Natural Kyoto Indigo Dyeing Experience

Visit an indigo studio in Kyoto’s Nishiyama area where artisan Riku Matsuzaki has revived a locally grown Kyoto indigo tradition. His dye vat uses sukumo—composted indigo leaves—and lye made from wood ash, without synthetic dyes. Learn how this fermentation-based process differs from chemical dyeing and how it produces a colorfast, non-bleeding finish.

Choose a cotton, silk, bamboo-fibre, or cashmere stole and build your preferred depth of blue through repeated dipping, oxidation, and rinsing under the artisan’s guidance. The base experience price is separate from the material fee, which varies by textile. Take the finished stole home after the approximately three-hour experience.