This 14-days/nights program is perfect for shibori enthusiasts and practitioners. Included are an opportunity to participate in or observe a rare Arashi Workshop with Kaei Hayakawa, a 2-Day Shibori Trio Workshop, an exploration of Kyoto, Miyama Village, visits to various “making” studios carrying on Japan’s craft traditions, the Miho Museum, and a WSNF Forum with young makers / reception. Space for this tour is limited.

Explore the varied cultural landscapes of Japan for a multi-sensory experience over 14 days and nights! Join us on this intimate and immersive tour. Arrive in Nagoya, Japan, on 10/29/2023. Visit Kyoto, Miyama Village, Arimatsu and Nagoya. You will experience sites in Kyoto and Nagoya, mostly using public transport and on foot like the natives. We conclude our program in Nagoya on 11/12/2023.  JTO-4, Op1 & 2 Merge in Miyama Village.

This tour includes two shibori workshops. The first is an optional* five-day Arashi Shibori Workshop taught by Kaei Hayakawa, the last practicing Arashi artist in Japan. The second is an innovative two-day workshop offered by a trio of shibori specialists and dyers, Kuno, Murase, and Wada experimenting with various materials and dyes. All materials, tuition, and lunch are included for both workshops. 

All accommodations, transportation, and most meals are included. Yoshiko has handpicked a wide selection of delicious cuisine, including the best of street foods, monk’s food, and gourmet to complete your cultural experience.

WSNF founder Yoshiko I. Wada has personally curated this trip in partnership with her many professional and personal contacts to bring intimate hands-on shibori learning and culturally immersive experiences to participants.  Mayumi Fujio, a bilingual WSNF staff member, will accompany the group, joined by Yoshiko and her local friends when appropriate. 

We will stay in a traditional Ryokan in the village of Miyama with its thatched roof homes and the Little Indigo Museum by Hiroyuki Shindo; go on a walking tour of Kyoto; visit a quilt artist studio on HieiDaira en route to the Miho Museum, a masterpiece by I.M.Pei. We will navigate the cities like natives using public transport, by foot, and taxis when necessary. Also included in this program is the Third WSNF Forum where a group of young generation of makers and designers from Japan will share their projects and join us for a reception and dinner. This Forum event with English translation will be broadcast via Zoom worldwide.

*There will be a separate fee for the five-day Arashi workshop with Hayakawa. (Fee for student vs. observer will be different.)

For inquiries on tour costs, please email info@shibori.org.

Pre-registration for TOUR 4, Option 2 is now open! 

Indicate your interest by pre-registering with a $500 deposit. When you pre-register, a Pre-registration Form, Tour Details, and Pricing will be emailed to you. Your registration will be confirmed within three weeks of submitting the Pre-registration Form in the priority listed: 

1. Patron WSNF Members, 
2. All other WSNF Members, 
3. General Public. 

Your $500 is refundable except for a $50 handling fee. 

Otherwise, your $500 will be applied in full toward the final published cost of the trip. 

Registration will open to the public on February 28.

Pre-registration with $500 closes on June 30, 2023

A waitlist will remain active until October 1, 2023