FEB 2027 Textile Treasures of Okinawa :: DEPOSIT
SOLD OUT! To be on the Wait List, email Victoria here
12-day Tour :: Textile Treasures of Okinawa Tour
MON February 15 to FRI February 26, 2027
Tour Deposit: $2,500
Total Tour Cost: $12,725 Single Occupancy
Tour limited to 16 participants
Tour Leaders: Victoria Stone & Patricia Belyea, co-owners of Okan Arts
Japanese Travel Expert and Guide: Yumi Sugai
Welcome to a laid-back wonderland where traditional crafts are honored. Of the sixteen Okinawan crafts that are nationally designated, thirteen are related to weaving and dyeing. The warmth of the people, the unique culture of the land, and the stunning natural beauty of this paradise are calling you!
Beyond island living, you are busy with a plethora of hands-on activities—including a pottery session, a calligraphy class, and a three-morning dyeing workshop with a bingata master.
You stay for six nights at a waterfront hotel in Naha, the biggest city in Okinawa with a mix of modern urban vibes and deep-rooted Ryukyuan influences. Then you move north to a beachside resort in Nago to be close to nature and your next adventures.
ITINERARY
B=Breakfast L=Lunch D=Dinner
DAY 1 Arrive at OKA | Transfer to Naha hotel
DAY 2 Fukushū-en Garden | Kariyushi Patchwork BD
DAY 3 Kasuri Weaving | Shuri Castle Park B
DAY 4 Zakimi Castle Remains | Pottery Workshop BL
DAY 5 Fly to Kumejima | Tsumugi Weaving B
DAY 6 Shiyon Studio | Calligraphy Class B
DAY 7 Hanaori Weaving | Southeast Botanical Gardens BL
DAY 8 Bingata Dyeing Workshop (1) | Kouri Island Bridge BL
DAY 9 Bingata Dyeing Workshop (2) | Nakijin Castle B
DAY 10 Bingata Dyeing Workshop (3) | Churaumi Aquarium BD
DAY 11 Bashō-fu Experience | Banananesia B
DAY 12 Shikina-en Royal Garden | Transfer to OKA B
NOTE: This itinerary is subject to change.
To read a blog post about the February 2026 Okinawa tour +click here
To read a blog post about Fujisaki Sensei, a renowned bingata master +click here
To read a blog post about tsumugi weaving on Kumejima +click here
To read a blog post about bashō-fu, Okinawa’s banana textile +click here
To read a blog post about hanaori weaving +click here
To read a blog post about Shiyon Studio +click here
To read a blog post about Okinawa’s Kasuri Road +click here
Mobility
Okan Arts tours explore vibrant cities, rural areas, and artist studios so mobility is important. Japan is a country that tends to build up and stairs are a common feature. You will be welcomed into private homes and ateliers where seating may be limited or even on the floor.
To experience this tour to the fullest and keep up with the rest of the group, we request that you are able to:
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Walk up to two miles throughout the day
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Walk on rustic pathways and stairs, often with no handrails
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Ascend and descend steep stairs with a handrail
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Stand for 40 minutes to one hour (for presentations in small artisan ateliers)
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Sit on the floor (not on your knees) for up to one hour
Food
Most traditional Japanese food is free of the common allergens of dairy and peanuts. However, on your trip to Japan we cannot guarantee allergen-free meals.
If you have severe allergies or food restrictions, please assess your comfort with eating in a different culture with a language barrier.
*Please note that if you have a gluten sensitivity or intolerance, most soy sauces —a common seasoning in Japanese foods— contain wheat.
Tour Contract
Within 24 hours of paying your Deposit, you will receive an online link to the Tour Contract via email. You must return the completed and signed Tour Contract to Okan Arts within one week to finalize your tour booking.
Cancellation
Your Tour Deposit is non-refundable. That said, if you need to cancel and Okan Arts fills your place, you will receive a refund of your Tour Deposit less $250.
If your place is not filled, you will forfeit 100% of your Tour Deposit.
Okan Arts recommends that you purchase Comprehensive Travel Insurance with Trip Cancellation Coverage.
Trip of a Lifetime
With Okan Arts, you travel with like-minded textile and quilting enthusiasts who want to be inspired by the people, places, and traditions that make Japan and the UK so rich in textile culture.
Okan Arts offers more than thoughtfully designed itineraries and knowledgeable tour leaders — we care deeply that every traveler has an extraordinary experience!
Small groups capped at 14 to 16 participants, with two Okan Arts leaders
Insider experiences that take you behind the scenes to meet textile artists, makers, designers, and craftspeople
Hands-on workshops and opportunities to learn from talented makers
Exceptional accommodations with single occupancy in 4- and 5-star hotels
All breakfasts and additional special group meals as indicated in the itinerary
Transportation and transfers during the stated tour days, so you can relax and enjoy the journey
Thoughtful pacing that leaves room to explore, connect, and enjoy the places we visit
YOUR TOUR LEADERS
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Included
- A 12-day textile lover’s tour with exclusive visits, experiences, and workshops as stated in the Itinerary
- 11 nights in a 4- to 5-star hotel, single occupancy
- All breakfasts (B), and special group lunches (L) and dinners (D) as stated in the Itinerary
- Two co-leaders, and one Japanese travel expert
- All tour transportation and transfers within Japan during the stated days of the tours
Not Included
- International airfare
- Passport and visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Emergency medical travel insurance – required
- Personal expenses, shopping money, taxis, drinks with group meals, and meals when on your own
It was such a great experience and the group was very special. I had a wonderful time.
Lynn H - Aiea HI
The workshops were great — so was the food. I especially enjoyed the Kyoto hotel where we stayed. It was well-located; we could walk many places from there.
Toni B - San Francisco CA
Thank you for being flexible and doing side excursions.
Lily K - Aiea HI
I hope that others will be able to have the rich and rewarding Japan experience that I had!
Ellen M - Santa Cruz CA
I had such a memorable experience, one I’ll never forget. No drama. No negativity. All love and respect.
Jude S - Los Angeles, CA
I do feel lucky indeed, to have had the special opportunity to travel with Okan Arts to Japan.
Mary K - Chattanooga TN
