A Tour of the Culture and Skills of the Ryukyu Dynasty

Okinawa flourished as the Kingdom of Ryukyu during the 15th to the 19th centuries, and Okinawa's unique and cosmopolitan culture was nurtured through trade with other countries, especially with East Asia. In this tour, you will learn about the richness of Okinawan culture and skills in a variety of aspects such as pottery, textiles, dance and cuisine.

  • ◎Various aspects such as textiles, ceramics, traditional dances, and cuisine.
  • ◎Visit the best workshops in the prefecture, Living National Treasures and one of the three great Bingata sects.

Date

Time

Schedule

Content

Day1

10:00-12:00

Ikutouen

  • Tour of workshop and hands on experience with Tuboya yaki pottery

12:00-13:30

Lunch

13:00-16:00

Chinen Bingata

  • Tour of workshop of Bingata and dyeing experience

18:00-20:00

Dinner

  • Pairing dinner with local liqueur "Awamori"

Check-in

  • around Naha-city

Day2

9:30

Depart from hotel

10:30-11:30

Ryukyu Glass Studio Umikaze

  • Original glass making

11:30-12:30

Lunch

14:00-17:00

Bashofu Weaving Workshop

  • Experience the process of cutting down and spinning the thread of bashofu

18:00

Check-in

  • Hyatt Regency Seragaki Island

19:00

Dinner

  • Private Ryukyu dance performance & dinner

Experience

Ikutou-en

●Overview: Overview: Explanation of the history, cultural background, process of Tsuboya-yaki pottery, tour of workshop, and the experience of line engraving or the finishing process of shisa. ●Duration: 2h Echizen is said to be the oldest lacquerware production area in Japan. Lacquerware is a vessel coated with the sap of the lacquer tree, which is said to have powerful anti-bacterial and anti-rust properties. Echizen lacquerware, with multiple lacquer layers on its surface, is characterized by its elegance and lustre as well as its lightness and durability. It boasts a domestic market share of over 80% in the food service and professional lacquerware industries. Since its foundation in 1793, Shitsurindo has been passing down its skills in the lacquering of lacquerware.

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Chinen Bingata Labratory

●Overview: Overview: Tour of the workshop (explanation of the history, cultural background, and process of Bingata by the owner), hands-on experience of placing and dying Bingata patterns. ●Duration: 3h Bingata is a type of dye with vivid patterns of Okinawan plants and landscapes. Bingata, sometimes called the most beautiful folk costume in the world, originated around the 15th century. Originally, only the royal family of the Ryukyu Kingdom (1429-1879) and their families were allowed to wear this noble dye, but nowadays, various products other than clothing are produced and enjoyed by many. The Chinen family is one of the "Three Bingata Sects", three families that produced Bingata for the Ryukyu Kingdom, and has one of the most prestigious workshop in the prefecture.

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RYUKYU GLASS WORKS Umikaze

●Overview: Tour of the workshop, making original glasses with your choice of shape, color, and pattern. ●Duration: 1h The glass is made to depict the sparkling ocean, sunsets, and other beautiful scenery of Okinawa.

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Bashofu, a phantom cloth

●Overview: Cutting of Itobasho, fiber picking, and yarn making experience ●Duration: 3h Bashofu, a textile mainly produced in the northern part of Okinawa Island, is a traditional Okinawan dyed fabric grown in nature, known as a ‘phantom cloth’; it is thin, light and translucent like a dragonfly's wing.This comfortable cloth, which allows air to pass through, has been essential for people living in the hot and humid climate of Okinawa. This rare craft, everything from the cultivation of the raw materials to the finishing of the fabric, is done by hand in the local area and has been designated as an important intangible cultural asset. The fields of the raw material, basho, were burned to the ground as a measure against malaria in World War II. After the war, Ms.Taira restarted from the cultivation of Basho and restored it together with the local women. Here, Ms. Taira's daughter and grandchildren will give a lecture on life in Ogimi Village and the high skills passed down in the Taira family.

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Restaurant

Pairing dinner with local liqueur "Awamori"

The owner, Mr. Higa, will introduce the positioning of the local liquer "Awamori" in the Ryukyu Dynasty and how to drink it with episodes. Enjoy pairing Awamori with Okinawan cuisine while learning about the relationship between Awamori and cuisine, arts and crafts.

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Private Ryukyu dance performance & dinner

The dance and cuisine that entertained envoys from China and Korea during the Ryukyu Dynasty will be recreated. Please enjoy classical music and Ryukyuan dances along with authentic court cuisine.

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Stay

Hyatt Regency Seragaki Island, Okinawa

A resort hotel surrounded by the beautiful ocean in Onna Village, located in the central part of Okinawa's main island. With time spent on the two private beaches and their views, you will enjoy an energetic stay that is uniquely Okinawan.

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  • ・
    Languages
    ：
     Mainly in Japanese, other languages based upon request.
  • ・
    Number of participants
    ：
     2 to 8 people
  • ・
    Meeting place
    ：
     negotiable
  • ・
    Reservation deadline
    ：
     14 days prior to departure
  • ・
    Payment method
    ：
     Bank transfer, credit card
  • ・
    Clothing
    ：
     None specified
  • ・
    Tour guide
    ：
     Local producer or interpreter (arrangements made based upon customer’s preference)
  • ・
    Cancellation fee
    ：
     29~15days prior to departure 5% 14~7days prior to departure 20% 6~4days prior to departure 50% 3~1days prior to departure 70% Departure day or no show 100%
  • ・
    Precautions
    ：
     -Tour will be held even in cases of rain, except in the event of a typhoon or heavy rain warning. -All photos shown are for illustrative purposes only. -The places to be visited are not tourist destinations, and due to circumstances, there may be different processes within the factory with the machines not being in operation. -Elementary school students and younger may participate in the tour with the accompaniment of a parent or guardian. However, we cannot be held responsible for any injuries or accidents happening during the tour, including in the parking lot and in the workshop. -Please make sure that parents/guardians do not touch the machines, especially during the tour inside the workshop. -We recommend that you purchase travel insurance for your participation in the tour. -The tour will be cancelled in the event that smooth operation of the tour becomes difficult due to the new coronavirus infection situation or other reasons. If the tour is cancelled, full amount of the tour fee will be refunded.
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