Kurume Kasuri is a traditional textile from the Chikugo region that has been handed down over the generations. It is currently produced in Kurume City, Hirokawa Town (in Yame District) and Chikugo City. Patterns are envisioned and the cotton is dyed before it is woven, so the slight variations resulting from this process yield the trademark rough-around-the-edges patterns. This is just one element that adds to the appeal of Kurume Kasuri. The technique for making Kurume Kasuri was invented over 220 years ago by a 12-year-old girl named Den Inoue, the inquisitive daughter of a rice merchant and a skilled weaver in her own right.
▷Kurume Kasuri – 21 Studios
The Indonesian technique of dyeing yarn before it is woven, or ikat, is well known around the world, but the technique used in Kurume did not derive from the Asian continent; rather, it is a unique form of textile that evolved on its own from a time when self-sufficiency was the norm.
Before the birth of Kurume Kasuri, the Chikugo region grew indigo in the rich soils along the Chikugo River, much of which is shipped to Osaka. It also grew cotton, but at that time, each household only produced the textiles it needed to get by, or as a side business during the farming offseason. Back then, the dark blue garments that people wore every day only came in plain or striped patterns, so it is probably only natural that the snowfall-like pattern of white dots scattered on blue that Den Inoue developed by trial and error soon became popular. After the Kurume Kasuri process was improved upon, techniques to create large and small patterns and picture patterns were developed, and the industry flourished with the encouragement of the government.
Click here to learn more about the processes used to make Kurume Kasuri.
Kurume Kasuri that meets the strictest conditions is classified as an important intangible cultural property, while indigo dyed hand-woven Kurume Kasuri that satisfies a slightly relaxed set of conditions is classified as a traditional handicraft. There is also machine-woven Kurume Kasuri that can be dyed colorfully. In this way, a wide variety of Kurume Kasuri is produced for different uses.
Visit the county where Kurume Kasuri is grown
Currently, there are 21 Kurume Kasuri workshops, each which has its own specialty. Some of the workshops specialize in the production of Kurume Kasuri as an important intangible cultural property, and others use traditional indigo dyeing and hand-weaving techniques while striving to make more modern looking garments.
Sometimes events are held to open workshops to the public, but there are also workshops that accept individual tours and workshops where you can take lessons in indigo dyeing and weaving. Reservations are required in advance. Many workshops also have attached galleries where you shop for garments and accessories. Why not make Kurume and its kasuri workshops the destination for your next trip?
Not all, but some of these studios welcome visitors with appointments made in advance. Below is a map with the locations of active studios. On this page you can read about recent trends in the world of Kurume Kasuri and below is a list of upcoming events.
▷Kurume Kasuri – 21 Studios
– Experiences x 7
– Factory tours x 7
– Studio with shops x 2
– Factory only (visits not possible) x 5
▷Annual Events
▷Museum, Exhibition Facility
▷Related Articles
Introducing Kurume Kasuri
https://www.fukuoka-now.com/en/introducing-kurume-kasuri/
Kurume Kasuri – A Textile to Treasure
https://www.fukuoka-now.com/en/kurume-kasuri-a-textile-to-treasure/
Kurume Kasuri: Experience Fukuoka’s Traditional Textile First Hand
https://www.fukuoka-now.com/en/guide-to-kurume-kasuri-experiences/
Map to the Kurume Kasuri Studios
Click on the marked locations for information on most of the active studios
Annual Events
Kurume Kasuri Ai • Ai • Deai Festival / 久留米かすり 藍・愛・で逢いフェスティバル
A festival for kasuri lovers with stalls selling the latest textiles and finished goods. Workshops show off modern as well as traditional Kurume Kasuri items in a fashion show. This is the largest Kurume Kasuri event in Japan!• 3rd weekend of March
• 3rd weekend of March
• 10:00~17:00
• Free entry
• Jibasan Kurume
• 5-8-5 Higashi-aikawa, Kurume City
• 0942-44-3701 (Kurume Kasuri Association)
Kurume Kasuri Founder’s Festival (memorial for Inoue Den) / 久留米絣始祖祭(井上伝慰霊祭)
• April 26
Kasuri Town Tour in Chikugo (workshops opened for tours) / 絣の里巡りin筑後
Twice this year kasuri studios open to the public. Stroll through the area and enter workshops to see craftsmen in action. Shop for materials and finished goods! Rental bicycles are available too.
• 1st weekend of June, 3rd weekend of November
• Headquarters: 730 Kumano, Chikugo City
• 0942-53-4229 (Chikugo City Tourism Association)
• http://chikugo.net/event
Hirokawa Kasuri Festival (workshops opened for tours) / 広川かすり祭(工房びらき)
Two days where you can buy Kurume Kasuri items at discounted prices and visit workshops using free shuttle buses.
• 3rd weekend of September
• Hirokawa Industry Exhibition Hall
• 1164-6 Hiyoshi, Hirokawa-machi, Yame, Fukuoka
• 0943-32-5555 (Hirokawa Tourism Association)
• http://www.hirokankou.org
Museum, Exhibition Facility
Kurume Kasuri Museum
Enjoy exhibits on the history of Kurume Kasuri, the manufacturing process, and valuable pre-war works. You can also request a demonstration of Kurume Kasuri hand weaving (reservations required). There is also a video about the manufacturing processes for other handicrafts of the Kurume region.
• Kurume Regional Industry Promotion Center 2F, 5-8-5 Higashi-Aikawa, Kurume
• Open: 10:00~17:00
• Closed: Year-end / New Year’s
• Tel.: 0942-44-3700
Tokuunji Temple
Home to the grave and a bust of Inoue Den, the founder of Kurume Kasuri.
• 66 Teramachi Kurume City, Fukuoka
Takumi Garelly
Here you can view a permanent display of Kurume Kasuri, which has been designated as a traditional handicrafts by both the national and prefectural government. In addition, special exhibitions of works by traditional artisans are held on a weekly basis, and exhibitions of items produced by Kurume Kasuri workshops are also frequently held.
• Acros Fukuoka 2F, 1-1-1 Tenjin, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka
• Open: 10:00~18:00
• Closed: 12/29~1/3
• Tel.: 092-725-9100
Kurume Kasuri Studios – Experiences
Yamaai / 久留米絣 山藍(やまあい)
• 250-1 Naganobu, Hirokawa-machi, Yame, Fukuoka
• Tel. 0943-32-0150
• Open: 10:00~17:00
• Closed: Sun., hol.
• Experience: Indigo dyeing, natural plant dyeing, handwoven
Atelier Takeshi Yamamura / 藍染絣工房 山村健
http://kasuri.net/
• 241 Naganobu, Hirokawa-machi, Yame, Fukuoka
• Tel. 0943-32-0332
• Open: 9:00~17:00
• Closed: Irregular
• Experience: Indigo dyeing, handwoven
Moriyama Kasuri Kobo / 森山絣工房
https://aimoriyama.com/
• 109 Niishiro, Hirokawa-machi, Yame, Fukuoka
• Tel. 0943-32-0023
• Open: 9:00~17:00
• Closed: New Years
• Experience: Indigo dyeing, handwoven
Tomihisa Orimono / 冨久織物
https://www.facebook.com/kasuri.tomi/
• 1236-1 Ota, Hirokawa-machi, Yame, Fukuoka
• Tel. 0943-32-1048
• Open: 9:00~17:00
• Closed: Irregular
• Experience: Indigo dyeing
Noguchi Orimono / 野口織物
• 858 Ichijo, Hirokawa-machi, Yame, Fukuoka
• Tel. 0942-52-3816
• Open: 8:00~17:00
• Closed: Sat,. Sun., hol.
• Experience: loom
Aika Tanaka Kasuri Kobo / 藍華 田中絣工房
• 442-1 Takae, Chikugo City, Fukuoka
• Tel. 0942-52-4423
• Open: 10:00~16:00
• Closed: Sat., Sun., hol.
• Experience: Indigo dyeing
Ikeda Kasuri Kobo / 池田絣工房
https://www.instagram.com/ikedakasurikoubou/
• 1840 Hisadomi, Chikugo City, Fukuoka
• Tel. 0942-53-2416
• Open:10:00~17:00
• Closed: Sun.
• Experience: Indigo dyeing, handwoven
Kurume Kasuri Studios – Factory tours
Sakata Orimono / 坂田織物
http://www.sakataorimono.com
• 602 Naganobu, Hirokawa-machi, Yame, Fukuoka
• Tel. 0943-32-1402
• Open: 10:00~17:00
• Closed: Sun., hol. (Sat., irregular)
• Factory tour
• Items on sale
Yamamura Kasuri Kobo / 山村かすり工房
https://peraichi.com/landing_pages/view/bqauj/
• 252 Naganobu, Hirokawa-machi, Yame, Fukuoka
• Tel. 0943-32-0136
• Open: 8:00~17:00
• Closed: Irregular
• Factory tour
• Items on sale
Marugame Ikat Textile / 丸亀絣織物
https://re-marugame.net/
• 340 Hiyoshi, Hirokawa-machi, Yame, Fukuoka
• Tel. 0943-32-0048
• Open: 8:00~17:00
• Closed: Sat., Sun., hol.
• Factory tour
• Items on sale
Nomura Orimono / 野村織物有限会社
http://www.nomura-orimono.com/
• 1745 Niishiro, Hirokawa-machi, Yame, Fukuoka
• Tel. 0943-32-0018
• Open: 8:00~17:00
• Closed: Sat., Sun., hol., summer hol., golden week, New years
• Factory tour (only weekdays basically)
• Items on sale (only weekdays basically)
Shimogawa Orimono / 下川織物
https://oriyasan.com/en/
• 1111-2 Tsunoe, Yame City, Fukuoka
• Tel. 0943-22-2427
• Open: 8:00~17:00
• Closed: Sun., hol. (Sat.: irregular)
• Factory tour
• Item on sale
Ranseian / 久留米絣工房 藍生庵(らんせいあん)
• 3 Takeno, Tanushimaru-machi, Kurume City, Fukuoka
• Tel. 0943-72-4377
• Open: 10:00~16:00
• Closed: Tue.
• Factory tour
Nishihara Orimono / 西原織物
https://www.instagram.com/kasuri_nishihara/
• 9-3 Kurakazu, Chikugo City, Fukuoka
• Tel. 0942-52-3602
• Open: 9:00~17:00
• Closed: Sat., Sun., hol.
• Factory tour
Kurume Kasuri Studios – Studio with shops
Nomura Masanori Kasuri Factory / 野村雅範絣工場
• 1995 Niishiro, Hirokawa-machi, Yame, Fukuoka
• Tel. 0943-32-0331
• Open: 9:00~17:00
• Closed: Sat., Sun., hol.
• Items on sale
Kubo Kasuri Orimono / 久保かすり織物
http://kubo-kasuri.jp/
• 3498-2 Nishimura, Chikugo City, Fukuoka
• Tel. 0942-52-4629
• Open: 8:00~17:00
• Closed: Sun., hol.
• Item on sale
Kurume Kasuri Studios – Factory only (visits not possible)
Yamashita Kimisuke Orimono / 山下喜未輔織物
• 1736 Niishiro, Hirokawa-machi, Yame, Fukuoka
• Tel. 0946-32-0005
Nomura Atsuko Kasuri Kobo / 野村篤子絣工房
• 2006-3 Niishiro, Hirokawa-machi, Yame, Fukuoka
• Tel. 0943-32-4646
Tanaka Akimasa Shoten Mizuma Sashiko / 田中昭正商店とみづま刺子
• 22-4 Takamizuma, mizuma-machi, Kurume City, Fukuoka
• Tel. 0942-64-2998
Fukuyama Kasuri Kobo / 福山絣工房
• 720-2 Takae, Chikugo City, Fukuoka
• Tel. 0942-52-5381
• Closed: Sun., hol.
Sato Kasuri Kobo / 佐藤絣工房
• 1236-1 Ota, Hitokawamachi, Yame, Fukuoka
• Tel. 090−4779−6379
• Open: 9:00~17:00
• Closed: Irregular
—–
Note: The situation regarding the spread of the COVID-19 virus changes daily. Please follow local authorities’ advice by practicing social distancing, wearing masks, and following other recommended guidelines. By sharing information about events and places to go, Fukuoka Now is NOT encouraging unsafe practices. Practice safe behavior for yourself and others.