We start our journey in Kyushu, the southwesternmost mainland of Japan. Unlike its counterpart mainland, Kyushu is an island with a unique landscape and rich cultural history from earlier trades with neighboring countries. Kyushu’s many volcanic mountains including Mt. Aso and Mt. Sakura has been enriching and providing hot springs and oasis to people of the region. It is also Kyushu’s unique geological landscape with Aris style coastal line and tidal wetland which makes Kyushu famous for fishing, growing nori seaweed and farming pearls. We are staying overnight in the capital of Fukuoka, the largest city in Kyushu. After checking in at a hotel, we will gather together as a group for dinner, get to know each other and share our thoughts about our upcoming experience and the native textiles and fiber arts of Kyushu.

Following breakfast, a day excursion to the Karatsu Pottery Town via train along a scenic coastline awaits. Immerse yourself in the local culture by visiting the museum, exploring the town on foot, and visiting a potter’s studio nestled in the mountain to observe and learn about the pottery-making process.

After breakfast, we will head to Yame city, our destination for learning Kurume Kasuri.  Yame city is a district of Fukuoka prefecture with a population of little over 60,000.  The region is surrounded with a mix of open plains and mountain valleys and provides the wealth of unspoiled natural beauty.  The open plains are used in growing crops such as wheat, rice and tea giving the region agricultural stability and the clean water and immeasurable natural resources help many traditions of craft making cherished and preserved to this day.  

To help us understand Yame’s crafts, we will join a walking tour of Yame, to stop at small art studios along the way.  In the afternoon, enjoy a tea ceremony using the local Yame tea before heading to Unagi No-nedoko.  

Unagi No Nedoko is a local shop that introduces native crafts of the region with the mission of creating a sustainable future for the makers and the local culture.  We are going to learn about the Monpe Project, a collaboration between Unagi No Nedoko and local weavers and dyers.  Monpe is a traditional women’s work pants that originated during the war and quickly became popular, especially among farmers.  To save fabric, women were asked to unsew their kimono and to make them into work pants.  Prior to WW 2, it was not customary for Japanese women to wear pants.   

While in Yama, you will stay at Craft-Inn (or similar), a beautifully restored former Tsukamoto residence in Yame’s historic townscape neighborhood.  The inns are furnished with furniture made by local artisans using local materials and craftsmanship, a one of its kind experience.

This morning, we have a rare opportunity to visit the local washi maker.  Equally famous to Kurume Kasuri in Yame is Chikugo Japanese Paper (Chikugo is a name of the region) and there are still eight active washi makers along the Yabe River (down a bit from 1800 papermakers in the 1920s).  This paper is beloved by many artists for its strength, elegance, and pliability and often used in woodblock prints, bookbinding, and traditional lanterns.  In 1970, Chikugo Japanese Paper and its hand made washi paper received the Intangible Cultural Asset Award. 

After lunch (prepared by a local ladies group), we will head to the Yame Traditional Craft Center to make washi, followed by a guided tour.  The Yame Traditional Crafts Center showcases the local art of making Buddhist altars, festival and garden lanterns, bamboo crafts, washi making, pottery and Yame arrows which are still the driving force of the local economy. 

Shimogawa weaving studio has been weaving Kurume Kasuri for three generations using 20 vintage shuttle looms.  Although they make Kasuri with machinery, their mission is to “make the fabric as soft as hand-woven ones” by reducing the warp yarn and weaving with weak tension on the loom.  Mr. Shimogawa, the third generation studio owner, also travels internationally to work with designers and museums to share the design and process of Kurume weaving.  If you like to sew or a maker, Shimogawa studio is a great place to purchase Kurume Kasuri with multiple designs and styles for your crafts projects home.  

Before dinner, we are invited to visit one of the two remaining local sake brewers that have been brewing sake since 1717 to learn the sake making process and have a tasting. 

There are a handful of natural Aizome (indigo dye) studios and ateliers in the Yame region.  Today we are going to visit a fourth-generation dyer who only works with natural dye.  After we learn about his family history, materials, fermentation process, design pattern, and the dyeing process, we will get our hands dirty to make our own Tenugui, a traditional Japanese cotton hand towel to take home.   

Afternoon transfer to Kyoto city on Shinkansen.

Welcome to Kyoto, the ancient capital and home of Nishijin Textile.

The next three days, we will immerse ourselves in the beauty and the history of Kyoto and learn about the textile and crafts of the region. 

Following breakfast, we will embark on a private guided tour of the picturesque Japanese gardens located near the esteemed Nanzenji Temple. During this tour, we will learn about the intricate landscape design, diverse plant life, and historical significance of these gardens. Subsequently, we will have a delightful lunch at an establishment situated in close proximity to the UNESCO-designated Nanzenji Temple, which holds the distinction of being one of the oldest Zen temples in Japan. We shall have the pleasure of savoring Shojin Ryori, a traditional temple vegetarian cuisine consisting of tofu and seasonal vegetables, prepared meticulously using centuries-old cooking techniques.

In the afternoon, we will visit the Kyoto Museum of Arts and Design to learn about the local ancient arts and crafts.  Enjoy the free time in the evening.

After breakfast, we will visit the Shibori Museum, the most extensive institution of its kind in Japan, where we will learn the intricate process of Shibori, explore its rich history, and peruse the captivating exhibits on display. 

In the afternoon, we have a rare opportunity to visit the Nishijin-ori weaving studio to get a closer look at the Nishijin textile, Nishijin Obi, Noh costumes, and a rare collection of Ryukyu and other fabrics. Please enjoy a three-hour weaving workshop in a beautifully restored traditional weaving studio. 

Enjoy today exploring Kyoto or simply relaxing.  

Kyoto is home to 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, temples, shrines, Japanese gardens and so much more.  Shopping is another option as there are many textile and fiber art base shops scattered across Kyoto.  Strolling along the Kamo river, visiting small museums, and enjoying the afternoon basking in the sun can all be a part of your day off!

In the evening, we will watch a performance in the vicinity of the Gion (Geisha) district.

We will embark upon the Shinkansen and traverse along the base of the iconic Mount Fuji en route to our final destination, Tokyo. We will arrive in  Asakusa, a historical merchant town, where you may choose to visit Sensoji Temple and explore the nearby Nippori textile town. To commemorate our time together, we will gather as a group for a farewell dinner.

A good-bye is always hard but we hope you had a great time in Japan. Have a safe flight home and we hope to see you again.