Traditional Indigo Dyeing Workshop

Dento-Kogeikan (West Gate)
Visitors can enjoy the experience of indigo dyeing at Traditional Indigo Dyeing Workshop located at the West Gate. Inheriting the art of a dye house in Kawasaki City, the workshop house managing 8 indigo vats also holds work displays and lectures.
It is free to visit Traditional Indigo Dyeing Workshop (Dento-Kogeikan) . Separate admission fee is required when visiting Nihon Minkaen.

About Indigo Dyeing

The Indigo, “Ai” in Japanese, is an annual plant of joint weed family. We get dyestuff from the leaves. Reaped leaves are dried, cut fine, fermented, and applied pressure. Adding lime, ash water, and well water, we heat and ferment them to make indigo solution.

Indigo dyeing, “Ai-zome”, is a simple handwork our ancestors had cultivated. We apply the solution to cloth and have the cloth aired to repeat oxidation. You can find the beautiful Japanese ancient color, which has a color tone deeper than sky blue and lighter than navy blue.


About Experiencing

You can enjoy the experience of indigo dyeing in the Traditional Indigo Dyeing Workshop. It is charged. Prior reservation is required, as the experience may be unavailable due to the use of other groups and lectures.

Samples of indigo-dyed handkerchief
Dyeing handkerchiefs

《individual》
Web reservation: Make a reservation through this link. (open a new window)

1. Indigo Dyeing Experience

Visitors can try indigo dyeing using a plain handkerchief. It’s beginner-friendly. Prior reservation is required, as the experience may be unavailable due to the use of other groups and lectures.

Time Required
60 mins ~ 90 mins

Charges

  • Plain handkerchief (45cm × 45cm): 1,100 yen
  • Plain bandana (54cm × 54cm): 1,100 yen
  • Tenugui (Traditional Japanese towel 100cm × 33cm): 1,650 yen
  • A4-sized eco-friendly shopping bag: 1,980 yen
  • A3-sized eco-friendly shopping bag: 2,200 yen

2. Dyeing Your Own Items (reservation required)

You can enjoy creative dyeing with your items brought in. Reservations are required. (Acceptable from 1 person.)

Charges

  • Basic charge: 550 yen every half day
  • Charge for dyeing: 22 yen per 1 gram of cloth
(Weight varies depending on the type of cloth.)

3. Reservation for Groups (reservation required) *Suspended

[For schools/public] You can experience indigo dyeing “Ai-zome” up to 40 persons at a time, e.g., an elementary school class. Dyeing a handkerchief takes approximately 60 minutes to 90 minutes. For further information, please contact below.

Opening Hours:

From March to October: 9:30 ~ 17:00
From November to February: 9:30 ~ 16:30

Time Slots for indigo dyeing experience:

1) 10:00 ~ / 2) 13:00 ~

Closed on:

Mondays (open on holidays)
The day after Japanese national holidays (open on Saturday and Sunday)
December 29 – January 3
*Temporary closure may take place.

Reservation for Indigo Dyeing Experience


Please make a reservation through this link in advance. (open a new window)
*For a group of over 10 people, please contact us by email (nihonminkaen@hibiya.co.jp) at least 14 business days before your preferred date.

What you need to bring
　Please wear clothes and shoes which you don’t mind getting dirty. Please bring rubber gloves or disposable gloves, and a plastic bag for taking wet works back.
　*Gloves can also purchased on the site.

[Please note]
  • A child under junior high school must be accompanied by a guardian.
  • Please refrain from visiting us if you are not feeling well.
  • It takes about 15~20 minutes to walk from the main gate of Minkaen to the Traditional Indigo Dyeing Workshop which is up on a hill. Please come earlier so that you don’t be late.
*For lectures of indigo dyeing, please apply through the mail form by clicking this link.(open a new window)

Access to Dento-Kogeikan:

  • The Traditional Indigo Dyeing Workshop (Dento-Kogeikan) is located at the West Gate of the Nihon Minka-en. It is a little apart from the Main Gate, through a sloping road.
  • If you come directly to the Traditional Indigo Dyeing Workshop from Mukogaoka-Yuen Station, you can get on the Odakyu Bus at the north exit of Mukogaoka-Yuen Station and get off at the “Senshu Daigaku-mae” stop. It is a 5 minutes-walk from the bus stop.
  • If you come by car, the Ikuta Ryokuchi West Exit Parking Lot (a toll parking lot) is convenient.
  • Please also refer to →“Access”.
    7-1-1 Masugata, Tama-ku, Kawasaki City, 214-0032 Japan (inside Ikuta Ryokuchi Park)
The inside of Dento-Kogeikan
Dento-Kogeikan (Traditional Indigo Dyeing Workshop)
7-1-3 Masugata, Tama-ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture 214-0032