[Industrial Tourism] Discover the Craftsmanship and Dyeing Experience in Sakai, Home to 400 Years of Wazairashi Tradition!

• Table of Contents
• The Traditional Industry of “Wazarashi” in Sakai, Osaka
• Tour Details
• Let’s Take a Peek at the Tour!
• Dyeing experience
• Factory Tour
• How to Inquire

The Traditional Industry of “Wazarashi” in Sakai, Osaka

The traditional industry of “Wazarashi” in Sakai, Osaka—known as “Sakai Wazarashi”—has been carried on for over 400 years since the Edo period.

Wazarashi refers to bleached cotton fabric made by removing impurities from raw cotton. Since the early Edo period, it has been produced in large quantities along the Ishizugawa River, an area blessed with abundant water.

At this company, which was founded in 1931 (Showa 6), all stages of production—from Wazarashi processing to dyeing and cutting—are carried out in-house at their own factory.

The Wazarashi fabric is gently boiled in a large cauldron for about 35 hours, preserving the natural texture of the cotton while achieving a soft, pleasant feel against the skin.

Blending time-honored techniques with modern ideas suited to today’s lifestyles, the company continues to share the charm of Wazarashi in a variety of forms.

Tour Details

In the dyeing experience, you'll choose your favorite color from six available dyes and create your very own original tenugui (Japanese hand towel)—a one-of-a-kind item in the world! You can take it home the same day. Feel the joy of crafting a unique piece with your own hands.
During the factory tour, you'll get an up-close look at the traditional process of making wazarashi. Take your time to appreciate the craftsmanship and depth of this time-honored production method, shaped by the dedication of skilled artisans.

・Price: From 3,600 yen (tax included) per person
*Prices vary depending on the experience course.
・Number of participants: 2 to 40
・Time: Approximately 60 to 90 minutes
・Contents: Factory tour, dyeing experience
・Application acceptance: Up to 2 months in advance

Let’s Take a Peek at the Tour!

Here is an overview of the tour. The tour flow is as follows:

Dyeing experience ⇒ Factory tour

Dyeing experience

You can choose your favorite color from six dye colors and create a one-of-a-kind original tenugui by experimenting with folding and dyeing methods.

Dyeing is very easy! The staff will explain the steps carefully, so even beginners can participate with confidence. The finished pattern varies greatly depending on how the fabric is folded (equilateral triangle or isosceles triangle) and how long it is soaked in the dye. There is a sense of tension in the air at the moment of dyeing, and the expressions of the participants are very serious.

Once the towel has been washed, dehydrated, and dried, you'll be thrilled when the vibrant patterns emerge. You can take the finished towel home with you right away!

Factory Tour

Now, let's take a look at the company's technology. You can see the entire process up close, from the bleaching process, where the fabric is slowly cooked in a high-temperature pot, to the roll-printing process, where the patterns are printed, and the latest silk screen printing.

The first thing you see is the Japanese bleaching process, where the fabric is cooked in a huge cauldron. In the Japanese bleaching process, the fabric is first carefully packed into baskets and then carried into the large cauldron. This cauldron can hold an amazing amount of fabric, enough for about 50,000 tenugui towels, or about 42 km of fabric, at one time. While Western bleaching takes about an hour to complete, Japanese bleaching takes about three days to carefully remove impurities and bleach the fabric. If you compare the fabric before and after processing, the difference is obvious! When it is taken out of the kiln it is pure white, and by cooking it slowly it gives the fabric a fluffy finish without putting any stress on it.

After that, we went to the dyeing site. Here, we saw a "roll printing machine" that is operated by only a handful of companies nationwide. The "blade" that scrapes off the dye with the machine determines the quality of the dyeing. In order to dye beautifully, delicate adjustments by craftsmen, "sharpening the blade" is essential.

You can also observe the silk screen printing process using the latest equipment. They also produce products that are suited to modern lifestyles, such as gauze pajamas, scarves, and yukatas, and the vibrant process that combines tradition and modernity is well worth seeing.

This is a rare opportunity to experience the spirit of Japanese "monozukuri" (craftsmanship). Why not experience the depth of Japanese craftsmanship by touching and smelling the fabric? We welcome visitors from overseas. *An interpreter must accompany you.

How to Inquire

1. Please fill out the necessary information in the form below and contact us.

2. We will contact you from "industrial.tourism@nankai.co.jp" within 3 business days.

For inquiries, please contact us here. From consultations on available dates to detailed tour information,

Please feel free to contact us!