Kyoto Shibori Museum

Get to know tie-dyeing passed down from the ancients

Said to be the oldest dyeing craft in Japan, tie-dyeing dates back some 1,300 years, and it has captivated a large following over the centuries with vivid but cultivated designs on kimonos as well as other Japanese clothing and small articles.

But, now, Japanese tie-dye is capturing attention around the world thanks to the production of tie-dyed scarfs and other small garments.

This is the only museum in Japan specializing just on the tie-dye theme. Visitors are able to leisurely enjoy the techniques and results via bimonthly special exhibitions arranged by tie-dye experts and film footage of the various processes. In addition, the museum offers three very popular scarf tie-dye courses, “Sekka shibori” “ita-shime-shibori” and “Kyo-arashi-shibori”, that visitors can try out.

Finished scarves can be taken home on the day. And, for visitors who want a technical challenge, the “fukusa course” awaits. This involves dyeing using the Kyoto dapple-pattern technique.