Print, try, discover.
A small print playground in Tamachi, Tokyo.
(NOT GUTTER)
Run by the local media project
“Tamachi Journal”,
NOT GUTTER is a place
to try silkscreen and Risograph printing.
Our studio in Tamachi, Tokyo offers a hands-on printing experience: design your own T-shirt, tote bag, or zine, print it yourself, and in most cases take it home the same day. A first silkscreen session takes about 2 hours.
When you print it yourself,
small variations, textures,
and unexpected discoveries can appear.
Our name is “NOT GUTTER.”
In bowling, a gutter ball scores no points.
Here, even when things
do not go exactly as planned,
we stay curious, adjust,
and keep making.
We don’t have fluent English-speaking staff yet. What we do have: smartphones, good intentions, and a lot of print love.
SERVICES
Silkscreen
We use SURIMACCA, an easy-to-assemble silkscreen kit. Print your own drawings or lettering on T-shirts, tote bags, postcards, and many other materials.
Risograph
We have a Risograph, a digital stencil duplicator loved by artists around the world. Explore its distinctive textures when printing ZINEs, flyers, art prints, and more.
ITEMS
Inks and blank materials are available in store or through our online shop.
If you contact us in advance,we can check and reserve stock for you.
(Paper is not sold online, but some paper stock is available in store.)
WORKS
Drawstring Bag (Silkscreen)
Mini Market Bag (Silkscreen)
WHY NOT GUTTER
A bright,
open space
NOT GUTTER is located inside SHIBAURA HOUSE, designed by architect Kazuyo Sejima. Enjoy printing in an open, light-filled space.
Print while enjoying
food and drinks
You may bring food and drinks. On weekdays, the 1F cafe is also open. Take a break between printing sessions.
1F and 2F are
free spaces
SHIBAURA HOUSE is a relaxed community space where local workers and residents drop by. It is also good for small tasks or meeting up.
* Please check the“SHIBAURA HOUSE website”for free-space opening hours.
FAQ
ABOUT THE SPACE
Where are you located?
We are on the M2 mezzanine floor of SHIBAURA HOUSE, a beautiful glass building designed by architect Kazuyo Sejima. Enter through the large 1F door and take the stairs on the front right.
How do I use the space?
Please make a reservation using the reservation form. For questions, contact us by email or Instagram DM.
* We do not have a shop phone number (the TEL in Access is for Spool Inc., our operating company). Please do not call the main SHIBAURA HOUSE number.
Is parking available?
We do not have a private or partner parking lot. See our
nearby coin parking guide for locations, prices, and capacity.
Can I eat or drink there?
You may bring food and drinks and enjoy them while printing. Please avoid foods with strong smells, take your trash home, and help us keep the workspace and machines clean.
When is the booking deadline, and can I cancel?
Bookings close at 18:00 (Japan time) the day before your visit. Cancellations are accepted until 18:00 the day before.
You can send a request from our English Booking Request form, and we reply within 1 business day.
Do helpers or visitors need to pay the space fee?
For the Regular Plan, helpers and companions also pay the space fee. Please contact us about visitors who only want to observe.
What payment methods do you accept?
Cash, credit cards (VISA, Mastercard, JCB, American Express, Diners Club, Discover), transit IC cards (such as Suica and PASMO), QUICPay, iD, and QR code payments including Alipay+ and WeChat Pay.
Can I take my work home on the same day?
Yes. In most cases, you can take everything you make home the same day.
About Silkscreen
What should I wear?
Aprons are available, but please wear clothes that can get dirty.
What should I bring?
Bring the artwork you want to print, either as data or on paper. You may also draw your artwork on site. We provide the tools needed for silkscreen printing.
Can I bring my own ink, screens, or materials?
For regular workspace use, you may bring inks, screens, and materials. Only SURIMACCA inks may be brought in. Bringing your own screen costs 500 yen per screen. Some materials may not hold ink well, so please test first.
How should I prepare silkscreen artwork?
Create the artwork in solid black. Use actual size (100%) and 300 dpi for images. Accepted formats include ai, pdf, psd, jpg, png, and gif.
For one-color printing, prepare one file.
For multi-color printing, prepare one file per color.
Can I use only the screen-making service?
Yes. In that case, the space fee is not charged. Please choose screen-making only in the reservation form. Available screen sizes are XS, S, M, and L. Large-format screens are not supported.
How much can I print with one bottle of ink?
It depends on the design. As a rough guide, 100 ml prints about 20 sheets when printing a solid 10 cm x 10 cm square.
How long does the work take?
The Silkscreen First-Time Plan and PHOTO ART LAB both take 60 minutes. The First-Time Plan is 3,500 yen; changing to a T-shirt or bringing your own material adds 500 yen.
PHOTO ART LAB is 5,000 yen. Regular Plan time varies with your artwork and print quantity; preparation and cleanup are included in your workspace time.
About Risograph
How much time and money does it take?
Time and cost vary depending on the artwork and your experience level.
Choose the First-Time Plan: Ichi-kara (60 min / 3,500 yen) if you can prepare your artwork, or Zero-kara (90 min / 5,000 yen) for support from the first step.
PHOTO ART LAB (60 min / 3,500 yen) turns one photo into two postcards or one A4 poster.
You can learn how to prepare data and understand the workflow, making future sessions easier to estimate and smoother to run.
What should I bring?
Bring the artwork you want to print, either as data or on paper. You may also draw your artwork on site.
Do I need to bring a computer?
No computer is needed for hand-drawn or paper artwork. If your artwork was made on a computer, it is a good idea to bring that computer in case the file needs editing.
For the First-Time and Regular Plans, you print using the Windows PC in the studio after an introduction.
For PHOTO ART LAB, staff prepare the masters and print for you.
Returning visitors who want to print from their own Windows PC or Mac should ask us in advance because the driver must be installed first.
What paper sizes can be printed?
A4, A3, and postcard-size paper are available in the studio. Please bring other sizes such as B4 or B5.
The smallest sheet that can pass through both drums for two-color printing is 100 x 246 mm.
A postcard (100 x 148 mm) cannot be printed in two colors at once, but it can be printed one color at a time.
A4 can be printed in two colors when the short edge enters first.
Print position can shift by a few millimeters, so keep important elements at least 5-10 mm inside the final trim.
See RISO’s official specifications (Japanese) for the machine’s published figures.
Can I print full bleed?
Full-bleed A3 printing is not possible.
For A4, B5, postcards, and other finished sizes smaller than A3, print on larger paper and trim afterward. The first edge entering the machine needs a 5 mm non-printable margin.
What paper thickness can be printed?
As a guide, the machine supports 46-210 g/m². Some paper may not feed correctly depending on its surface or finish. Please ask us before bringing coated or specially finished paper.
Can I buy paper on the day?
We have A4, A3, and postcard-size paper in store. You can choose and purchase paper on the day.
See our paper list (available in store only, not sold online).
How should I prepare Risograph print data?
Create the artwork in grayscale/black and white at actual size (100%). Accepted formats include ai, pdf, psd, jpg, png, and gif.
For one-color printing, prepare one file.
For multi-color printing, prepare one file per color.
ACCESS
SHIBAURA HOUSE M2F, 3-15-4 Shibaura, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-0023
By train
7 min walk from Tamachi Station East Exit (JR Yamanote Line / Keihin-Tohoku Line)
10 min walk from Mita Station A4 Exit (Toei Mita Line / Asakusa Line)
15 min walk from Shibaura-futo Station (Yurikamome)
TEL: 03-6824-4660 (Spool Inc., our operating company)
Open: 11:00-18:00 (closed Thu, Sun, and holidays / sometimes open on Sundays and holidays)
* As we operate with a small team, we may not be able to answer the phone while assisting customers.
