Gusuku Bingata — Local services in Urasoe

I found this great little spot on facebook when I was looking for something crafty to do here in Okinawa. Not only does this location sell some amazing pieces and a variety of hand crafted items, it also has workshops to learn the craft of bingata dyeing. I made reservations online for myself, so I had one on one personal attention- which was nice. The instructor gave me a short history of the art which I loved! If you don't speak Japanese, have no fear- he spoke English quite well! He also gave directions for the process in English. FYI- they can give directions in Japanese, Chinese, English, and Korean! There were a variety of workshops to choose from and (to my delight) Christmas options so I plan to bring my daughter back to make some Christmas presents! For a reasonable price you get spend a couple hours learning a craft of the Ryuku culture! Highly recommend! Bring extra money- their shop has a lot of adorable items! They accept yen and credit card! There are 2 parking spaces next to the building labeled 3 and 4! For the workshop they will take you upstairs to a studio- shoes come off. They have slippers, but you may want to bring socks! The owner was very friendly and even gave a small free gift since it was my first time visiting! It is a great rainy day activity and even better if you love doing...

My husband, 4 kids aged 2, 4, 6, and 8, and I all LOVED our experience in this workshop. The shop itself is absolutely gorgeous. The hand-painted textiles available for sale are true works of art. Shingo San, the shop manager, was incredibly welcoming and friendly. We went upstairs to do bingata painting; 3 of my children chose canvas tote bags and the fourth chose a canvas tapestry. The items to be painted have already been stamped with a masking starch stencil, and Shingo gave us clear, easy to follow instructions. Even my littlest child was able to do the activity (with a lot of help!). We were able to bring our paintings home today and the kids are just so excited to wash them off when they dry.

The store also sells take-home kits to DIY bingata painting at home; they look like they’d make excellent presents for friends back in the states. The activity and textiles in the shop are reasonably priced, and I am really looking forward to purchasing some large pieces for our home. Overall, 10/10 experience, and we are really excited to return! Thank you especially to Shingo for making our experience...

Sugoi! Wonderful personalized traditional Okinawan experience. My daughter and I very much enjoyed our “Bingata” dyeing craft experience with a small group of ladies. Mr. Shingo Yamashiro San, the shop manager, was truly a delight. He was so respectful and helpful and very welcoming. He helped us choose our Bingata design and then gave us a brief history about Bingata and the Ryukyu islands. After which, he patiently explained the process and allowed us as much time as needed to complete our designs. He walked us through and answered any questions we had. We took group pictures and it was a very memorable experience. The designs are absolutely gorgeous and there are several items available to purchase in the shop as well. Each item is meticulously hand crafted and a perfect memento of the island of Okinawa. The craft experience offers several designs to choose from such as the Shurijo Castle, Sakura cherry blossoms and the Shisa to name a few which are available to be dyed on a tapestry or a tote bag. I would highly recommend this craft experience for friends and family. Arigatou...