- Duration
- About 2 hours
- Group size
- 4–40 pax
- Cities
- Kyoto
- Indicative budget
- From ¥38,500 per person
For centuries, Kyoto has been Japan's capital of luxury textiles: workshops in the city center dyed and wove kimonos for the court and the great merchant families. This workshop introduces one of those techniques, chosen with you according to the group: stencil yuzen, where colors are applied motif by motif; indigo, where the fabric turns from green to blue as it meets the air; or shibori, where the cloth is folded, tied and clamped to resist the dye.
After a demonstration by an artisan dyer, each participant makes a tenugui (thin cotton towel) or a furoshiki (wrapping cloth). The work is individual, but it lends itself well to a team format: you can set a shared color palette, use a pattern linked to the company or line up the pieces for a group photo. The results, always a little unpredictable, naturally get people talking.
Unlike ceramics, the piece is ready on the day: rinsed and dried at the workshop, or delivered to the hotel that evening if drying takes longer. It becomes a useful, easy-to-pack gift that participants made themselves. The workshop fits easily into a half day, before a walk through the historic center or a dinner.
Objectives
- Discover one of Kyoto's signature textile crafts
- Build a shared team project from individual creations
- Leave on the day with a handmade gift
How it works
- 1Technique (yuzen, indigo or shibori) and item (tenugui or furoshiki) chosen in advance.
- 2Welcome at the workshop, aprons and gloves provided, introduction to Kyoto textiles.
- 3Demonstration by the artisan, interpreted.
- 4Participants dye their pieces with individual guidance.
- 5Rinsing and drying, group photo with the creations, handover on site or at the hotel.
Good to know
- Indigo stains skin and clothes for some time: gloves and aprons are provided, simple clothing is advised.
- Workshops hold 10 to 20 people; larger groups run two techniques in parallel or rotate.
- Stencil yuzen gives the most even result; shibori and indigo are more striking but less predictable.
- A pattern or color matching the company's branding can be discussed with the workshop beforehand.
- Indoor activity, not weather-dependent.
Indicative budget
From ¥38,500 per person (private workshop, small-group basis, materials and finished piece included). Group rate quoted according to headcount; interpreter and transfers optional.
Frequently asked questions
Which technique is best for a group?
For a large group or a tight schedule, stencil yuzen is the safest choice. For a more striking effect and a livelier atmosphere, choose indigo or shibori. We advise based on headcount, available time and participant profile.
Do participants leave with their creation?
Yes, on the same day. If drying is not finished by the end of the workshop, the pieces are delivered to the hotel that evening.
Can we include the company logo or colors?
Colors, yes, quite easily. A pattern based on the logo is possible with stencil yuzen, provided it is planned several weeks ahead so the stencil can be made.
