Tanseido honten at Dotonbori, Osaka

Historic Namba shop selling traditional calligraphy supplies, Japanese painting materials and washi goods since 1874.

Tanseido (丹青堂) is a historic calligraphy and Japanese art supply shop founded in 1874, located in the basement of the Tanseido Building on the Ebisubashi-suji shopping street near Namba. The shop's name references "dan" and "sho," the classical Japanese colours red and green, symbolising the beauty of traditional Japanese art, and it has been a trusted supplier to calligraphers and Japanese-style painters for over 150 years. Notably, the celebrated Meiji-era literati painter Tomioka Tessai was among its distinguished patrons, and the shop continues to attract professional artists and hobbyists alike. The store carries a carefully curated selection of calligraphy supplies including ink, inkstones, brushes, washi paper and seal materials, alongside Japanese painting pigments, scroll-mounting services and framed works. Seasonal Japanese goods such as origami, furoshiki wrapping cloths, incense, letter sets and decorative items for traditional festivals round out the offerings, making it a wonderful place to discover authentic Japanese craft culture. The shop's underground location near the iconic Glico running man sign and Ebisubashi Bridge places it in one of Osaka's most tourist-friendly areas. Visitors seeking a genuine taste of Japanese artistic tradition will find Tanseido an enchanting stop, where the scent of incense wafts up from the stairs and centuries of craft heritage are on display. It is a rare surviving link to Osaka's merchant past, offering both practical supplies and beautiful souvenirs that embody the spirit of "wa" - Japanese harmony and aesthetics.