This is a culture and craft-oriented tour visiting two art and craft places in Nagoya; Arimatsu and Noritake Garden. Both have unique history and have been continuing to produce beautiful tie-dyed products and hand-painted porcelain products respectively. Hands-on experience of tie-dyeing is a highlight of the tour. In addition, we'll pay a visit to Atsuta Shrine, one of the most famous shrines in Japan said to be founded in 113. It is conveniently located to be included in this itinerary.
At your hotel if it is in the Nagoya Station area or Sakae area, or Nagoya Station
Meet at your hotel (if it is in the Nagoya Station area or Sakae area) or Nagoya Station.
Then we will take a train to Arimatsu. (Meitetsu Railways)
Guided walking tour of Arimatsu and tie-dyeing experience.
The 800-meter-long street of Arimatsu is designated as "National Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings" by the Cultural Agency of Japan. Tie-dyeing called Arimatsu-Shibori started here in the beginning of Edo Period which is early 17th century. We will enter Tie-Dyeing Museum where you can see tying demonstration by skilled local women.
If on weekend, Festival Float Museum and House of Oka family will be open and we will visit them as well.
A number of retail shops sell tie-dyed products such as Japanese towels, scarves, handkerchiefs, purses, shirts and dresses and many other things.
We'll probably spend about 2-2.5 hours in Arimatsu.
Atsuta Shrine is one of the most important and prestigious shrines in Japan. Its huge precincts is thickly wooded and presents serene atmosphere.
Kusanagi Hiroba garden with the roofed open-air eatery offers a relaxing rest place to visitors who come from far and wide. You can eat Nagoya’s specialty Kishimen noodle for lunch here.
If you are interested in Japanese samurai swords, you can also visit Kusanagi-kan, a museum that opened in 2021. It exhibits historical swords out of the shrine's large collection. At a hands-on corner, you can lift some sample swords to see how heavy they are.
Noritake Garden is like a park created by Noritake Company, the renowned international tableware brand, at the former site of their large-scale factory complex originally built here in 1904. In the Craft Center, you can see and understand each process from production of bone china clay to decorations by craftsmen. Especially, the second floor features demonstrations on many types of decoration methods including hand-painting by master craftsmen. Also the beautiful "Old Noritake" products which were produced for export from the late 19th century until before WWII are on exhibit at Noritake Museum.
I can walk you back to subway Kamejima station or JR Nagoya Station. Or if you like to do shopping and eating at the AEON shopping mall next door, I’ll leave you there.
At Noritake Garden or adjacent subway or train station
If you are interested in art and craft, especially local textile craft and porcelain art, this is the tour for you. You will learn some of Nagoya’s traditional craft industry and culture through visits to these two art and craft places with unique history. You can also learn and try techniques of Arimatsu Tie-Dyeing yourself and bring back home your creative work as a souvenir.
If you wish, it is possible to experience hand-painting on a plate or a mug at Noritake Craft Center as well but please note that your creation is baked later and sent to any address within Japan but not overseas.
guide fee, hotel pick-up ( if it is in the Nagoya Station area or Sakae area)
transportation fee (you and the guide), lunch (you and the guide), tie-dyeing experience fee ( about 2,500 Yen or up depending on the studio and what you want to make), admission fees for Tie-Dyeing Museum (300 Yen per person), Noritake Craft Center (500 Yen per person) and any other museums or facilities which require admission fees (you and the guide)
transportation fee (we'll use Meitetsu train and subway) for the day will be about 1,000 Yen per person.
I'm based in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, but I will be happy to guide you around Mie, Gifu, Takayama, Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, and Shiga if my transportation fee and hotel (if needed) are covered.
My available days may be irregular. So please check the calendar.
・Hands-on experience fees and admission fees to museums are not included in the tour price.
・Please understand that I can only find out the fee for tie-dyeing experience after I know the date, the number of guests and what they want to make, but please expect 2,500 Yen or up per person. (In Arimatsu, there are several studios which offer hands-on experience of tie-dyeing but conditions of available days and time, minimum number of customer, items available and their fees are all different. The time required also depends on the studio and what you make but will be approximately 1-2 hours. )
・If you want to do hand-painting on a plate or a mug at Noritake Craft Center, it is possible with a fee of 2,000 Yen per person, but please note that your creation has to be baked and they can sent it to an address within Japan free of charge but that they cannot arrange to send it overseas.
There were 6 of us who had a delightful day with Nozomi in Nagoya.....she was very adaptable & flexible with our needs....an absolute delight....I would highly recommend her to anyone Brenda
Hi Brenda! Thank you for taking the time to post a nice review. It was my great pleasure to meet and guide your group (actually there were 8 of you!). I was so impressed that you all loved wine so much! Everybody was so nice. It was a very special and memorable guide experience to me, too! Nozomi