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

A pen workshop in Tokyo can be more than a souvenir stop: at STYLE OF LAB, you choose parts for a fountain pen or mix pigments into a color you can take home. The studio’s founder once worked as an executive for a major Japanese fountain pen maker, so the craft here has a real connection to the country’s stationery tradition.

I like two things in particular: you make something personal with your own hands, and English-speaking staff guide you through the steps, even if you’re new to fountain pens or ink. The original scents from THE NOTE BAR add a second reason to look around, especially if you’re shopping for a small gift.

One consideration: the studio is small, and a double booking could mean less individual attention or some waiting. Arrive five minutes early, and wear clothes you don’t mind getting stained if you choose the ink workshop.

A quick look at the experience

• Choose from six fountain pen parts to assemble a Japanese writing instrument with your own mix of body, cap, and other components.
• Blend an original ink color and take home an included 8 ml bottle with the ink workshop.
• Get step-by-step help in English, useful if you’re unfamiliar with pen parts, ink, or the choices involved.
• Browse original room fragrances developed with Aoyama boutique THE NOTE BAR, using ingredients drawn from a selection of more than 300 natural materials.
• Spend about an hour in Ebisu, a short walk from both Ebisu Station and Daikanyama Station.
• Keep the shop’s size in mind: a small studio makes for a personal setting, but can feel crowded if bookings overlap.

A hands-on hour in Ebisu

STYLE OF LAB sits at 1-chome-29-9 Ebisunishi, in Tokyo’s Shibuya ward. It’s a four-minute walk from JR Ebisu Station or Tokyu Toyoko Line’s Daikanyama Station, making it easy to fit into a day around Ebisu or Shibuya without giving up half a day to get there.

The session lasts about an hour and ends where it begins. There’s no guide meeting you elsewhere, and no transport is included. You make your own way to the studio, where English-speaking staff help you through the activity you booked.

The small scale is part of the appeal. You’re not watching a demonstration from the back of a large room; the point is to make choices and see how they work together. The tradeoff is that a compact shop has limited room. One customer found that a double booking led to standing around and less attention than expected, so I’d avoid scheduling a tight connection immediately afterward.

Pick your project: pen parts or ink color

The fountain pen workshop is the more substantial choice, and it costs more. You select and assemble a pen from six different parts, including the body and cap. That process gives you a say in the pen’s look, rather than asking you to choose a finished item from a shelf.

You don’t need to arrive with technical pen knowledge. The process is designed for beginners, and the staff guide each step. It can be an engaging choice even if you’re buying the experience for someone else: one person who initially thought the activity was mainly for their partner ended up enjoying it too.

The ink-blending workshop focuses on color. You work toward a shade of your own, then leave with an 8 ml bottle of original fountain pen ink. The activity makes a thoughtful choice if you want a lower-cost, hands-on session or you already own a pen and want something made to use with it.

These are different packages, not necessarily two parts of one booking. If you want to make both a pen and ink, book both options or confirm what is available for your chosen time. People who have done both describe the ink as a favorite part, but you can still get a worthwhile standalone session from either project.

Ink can stain clothing, so choose what you wear accordingly. That warning matters most if you’re on a packed Tokyo itinerary and don’t have a change of clothes with you. The materials are part of the fun, but a fresh ink mark is a souvenir you may not have planned on.

More than a pen: Japanese stationery craft

The studio’s founder previously worked as an executive for a legendary Japanese fountain pen maker. That background helps explain why the experience is not simply an arts-and-crafts exercise. The choices are tied to a familiar Japanese interest in careful design and the small details that make a useful object feel personal.

The pen session can also introduce you to the decisions behind a writing instrument. You’ll select among parts and consider how they look together, with staff there to help you make a combination you like. If you’re a stationery fan, that is the core value: you leave with a pen you helped put together, along with a better sense of how its separate pieces shape the finished object.

If you’re new to fountain pens, the workshop still works as a welcoming introduction. You don’t have to know the difference between pen models or be an experienced writer. The guided format gives you room to ask questions and make choices without turning the hour into a technical lecture.

Original fragrances, with a different kind of souvenir

STYLE OF LAB also presents room fragrances developed with THE NOTE BAR, a well-known boutique in Aoyama. The original scents are blended in Japan using more than 300 natural ingredients. That gives the shop a second identity beyond stationery, and a reason to browse even if perfume or home fragrance is more your interest than pens.

The fragrance selection is a feature of the studio, but don’t assume a fragrance is included in the ink or pen package. The listed inclusions for the ink session specify one 8 ml bottle of blended fountain pen ink. Additional ink bottles cost 1,500 yen each; fragrance purchases are separate.

That distinction is useful when comparing the options. If you want a scent-based gift, you can explore the fragrance selection, but the main booked activity is either making a pen or blending ink. If you are keen on both fragrance and stationery, leave yourself a little breathing room rather than treating the session as a rushed in-and-out stop.

What the hour feels like

The schedule is simple: arrive at the studio, take part in the booked workshop, and finish at the same address. The activity is listed as one hour, so it fits neatly between meals or other plans in Ebisu. The available start times run from noon through 6 p.m., but the exact options depend on the package and the time selected when you book.

The best part is that the finished object has a story attached to it. A pen or ink bottle is easy to pack, but it also recalls the decisions you made in the studio. That makes this more personal than buying an off-the-shelf souvenir, especially for someone who writes by hand or enjoys Japanese stationery.

The session’s pace may depend on how busy the shop is. A customer described a double booking that left only two seats available and created a wait. The owner was kind and offered a fragrance as compensation, but a kind gesture doesn’t erase the lost workshop time. If personal instruction is a priority, consider asking about the booking arrangement before you go, and don’t stack a hard-to-miss reservation right after it.

Is the price worth it?

Prices vary by package. The listed starting figures are around US$20.80 for ink blending and US$41.65 for fountain pen making, while the overall experience is also advertised from US$18.75. Check the price shown for your selected date and package before booking, since the options are not priced alike.

For the ink session, the value comes from making a custom color and taking home an 8 ml bottle. It costs less than the pen workshop, and it gives you a small, usable memento rather than a generic trinket. If you want more ink to take home, each extra bottle is 1,500 yen.

The pen session costs more, but there’s more to decide and assemble. You’re paying for an hour of guided making and a custom fountain pen, not only for access to materials. For someone who loves stationery, or who wants a Tokyo keepsake they will use, that can be a fair trade. If you rarely write by hand, the ink session may be the more sensible buy.

Booking both projects makes sense if the craft itself is the point of your outing and your schedule allows it. It will raise the cost, of course. You don’t need to do both to enjoy the experience, and there is no reason to buy the pen workshop just because it sounds like the bigger souvenir.

Who will enjoy STYLE OF LAB most?

I’d put this on the list for stationery fans, curious beginners, couples looking for a shared activity, and anyone who likes souvenirs with a personal touch. The age minimum is 10, so it can also work for older children who are happy to follow instructions and make careful choices.

It is also a good fit if you need a short indoor activity near Ebisu or Daikanyama. You can choose a session time in the afternoon or early evening, then continue with other plans nearby. The location is convenient, but this is a small studio rather than a large attraction, so keep expectations in line with a focused workshop.

You may want to skip it if you’re short on time, unwilling to risk a clothing stain, or mainly looking for a long, formal lesson in pen-making. The activity is compact and hands-on. Its appeal is the chance to create a personal object with guidance, not a full course in stationery design.

Practical details before you book

Participants must be at least 10 years old. Arrive five minutes before your selected start time at 1-chome-29-9 Ebisunishi. Late arrivals and no-shows are not refundable, so plan your walk from the station with a little margin.

The voucher is valid only for the date and time specified. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the activity, based on local time. Confirmation is normally sent within minutes; if it doesn’t appear, contact customer support.

Should you book this workshop?

Book STYLE OF LAB if you want a Tokyo souvenir you can help design, or if the process of choosing pen parts and mixing a personal ink color sounds more fun than ordinary shopping. The ink workshop is the economical choice, while the fountain pen session offers the more involved project. Both benefit from attentive, English-speaking guidance.

I’d be more cautious if you have a strict schedule or expect a spacious studio with guaranteed one-to-one attention. The small shop can make the session feel personal, but limited seating and a possible booking overlap are real considerations. Choose a start time that leaves room to spare, wear practical clothes for ink blending, and you’ll be set for a pleasant hour of Japanese stationery craft.

FAQ

How long does the workshop last?

The activity lasts about one hour and ends at the STYLE OF LAB studio where it begins.

Where is STYLE OF LAB?

It is at 1-chome-29-9 Ebisunishi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo. The studio is a four-minute walk from JR Ebisu Station or Tokyu Toyoko Line Daikanyama Station.

What can I make?

You can book a fountain pen workshop, where you assemble a pen from six parts, or an ink-blending workshop, where you create a custom color.

Is English-speaking help available?

Yes. English-speaking staff are included to guide you through the activity.

What is included with the ink-blending workshop?

The ink-blending package includes one 8 ml bottle of original blended fountain pen ink. Additional bottles cost 1,500 yen each.

What should I wear, and what is the minimum age?

Participants must be at least 10 years old. Ink may stain clothing, so wear something you don’t mind getting dirty.