Things to see in Hirokawa

See the artisans' traditional craft skills

Kurume Kasuri Textiles

Kurume Kasuri is a cotton textile, woven by dyed threads. To finish a roll (12 meters) of textile, it takes 2-3 months through a process of around 30 steps.

Yame Sudare

Yame Sudare are interior decoration blinds made with natural bamboo from the Yame area and woven by hand with a loom.

See around Hirokawa

Sample tour itinerary

[Artisan of traditional crafts]
Visit Yame Sudare Manufacturer

Established in 1912. We will visit a factory, which manufactures blinds used for interior partitions, windows, and ceiling decorations. We will see the artisans' traditional technique, which is highly valued for its reliability and quality. It has been used for ceiling materials of sightseeing trains (Nishitetsu The Rail Kitchen Chikugo), adopted by Kengo Kuma and exported overseas.

Activity Information

Yame Sudare "Workshop Tour & Weaving Activity (with a place mat souvenir)"

Reservations

Time required : Approx. 1 hour

Price : 5,500 yen per person

Date of event : Weekdays, 9:30 - 16:00

Application deadline : 7 days prior

Shikada Sangyo Co., Ltd.

インスタグラムアイコン @sustainable_texture_shikada

[Highlights of Hirokawa]
Gerbera (Transvaal daisy)

Hirokawa is one of the largest transvaal daisy producing areas in Western Japan. A wide variety of them, such as pink, yellow, red, orange, white etc., are shipped from Hirokawa throughout Japan. Visit gerbera producers and discover your favorite varieties of rarely seen flowers.

[Side trip spots]

Gerberas that cannot be shipped to the market due to being non-standard can be purchased for 20 yen per piece!

Hirokawa Gerbera Workshop Unmanned Farm Stand地図アイコンMAP

Business hours : 10:00 - 17:00 (closed on Thursdays and Sundays)

[Artisan of traditional crafts]
Visit Kurume Kasuri Workshop

Kurume Kasuri is a fabric made by dyeing threads with natural "indigo" dye and "weaving them by hand". It is characterized by its soft texture and fine patterns. It is a moving experience to see the moment when the thread is dyed blue up close.
Additionally, let's visit the weaver who produces Kurume Kasuri using "chemical dyes" and "machine weaving". The sight of various colors and patterns of Kurume Kasuri being woven one after another in a factory where the lively sound of vintage weaving machinery that have been carefully maintained echoes is impressive.

Activity Information

In addition to workshop tours, there are also weaving factories where you can experience indigo dyeing and weaving. If you wish to visit or experience, please contact each weaving factory directly.

Studio Tour - Textile studio with dyeing workshop

[Highlights of Hirokawa]
Fruit

Hirokawa is also famous for their fruit like strawberries, peaches, grapes, apples, persimmons and various others that grow throughout the year. Enjoy seasonal fruit picking and sweets made with fresh fruit.

Activity Information

For the latest information on farm stands and fruit picking, please contact each farm.

Farmers' market DOROYA (shopping)

インスタグラムアイコン@shinsen.doroya

Satono-eki Hirokawa Fruit Village (shopping / strawberry picking)

インスタグラムアイコン@hirokawakudamonomura

Hirokawa Strawberry Farm (strawberry picking)

インスタグラムアイコン@hirokawa.15

Peach Forest (shopping / Shine Muscat grape picking)

インスタグラムアイコン@pitiko2018

[Highlights of Hirokawa]
Hirokawa Aisai Market

A shopping spot where you can find products from all 11 Kurume kasuri workshops in Hirokawa. Looking at them after learning the story of artisans on the tour, you will be even more interested in the differences in pattern and texture. Let's find your favorites! Staff who are familiar with the characteristics of each artisan are there to assist you.

[Side trip spots]

Hirokawa Aisai Market 地図アイコンMAP

Business hours : 9:00 - 17:00 (closed on Tuesdays)

We also recommend café time in the new building.

Hirokawa Sato Cafe Machiko no Oyatsu

インスタグラムアイコン@machiko082

Business hours : 10:00 - 17:00 (closed on Tuesdays)

SPECIAL MOVIE

Please take a look at the production process of "Kurume Kasuri" and "Yame Sudare" and the past tour scenes.

PHOTO GALLERY

Visits/Trips to Hirokawa

Inquiries

Hirokawa Town Tourism Association accepts inquiries about Kurume Kasuri kimono wearing, Yame Sudare and Kurume Kasuri factory tours, fruit and gerberas tours. Please feel free to contact us.