Custom Fountain Pen Making at Ancora Ginza Tokyo: The Best Stationery Souvenir

Japan is famous for beautiful design and high quality stationery. If you love pens the way I do, you already know that walking into a Tokyo stationery shop can feel like a treasure hunt.

I am a designer, I love collect cool stationery, and I actually use it. So when we found a custom fountain pen experience at Ancora Ginza, we had get one.

We went to the shop ourselves and built a pen from scratch. It felt personal and playful, and the result did not sit on a shelf. I use it almost every day.

If you have been wondering where you can make your own fountain pen in Tokyo, here’s everything you need to know to bring home a custom-made fountain pen that feels like your trip in your hand.

Where Can You Make Your Own Fountain Pen

You’ll find all the big names in Tokyo like Itoya, Kakimori, and Ancora, each offering its own version of the perfect stationery experience.

At Itoya, you can get your favorite pens or notebooks engraved to make them feel a little more personal. Kakimori is known for its notebook-making counter and the ink stand where you can create your own custom ink shades.

But if you’re wondering where you can actually make your own fountain pen in Tokyo, head to Ancora Ginza.

Inside the store, there’s a dedicated customization counter where you can design and assemble your own pen from start to finish.

If you’re looking for more cool hands-on experiences in Tokyo, here’s our full guide.

About Ancora Ginza in Tokyo

Ancora Ginza is a modern stationery shop in one of Tokyo’s most high-end neighborhoods.

It’s just a three-minute walk from Ginza Station on the Tokyo Metro, located at 3-5-8 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo. Super easy to find.

The shop carries a curated selection of Japan’s most premium stationery brands, including Sailor, Pilot, and other local makers known for their craftsmanship and attention to detail.

Beyond the displays, what makes Ancora special is the experience. It’s one of the few places in Tokyo where you can create a custom-made fountain pen right in the store, no reservation needed.

It’s popular not only with pen enthusiasts but also with curious travelers who want a souvenir that’s creative, personal, and actually useful. There’s also a beautiful ink wall with rows of colorful bottles on display. It’s so pretty.

How Does Making a Fountain Pen Work at Ancora Ginza

Making your own fountain pen at Ancora Ginza is easy and creative.

You don’t need a reservation (as the time of writing), just walk in, head to the customization station, and one of the staff members will guide you through the process.

Here’s how it works step by step:

1. Choose your metal accents: start by picking between silver or gold. This sets the overall tone of your pen.
2. Select your pen body parts: mix and match the body, lip, nib, cap, and tail cap from a wide range of colors and designs. You can go classic, bold, or whatever you like.
3. Pick your ink system: choose between two ink types depending on how you like to use.
4. Watch it come together: the staff assembles your pen piece by piece right in front of you, and yes, it’s oddly satisfying to watch.

Most visitors spend about 20 to 30 minutes choosing their combinations. But this is a place where I can say you NEED “20 to 30 minutes” on paper…and you just browse and lose track of time and end up spending a couple of hours.

The pens use medium fine nibs, known for their smooth, consistent feel. You can customize every visible part of the pen, up to the options available in-store.

When it’s done, you’ll have a complete, ready-to-use pen along with complimentary ink cartridges so you can start writing right away.

How Much Does It Cost to Make Your Fountain Pen at Ancora Ginza

The base price for creating your own fountain pen at Ancora Ginza starts at 4,400 yen (around 30 USD) at the time of writing this blog post.

That includes the full customization process. For what you get, I think it’s an incredible deal.

There are also seasonal designs and limited editions that change throughout the year. These often feature special body patterns, textures, or color combinations and come with a small additional charge.

Considering the quality and that you’re building it yourself, the value is hard to beat. You walk away with a one-of-a-kind Japanese fountain pen that you designed, built, and can actually use. A stationery souvenir that’s both creative and practical.

My Own Experience Making It

I went to Ancora Ginza on a quiet weekday afternoon, and honestly, I could have spent hours there.

The customization counter looks small at first, but once you start seeing all the color combinations, it’s easy to lose track of time.

For my pen, I went with white body parts and silver metal accents, clean and simple. I then chose a clear body with tiny bubbles. It felt playful without being too much.

The mix of transparency and texture made it look like something between glass and water, which I loved.

When it came to ink, I got some green ink. Watching them put the parts together right in front of me felt surprisingly special, like watching craftsmanship in action, but on a small, personal scale.

Writing with it feels smooth and balanced, just like you’d expect nice pen. There’s a tiny bit of resistance on paper that makes it satisfying to use, even for quick notes.

Conclusion

If you love Japanese stationery, the custom fountain pen experience at Ancora Ginza is one of those things you’ll think about long after the trip ends.

It’s hands-on, personal, and feels like a little window into Japan’s creative spirit.

You get to design something from scratch, see it come together, and leave with a piece that’s uniquely yours. Whether you’re a serious pen collector or just want a thoughtful, practical souvenir, this is one you’ll actually use and treasure.

And if you’re like me, you’ll probably end up writing your next trip notes with it before you even leave Tokyo.