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COME TO OKINAWA WITH US!

Sold out for May 2026 but join the waiting list!

This textile tour is five nights in Okinawa, the southern islands of Japan, formerly the Ryukyu Kingdom. The lifestyle there is a little more casual than what some may consider the more "traditionally Japanese" culture we experience in Kyoto, but the textiles are just as fascinating.

On our tour, you'll learn about bingata (stencil dye), kasuri (fuzzy weaving), bashofu (banana fiber weaving), and ujizome (sugar cane dye). We'll have time to get just a glimpse into the history and culture of these tropical islands. You'll meet traditional artisans, try your hand at these techniques, and enjoy the slower pace of this less-traveled part of Japan.

The tour begins in Osaka in the morning of the 22nd when we fly to Naha together. (We will work with you if you are connecting from Tokyo or want to meet in Naha instead.) We encourage our guests to arrive early and/or extend their stay to visit Kyoto or explore other parts of Japan.

REFUND POLICY:
75% back for cancellations made before 1/13/25
50% back for cancellations made before 7/13/25
25% back for cancellations made before 9/13/25

Participants are expected to get traveler's insurance.
Maximum group size is ten members.

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Itinerary Activities

  • Two textile workshops - try your hand at a traditional technique
  • Five artisan studio visits - an intimate glimpse
  • Selected heritage sites

How Much is it?

$2600 ($500 deposit and the balance invoiced in two payments due 6 and 3 months prior to departure)

What's Included?

  • Domestic flights between Osaka and Naha
  • Five nights at a western-style hotel
  • Single occupancy room with private bath
  • All workshop, tour activities, and entrance fees
  • Breakfast every day, lunch on tour days
  • Welcome Dinner and Farewell Dinner
  • Transportation during the tour
  • Professional Japanese guides
Click here to view our general tour itinerary

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CAUTION!

This trip is not for everyone. If you're flexible, healthy, eager to visit Japan, and normally not inclined to travel in groups (but welcome the chance to meet like-minded others) - this trip could be what you've been waiting for. If you have dietary restrictions, physical limitations, or a low tolerance for the unfamiliar, this may not the right trip for you.

While we do try to accommodate food preferences, we are not able to guarantee meals that are vegan, gluten-free, or MSG-free, so we may not be able to accept guests with severe food sensitivities.

Guests will be asked to prepare for the trip and to conduct themselves in ways that may sometimes be a challenge:

  • Balance: able to get up and down for floor seating
  • Mealtime: able to eat with chopsticks and have no strict dietary/allergy issues
  • Cultural Awareness: become knowledgeable about Japanese customs and etiquette, able to handle basic greetings, counting, and polite speech
  • Group participation: be punctual, flexible, compassionate, attentive, and respectful of group dynamics

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  • Kyoto Trip Waiting/First Dibs List - Kyoto Kimono
  • Kyoto Trip Waiting/First Dibs List - Kyoto Kimono
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Description

We offer textile-focused tours to Kyoto twice a year - in May and October. We typically open registration for a tour one year in advance. By signing up below, you'll get a preliminary invite to register as soon as a tour is scheduled - even before it is open to the general public.

Occasionally we do get cancellations on booked-out tours, so you would get a notice about those openings as well.

Click the "add to cart" button and enter your contact information. There is no cost to doing this, but it will assign a queue number to you and when there's a cancellation or new tour scheduled, we'll contact you by email to see if you're still interested.

Read more about our tours: Japan Textile Tours.

Comfort Level

The hotel is western-style, modern, and conveniently located. You'll have a private room with bath, but the rooms are small. The meals will be authentic, local, and plentiful, but you'll need to be able to eat with chopsticks and be open to trying new foods. You'll get to know Kyoto from an ex-pat's and textile-lover's perspective, and we'll do whatever we can to help you feel comfortable heading out on your free days to pursue your own adventures. The focus of the trip will be to enjoy Kyoto at a reasonable pace -- it's impossible to see or do it all, so being in good spirits and well-rested allows you to enjoy what can be seen and done in the short time you're there.

Payments

A $500 deposit reserves your spot, which would only be confirmed after a phone chat with Nancy to discuss the trip and share expectations or concerns. The balance is due by check (no online payments) in two installments (six and three months prior to departure).

Refund Policy

75% back for cancellations made at least six months in advance, 50% for cancellations made at least three months in advance, and 25% for cancellations made at least one month in advance.

If Kyoto Kimono has to cancel (under unsafe or travel ban circumstances), refund amounts would be issued minus any unrecoverable expenses already paid (up to 5% of your payment). More likely, we would reschedule the tour rather than cancel altogether. Participants are encouraged to purchase travel insurance, and we highly recommend getting coverage not only for your flight and medical treatment but also to cover a full refund in case of cancellation.