Tokyo · Central Tokyo
Haibara
Haibara is a washi paper shop founded in Nihonbashi in 1806. The house sells handmade Japanese paper, gift envelopes printed with woodblock prints, writing paper and chiyogami paper decorated with the house's patterns. Over the years the company commissioned designs from artists such as Shibata Zeshin, Kawase Hasui and Takehisa Yumeji, and they are still printed on the products.
In 2015 the shop moved to a new building on Chuo-dori, at the Nihonbashi crossing. The facade is built of bricks in the pattern of old colored paper, with a tiled awning and an entrance curtain as in the original shop.
Most of the house's products are sold only here and in the online shop. Entry items: a pad of short-letter paper (ippitsusen) with a Yumeji illustration ¥660, a pack of 5 small envelopes for gift money (pochi-bukuro) ¥495, and a postcard ¥198.
Good to know
- In November 2026 the shop is closed on 3.11 and 23.11, two national holidays.
- Washi paper tears easily, and the shop does not accept returns. Ask for rigid wrapping for the suitcase.
- There is also washi paper for a home printer, in A4 and A3 sizes.
What is nearby
Approximate walking minutes from the entrance of Haibara.
- HereHaibara
- ~2 min
Nihombashi Takashimaya Shopping
A department store in a building from 1933, which in 2009 became the first department store building declared an Important Cultural Property of Japan. Operators still run the elevators. In the east building, Pokemon Center Tokyo DX and Pokemon Cafe.
- ~3 min
Kuroeya Shopping
A shop for Japanese lacquerware (urushi) that has been in business in Nihonbashi for more than 300 years, and sells bowls, trays and chopsti
- ~4 min
Nihonbashi Taimeiken (3rd Generation) Food
A Western-Japanese restaurant from 1931, currently in a temporary building next to the bridge since 2021, waiting for its permanent building. The signature dish: Tampopo omurice, named after Itami Juzo's film 'Tampopo', about ¥2,800.
- ~5 min
Yamamoto Noriten Nihonbashi Honten Shopping
A nori seaweed shop since 1849, at the north end of Nihonbashi bridge near Exit B6 of Mitsukoshimae, with a hand-rolled maki counter from 11:00.
- ~6 min
Mitsukoshi Nihombashi Main Store More to see
Mitsukoshi's flagship department store, with a lion statue at the entrance from 1914, inspired by Trafalgar Square in London. The pipe organ in the central hall is played Friday to Sunday, at noon, 15:00 and 17:00.
- ~7 min
Ninben Nihonbashi Dashiba Food
A shop for shaved bonito (katsuobushi) from 1699, with a counter for tasting hot dashi in a cup. In COREDO Muromachi 1. 11:00 to 19:00 on weekdays, 10:30 to 19:00 on weekends.
- ~7 min
Nihonbashi Kiya Honten Shopping
A shop for knives and metal tools from 1792, today on the ground floor of COREDO Muromachi 1. Japanese chef's knives and hair-cutting scissors.