Experience Plan
Create your own original eco-bag with Tokyo-style stencil dyeing.
Tomita Some-Kogei is a long-established dyeing studio, founded in 1914, that specializes in Edo Komon and Edo Sarasa. At this studio, which has been featured in commercials and on posters, you can experience Edo culture.For a century, the dyeing industry flourished in Shinjuku, drawn by the clear waters of the Kanda River.
Why not take a trip back in time to the Taisho era at our studio, which also houses a museum?
About Admission
Admission to a portion of the factory is free.
For a full factory tour and lecture, please sign up for an experience plan.
About Experience
| Experience Duration | Approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes to 2 hours. |
|---|---|
| Experience Hours | 9:00～ / 10:00～ / 13:30～ / 14:00～ / 14:30～ |
| Available Days | Weekdays (excluding New Year’s, Golden Week, and Obon holidays). |
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I make a reservation?
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Please apply through the “Experience Reservation” page on the SARAKICHI website or by fax.
Phone reservations are not accepted.
After your application, we will contact you via email or fax to arrange a date.
*The fax format is flexible (FAX: 03-3980-2519). - What should I bring?
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You don’t need to bring anything. However, as your clothes may get dirty, please wear something you don’t mind getting stained.
*Smocks are available to borrow. - How do I pay for the experience?
- Please pay on-site on the day of your experience (for both individuals and groups).
- What payment methods are available?
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We accept cash and credit cards (VISA, Mastercard, JCB, AMERICAN EXPRESS, Diners Club, Discover).
*Please note that electronic money is not accepted. - Is it possible to cancel an experience?
- Yes, cancellations are possible, but a cancellation fee may apply. Please contact us as soon as possible through our “Contact” page.
- Can I change my reservation date?
- If you would like to change your reservation, please contact us through the “Contact” page, including your name and original reservation date.
- Is there an admission fee?
- Admission is free for self-guided tours of certain areas.
- Is parking available?
- There is one parking space, but we recommend using public transportation.
- Is there a place to eat?
- We do not have a designated eating area. Please use one of the nearby restaurants.
- Is the facility wheelchair accessible?
- While the facility is not barrier-free, wheelchair users can enter some areas with an accompanying caregiver.
- Can a group just do a tour?
- We do not offer tours for groups without an accompanying experience plan.
- How many people can a group have?
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While we can accommodate over 100 people, we may ask larger groups to split into smaller ones and stagger their arrival times.
For adults, the ideal group size is around 15 people. - Can one person do multiple experiences?
- Yes, that is possible.
- If I choose to pick up my finished product later, when should I come?
- We will call you at the phone number you provided during the experience once your product is ready.
- I am a foreign traveler and would like to do an experience. Do you offer language support?
- Our services are conducted in Japanese. If you’re concerned, please bring an interpreter.
- Is there an experience where I can take my finished piece home on the same day?
- The tote bag experience is the only one where you can take your work home on the same day.
Important Notes
For Groups
- There is no parking for buses. We recommend that buses drop off passengers nearby and they walk the rest of the way.
- Groups should prepare a list of participants for us to manage the numbering of the finished products (any format is acceptable).
- Groups may be divided into two smaller groups, with one starting the experience and the other starting the tour.
- There are a limited number of restrooms, so we recommend making a stop beforehand.
- The video is viewed on the second floor, so you will need to take off your shoes and go up a steep set of stairs.
- If all participants in your group choose the kogire (small cloth) experience, the finished products will be given to you in a roll. Please use pinking shears or similar scissors to cut and distribute them to everyone.
- It is possible to visit beforehand for a site inspection. Please make a separate reservation for this.
- For payment, we ask that you pay on the day of your experience or afterward, as we expect the number of participants to change.
- If you have a limited time for your visit, please let us know in advance, as we can make adjustments such as skipping the video screening.
- Please try to bring as few belongings as possible.
General Notes
- The factory floor may be wet since we make kimonos here, so please watch your step.
- Please do not touch any items that are currently in production.
- As the building is old, some pillars are low, so please be careful of your head.
- If a craftsperson is busy working, they may not be able to assist you immediately, so please wait a moment.
- Please refrain from stopping a working craftsperson for personal photos or forcing them to pose.
- If you would like a long interview with a craftsperson, please make a separate reservation through the “Contact” form and state the approximate time you will need.
- The factory environment is similar to being outdoors. Please bring water in the summer and dress warmly in the winter.