Shibori tie-dye workshop in Arimatsu: Make your own

Walk through old Arimatsu, watch master craftswomen tie and dye, then make your own shibori piece

A shibori tie-dye workshop in Arimatsu, near Nagoya, where you learn the ancient Japanese art from a local guide, walk through Edo-period streets, visit the Tie-Dyeing Museum to watch experienced craftswomen at work, and then create your own dyed fabric in a studio. The experience runs about six to six and a half hours depending on whether you dye a handkerchief or a t-shirt. A minimum age of 7 applies, and you'll need comfortable walking shoes and some cash for lunch and shopping.

Step-by-step itinerary

Shibori workshop and city tour

• Walk tour of Arimatsu city
• Visit souvenir shibori shops
• See Tie-Dyeing Museum demonstrations
• Attend shibori tie-dye workshop

The experience

The morning starts with a walking tour through Arimatsu, one of the few neighborhoods in the Nagoya area where original Edo-period buildings still stand undamaged. Your local guide leads you past these wooden structures and into souvenir shops where you can browse and buy finished shibori work: a chance to see the range of patterns and colors before you make your own. You'll also visit the Tie-Dyeing Museum, where you watch experienced tying craftswomen at work, seeing firsthand how the patterns emerge from the binding and folding techniques that define the art.

After lunch (which you arrange and pay for), you head to one of three available workshops to begin your own piece. The actual dyeing takes place in a working studio where you'll learn to fold, bind and dip fabric the way the craftspeople do. You choose at checkout whether to dye a handkerchief or tenugui fabric, or a t-shirt: the t-shirt option adds about thirty minutes to the day. By the end, you walk out with something you made yourself, dyed in the patterns your hands created.

What’s included

• Walking tour of Arimatsu's Edo-period streets.
• professional local guide.
• entry to the Tie-Dyeing Museum and demonstrations by master craftswomen.
• shibori tie-dye workshop instruction.
• your choice of handkerchief, tenugui fabric, or t-shirt to dye and take home.
• transportation to and from the workshop.

Options for this experience

2 options

Dyeing kit for handkerchief / tenugui fabricGuide in English · 09:30Arimatsu tour with an English-speaking guide, plus a handkerchief / tenugui fabric dyeing workshop.

T-shirt dyeing, applicable after January 2023Guide in English · 09:30Workshop for dyeing T-shirts

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:30

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (7 and older) · Under 7: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 8

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 6 days before the start.Between 2 and 6 days before the start, 50% refund.After that, no refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48h

Prices and times updated 12 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Tourism Designers Co., Ltd.

Is this one for you?Book the handkerchief or tenugui if your schedule allows only a morning or afternoon. Choose the t-shirt if you want to take home something you'll actually wear.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

5 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What exactly is shibori, and why is Arimatsu the place to learn it?

Shibori is the Japanese art of binding and folding fabric before dyeing it to create patterns. Arimatsu has been the center of shibori production for centuries, and the Tie-Dyeing Museum there documents the craft's history. Watching the master craftswomen demonstrates techniques that have remained largely unchanged.

Do I need any experience with dyeing or textile work to join?

No. The workshop is designed for beginners, and your guide teaches you the binding and dyeing techniques from the start. Children as young as seven can participate, and the guide walks everyone through each step.

What do I actually take home at the end?

You take home the fabric you dyed yourself: either a handkerchief, tenugui (a thin cotton towel), or a t-shirt, depending on which option you chose at booking. The patterns are permanent once the dye sets.

How much walking is involved, and what's the pace like?

The tour involves a fair amount of walking through Arimatsu's streets and between the museum and workshop, so comfortable walking shoes are essential. The pace is steady but not rushed, with time to stop in shops and at the museum to watch demonstrations.

What's included in the price, and what do I need to pay for separately?

The guide, walking tour, museum visit, workshop instruction, and fabric are included. You pay separately for lunch, drinks, shopping, and any entry fees to individual old houses you choose to visit inside Arimatsu.

Can I book a guide who speaks a language other than English?

A Mandarin, French, Spanish, German, or Korean-speaking guide may be available. Contact the operator in advance to check what languages can be arranged for your date.