Japanese Calligraphy & Mindfulness workshop - Tsukimi theme

Wayfarer Shodo are holding a Japanese calligraphy and mindfulness workshop at the Hampton by Hilton West End lobby on Saturday 31 October, from 14:00 to 16:00. The session is themed around tsukimi, the Japanese tradition of moon-viewing, and it's led by licensed calligrapher Mare and mindfulness coach Tiffany. The two hours are split between the brushwork and the meditative side of things, so you'll be writing as much as you'll be slowing down.

Wayfarer Shodo was started by Mare Ito, a calligrapher from Gunma, and Lois Yu, who's originally from Hong Kong. The two met at a language exchange in December 2025, just a few weeks after Mare arrived in Edinburgh. Mare's been at calligraphy since the first grade of primary school and earned his instructor's certificate after six years; before moving to Scotland, he spent five years working as a sailor. The name comes from 'wayfarer'—the journey and the unexpected paths that bring people and cultures together—and 'shodo', the Japanese 'way of writing'. They've been featured on That's TV, and their workshops present calligraphy as a meditative practice rooted in the Japanese philosophy of being present and appreciating the beauty of ephemeral things. This particular session takes that into the autumn moon-viewing tradition, tsukimi.

It's a two-hour afternoon slot on a Saturday, so it fits easily around a weekend without taking over the whole day. The venue is the lobby of the Hampton by Hilton West End at 166 Fountainbridge, EH3 9RX, right in the West End. Tickets start from £22.38.