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Japan House London Family Workshop: Make Your Own Paper Ema

Ema (lit. ‘picture horses’) are palm-sized wooden tablets seen at shrines throughout Japan. Typically, shrinegoers write prayers or wishes on them and hang them at the shrine as offerings. In the Hida region of Gifu Prefecture, featured in Japan House London’s current exhibition The Carpenters’ Lineema are made from paper and decorated with a picture of a horse. 

Make your own paper ema using an original Japan House London activity worksheet. The worksheet features a template created by Ikemoto-ya, a famed ema-maker based in Takayama City. Decorate the horse with lucky patterns, add wishes for good fortune and good health and display the completed ema at the entrance of your home to invite in good luck. Remember to hang the ema with the horse’s head facing inwards, so as to carry good fortune inside.

Workshop Timetable

Saturday 21 January 2023, 14:30, 16:00 

Sunday 22 January 2023, 14:30 

Booking Tickets

Please click here to book your ticket. You will be able to select your preferred workshop date and time at the point of booking. 

Book Workshop

This workshop is part of the series Japan House London Family Workshops. During each workshop, led by the Japan House London Visitor Experience Team, participants can enjoy learning about Japan and unleashing their creativity while trying an activity using original Japan House London worksheets.