Okinawa's Traditional Craft Revival: New Bingata Workshop Tour and Dyeing Experience Program Launches

Kazetsuchi Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: 9th Floor, Sakanotsubo Square, 5-36 Shiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Yuki Okamoto) has partnered with The Royal Park Hotel Iconic Naha, operated by Mitsubishi Estate Hotels & Resorts Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: 7F, Ryukyu Bank Main Building, 1-11-1 Kumoji, Naha City; General Manager: Tatsushi Nakada), to launch a new cultural experience program, 'Ryukyu Experience,' starting Friday, July 10, 2026. This program allows guests to fully immerse themselves in the charm of Ryukyu culture.

The program focuses on 'Ryukyu bingata,' a vibrant textile dyeing technique that has been cherished since the Ryukyu Kingdom era as attire for nobility and royalty, vividly expressing Okinawa’s rich nature and landscape. Two special programs are offered: 'Bingata Workshop Tour,' where participants observe the history and techniques firsthand at a master artisan’s studio, and 'Bingata Dyeing Experience,' where guests can create their own artwork. Additionally, exclusive lodging packages are available to fully enjoy each experience. This is not just a tourist activity, but a deep cultural journey into time-honored traditions. Guests can enjoy a one-of-a-kind moment, truly seeing, touching, and feeling Okinawa’s aesthetic sensibility.

Background: Rising Tool Costs – Challenges Facing Ryukyu Bingata

Ryukyu bingata is a unique dyeing technique passed down from the Ryukyu Kingdom era and designated as an Important Intangible Cultural Property of Japan. However, essential tools such as brushes and stencil paper, along with their raw materials, have become increasingly expensive due to factors like a shortage of skilled artisans. Without sufficient access to these tools, the transmission of this craft to future generations could become impossible. To address these challenges, Kazetsuchi Co., Ltd. has developed this experiential program in collaboration with Mitsubishi Estate Hotels & Resorts, based on the concept of 'transforming tourism spending into a sustainable funding source for craft preservation.' A portion of the program’s revenue will be directly reinvested into solving workshop challenges.

'Ryukyu Experience' – A Journey into the Beauty and Craftsmanship of an Intangible Cultural Heritage

Reservation Start Date: Friday, July 3, 2026, 2:00 PM onwards Program Start Date: Friday, July 10, 2026 onwards

Program ①

[Chinen Bingata Research Institute – Bingata Workshop Tour]

Experience the charm of Okinawa’s traditional dyeing craft through a special behind-the-scenes tour of the 'color mixing' and 'color application' processes, passed down since the Ryukyu Kingdom era. Limited to one group per morning and afternoon session, this is a rare cultural experience where guests can touch historical tools, hear the stories behind the designs, and learn about the legacy of the Chinen family. The featured bingata workshop is the Chinen family, one of the three major bingata lineages dating back to the Ryukyu Kingdom. As dyers who served the royal court, they have preserved designs reflecting Okinawa’s natural beauty and royal culture for centuries. Today, the 10th-generation artisan, Fuyuma Chinen, continues to uphold and modernize this tradition, rooted in ancestral techniques and spirit. Guests will witness the full process—from design conception to dyeing—executed entirely by hand. As a special gift, participants will take home an original 'Ryukyu bingata hand-dyed art panel' created by Fuyuma Chinen.

Price: ¥30,000 per person (additional ¥5,000 per person for groups of two or more) Time: 10:00 or 14:00 Workshop Tour: Approx. 60 minutes Special Gift: One art panel per group Reservation Link: http://rsv.ihonex.com/cgi-bin/ihonex3/plan_shokai.cgi?hid=rphs_icnaha&plan_groupcd=SHISATSU&form=jp

Program ②

[Gusuku Bingata Dyeing Workshop – Tote Bag Dyeing Experience]

A dyeing experience hosted by a 55-year-old established workshop. This workshop allows both adults and children to easily create their own one-of-a-kind tote bag with their preferred pattern and colors.

Price: ¥4,500 per person (includes snacks) Time: 10:00 or 14:00 Experience Duration: Approx. 60 minutes Reservation Link: http://rsv.ihonex.com/cgi-bin/ihonex3/plan_shokai.cgi?hid=rphs_icnaha&plan_groupcd=TAIKEN&form=jp

Use of Revenue: Tourism Spending Fuels the Future of Craftsmanship

A portion of the program fees will be allocated to improving the production environment of the partner workshops. Specifically, funds will be used to purchase brushes and stencil paper, whose costs have risen significantly, and to repair aging workshop facilities. This program creates a sustainable cycle where participants’ experience fees become the artisans’ tools, ensuring the craft is passed on to the next generation.

【About The Royal Park Hotel Iconic Naha】

Located on the 7th to 13th floors of the Ryukyu Bank Main Building, directly in front of Yui Rail's 'Kencho-mae' Station, this modern luxury hotel features executive floors, three restaurants, a bar, and a pool. With terraces adorned with banyan trees and guest rooms inspired by traditional Okinawan 'amado' (rain-edge) spaces, the hotel embodies the concept of 'Nurtured by the Ryukyu Islands.' It offers a relaxing stay where guests can deeply connect with Ryukyuan culture.

Location: 1-11-1 Kumoji, Naha City, Ryukyu Bank Main Building Number of Rooms: 257 Facilities: 3 Restaurants, Bar, Pool, Gym, Executive Lounge Access: 2-minute walk from Yui Rail 'Kencho-mae' Station URL: https://www.royalparkhotels.co.jp/ic/naha/

【About Royal Park Hotels】

Royal Park Hotels operates 25 hotels with 6,397 rooms nationwide. Planned and managed by Mitsubishi Estate Hotels & Resorts Co., Ltd., the chain delivers unique services and values in line with its guiding principles: [Vision & Credo / Value / Service Standard]. Moving forward, it will continue expanding its hotel network, enhancing brand strength, and contributing to a sustainable society as a unified group.

【About Kazetsuchi Co., Ltd.】

Kazetsuchi Co., Ltd. supports the creation of cultural assets by connecting regional cultural capital—such as traditional crafts—to modern business ventures, under the concept of 'Creating a Cycle Between Culture and Economy.' The company carefully interprets the skills of artisans and local stories, expanding them into tourism experiences, product development, intellectual property utilization, collaboration between industry, government, and academia, and public communication. Rather than treating culture as a one-time consumption, Kazetsuchi designs systems that return value to creators, reinvest in communities, and ensure transmission to future generations, co-creating the future of local regions.

Inquiries Regarding This Program

Kazetsuchi Co., Ltd.

5-36 Shiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo