- The Transformative Yume-Kôrozome Dyeing Experience
At Yusai-tei, guests can try the groundbreaking Yume-Kôrozome technique developed exclusively by Yusai. Inspired by ancient imperial garments, this method allows fabric to change color in sunlight, revealing an ever-shifting spectrum of hues.
Scarf dyeing: Create an original design on a 100% silk scarf measuring 45 by 180 centimeters with the Yume-Kôrozome method. Watch your work transform in the light, bringing a sense of wonder with every step. Jeans dyeing: Bring your own white jeans and dye them with standard techniques. Please note that this option does not use the Yume-Kôrozome method. It offers a personal way to bring a touch of Kyoto artistry to your wardrobe.
The artist and studio staff guide you throughout the process, helping you turn your piece into a unique expression of personal creativity. This immersive experience introduces a technique rooted in centuries of history while allowing you to make a one-of-a-kind object imbued with the spirit of Kyoto.
Yusai-tei in Arashiyama
Where Colors Come Alive
Nestled along the Katsura River in Arashiyama, Yusai-tei is a place where landscape, architecture, and color come together in unexpected ways. Once a riverside inn, the building is known for its seasonal reflections, playful visual compositions, and ever-changing views of the surrounding scenery.
The artist Yusai Okuda devoted himself to exploring color through traditional dyeing techniques, creating works that invited people to look more closely at the world around them. Yet his vision extended beyond the craft itself. He believed that beauty, curiosity, and delight could become gateways to deeper encounters with Japanese culture.
Throughout Yusai-tei, visitors discover moments designed to inspire wonder — shifting reflections, carefully framed landscapes, and artistic interventions that transform the act of looking into an experience of discovery. Through these encounters, guests are invited to take a first step into the wider world of Japanese aesthetics and cultural traditions.
Today, Yusai-tei continues to share that spirit, welcoming visitors into a place where nature, art, and tradition quietly meet. The colors may continue to change, but the invitation remains the same: to look closely, to wonder, and to discover.
- The History and Legacy of Yume-Kôrozome
Yume-Kôrozome grew from Yusai Okuda's extensive research into kôrozen, the ceremonial attire worn exclusively by Japanese emperors for more than 1,200 years. Combining traditional methods with a modern sensibility, Yusai revived the ancient technique with a contemporary palette to create a dyeing method unlike any other.
Yume-Kôrozome is distinguished by its ability to shift color in sunlight, revealing new shades and gradients as the light changes. This dynamic interaction between nature and technique creates a dreamlike quality that embodies the Japanese appreciation of transience.
Kyoto's water and climate, combined with Yusai's extraordinary sense of color, produce delicate blurred effects and hues that are both vibrant and subtle. The result reflects the skill of Japan's traditional craftspeople and the innovative spirit of its modern artisans.
At Yusai-tei, this legacy continues through the philosophy of “Dyeing the Senses,” sharing the beauty of Japanese culture and artistry with the world.
- Yume-Kôrozome Dyeing Artist
- Yusai Okuda
- Yusai is a dyeing artist who has inherited and pursued traditional Japanese techniques while also developing innovative forms of expression that contemporary audiences can enjoy.