STYLE OF LAB: Custom Fountain Pen & Room Fragrance Making in Ebisu

In Ebisu, you can put together a Japanese fountain pen from six separate parts, or mix your own ink color in a compact stationery studio. The experience makes a satisfying Tokyo souvenir because you leave with something you helped shape, not just something you picked off a shelf.

I like two things in particular: the work is hands-on but beginner-friendly, with staff guiding each step, and the ink workshop gives you an 8ml bottle of your own blend to take home. There is also a thoughtful stationery story here: the studio was founded by a former executive of a major Japanese fountain pen maker.

One thing to consider is the space. The storefront is small, and shoppers may still come and go during a workshop. If you want a quiet, unhurried session, book carefully and arrive on time.

At a glance

• Choose your craft: Assemble a fountain pen from six parts, or blend a custom ink color.
• Make it personal: The pen session lets you select components; the ink session sends you home with an 8ml bottle.
• Get help in English: English-speaking staff guide the process, which suits first-timers as well as stationery fans.
• Visit an Ebisu studio: The shop is a four-minute walk from JR Ebisu Station or Tokyu Toyoko Line Daikanyama Station.
• Plan for a small room: The storefront may remain open to shoppers during your workshop.
• Allow about an hour: The appointment takes place at the studio, and you make your own way there.

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Build a fountain pen one part at a time

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The fountain pen workshop is the more substantial of the two options. You choose and combine six parts, including the body and cap, to assemble a Japanese fountain pen that reflects your taste. That makes the session less like a standard souvenir stop and more like a guided design exercise.

You do not need to arrive with a plan or any pen-making experience. The process is described as beginner-friendly, and staff walk you through the choices. That matters because small design decisions can be hard to judge when you have not handled the parts before. In one account, the owner took time to help a pair settle on colors without rushing them.

The appeal is both practical and personal. You leave with a writing instrument you helped put together, and you have a better sense of how much thought goes into the form of a pen. One participant who had not expected to be especially interested in the activity found it worthwhile anyway, a useful reminder that this is not only for committed stationery collectors.

The pen workshop starts at US$41.65. Compared with the ink session, it costs more, but you are paying for a more involved object-making activity and a finished pen to keep. If a pen is something you use often, that extra cost may feel easier to justify than a quick, conventional souvenir.

Blend an ink color that is yours

The ink-blending session is a shorter route into the studio’s craft. You work toward a color of your own, with staff helping you understand the mixing process. One participant described learning about the careful calculations involved in making an ink shade, which hints at the real pleasure here: you are not simply choosing a color from a chart.

The included take-home bottle is 8ml. If you want extra ink to bring home, additional bottles cost ¥1,500 each. The listed starting price for this package is US$20.80, though the activity summary also gives a general starting price of US$18.75. Check the price for your selected package and date before booking.

This is a good choice if you want a creative activity without committing to the higher-priced pen workshop. It also pairs naturally with fountain pen use, but you do not need to book both. The pen and ink sessions can be booked separately, and people who have done both particularly valued seeing how the tool and the writing color fit together.

Take the clothing warning seriously. Ink can stain, so wear something you will not mind getting marked. It is a small precaution, but a useful one when the aim is to experiment rather than keep your hands at a careful distance.

Room fragrance is part of the shop’s appeal

STYLE OF LAB also carries premium room fragrances developed with THE NOTE BAR, a boutique in Aoyama. The original scents are blended in Japan from more than 300 natural ingredients, giving you another reason to look around if fragrance is part of your interests.

Be clear about what you are booking, though. The listed workshop choices are fountain pen making and ink blending. The fragrance is presented as a selection at the studio, not as a guaranteed fragrance-making class or an included take-home item. If your main goal is to make perfume or room scent yourself, this may not be the right activity.

For a shopper, the fragrance range makes the visit more than a single craft appointment. It may also give you a useful gift option if you are accompanying someone who is focused on pens. One person who made a pen also bought a shop fragrance, but that is an optional purchase, not part of the package.

A one-hour stop in Ebisu

The appointment lasts about an hour and begins and ends at STYLE OF LAB. There is no guide meeting you elsewhere, and no transport is included. You make your own way to the address at 1-chome-29-9 Ebisunishi, Shibuya-ku.

The studio is a four-minute walk from JR Ebisu Station and also about four minutes from Daikanyama Station on the Tokyu Toyoko Line. That location makes the workshop easy to fit into a day around Ebisu or nearby Shibuya, without needing to set aside half a day for travel.

Available start times are listed from noon through 6 p.m., at hourly intervals. The exact options can depend on the session you select, so choose a time that gives you a little breathing room. Arrive five minutes early. Late arrivals and no-shows are not refundable, and a short, appointment-based activity leaves little room to catch up once you are behind.

The studio is friendly, but compact

The space is described as a minimalist white studio in a fashionable part of Tokyo. Its small scale can be a plus: the setting feels personal, and the owner’s attentive guidance is a recurring strength of the experience. English-speaking staff are available, so you can ask questions and follow the steps without needing to know Japanese.

The same intimacy comes with a practical trade-off. The storefront is small, and ordinary shoppers may continue coming in during a workshop. One session had only two seats and was affected by a double booking, leaving participants waiting and with less attention than expected. The owner offered a fragrance to make up for the trouble, but a kind gesture does not erase the time lost.

I would book this for the craft and the staff guidance, not for a guaranteed private studio. If you have a tight Tokyo schedule, leave a buffer around the appointment and contact the provider if anything about the booking looks unclear. The experience can be calm and focused, but the small shop means it is not a large, purpose-built classroom.

What the price buys you

The ink package starts at US$20.80 and includes an 8ml bottle of original blended fountain pen ink. The general experience price is also advertised from US$18.75, so use the amount shown for your chosen package when comparing costs. Extra bottles are ¥1,500 each.

The fountain pen package starts at US$41.65. Its higher price makes sense if you value the finished pen and the time spent choosing and assembling its components. If you are mainly curious about color mixing, the ink session is the lower-cost way to try the studio’s approach.

Both options offer more than a ready-made product, but the value depends on what you will use or remember. A custom pen is the stronger keepsake if you write by hand; a small ink bottle is compact and easier to fit into a crowded suitcase. Neither package should be mistaken for a broad tour of Tokyo or a long class. The value is in a focused hour of making, with personal guidance.

Who will enjoy this workshop most

This is a good fit for stationery fans, curious beginners, and anyone who likes bringing home a souvenir with a story behind it. The pen session suits someone who enjoys choosing details and wants a useful object at the end. Ink blending works well for a shorter, more affordable creative stop, especially if you already use fountain pens.

You can also book it as a thoughtful activity with a partner or friend. The process is collaborative enough to discuss choices, yet each person can make their own item. The minimum age is 10, so older children can take part, though the activity is likely to appeal most to those who enjoy careful, hands-on work.

I would skip it if you expect a large group class, a guaranteed private appointment, or a fragrance-making workshop. The fragrance range is a shop feature, while the bookable activities are pen making and ink blending. And if you are on a very tight schedule, remember that a one-hour session still requires a punctual arrival and a short walk from the station.

Should you book STYLE OF LAB?

Book it if you want a compact, personal craft activity and like the idea of making a pen or ink color with guidance from people who know Japanese stationery. The strongest reasons to go are the hands-on process, the friendly help in English, and the chance to take home something you shaped yourself.

Choose ink blending for the lower starting price and a modest, practical keepsake. Choose the fountain pen workshop if you want a more involved activity and are happy to pay more for a finished writing instrument. If both sound appealing, doing the two together may give you the fuller stationery experience, but confirm the timing and availability when booking.

Keep your expectations sensible about space. This is a small shop, not a secluded classroom, and the occasional overlap with shoppers can affect how much attention you get. With that caveat in mind, it is a smart stop for a creative hour in Ebisu, especially if stationery is more appealing to you than another standard Tokyo souvenir.

FAQ

How long does the workshop take?

The activity lasts about one hour.

Where is STYLE OF LAB?

It is at 1-chome-29-9 Ebisunishi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0021.

How do I get to the studio?

The studio is a four-minute walk from JR Ebisu Station or Tokyu Toyoko Line Daikanyama Station.

What workshop options can I book?

You can book a fountain pen making workshop or an ink blending workshop.

Is English-speaking help available?

Yes. English-speaking staff are included.

What is included with the ink blending workshop?

The package includes one 8ml bottle of original blended fountain pen ink.

Can I buy extra bottles of ink?

Yes. Extra bottles can be made for ¥1,500 each.

How old do participants need to be?

Participants must be at least 10 years old.

What should I wear to the ink workshop?

Ink may stain clothing, so wear clothes you do not mind getting dirty.

Can I get a refund if I cancel?

You can receive a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the activity date, using the destination’s local time.