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Hakomotokan Konya Indigo Dyeing Studio

HOME > Japan’s Local Treasures > Hakomotokan Konya Indigo Dyeing Studio

A historic indigo dye house offering workshops and a goldfish museum

Yamatokoriyama City, Nara Prefecture

Just four minutes by train from Nara is the historic castle city of Yamatokoriyama City. It offers two fascinating reasons to visit: indigo dying and goldfish. Pay a visit to Hakomotokan Konya to learn more about both.

When Koriyama Castle was rebuilt in the late 16th century, a district specializing in indigo dyeing was set up. Depart JR Koriyama Station and you will see a stream running along the main street. This street was once full of dye houses. Hakomotokan Konya is an indigo dyeing studio housed in a restored indigo dyer's house that is actually the oldest house in the city.

Inside, you'll find a small museum of art and antiques related to the city's heritage of goldfish breeding. The fish were mainly nurtured by samurai as a hobby and to supplement their income during the mid-Edo period (18th-19th century). Today, Yamatokoriyama is still one of the top goldfish producing cities in Japan. The stunning goldfish collection has more than 1,000 art pieces and objects related to these big-eyed, golden yellow and orange fish.

Make your own original souvenir commemorating your visit to Yamatokoriyama in an indigo dyeing workshop. A master dyer will guide you through indigo dyeing a handkerchief or a bandana with indigo that has been prepared using centuries-old methods. Indigo dye is made by fermenting natural indigo plants. It is thanks to the abundance of cotton and water in this area that the craft of dyeing prospered in Yamatokoriyama.

Book a dyeing experience ahead of your visit to Yamatokoriyama to avoid missing out. See Hakomotokan Konya’s website for full details.

How to get there

Yamatokoriyama is 4 minutes by train from Nara or 40 minutes by train from Shin-Osaka. Hakomotokan Konya indigo dye studio is a 5-minute walk from Kintetsu Koriyama Station or a 10-minute walk from JR Koriyama Station.

19-1 Konyamati, Yamatokoriyama-shi, Nara-ken