Crafts of
Okinawa
November 4-10, 2026 | SOLD OUT
december 5-11, 2027
shared room | $3,850 usd per person
private room | $4,650 usd per person
For this special experience, Thread Caravan team member, Okinawan textile artist Yuka Makino, will generously share her knowledge and deep love for the craft traditions of her home island. Together, we will explore the remarkable breadth of the Okinawa's artistic heritage, meeting master artisans whose practices have been shaped by centuries of island life.
Separated from mainland Japan, Okinawa's pottery, indigo, weaving, and other craft traditions evolved with a distinct character, reflecting a rich cultural history influenced by both isolation and exchange throughout the Ryukyu Islands.
A highlight of this trip will be learning about bashōfu, a textile found only in Okinawa. Harvested from the inner fibers of the ito-basho banana plant, these delicate strands are painstakingly extracted, hand-spun, and woven into an exceptionally refined cloth prized for its lightness and elegance. Often adorned with intricate kasuri (ikat) patterns, bashōfu represents one of Japan's most labor-intensive and revered textile traditions.
As Japan's southernmost prefecture, Okinawa offers a landscape unlike anywhere else in the country. Between our workshops and artisan visits, we'll return each evening to our beachfront accommodation overlooking brilliant turquoise waters, while enjoying cuisine shaped by the island's subtropical climate and abundant local ingredients.
This journey is an invitation to experience the generosity and creative spirit that make Okinawa so unforgettable.
Crafts of Okinawa
This trip intentionally highlights the remarkable diversity of Okinawa's craft traditions through hands-on workshops with local artisans and cultural keepers. From harvesting shell ginger and transforming its fibers into cordage and a handwoven purse, to making Bashofu thread from banana fiber and weaving with it in the village where this renowned textile is still practiced, each experience offers a deeper understanding of the island's relationship with its natural materials. We'll also explore the vibrant art of Bingata stencil dyeing, natural dyeing with local plants, traditional Yachimun pottery, and the history of Okinawan kimono, hairstyling, and handcrafted silver adornments.
Your Host, Yuka Makino
Yuka is a hand spinner and weaver who follows the life of fiber from seed to cloth. She tends naturally colored cotton and indigo, spins yarn by hand, and weaves threads in rhythm with soil, water, and time.
In 2022, she spent a month at Texere in Oaxaca, Mexico, immersed in the weaving and dyeing traditions—an experience that deepened her love for textiles and their stories. After fifteen years in the United States, she returned to her home in Okinawa, where she set out to relearn natural fiber traditions and root her practice more deeply in the island’s landscape and heritage.
Trip ITINERARY
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Arrive to Okinawa Naha airport.
Private transportation to our hotel.
Relax at the beach and then gather for group introductions, trip orientation and our first group dinner.
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Learn about the island’s native plants, their properties, and how Okinawan people use shell ginger in their daily lives.
In the morning, learn how to harvest shell ginger, prepare the fiber, and make rope. Also make Muchi (rice cakes wrapped in shell ginger leaves).
After lunch, take a short walk to visit a bingata (stencil dyeing) studio/shop on the island.
In the afternoon, use the prepared shell ginger fiber to make a small purse.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
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Visit Shuri Castle. Here, we will learn the history and meaning of the traditional Okinawan hairstyle, silver hairpins, and Okinawan kimono.
After lunch, visit a silver studio to learn about the craftsmanship, history, and process of making traditional silver hairpins.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included. -
In Ogimi, the home of bashofu, learn the traditional process of making thread from banana fiber.
In the morning, we will visit the banana field to learn about the plants and harvest the fiber. Then, at the community center, we will clean and prepare the fibers before joining each strand by hand to create continuous thread, just as bashofu artisans have done for generations.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
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In the morning, visit Yachimun Village to explore various pottery studios and see the community kiln.
After lunch, visit Karansha, where we will dye two tenugui (Japanese hand towels) using natural dyes such as indigo (blue), Fukugi (yellow), or a combination of indigo and Fukugi (green).
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
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We will return to Ogimi to learn about the history of bashofu and the work of the women at the newly established co-op. Using the thread we made earlier in the week, we will weave a bashofu coaster.
As the workshop has only two looms, we will split into two groups. While one group is weaving, the other can explore the gallery, stroll through the village, or enjoy a walk along the nearby beach. This will be a very relaxing day.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
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Final group breakfast.
Private transfer to the Naha airport.
Safe travels home or onwards in Japan!
Please note that our November 2026 trip is a pilot experience. While we are excited to share the details of our 2027 dates, please be aware that some elements may be subject to change as we continue to refine the experience. We will communicate any updates to registered guests as soon as possible.
where we’ll stay
Nestled in the peaceful seaside town of Kunigami in northern Okinawa, Hotel Yagajiso offers a tranquil stay surrounded by the island's lush subtropical landscapes and crystal-clear waters. Each room features a private oceanfront terrace or balcony, inviting you to wake up to sea views and the gentle sound of the waves.
Its quiet location provides the perfect setting to slow down and unwind, while also serving as an ideal base for exploring Okinawa's northern coast and nearby islands.
TRIP DETAILS
DATES:
November 4-10, 2026
December 5-11, 2027
Accommodation:
We will be staying at Hotel Yagajiso. This small beach-front hotel offers rooms with private terraces and balconies looking out to the ocean.
There is the option to reserve a private, double-occupancy or triple-occupancy room.
PRICING + PAYMENT:
$3.850 USD per person in a shared room with separate beds.
$4,650 USD per person in a private room.
A non-refundable deposit is required in order to reserve your space on this trip. The remaining balance is due 60 days prior to the trip.
When making a reservation, there is the option to Pay it Forward. These contributions are directed exclusively towards our Artisan Exchange Program.
COST INCLUDES:
Okinawa Transportation: Guests should plan to arrive and depart from the Okinawa airport. We will provide all transportation on the island during the trip.
Accommodation: Private or shared accommodation with en suite bathrooms.
Meals: Breakfasts, lunches and dinners as noted in the itinerary.
Art Education: Bashofu banana fiber processing and weaving workshop, natural dyes workshop, stencil workshop, pottery studio visit and more.
Additional Experiences: Relaxed time to enjoy the scenic beaches.
Support: Two Thread Caravan team members will accompany the group for the duration of the trip, offering participants their combined knowledge of the country, while making sure everything runs smoothly. In addition, Thread Caravan staff is available to answer questions and assist with trip preparations beforehand.
Gift: Special welcome gift upon arrival.
Carbon Emissions Offset: We plant trees on your behalf in order to offset the carbon emissions of your travel to Japan.
NOT INCLUDED:
Airfare: We've found that flights from the U.S. to Japan cost approximately $1800, varying depending on the airline and how far in advance you book. You may want to fly roundtrip from your home to Tokyo, and then book a separate flight from Tokyo to Okinawa.
Alcohol
Personal Travel Insurance: We require all participants to have personal travel insurance. This will cover things like illness, flight cancellations, theft, etc. If you have never purchased travel insurance before, we recommend World Nomads or Allianz.
GETTING THERE AND AWAY:
We will provide roundtrip transportation from the Okinawa airport to our hotel. If you plan to spend extra time on Okinawa outside of our trip dates, you will be responsible for getting yourself to and from the hotel with a local taxi.
Please contact us if you have any questions about transportation.
Other NOTES:
Mobility Requirements: This trip includes light beach walks and, as well as time in private vans and cars for periods of up to 1.5 hours. Additionally, we will be sitting on the floor for many meals and some workshops. Please contact us in advance if you have specific mobility requirements.
Dietary Restrictions: Many dishes in Japan contain fish and gluten. While we can accommodate some dietary restrictions (e.g. vegetarian), please contact us in advance to see if we can accommodate your dietary needs.
VISA + Passport: A tourist VISA can be obtained in Japan upon arrival. Please make sure your passport has validity for 6 months from your travel date.
BOOKING TERMS + CONDITIONS
Travelers must agree to Thread Caravan's Booking Terms and Conditions in order to join this experience.
register here
*Thread Caravan plants trees to restore ecosystems and offset carbon emissions on behalf of each guest who travels with us.
Please note that the deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable, and is required to reserve your space on this trip.
Thread Caravan provides fully-funded artists residencies to our community of indigenous artisan collaborators, as part of our artisan exchange program. To date, we’ve been proud to host Gujarati turban weaver Shamji Vishram Vankar in Oaxaca, as well as Zapotec Oaxacan sisters and weavers Silvia and Dahlia Gutiérrez on our weaving retreat Guatemala. In June 2024 we will host potter Macrina Mateo Martinez from Tlapazola, Oaxaca on our pottery retreat in the Rif mountains of Morocco.
Should our community be interested in contributing to these efforts, there is the option to pay it forward when making a trip reservation. These financial contributions will be used exclusivity towards our artisan exchange program.
Learn more about this program here.
