Waseda: Dyeing Workshop and Japanese Garden
Description
Your experience begins at a historic dyeing workshop, in operation since 1914, where artisans have preserved the tradition of Edo Komon and Edo Sarasa patterns. Here, you’ll design and decorate your own tote bag using a traditional stencil dyeing technique—no experience needed! You'll also get a glimpse into the craftsmanship behind these intricate patterns as you explore the workshop. With your custom tote bag in hand, you’ll visit Higo Hosokawa Garden, a peaceful Japanese garden with seasonal beauty all year round. Stroll through elegant pathways, take in the scenic pond views, and capture stunning photos of your handcrafted bag against a backdrop of cherry blossoms, autumn foliage, or lush greenery—depending on the season. To add a nostalgic touch to your journey, you’ll also hop on the Tokyo Sakura Tram, a charming streetcar that has been running for over a century. It offers a rare opportunity to experience one of Tokyo’s last tram lines and its retro atmosphere.
Tour Options
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(5)
Mr mato was very friendly and helpful. The workshop was incredible! My bag is really cute :) learning how the process works was mind blowing along with some of the patterns made. I never realized how truly intricate and time consuming making kimono cloth is. The imperial garden was so beautiful and relaxing as well
Thank you so much for joining the tour. I’m delighted to hear you enjoyed the workshop and loved your handmade bag. And how lucky we were to have the only sunny day of the week — being able to enjoy the cherry blossoms in full bloom made the experience even more special.
Megumi and Mr. Sato were excellent guides, and the tour was very interesting. It was fun to make our tote bag, and it came out beautiful!
Thank you very much for your kind review. We had a wonderful time showing you the traditional workshop and the beautiful Japanese garden. Your tote bags turned out beautifully, such a lovely reminder of your trip to Japan. If you find yourself back in Tokyo with a bit of free time, we’d be delighted to show you another side of the city. Wishing you many more memorable travels ahead. - Megumi
We had a fabulous experience on this tour and our own made bag to take home with the memories! “Megumi” our guide spoke excellent English and was very personable and considerate. The print shop was very interesting as you get to see the”old” traditional methods, and the park was worth visiting as it was decked out for winter season.
Thank you so much for joining the tour and for your kind words! I’m truly happy to hear that you enjoyed the experience. I especially love sharing traditional methods and the spirit of the artisans with guests like you who genuinely appreciate Japanese crafts. It’s people like you, who respect and value these time-honored techniques, that help keep the tradition alive! Wishing you many wonderful memories with your handmade bag! - Megumi
The tour guides were very nice and knowledgeable about the area and activities. The tour of the dye shop was really cool. The garden was very pretty and the tea and snacks there were very good.
Thank you so much for your lovely message! We’re delighted to hear you enjoyed exploring the dye shop and relaxing in the garden—it's such a peaceful spot, isn’t it? I'm glad the tea and snacks added a sweet touch to the experience. It was a pleasure having you on the tour, and we hope your tote bag brings back fond memories of your time in Waseda! - Meg
Probably the best thing we did in Tokyo. Our guide, Meg, was knowledgeable and very kind. She gave us a private tour of a garden and knew all the history of the area. The dyeing workshop was amazing. We got to see experts dye all different types of patterns on fabric. We learned about the whole process from template making, layering patterns, and steaming the fabric. We created our own tote bags which were beautiful. My only regret is that I wish this tour was all day. Super!!
Thank you so much for joining my tour the other day! I'm so happy to hear that you enjoyed it. We were lucky with the timing—those cherry blossoms just starting to bloom made everything even more special. I had such a great time showing you around the garden and the dyeing workshop. I agree—it felt like it ended too soon! Time really flies when you're having fun. I hope you're having a fantastic time on your cruise :) – Meg
