, it's fun and you'll be given an instructional booklet and some origami paper to take with you at the end.

If you're serious about improving your skills, you can sign up for a monthly membership, which includes not only more classes, but also monthly online meetups and entry into a Discord chat with Teru and other origami enthusiasts. Book your spot on Teru's personal website for an in-person class (¥6,000), an online class (¥4,500) or to sign up for a monthly membership (from ¥3,500).