Aizome Studio | suzanne connors

Northern Japan Textile Retreat

There are places in the world where cloth still carries the rhythm of the hand.
Where dye vats breathe slowly, needles move in quiet repetition, and pattern emerges through patience rather than speed.

This journey through Japan is an invitation to step into that world.

Traveling together through historic craft regions, mountain towns, and cultural cities, we will follow the threads of Japan’s textile traditions—indigo, stitch, resist, paper, and silk—meeting the artisans who continue these practices today. Along the way we will work with cloth ourselves, learning directly from masters whose families and communities have sustained these traditions for generations.

Our journey begins in Tokyo, where ancient temples stand beside the pulse of modern life. In a small dye studio in Asakusa we begin our exploration with indigo, dipping cloth into the deep blue that has colored Japanese textiles for centuries. From there we move beyond the city into regions where craft traditions are deeply rooted in place.

In the papermaking town of Mino we will form sheets of handmade washi, a material that has long accompanied cloth in Japanese art and design. In Shiroko we encounter the delicate world of katagami stencil cutting, where intricate patterns are carved by hand to guide the flow of dye across fabric.

In Arimatsu—one of Japan’s historic centers of shibori—we will learn resist-tying techniques that once produced textiles carried along the great Edo-period trade routes. In the quiet canals of Gujo Hachiman we step inside a traditional indigo dyehouse where the deep blue of fermented vats continues to shape cloth today.

High in the mountains of the Hida region, the town of Takayama offers another expression of textile tradition. Here we will sit together in a sashiko workshop, learning the rhythmic hand stitching that once strengthened and repaired garments worn through long winters.

Our path then leads to Kanazawa, a city renowned for its refined cultural traditions. We will wander through gardens, samurai streets, and historic geisha districts before exploring the art of Yuzen silk painting, where delicate brushwork and resist paste bring color and pattern to life.

The journey concludes in Kyoto, long considered the heart of Japanese textile culture. Here we visit the Kyoto Shibori Museum, explore textile supply shops and craft museums, and experience the expressive possibilities of wax-resist dyeing in a roketsu workshop.

Throughout the journey there will also be time to wander temple paths, explore markets and antique textile shops, and absorb the quiet beauty that informs Japanese craft.

This is not simply a tour.
It is an immersion in the living traditions of Japanese textiles—where landscape, culture, and the patient movement of the hand continue to shape cloth.

👥 Who Should Apply?

This is a small, intimate group experience, open only to:

• Former Aya Fiber Studio students, OR
• Those planning to spend at least one week with me in the studio before the trip
  All applicants will be interviewed to ensure the group dynamic stays positive, open, and drama-free. This is essential to preserving the joyful spirit of our journey—no “Debbie Downers,” please! ✨

📅 Important Dates:

• Nonrefundable deposit ($700) secures your spot
• Final payment due 60 days before departure: March 2027
• Final cost may adjust based on 2027 exchange rates and inflation