MEET LOCAL CRAFTSMEN THAT HAVE REFINED THEIR SKILLS OVER GENERATIONS AND RETURN FROM YOUR TRIP TO SHIZUOKA WITH SOME SPECIAL HAND MADE SOUVENIRS.
When you visit Shizuoka, there are opportunities for you to hand-craft your own unique souvenirs to take home from your Japan trip.
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JAPANESE INDIGO DYEING – Mishima Station
Indigo dyeing is a fabric or thread coloring technique that had its heyday during the Edo Period of Japan (1603-1868).
The process results in a color known as Japan blue that many of us may remember from the beautiful color of the jersey that the Japan National Soccer team wore during the 2022 Soccer World Cup.
In the city of Gotemba, you can visit one of the few remaining ateliers, Shoaizome Koharaya, where the visitors can experience the traditional way of indigo dyeing and learn about the history of this unique traditional process.
While the experience includes dyeing your own fabric to take back home with you, the atelier also features a showroom where visitors can buy the clothes masterfully dyed by the master and his son.
MATCHA CALLIGRAPHY – Shizuoka Station
As the bitter-sweet aroma of matcha fills the air, clear your mind and put the matcha-soaked brush to paper with this uniquely Japanese experience, MatchaSho®.
This extremely unique experience, replacing traditional ink with matcha in the practice of Zen Japanese Calligraphy, is produced by a Shizuoka-based Shodoka (calligrapher), Shoran.
After the session, you will have a hanging scroll with your own writing on to take home – What would you like to write?
SURUGA BAMBOO WARE – Shizuoka Station
Japanese Bamboo lattice ware has been produced in Japan for more than 2,000 years dating back to the Yayoi Period.
Referred to in Japan as ‘Takezaiku’ – Suruga Takesensujizaiku is a style of bamboo craft work that was developed in Shizuoka which involves splitting the bamboo extremely thin.
Suruga Bamboo Ware products became especially popular around the time Tokugawa Ieyasu was at Sumpu Castle.
The techniques used to create elegant flower vases, sweet containers and lampshades have been handed down over generations and can take up to 10 years to master.
Visitors to Shizuoka that would like to try their hands at creating Suruga Bamboo Ware can visit Takumishuku.
LOCAL SAKE – Hamamatsu Station
Nihonshu (Sake) is an iconic Japanese drink that makes for a great souvenir to take back for family and friends back home.
Visit Hananomai Brewery in Hamamatsu and take the brewery tour to meet the local craftsmen and learn how they produce their sake so that you can impress your friends when you give them their souvenir from your trip to Shizuoka.
Established in 1864, the brewery has stayed true to its values by only making sake crafted from 100% locally produced Shizuoka rice.
HAMAMATSU CHUSEN TENUGUI – Hamamatsu Station
If you have been to Japan you will no doubt have seen the intricately designed thin cloth towels called Tenugui that are sold at various souvenir stores around the country.
One of the processes for dyeing tenugui is called ‘Chusen’ in Japanese and the fablic is often used to create the iconic Summer Yukata that are often worn at festivals.
Despite modern technology and mass production taking over, there are still factories in Hamamatsu City that produce these dyed products using techniques that haven’t changed for hundreds of years.
Visitors can observe the authentic dyeing craftsmanship and a hands-on experience dyeing your own special ‘Tenugui’ (Hand Towel) at the factory.
