retreat|recreate KYOTO SASHIKO INTENSIVE WORKSHOP
Sashiko.1 :: 26 – 31 October 2026
Sashiko.2 :: 2-7 November 2026
Welcome to your 5 night/6 day Sashiko Intensive workshop in Kyoto!
This private page is just for confirmed members of the two sashiko workshop groups; and is not searchable from the home page. Please do not share this page or documents with others.
IMPORTANT: If you have travelled on a retreat|recreate tour before, you will be used to receiving a Booking Summary (or Tour Voucher) from us a couple of weeks before departure. As these workshops differ from our usual fully serviced tours (see ‘Notes’ below), we are not able to provide booking summaries for participants. The number of nights and dates of any pre and post workshop accommodation booked through us can be found on your invoice. Thank you for your understanding.
This page comprises the following documents:
- Itinerary
- Useful Information booklet
- To Do List
- Travel Details form
- Booking Conditions
We hope you enjoy our deep dive into this traditional Japanese handcraft with renowned sashiko artist Kazue from SASHIKO.LAB in her beautiful Kyoto atelier. A week of half-day sashiko classes (Monday to Friday) will allow you to fully immerse yourself in this exquisite craft. You’ll learn the origins of sashiko, various methods and techniques, how to create and transfer your own patterns to cloth, and tips for deepening and improving your stitching skills.
GETTING TO AND FROM THE HOTEL
The hotel is Urban Hotel Kyoto, a simple 3 star hotel.
Address: 4-59 Chome Fukakusa Nishiuracho, Fushimi Ward, Kyoto.
Here is the address in Japanese in case you need to show a taxi driver
アーバンホテル京都
京都市伏見区深草西浦町4丁目59番地
Tel: +81 75-647-0606
The link to the hotel website is HERE
There are directions on the hotel’s website for how to get there from both of the Osaka airports. We can also suggest the following options:
1. Arrange your own private transfer. Two companies you may wish to use are:
NearMe website: LINK HERE or Airport Taxi Transfers website: LINK HERE
2. Take the train. Both Itami and Kansai airports have train services. See the hotel website for directions, or get off at Kyoto station and take a taxi/Uber from there.
3. Take a taxi/Uber – it’s around a 1 hour 20 minutes drive from Kansai airport, or 45 minutes from Itami airport. See above for the hotel address in Japanese! (Note FYI: some taxis only take cash)
4. Take the Limousine Bus from the airport (see hotel website, or limousine bus website HERE)
KYOTO CRAFT (WALKING) TOUR
The week also includes a guided 2.5 hour Kyoto Craft [walking] Tour, as Kazue-san takes you to her favourite Kyoto textile and thread stores. We’ll take taxis to the first destination (the taxi cost is included), spend two and a half hours under Kazue’s guidance, then you will be free to continue exploring and shopping, and return to the hotel either on foot or you can take a taxi at your own expense.
Note that this walking tour will be on Day 2 for group 1 and Day 4 for group 2.
OPTIONAL KINTSUGI JEWELLERY WORKSHOP
This workshop will be on Day 3 for group 1, and Day 2 for group 2 1:30 – 4:30pm
Price is Y20,000 per person, payable on the day by cash or credit card. Advance bookings are requested, however the workshop will run even if only one person books. The artist Natsuka-san will collect the group from Kazue-san’s atelier and take us to her studio which is only a minute’s walk away.
UPDATE: Twelve people can attend each class. Please let me know if you are interested and I’ll add you to the lists below. Please note that although you do not have to pay ahead of time, if you book a spot and then cancel you will be charged 100% of the fee, because Netsuka will be holding the spot for you and turning away other potential clients.
| KINTSUGI JEWELLERY WORKSHOP Sashiko.1, 28 October (Day 3) |
| Karen B Debbie K Marisa DP Laura G Grace W Susan RO |
| KINTSUGI JEWELLERY WORKSHOP Sashiko.2, 3 November (Day 2) Shona M Annette C Pauline W Brooke W Celia K Sandy J Heather D Francoise P |
FLEA MARKETS
Kitano Tenmangu Shrine market – Sunday 25 October
Toji Temple flea market – Wednesday 21st October and Sunday 1 November
Enter the name of the relevant temple or shrine into Google Maps for locations and public transport directions. The flea markets usually open early, at around 7:00am and stallholders start packing up after lunch, particularly if the weather isn’t optimal.
NOTES
- the sashiko and (optional) jewellery workshops will be held in English;
- there are no Trip Notes for these workshops. This is not a retreat|recreate guided tour, and as such it does not feature our usual services like airport transfers, nor any group activities outside the workshop sessions, nor can we offer optional extension excursions;
- This workshop is suited to independent, able travellers who don’t need us to hold their hands! There will not be a Japanese guide with you, and there are no planned sightseeing excursions apart from the walking craft tour hosted by Kazue. The times outside the scheduled workshop hours are mostly free time to explore at your own leisure. See the Useful Information document below for suggested activities, venues, shops and restaurants;
- our local Japan team will be available for 24 emergency support if required. The phone number for assistance will be pinned at the top of the WhatsApp chat, and on this page, closer to departure. It’s also in the Useful Info document under emergency contacts;
- retreat|recreate host Susan Rees-Osborne will attend Sashiko.1 each day, and will attend Sashiko.2 on Day 1, and potentially Day 2 if need be;
- we can assist with a couple of days of pre and/or post tour accommodation at Urban Hotel Kyoto, subject to availability. Please make the request on your Travel Details form.
RECOMMENDED READING
A list of recommended books about Japan to whet your appetite for your tour can be found HERE
