A visit to Miyama and the studio of Naoko Omae are included in the upcoming Blue Japan :: Indigo Tour in October 2025. To learn more +click here
By Patricia Belyea
MIYAMA JP Three delights in Miyama, a one-hour drive from Kyoto, ranging from good to great:
THATCHED ROOFS!
Thirty-nine houses, topped with traditional thatched roofs, cluster in the picturesque village of Miyama. It's a sight to see!
LITTLE INDIGO MUSEUM
Located in a spectacular farmhouse, Little Indigo Museum was opened by master indigo dyer Hiroyuki Shindo in 2005. The downstairs holds a dyeing studio with sunken indigo pots, while upstairs displays traditional textiles. A mecca for indigo lovers!
To check the Museum’s open days +click here
NAOKO OMAE
Fourteen years ago Naoko Omae moved to Miyama.
As a Japanese student at San Francisco State University, Naoko enjoyed drawing and painting. Wanting to create art with more purpose than simply hanging on walls, she turned to textiles. Ana Lisa Hedstrom then introduced Naoko to the world of dyeing and surface design.
Naoko became concerned about the environmental hazards of chemical dyes, from the required protective gear to the dye waste being poured down drains. This led her to botanical indigo as a more sustainable option.
Determined to pursue this path, Naoko returned to Japan to study under indigo master Hiroyuki Shindo in Miyama. Although Shindo initially discouraged Naoko from committing herself to indigo, she persisted. When Naoko purchased two large indigo pots, there was no turning back!
Naoko sources sukumo, composted indigo leaves, from a special supplier near Kobe. She dips each piece of fabric seven times to achieve clean, consistent blues. Naoko dyes the finest hemp for her custom clothing. Rumiko Higasa stitches each piece by hand with threads dyed by Naoko.
To sustain her craft, Naoko creates products for the local marketplace, such as T-shirts and scarves — artistic textile items that appeal to casual shoppers. However, her passion lies in creating remarkable, daring, and challenging projects.
This past summer, Naoko’s mentor, inspiration, and friend Shindo passed away. As she looks to the future, Naoko is ready to leave Miyama. She will be seeking a larger space for her dyeing studio and a bigger home for her family — her husband Kota and their two boys, ages 11 and 13.
Next October, Okan Arts will be hosting a 12-day Blue Japan Indigo Tour. We promise to find Naoko wherever she moves. And to stop by Miyama for a walk around the village and a visit to Little Indigo Museum.
(To be on the Interested List for this tour, email patricia@okanarts.com.)
Follow Naoko on Instagram: @ow_indigo
POSTLUDE
I would never have made it to Miyama without my newfound friends, Felicity and Rono. They picked me up in a red sports coupe and drove me through endless tunnels into the mountains. When we arrived at the historic village of Miyama, Rono unpacked a perfect picnic he had made that morning!
We wandered around, exploring the Little Indigo Museum and admiring the gardens filled with autumn cosmos.
During my visit with Naoko, Felicity and Rono merrily chatted with Kota—a drummer, roof thatcher, and all-around happy guy.
It was a wonderful day filled with many acts of generosity.# # # # #
ABOUT US: Okan Arts, a petite family business, is co-owned by mother-daughter duo Patricia Belyea and Victoria Stone. Patricia and Victoria sell Japanese textiles online, host creative quilting experiences, and lead quilting & textile tours to Japan.
FOLLOW OKAN ARTS ON INSTAGRAM @okanarts
