Experience a one-of-a-kind Yuzen dyeing experience in a townhouse in Nishijin, Kyoto
Learn from a craftsman with over 50 years of experience and apply color to silk with your own hands in a Kyoto townhouse that is over 100 years old. This time, we will introduce Yuzen dyeing, one of the cultural experiences offered by CEC. Why not create your own unique memories in the quiet streets of Nishijin, Kyoto?
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Our "ambassadors" will guide you through Kyoto's cultural tourism in a variety of languages, drawing on their own experiences and knowledge. We can accommodate requests for standard courses or special, bespoke one-day courses, to help you create unforgettable days in Kyoto, providing you with the opportunity to learn about and experience shrines, temples, and gardens, modern architecture, food culture, traditional performing arts, and more, as well as meet the local encounters that will create the best memories. In addition to guided tours, we offer special experiences, from events utilizing unique venues to plans that allow you to fully enjoy Kyoto culture throughout the seasons.
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What is Yuzen dyeing? Kyoto aesthetics depicted on silk
Yuzen dyeing is a traditional dyeing technique that originated in Kyoto during the Edo period. It was invented by fan painter Miyazaki Yuzensai and quickly became popular as it allows for the creation of free and gorgeous patterns.
What makes this fabric unique is that it is dyed with glue to resist the dye, and then the colors are applied with a brush. Many of the designs are delicate, with a natural theme, such as seasonal flowers, birds, and flowing water. After dyeing, the fabric is steamed to set the color, and then washed in Kyoto's pure water to finish.
Yuzen dyeing is not just decoration, but is imbued with the aesthetic sense and spirituality of Kyoto. Even today, it is used for wedding attire and ceremonial kimonos, and the techniques are passed down by skilled artisans.
Introducing the craftsman: Shinichiro Minami, with over 50 years of experience
In this experience, you will be taught by Minami Shinichiro, a craftsman with over 50 years of experience in Yuzen dyeing.
After creating many kimonos and exhibiting overseas, Minami now opens her own townhouse to visitors, where she continues to share the charms of Yuzen dyeing. She teaches carefully and in an easy-to-understand manner, so even beginners can feel at ease.
The venue is a townhouse in Nishijin, Kyoto
The experience will take place in a Kyoto townhouse that is over 100 years old and stands in the historic streets of Nishijin, an area that once flourished with Nishijin textiles and is still a quiet place where dyeing and weaving culture lives on.
The experience is limited to a few groups per day, so you can spend a relaxing and calm time in a private space. More than 40 people participate each month, and to date, more than 100 people have enjoyed Yuzen dyeing.
First, choose your favorite design from the available designs, then thread a bamboo stick through the silk cloth to give it tension, preparing it for dyeing.
Start by creating the color. Mix a color just for you.
Once the design and color scheme have been decided, Minami will mix the colors on the spot. In Yuzen dyeing, natural or synthetic pigments are mixed with glue and other additives to create the pigment. Watching your own unique color being created right before your eyes is one of the highlights of the process.
Pick up the brush and apply the colors
Now it's time to start dyeing. Under Minami's guidance, we use brushes to gradually add color.
The fun part of this experience is that the way the colors blend and develop changes subtly depending on the angle and pressure of the brush. A special pigment made from a mixture of gold powder and adhesive is used for the gold outline, which is designed to prevent the colors from bleeding. Even beginners can try it with confidence, as it allows you to create a beautiful finish down to the smallest details.
The process of creating your own unique piece with the support of a craftsman is truly an immersive experience.
The finishing touches make it a piece you can enjoy for years to come.
Once your piece is complete, you can sign it. Minami will then stamp it with his seal and iron the back of the piece to firmly set the color.
This finishing process makes the dye less likely to fade and makes the gold shine even more, resulting in a piece that you can keep for a long time as a memento of your trip.
More than an experience, it's a time to experience culture
This is not just an art experience, but a time to experience firsthand the aesthetic sense and handcrafted spirit of Kyoto. In a quiet townhouse, guided by a craftsman, you can create your own unique "Kyoto." Why not try spending some luxurious time like this?
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Traditional Yuzen dyeing experience
Address: 575 Kitanomikado-cho, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture
Reservations required: Reservations only
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Cultural Experience List
We can also arrange cultural experiences and guided tours upon request. If you are interested, please contact us!
https://www.getyourguide.com/cultural-edu-tourism-council-s376972/For guided tours and inquiries in Kyoto, please contact us here ( https://www.cec-kyoto.jp/ ).
Our "ambassadors" will guide you through Kyoto's cultural tourism in a variety of languages, drawing on their own experiences and knowledge. We can accommodate requests for standard courses or special, bespoke one-day courses, to help you create unforgettable days in Kyoto, providing you with the opportunity to learn about and experience shrines, temples, and gardens, modern architecture, food culture, traditional performing arts, and more, as well as meet the local encounters that will create the best memories. In addition to guided tours, we offer special experiences, from events utilizing unique venues to plans that allow you to fully enjoy Kyoto culture throughout the seasons.
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