See tradition woven thread by thread at this historic indigo dyeing and weaving atelier.
2 hour private experience
Location: Chikugo, Fukuoka
Offered in Japanese, with a friendly Deeper Japan guide interpreting in your language
Meet the master
The practice and production of Kurume-style kasuri began 200 years ago and has continued to this day, with the origin stemming from a young Edo-era girl named Inoue Den, who, upon noticing a spotted pattern in an old piece of clothing, came up with the idea of dying string with indigo and then weaving in patterns.
Mitsumasa-san continues utilizing these two-centuries-old techniques at his family’s workshop. Though keeping the production methods unchanged since their advent, Mitsumasa-san and his family have sought ways to modernize their craft, bringing tradition to present-day fashion.
What you’ll do
Visit the Ikeda Kasuri textile factory and learn about the fabric-making process. Then, try your hand at dyeing your own Kasuri textile with traditional techniques.
Who can attend
Children must be 7+
Availability
Monday to Friday
Session 1 (10:00-12:00)
Session 2 (13:00 - 15:00)
Access
60 minutes by car from Hakata station, 25 minutes by car from Kurume Station, 10 minutes by car from Nishimuta Station
The Secrets of the Pattern
The legend of Kurume Kasuri tells the story of a young girl of 12 years named Inoue, during Japan’s Edo period. Coming across an indigo fabric garment, Inoue noticed faded spots of white. When she unfurled the cloth, she discovered a secret pattern, which she would go on to reproduce. This became the hand woven cloth tradition of Kurume Kasuri. The Ikeda Kasuri textile workshop has been dedicated to producing this beautiful craft for over 100 years. Nurtured by the Chikugo River, the largest in Kyushu, the Ikeda workshop is led by 3rd Generation Mitsumasa-san and his wife and 4th generation Daigo-san and his wife. Together, they continue the tradition of weaving each and every thread of cotton by hand and dyeing each cloth a rich and natural indigo blue. All together, the process includes over 30 individual steps. This experience takes you into the workshop to learn about this rich craft and to try your hand at the intricate skills needed to create the fabrics and patterns.
Cancellation Policy
Please make your booking at least 7 days in advance. See cancellation policy here.
A detailed itinerary will be emailed to you once your booking has been confirmed.
