- Your Brush, Your Masterpiece
Step into the world of Kyoyuzen by selecting from 15 exquisite stencils, each bearing traditional Japanese patterns rich in meaning and history. Under Mr. Kitamoto’s guidance, you’ll immerse yourself in the meticulous dyeing process, using silk fabric and authentic tools such as the artisan’s brushes.
For the final flourish, your work will be adorned with high-quality kinpaku (gold leaf), adding a luxurious sheen to your creation. Whether you transform your fabric into a kinpu fukusa, sukiya bukuro (tea ceremony bags), goshuincho (stamp books), or even a decorative wrapping cloth, your piece will become a tangible memory of your journey into Japanese artistry. Optional upgrades include bags or pouches, ensuring your masterpiece is both beautiful and functional.
Suribitta Dyeing Experience
Where Patterns Defy Expectation
Suribitta is a unique Kyoto dyeing technique developed during the Edo period. When luxurious shibori textiles became restricted, artisans devised a new method that recreated the appearance of intricate tie-dye patterns through stencil printing and brushwork. The result was a remarkable act of creativity — using dyeing techniques to imitate what had previously been achieved through labor-intensive textile manipulation.
This experience takes place in a traditional Kyoto townhouse preserved by the family that has inherited and practiced the technique for generations. Guided by a descendant of the lineage, guests learn how patterns are created by brushing color through finely carved stencils, building designs layer by layer.
Participants choose from a selection of traditional motifs and create their own piece, which is later finished as either a goshuincho (temple stamp book) or a fukusa cloth. Along the way, the artisan introduces the stories, symbolism, and cultural meanings embedded within the designs.
More than a printing experience, the experience offers a rare encounter with a technique born from ingenuity—one that continues to reveal new possibilities within a centuries-old tradition.
- Studio of The Third Generation
Nestled in a century-old Kyoto machiya, Mr. Kitamoto’s studio offers a rare glimpse into the world of traditional Kyoyuzen. Here, you’ll find tools and materials steeped in history — brushes of every size under the workbench, stencils suspended from the drying rack, and yuzen boards used for drying fabric with applied resist paste in the sunlight. The studio itself is a living museum of craftspersonship.
Mr. Kitamoto, the third-generation master of Suribitta, has dedicated his life to perfecting Kyoyuzen. From creating kimonos and obi sashes to restoring Edo-period garments, his work is a testament to his artistry. His creations, displayed in art museums across Japan, reflect his deep respect for tradition and his innovative spirit. A conversation with Mr. Kitamoto reveals not only his passion for Kyoyuzen but also the profound cultural significance embedded in every brushstroke.
- He says
“In my work, cutting corners is never an option; doing so would mean lying to myself. A true professional always gives their best—‘better’ is never enough. Every piece I create carries the dedication and sincerity of my craft.”
- Kyoyuzen Stencil Dyer at Kitamoto Dye Studio
- Masuhiro Kitamoto
- He is the third-generation head of Kitamoto Dye Studio, founded in 1925, and specializes in Suribitta stencil dyeing. He also enjoys sweets.
Access
15 minutes by taxi from Kyoto Station
The marker shows the approximate area.
The exact address will be provided when your reservation is confirmed.
Experiences
- Reserve
Kyoto Yuzen Fukusa Dyeing Experience
25,500 JPY / personCreate a fukusa cloth using Suribitta, a Kyoto Yuzen stencil technique preserved by a studio with more than 100 years of history. Select from 14 traditional designs while learning about the symbolism of their patterns and the role of Yuzen dyeing in Kyoto’s traditional crafts.
Under the artisan’s guidance, use a brush to place dye onto selected parts of the motif, allowing the color to penetrate and dye the fabric itself. Genuine gold leaf is included. The studio completes the finishing after your visit and sends the finished fukusa later; shipping is charged separately.
- Reserve
Kyoto Yuzen Goshuincho Dyeing Experience
21,500 JPY / personCreate a one-of-a-kind goshuincho cover using Suribitta, a Kyoto Yuzen stencil-dyeing technique practiced by a studio with more than a century of history. Choose from 14 stencil designs and learn how their motifs and colors carry meaning within Japanese decorative culture.
Apply dye to selected parts of the design under the artisan’s guidance. Genuine gold leaf and professional tailoring are included, and the studio will finish the dyed fabric as a goshuincho cover after your visit. The finished cover is shipped later, with shipping charged separately.
