3 hour private experience
Location: Hachioji City, Tokyo
Offered in Japanese, with a friendly Deeper Japan guide interpreting in your language
Meet the Master
Shin is the 3rd-generation artisan leading his family's Hachioji-based Tama ori weaving studio, which possesses over 120 years of history. Utilizing traditional weaving techniques and know-how, he reimagines kimono-based textiles as scarves and other apparel that have drawn the attention of prominent brand names, both domestic and international.
What you’ll do
Visit the textile studio of a 3rd-generation Tama ori textile artisan. Learn more about the history of Tama ori and the textiles' iconic 5 weaving techniques used to create different patterns and products. After touring the weaving studio and witnessing the team of weavers at work, learn how to use a loom and make your own Tama ori coaster to take home.
Availability
Everyday
Session 1 (10:00 - 13:00)
Session 2 (13:30 - 16:30)
Who can attend
Children must be 12+
What’s included
Your very own piece of tama ori cloth.
Access
1 hour from Tokyo Station by car
The Mulberry City
For centuries upon centuries, verdant mulberry trees have lined the shores of the Tama River, which flows from neighboring mountains all the way to the great Tokyo Bay. This ecosystem is essential for the textile industry--not for raw materials but as the core sustenance for ravenous silkworms, who feast exclusively on mulberry leaves, and eventually provide the silk for Japan's luxurious fabrics. The Hachioji region, a rural oasis on the fringe of Tokyo's metropolis, has supported Japan's textile industry since at least the 12th century. Tama ori (weaving) has shifted in style as time passed, but now features a range of five recognized types of weaving patterns, with finished products spanning complex tapestries and plain-woven clothes. At a studio situated along the shores of the Tama River, led by a 3rd-generation artisan, his family, and a team of professional weavers, Tami ori heritage continues to be interwoven with the region where it all originated. Witness the lineage of the looms that have shaped Tokyo's textiles for centuries, surrounded by open skies and unspoiled nature.
Cancellation Policy
Please make your booking at least 14 days in advance. See cancellation policy here.
A detailed itinerary will be emailed to you once your booking has been confirmed.
