retreat|recreate JAPAN WEAVING INTENSIVE
10 – 16 October 2027
We are delighted to present this week of weaving workshops!
Join us for two separate weaving experiences next 10-16 October, rolled into one beautiful week of handwoven adventures.
Our small group of 6 – 8 women will meet in Kyoto and travel to a beautiful rural village where we’ll be based in the stunning home and studio of renowned weaver Mayo Horinouchi (and her partner Jun Tomita) for three days. Each person will weave a ‘pocket muffler’ – a scarf featuring an ingenious 3D pocket designed by Mayo san – on table top looms designed by Jun san.
Returning to Kyoto, we’ll then spend two days weaving at a tsuzure-ori studio, creating a small tapestry woven piece of our own design, under the careful tutelage of weaving sensei and tapestry guru Hirano Kikuo.
You don’t need to be an expert at weaving to join this small group experience, you just need an enthusiasm to learn two different weaving techniques!
Important Notes: (please see the notes below about dietary restrictions and the accommodation – unfortunately this trip will not be suitable for everyone)
- a deposit of AUD$1500 will be required to secure your booking. Instructions for payment will be provided to successful applicants;
- the price and inclusions can be found on the last page of the Itinerary;
- if we don’t reach our minimum group size (6) the workshop will not proceed and your deposit will be refunded;
- if we receive more applications than there are places (8), unsuccessful applicants may request to be added to the waiting list;
- a retreat|recreate host and a guide/translator will be in attendance;
- note that there are no Trip Notes for this workshop, as it is not a typical retreat|recreate guided tour featuring all our usual services;
- airport transfers are not available for this trip;
- pre and/or post tour accommodation at the Kyoto hotel can be requested through us, subject to availability;
- DIETARY NOTES: while pescatarians (ie fish eating vegetarians) can be catered for on this trip, unfortunately we cannot cater for vegetarian, vegan or gluten-free travellers, nor travellers with severe allergies (we will be staying three days at the rural family home of our weaving instructor)
- ACCOMMODATION NOTES: while in Kyoto we will stay at a modest 3 star hotel (single rooms). However, while in the village, we will stay in the home of our weaving instructor for three nights. Accommodation is upstairs in a shared dormitory-style attic space. There are four sleeping areas (separated by curtains only), with each space featuring one single low bed and one single futon on the floor. The overhead beams in this attic space are low. The entire group of eight people will share this small dormitory space, with two people in each curtained area. The toilet and shower are downstairs; the staircase is steep. Luggage space will be limited so we’ll take small overnight bags to the village and leave our suitcases at the Kyoto hotel. This experience is not for those who are uncomfortable sharing close sleeping quarters and bathrooms with multiple people, or those not confident managing stairs in the middle of the night if required (or at any other time). You will need to have reasonable mobility to cope with the stairs and sleeping quarters in this homestay experience.
We’re very excited about our brand new offerings of intensive multi-day handcraft workshops and hope you are too! We ran two intensive sashiko workshops in 2026, now in 2027 it’s weaving, and we plan to add indigo dyeing, kintsugi and shibori in future.
If you’re keen to join us for this weaving adventure please read on.
How to apply:
1. Please read all documents thoroughly to determine if this week of workshops is the right trip for you, noting the insurance, health, fitness and mobility requirements.
2. To apply for a place, please submit the Application Form by email to retreatrecreate@gmail.com Please write WEAVING in the subject header of your email.
We’ve tried to anticipate all questions by providing information on costs, conditions, workshops and activities etc, in the documents below but if you have any further queries, please don’t hesitate to contact us. (Note, please read this web page and the document contents first!)
retreat | recreate 