Najio is located near to big city Kobe, just behind the Rokko Mountains (六甲山). The representative paper is made from local material, Gampi and Rokko mountain clay. It has won fame with strong and unti-worm.

According to the legend, a man, named Higashiyama Yaemon, learnt Washi making in Echizen, and brought it to this place, maybe late 15th or mid 16th century. After that, the paper was accomplished original development using local clay from the local Mountains. In the history, many famous painting was drawn on this paper, especially in Kyoto. In the past, they were called “Najio thousand workshops (Najio Senken = 名塩千軒)”, shown the most of the villagers were involved in Washi making.

Nowadays, although residential development has been invading this place, two workshops are continuously making traditional Gampi paper.