Kinare, Tokamachi - Kimono and Traditional Crafts

Kinare is a community center in Tokamachi that has a host of things to keep you occupied and the opportunity to try your hand at several Japanese crafts. It also acts as one of the main hosting areas for the Echigo Tsumari Art Festival.

Tokamachi is well known for its links to artisanal crafts, being a major center of kimono production. Back in the day it was cut off by the heavy snows for the whole winter and the population spent much of their time stuck inside. Weaving beautiful kimono material was a major cottage industry and as soon as the roads were passable in spring the city merchants would rush to the area to snap up these local works of art. There is still a Kimono Festival each spring in the town. At Kinare there is a kimono museum and exhibition that takes you through the history. They also offer the chance for visitors to get dressed up in traditional Japanese attire. The family can have their portrait taken clothed in stunning kimono and experienced what is involved in getting dressed in these long gowns.

There are also other workshops available that you can take part in. Weaving on a loom played a big part in the history of Tokamachi and you can try yourself, opting to make your own cloth of varying sizes, depending how ambitious you feel.

Other workshops include dyeing and hand painting silk.

With all these craft workshops you get a great memento of your time and effort to take away with you, and you will often be amazed how good your finished product is. The tuition and guidance you receive is first rate and you will leave with dreams of starting up your own cottage industry.

If you are in the Tokamachi area then a trip to this cultural exchange center is a must. And with an onsen on site as well, you really could spend the whole day here.