Textile Retreat | Sashiko in Japan
Sashiko, Boro + The Textiles of Kyoto with Kazue Yoshikawa
Kyoto, Japan | March 4 - 12, 2027
Discover the textile traditions of Kyoto through an immersive journey into sashiko, boro, textile dyeing, and the art of mending. This hands-on, multi-day experience takes you beyond the surface of Kyoto to explore the studios, and centuries-old techniques that continue to shape Japan's textile culture today.
At the heart of our retreat is a four-day immersive program with Kazue Yoshikawa at SASHIKO.LAB, where you'll learn the foundations of sashiko, from its history and cultural significance to the tools, materials, and techniques behind the craft. You'll work through different styles of stitching, including hitomezashi and moyozashi, before exploring the deeply rooted tradition of mending and repair. Kazue will also lead a walking tour of her favourite craft shops, from specialty fabric stores and traditional needle makers to hidden sewing notion shops.
Throughout our time together we’ll also venture into Kyoto's wider textile community, visiting working artisans and specialist workshops that preserve and reinterpret traditional crafts. In the mountain village of Ohara, you'll learn about indigo and botanical dyeing. We'll step inside studios dedicated to some of Kyoto's most distinctive textile arts, exploring contemporary interpretations of kyo-yuzen and ryusai-zome surface design, trying your hand at creating your own hand-dyed textiles, and discovering the intricate world of nishiki-ori silk brocade weaving and historical restoration.
By the end of the trip, you'll have gained a deeper understanding of Kyoto's textile heritage, from humble acts of repair and reuse to exquisite hand-painted silks and elaborate brocades, and leave with not only a small collection of your own handmade pieces, but a lasting appreciation for the patience, skill, and care woven into Japanese textiles.
This Ace Camps Travel trip is open to all skill levels. Trip Itinerary, Details and Important Notes below.
DATES
March 4 - 12, 2027
9 Days + 8 Nights
PRICING
Shared Room* - $6,795 USD
Private Room - $7,795 USD
Full Rooming + Pricing Details Below
BOOKING FOR THIS TRIP STARTS ON
SEPTEMBER 2, 2026 AT 1:00PM PST
TEXTILE RETREAT HIGHLIGHTS
4-day Sashiko + Boro Intensive Hands-on Workshops led by Kazue Yoshikawa
A Guided Craft Shop Walking Tour with Kazue
Indigo and Botanical Dyeing Workshops in the mountain village of Ohara
Traditional + Contemporary Kyo-Yuzen + Ryusai-zome Dyeing Textile Workshops
Guided visit to a Nishiki-Ori studio to learn about intricate textile weaving
Curated Kyoto Shops + Sights Map
Transportation during included meals and activities
Dedicated Ace Camps Travel Host and local Kyoto host, with you throughout your trip
Trip Prep call to meet fellow travelers and talk through schedules, recommendations, and questions
Learn with Kazue Yoshikawa
Kazue Yoshikawa is the founder of SASHIKO.LAB, a working sashiko atelier in Kyoto. Her journey with sashiko began when she was looking for a creative practice she could do while raising her young children. What started as a personal interest gradually grew into teaching.
As her practice deepened, Kazue became increasingly interested in sashiko not only as a stitching technique, but also as a window into Japanese cultural history—how people lived, how cloth was used, repaired, and valued in everyday life. This curiosity led her to collect and study old sashiko and boro textiles from different regions of Japan.
Today, this ongoing exploration is at the heart of SASHIKO.LAB. The atelier is based in a 120-year-old machiya near Fushimi Inari, where Kazue now hosts regular sashiko and mending workshops. The space also includes a small shop and the SASHIKO BORO ARCHIVE, where visitors can see and handle vintage textiles firsthand.
Living and working in Kyoto continues to shape her practice, offering daily access to traditional crafts, materials, specialist shops, and skilled makers—all of which inform the evolving work of SASHIKO.LAB.
Day by Day Itinerary
Nota Bene: This is a prospective itinerary. It is subject to modest modifications, dependent on local weather, partner schedules, unexpected opportunities and the needs of the group.
Day 1
Thursday, March 4
Welcome to Kyoto, a city renowned for its classical Buddhist temples, serene gardens, imperial palaces, Shinto shrines, and traditional wooden houses.
Make your way to our hotel in central Kyoto, located a short taxi or train ride from Kyoto’s main train station. Settle into your room, we’ll meet early evening for a casual welcome dinner.
Meals included: Dinner
Day 2
Friday, March 5
Today we begin our sashiko workshop with Kazue at SASHIKO.LAB which is housed in beautifully restored traditional wooden building. We open our morning with the foundations of sashiko where Kazue will introduce you to the history, culture and everyday use. You’ll also learn about the tools and materials commonly used, how to prepare and handle sashiko thread.
We’ll have lunch nearby before we return to the studio for an afternoon session where Kazue will introduce you to Hitomezashi also known as one-stitch sashiko. Hitomezashi is structured as a precise grid of horizontal and vertical lines with consistent stitch spacing. The geometric design emerges naturally as the horizontal and vertical rows interact and cross each other. You’ll practice this technique and work on your first project, creating either a stitch sampler or fabric coaster.
After our workshop, we’ll visit the nearby Fushimi Inari Shrine, famous for its thousands of vermilion torii gates. Dinner this evening with the group.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3
Saturday, March 6
We return to Sashiko.Lab for another full day workshop with Kazue today. Our morning session introduces Moyozashi, the pattern-based style of sashiko stitching. We'll begin with an overview of the technique's fundamentals and explore traditional geometric motifs along with the cultural meanings behind them, before moving into hands-on practice drawing and transferring designs onto cloth.
We'll have lunch nearby before returning to the studio for an afternoon session, where we'll begin by learning and practicing the 'Unshin' running stitch technique. Kazue will then discuss Japanese cotton fabrics and indigo-dyed textiles. Drawing on everything you've learned so far, you'll plan out and begin stitching your own Moyozashi sashiko piece.
The evening is yours to explore Kyoto, on your own or with others from the group. We’ll provide suggestions for shops, sights and restaurants to check out.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 4
Sunday, March 7
Today, we’ll venture beyond Kyoto to the peaceful countryside of Ohara, a small mountain village to the north, celebrated for its rural beauty and the historical and spiritual significance of its many temples.
This morning we’ll visit the working studio of a local indigo artisan who will introduce us to his dye work and process. Then in small groups he will work with everyone to design a personal piece to dye in his natural indigo vats.
We’ll enjoy a unique lunch in Ohara before we visit another working botanical dyeing workshop this afternoon. This studio uses persimmon tannin dyeing, known as kakishibu, and herb dyeing, fusing traditional patterns with modern designs. Every piece they create is carefully hand-dyed and hand-designed.
We’ll return to Kyoto late afternoon and the rest of evening is free time to relax and dine on your own or with others from the group.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 5
Monday, March 8
This morning we’re off on a walking craft shop tour of Kyoto with Kazue as our guide. We’ll visit all of Kazue’s favourites including secret local shops, specialty fabric stores, traditional needle makers, and sewing notion shops.
This afternoon we'll visit and tour a contemporary textile printing studio specializing in handmade modern forms of Kyo-yuzen and Ryusai-zome dyeing techniques. Their hand-painted textiles cannot be replicated by machine printing and have been featured prominently in collections for high-fashion houses such as Issey Miyake, Yohji Yamamoto, and Mame Kurogouchi.
You’ll have the chance to try hand ‘painting’ your own small piece using their unique dyeing process of ryusai-zome which traces its origins to suminagashi, an aristocratic floating-ink pastime from the Heian period, reimagined here as a contemporary artistic method.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 6
Tuesday, March 9
Today we’re back in the studio with Kazue for a full day workshop learning about mending with sashiko. We’ll explores sashiko's roots as a practical craft of repair and renewal. We'll begin with the culture of mending in Japan, looking at how sashiko developed as both a practical necessity and an expression of care for one's belongings. From there, we'll discuss when and why to repair textiles, considering how mending fits into a broader philosophy of valuing and extending the life of what we own. We’ll end our morning learning about reinforcement stitches and patching techniques that we’ll begin to use in our afternoon session.
After lunch, you’ll put the morning's techniques into practice. You can choose to work on a garment brought from home, or a practice cloth if preferred, applying patches and reinforcement stitching to a real piece of fabric. We'll close by planning future mending projects, so you leave with a clear sense of how to continue applying sashiko repair techniques to your own textiles going forward.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 7
Wednesday, March 10
This morning we'll tour the workshop of Takeko Okayama, a pioneering Japanese textile artist who became the first woman certified as a Traditional Master Craftsperson in the field of hand-painted traditional Kyo-yuzen dyeing.
Hand-painted Kyo-yuzen is a traditional Japanese resist-dyeing technique originating in Kyoto in the late 17th century, renowned for transforming fine silk into pictorial masterpieces marked by vibrant color and delicate gradients. At Takeko’s workshop you’ll get to try Kyo-yuzen painting on a small piece of your own.
This afternoon we’ll have a guided tour of a small working studio that specializes in Nishiki-Ori weaving and historical textile restoration. Nishiki-Ori is a traditional, intricate Japanese silk brocade woven with pre-dyed colored threads, gold leaf, silver, and other metallic materials to create complex, luminous patterns. This studio notably undertakes the restoration of precious historical textiles and conducts thorough research into traditional weaving techniques. Nishiki textiles are created through the combined skills of numerous artisans, involving no fewer than 70 distinct processes.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 8
Thursday, March 11
Today is our final workshop with Kazue at her atelier. Our morning begins with a guided visit of Kazue's personally curated and collected SASHIKO BORO ARCHIVE, offering direct exposure to historical pieces. Kazue will introduce boro and the life cycle of cloth in Japan, exploring how garments were mended, layered, and passed down over generations rather than discarded. Our morning concludes with selecting vintage fabrics and planning composition, as we begin shaping the direction of your own boro-inspired piece.
Our afternoon moves from planning into hands-on making. You'll learn various layering and stitching techniques, then apply them to create a small boro-inspired textile piece of your own. Kazue will be on hand to provide personal guidance and to answer any sashiko and boro related questions you may have. Our workshop will close with a small gallery show and group discussion, where everyone will be able to share their pieces and reflect on the techniques and processes we’ve learned together.
Dinner this evening is at a small restaurant, where we'll share an intimate family-style meal, one where experimentation extends from the kitchen to the dining room, set to intrigue the senses.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9
Friday, March 12
Departure Day
Breakfast at the hotel. This morning we pack our bags and say our farewells. Thank you for joining us on this incredible and often unexpected journey exploring the textiles of Kyoto.
さようなら !
Meals included: Breakfast
Where We’re Staying
Set in a vibrant shopping and dining district and one of our favorite neighbourhoods, our Kyoto hotel offers a comfortable, modern boutique experience just a few minutes’ walk from bustling Nishiki Market. Tucked away on a side street, it provides a peaceful and welcoming place to return to after a busy day exploring. On site, guests can enjoy a restaurant, café, and cozy lounge.
Rooming Options
Please read below carefully and make your rooming selection on the Booking Request form.
The style and layout of every room is unique and may not be exactly as pictured.
Group Size: Minimum 8 guests, Maximum 12 guests.
All prices are in USD.
BOOKING FOR THIS TRIP STARTS ON SEPTEMBER 2, 2026 AT 1:00PM PST
OPTION 1 - SHARED ROOM*
with ensuite bathroom
$6,795 per person, paid in two separate installments.
Rooming Details:
*Shared Rooms are available to book for two guests traveling together. Shared rooms have two western style twin beds located close to one another. You will share a room with one other guest for the duration of the trip.
Rooms are cozy yet modern, with an ensuite bathroom with a shower. Please note: As part of the design of this hotel, all rooms have a large, fully frosted window that lets in plenty of natural daylight, but it does not offer an outside view.
Initial Payment due immediately: $2,495
Final Payment due October 14, 2026: $4,300
OPTION 2 - PRIVATE ROOM
with ensuite bathroom
$7,795 per person, paid in two separate installments.
Rooming Details:
Private rooms are cozy yet modern, featuring Western-style hollywood twin beds and an ensuite bathroom with a shower. Please note: As part of the design of this hotel, all rooms have a large, fully frosted window that lets in plenty of natural daylight, but it does not offer an outside view.
Initial Payment due immediately: $2,495
Final Payment due October 14, 2026: $5,300
Important Trip Details
Culinary Notes
Unfortunately we are unable to accommodate specific dietary requirements, allergies, or intolerances on this trip.
During this retreat, we will be visiting some restaurants who specialize in using local ingredients and it’s not possible to have substitutions or accommodations for food restrictions or preferences. This trip is best suited for those open and eager to enjoy and experience a variety of regional ingredients and flavors
Please contact us before booking if you have any questions.
Accessibility
Please note this Ace Camp includes several walking tours, you may be on your feet for a couple of hours at a time without rest breaks. You should be able to walk at a moderate pace for a distance of at least 2 miles. Uneven terrain, gravel or dirt pathways, stairs and unpaved walking areas are a possibility.
You will need to be able to sit and kneel on the ground during certain activities and meals. You will have to remove your shoes at various locations in a standing position. Please ensure you are comfortable with these conditions.
Who is this Trip for?
This trip is for the open minded and patient traveler. You should be eager to learn and work hands-on during your workshop session and be curious about regional culture and cuisine.
This is an immersive adventure and best suited for those who enjoy traveling as a part of a small group.
Travel Health
We recommend consulting a doctor, nurse, health care provider, or travel health clinic once we confirm your booking on this Ace Camps Travel trip so you know what may be required based on your individual circumstances and based on the locations you’ll be traveling to. If you have any health concerns, contact your health care provider for advice prior to booking this Ace Camps Travel trip.
Trip Start + End Locations
This trip starts and ends in Kyoto, Japan.
There are several ways to arrive and depart in Kyoto. Via plane, train or bus from other areas in Japan such as Tokyo, Kobe or Osaka, and we’ll provide guests with more specific travel suggestions once the trip is confirmed.
Weather
Visiting Kyoto in the first half of March offers a peaceful glimpse of the city as it transitions from winter to spring. The air remains cool and crisp, with a distinctly wintry feel, while the first signs of spring begin to emerge in the form of fragrant plum blossoms scattered throughout the city.
As the city gradually awakens from winter, temperatures begin to rise, with average daytime highs reaching 15°C (59°F). Occasional spring showers may pass through, but they are generally light, adding to the fresh, tranquil atmosphere.
Included in this Trip
4-day Sashiko + Boro Intensive Hands-on Workshops lead by Kazue Yoshikawa
Indigo and Botanical Dyeing Workshops in the mountain village of Ohara
Traditional + Contemporary Kyo-Yuzen Dyeing Textile Workshops
Guided Craft Shop Walking Tour
Guided visit to a Nishiki-Ori studio to learn about intricate textile weaving
8 nights hotel accommodation
Transport during included meals and activities
8 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 3 dinners
Dedicated Ace Camps Travel Host, with you throughout your trip
Trip Prep call to meet fellow travelers and talk through schedules, recommendations, and questions
Ace Camps Travel Host
An Ace Camps Travel Host will be with you through your trip, dedicated to ensuring you have the best possible experience. Your Host is there for any questions or concerns, to look out for the health and safety of the group and to help resolve any issues that might arise. This Host is not a local guide but will work with our local partners to insure the right combination of pace, information, and duration. Our local partners are deeply knowledgable in the culture and customs of the area and will be there to share their knowledge and passion with the group.
Not Included in this Trip
International roundtrip airfare; required Travel Insurance; alcoholic drinks; activities and food and beverages not included in the trip itinerary; hotel incidentals including but not limited to room service, laundry service and hotel bar tabs; and all expenses during free time.
Travel Arrangements
Ace Camps Travel will send you detailed Trip Planning information when it’s time to make your travel arrangements. We usually send this information once we’ve reached the minimum number of guests required to run the trip. We’ll also send you an Ace Camps Travel “Preparing for your Journey” document prior to your trip, which will include arrival and departure information, a suggested packing list, useful country information, and more.
Supplies
Essential supplies for your workshops will be provided. In addition to the supplies we provide, you’ll need to bring a few of your own things. Closer to your departure date, we’ll send more information about supplies you’ll want to bring with you.
Travel Insurance
As stated in our Terms and Conditions, we require all guests to have Travel Insurance that at minimum covers both medical emergencies and trip cancellations. Cancellations 180 days or fewer prior to the trip start date will incur a cancellation fee equal to 100% of the price for the trip. There are no exceptions to this cancellation policy which is one of the many reasons we require all guests to have Travel Insurance.
For full details on our Travel Insurance requirements, visit our FAQ’s and review our Terms and Conditions.
Health + Safety
Our goal is for each of our guests to enjoy the amazing trip we’ve put together. To ensure that happens, we put the health and safety of the group as our top priority. Individual guests are responsible for ensuring they meet all destination and layover country requirements and laws.
During the trip, if you feel unwell, exhibit signs of, or test positive for an illness, you should be prepared to follow the advice of local health authorities as well as the Ace Camps Travel Host to ensure the health and safety of the entire group. Depending on the severity of your symptoms and/or viral nature of your illness the Ace Camps Travel Host may determine you need to mask, distance, self- isolate, or depart the trip early. You are responsible for any expenses incurred from an illness, injury, or early departure including testing, treatment, isolation, accommodation, transportation, etc. and you will not be issued a refund for any unused portion of the trip. This is one of the many reasons we require all guests to have Travel Insurance, as outlined in our Terms and Conditions.
For full details on our Health and Safety Policies, visit our FAQ’s and review our Terms and Conditions.
Cancellation Policy
If you choose to cancel your trip for any reason, you must do so via email to hello@acecampstravel.com. If we receive written notice 181 or more days prior to the Trip start date, we will refund your initial payment, less a $1,000 cancellation fee. If we receive written notice 180 days or fewer prior to the Trip start date you will incur a cancellation fee equal to 100% of the price for the Trip. There are no exceptions to this cancellation policy, including for reasons related to weather, terrorism, civil strife, pandemics, illness, personal, family or medical emergencies, or any other circumstances beyond our control. For this and other reasons, we require you to purchase Travel Insurance.
Be sure to read our Terms and Conditions for full details on Booking and Payment, Cancellation by You and Trip Changes and Cancellations.
Questions + FAQs
If you have any questions about this Ace Camps travel Trip, please feel free to contact us.
You can also read our FAQs here.
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